don_myers1

<p>You all misinterpreted - I said almost worth it. The weight is a deterent, plus I ask how often I would use it? However, Dorus, the idea of the 150-450 lens is ideal for what I need, as I shoot primarily with my 70-300 Sigma, typically at the higher end.<br> Thank you all for your input.</p> <p>Don M</p>

<p>This looks super tempting: <a href="http://www.adorama.com/px560.html">http://www.adorama.com/px560.html</a> . typically $5000, can get it for $3700!<br> I'm going to Rocky Mountain Natl. Park in two weeks and Iceland next spring, and the longest lens I have is a 300 f5.6 with a 2X converter: Not good for distance. Does anyone have this lens and do you think it is worth the cost?</p>

<p>Matt;<br> As always, we will be looking for great photos from you: I figured you would have upgraded to the 645Z not the K-1 (Is that an upgrade?) The major issue I have with the K-1 is lack of lenses: sure, there are plenty of third party lenses, but is the quality of Sigma or Tamron the same as Pentax? I am not sure what I am going to replace my K-5 with, but at least the K-3. Keep us all informed how the K-1 works for you so we can get an actual owner's review.<br> Don</p>

<p>Justin;<br> Have you considered Photoshop Elements? I know it does not have all the bells and whistles, but it is a pretty good program. I don't think it works with Bridge or Lightroom, but I can import the pictures into from my memory card, then process them. (Why do they sell separate programs to import pictures? Shouldn't the ap come with the software?)<br> Anyway, it's only $100 for a full version -- check it out.</p> <p>Don</p>

<p>I agree with Tim; why so many apps/programs? I have found one program that does all that I need it to: Photoshop Elements. With it I can...<br> Organize<br> Process<br> Creative processing/special effects<br> Share on web<br> Create videos/slideshows<br> Order prints online<br> And several others I did not mention or know of. And all for $80 -- And that will last 4-6 years. And I am still using PE12, so with 14 coming out probably gives you more bells and whistles.</p>

<p>I've noticed some here shoot using "Limited" edition lenses, and have wondered regarding the quality... I was told that the DA* lenses were Pentax's top-of-the-line models, but what is everyone else's opinion on that? Currently I own one star lens, the 16-50mm, which I think is an excellent lens, although I use it half as much as my Sigma 70-300 (which needs to be replaced.) I was pondering the 60-250mm f2.8 DA*, but if a longer Limited lens would be a better quality, then I will go that way.<br> Thank you all for your opinion.</p>

<p>Honestly, I'm not too sure-- 36 MP full frame vs 40MP medium format... Granted, a full frame will be somewhere around $1500, but since the release of the 645Z the 645D has dropped to $3700, and may even go down more over Christmas. Besides, my K-5 is holding up well...<br> As far as new cameras go, I will avoid getting a new one till I can sell some photos to pay for it, then I will go to medium format. I had a Mamiya a long time ago, and would love to get back into the format: That 645D looks sweeter every time I see it...</p>

<p>I can't speak for the 200, but I do have the 16-50 DA* lens and the SDM is fantastic - and extremely quiet! I would suspect the same drive is used in each SDM lens, so although not the same focal length, I can't say enough regarding the speed and quietness of my lens. When I first bought it I actually thought it was broken because I couldn't hear the motor! <br> As for length, my primary lens is a Sigma 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 : Nearly half of my photos were taken with that lens, with my 16-50 second and my 100mm macro, third. I know that if I were to replace the Sigma, it would most likely be with the DA* 60-250mm f4.0, though the Tamron 70-200mm f2.8 is a good choice as well. (With a 2X converter the Tamron would be just as fast as the 250 but a full 150mm longer.) It's really what you want and need.<br> Hope this helps.</p>

<p>And third...</p><div></div>

<p>Oro Valley...</p><div></div>

<p>In preparation for winter, I thought I might prime things up a bit...<br /> All from Tucson, AZ, shot with K-5.</p><div></div>

