jeff_lu

"ok so then ..KAF2, KAF, and KA are all auto focus lenses? I know the K-mount is manual

but will I still be able to meter?"

KA mount lenses are not AF. KAF and KAf2 are. you should have centre-weighted

metreing with K-mount lenses.

i would NOT recommend a 70-300 lens for an only (that's what it sounds like) lens. if you

need a zoom (personally i'd get a single focal length - 35~50 - and build from there),

get one covering a wide to short tele - there are a lot, so a budget figure would be

helpful.

as for brand, i'm a sucker for equipment uniformity - nothing like a well-matched family,

so canon sounds nice. depends

on your budget, really.

have you checked the shutter? is the camera loading and taking up film? i was once

stumped by blank film...loading errors. not fun.

for tests, there's always photodo. i remember a similar question being posted a few

months ago asking for head-to-heads, and nobody came up with one.

what i've read and seen over the years informs my opinion that at equal f-stops, the 28/

2.8 is, if anything, ahead of the 1.8. the 1,8 buys extra speed, not much else. it could be

gravy, up to you.

buydig does have the lowest prices, but i've received mixed reports. the negative buydig

experiences seem to be about inconveniences, not scams, so they are the place to go for

the best deal on new gear. i just go with b&h or calumet.

"Gee, I'm grateful I didn't get your advice on my other purchases."

would i have talked you out of some unbelievably great deal on new equipment that was

truly satisfactory? if so, do share. otherwise, i'm going to continue to steer anyone who

asks away from scam joints.

not that familiar with pentax. i know that lenses will mount. someone else can tell you

about metering.

for landscape work, AF doesn't mean much. i'd go for an MF lens. there are a lot of

cheap, excellent ones out there.

buying another camera at this point isn't the best use of your money, unless a need

obnoxiously screams in your face.

the 28/1.8 is somewhat soft wide open, but pretty cheap (kinda feels like it) and compact.

i've not personally used the zoom, so i can't compare optical quality, but of course, you'll

have 2+ stops available.

as you noted, 28 isn't really wide. maybe that's how you like it. if you want something a

bit wider, the 24/1.4L and 24/2.8 are options.

the 1.4 is excellent, priced accordingly,

but porky - so maybe that won't be a small prime you want.

the 2.8, i believe, provides

very capable performance, considering its price and size. on the 20D, the slightly smaller

max aperture wouldn't bother me that much for a walkabout lens - you can always up the

ISO. still, nothing beats absolute speed.

which camera do you have?

yes, manual gear is still being made and sold.

do you want to learn more about "cameras" or "photography?" i'm sensing "photography,"

but if cameras, just head to certain forums on this site.

the only photo technique book i've ever read a little of is photography: london, et al. the

basics are just that: basic. the rest comes from being hands-on.

some things you can do: read through photo.net's primer, go shoot; read through threads

and when you see some interesting/foreign technique/term, look it up (google is your

friend); shoot; look through galleries and photos and see what you like and what you

maybe want to try; shoot and develop your own sensibility.

if you're heading off to college, i strongly suggest you head to one that offers a liberal arts

education, not a "College for Photography" if you're at all unsure. you can take a photo

class or three, major in photography, minor in art, whatever.

their advertised prices may be lower, but you will pay, buddy, you will pay.

don't expect a much better deal than what b&h/adorama/calumet offer.

btw, you may have already seen them - there are a couple previous threads in which

alumni have shared their experiences.

they do that, for extreme temperatures, i think. i don't think it affects exposure much to

push it to the max/min,

certainly not noticeable to me.

"scale focus generally get you in the DOF range assuming you are fairly good at judgeing

distances."

yes

depends how large you're going to blow up the film. countless pic posts on this site have

grain. many threads on film/developer combos and what looks they produce.

for the d70, get an AF lens. a MF lens will mount but you'll lose automation/metering.

if you want a prime wide, the 20mm 2.8d is nice and will give you a 30mm equivalent with

the

d70.

the only real wide-angle zoom for the d70 is the 12-24mm 4.0. if you need a zoom and a

real digital wide lens, that's it.

i've seen several people have warranties pushed onto them...not a pretty practise.

see if you can have it returned. don't forget to enjoy the camera