<p>I think a lot of us have the same question... so I asked them.<br> I sent an email to customer service today regarding their lack of advertisement and absence at photo exhibits. I doubt they will answer, but if they do I will post it here. I did see a number of press releases, but unless you go online to their website you will never see them. Even $500k in advertisement could be offset by the increase in sales, especially if placed in the right locations.</p>

<p>Dorus;<br> One last note: Apogee Photo Magazine ( <a href="http://www.apogeephoto.com/">http://www.apogeephoto.com/</a> ) helped me learn and improve my pictures immeasurably. Go to "Techniques" and read every article by Micheal Fulks and Noella Ballenger, especially their articles "Elements of Design.</p> <p>As a close to this week I am including one of my personal favorites so you can compare to my previous pictures...<br> Don</p><div></div>

<p>Third...</p><div></div>

<p>And third...</p>

<p>Second....</p><div></div>

<p>Dorus;<br> I think every one of us feels the same at one time or another: I know I certainly do. I don't have any copies of when I first started taking pictures (in High School), but I can say they were pretty awefull. Even after 34 years I delete most, if not all, from any given shoot, and even the ones I keep will never see the light of day.<br> To help you get some perspective, I have included some of my earliest work this week. All were taken with a ME Super, a Sears 135mm "Macro" lens, on Kodachrome 64 film.<br> Don<br> BTW: The last of the three I think is the best.</p><div></div>

<p>And last....</p><div></div>

<p>Second....</p><div></div>

<p>Going back through some pictures this summer....<br> All we shot on my K-5.</p><div></div>

<p>And last...</p><div></div>

<p>A second....</p><div></div>

<p>This last week was not a great one for me, and having my K-5 out for repairs I went back and did some editing...<br> All three taken on Kodachrome 64, ME Super, and Takumar 300mm f4.0 lens....</p><div></div>

<p>To all;<br> I recently posted comments regarding stolen photos and copyright infringement by a website based in Germany. I copied and pasted a post from the Facebook page of Apogee Photo Magazine (apogeephoto.com), a very reputable online photography magazine. IT WAS NOT a ploy to gain page hits for the APM website – I was just trying help protect and to warn all other photographers. In my response to someone else’s response to that post, and because I did not have full knowledge of what was occurring, I discredited this company. I apologize – I did not intend to do so.<br /> <br /> I have since learned: According to Marla Meier, Owner of Apogee Photo Magazine, hundreds of known instances of copyright infringement of preapproved for use photos had been identified from over 60 contributing authors and photographers – more than likely all photos within the APM website. Per the APM web server: a web crawler or spider software was used to extract the images from the APM website for use/content within the abuser’s website and this probably occurred rather recently. Web crawlers can copy all the pages or images they visit for later processing in a short amount of time. For Apogee Photo Magazine, the thief’s website has been blocked from future downloads and following a takedown notice to them and their server, all occurrences of copyright infringed photos have been removed from their site. <br> Along with the current post regarding the theft was a link to an article regarding copyright law that had been published back in 2010, which I included in the same post. Unfortunately, they were combined and some members here thought I was trying to be misleading by posting a past event: I assure you I was not intending to do so. <br /> <br /> In summation: The theft is current and ongoing for hundreds of other photographers. Ms. Meier WARNS us all: If you choose to search the <a href="http://photobomb-pictures.fbistan.com/">http://photobomb-pictures.fbistan.com</a> website for your images, BE VERY CAREFUL – be sure your anti-virus protection is up to date. The site contains a lot of malware. <br> I would like to conclude this post by saying that I believe Photo.net to be a collaboration of some of the finest photographers in the world, some as far away as China and Australia. Also I think it is one of the safest sites to post photographs, as we all respect the rights of other members and do not use another’s work for personal or financial gain. <br /> <br /> Again, I wish to apologize to all I may have mislead or offended.<br> Don Myers</p>

<p>"They surely didn't have the 1st Bayonet mount."<br> My mistake, I thought they did. I know screw mounts were the norm, but I was under the impression that Pentax developed the K-mount first, with Nikon, Canon, and (the Studabaker of the camera world), Minolta climbing aboard thereafter.</p>