kfrog

<p>I'm liking one and two. Looks like you have some fine Russian lenses there. Congratulations on the acquisitions.</p>

<p>Yeah really Leo, use Firefox for goodness sakes!</p>

<p>I didn't know Microsoft Explorer even had this problem as I haven't used it much in years. (I use a Mac for personal computing and a PC at work) I'll use Firefox, Flock, Google Chrome even Safari on this PC. Anything but Explorer. The pictures come out just fine on all these browsers except Explorer.</p>

<p>Great pictures by the way Bryan. I love sports car racing. Not a big fan of NASCAR, I prefer cars that turn <em>right</em> as well as left!</p>

<p>I guess they have not put them on the sight yet. Don't know why.</p>

<p>Nope, I just checked, still not there. Wonder how much an 85mm will go for? More than my 85mm f/1.9 Super-Takumar I'll bet!</p>

<p>Seems Sigma has updated their website and added a lens finder feature. Works well too. With their apparent commitment to the Pentax mount and providing lenses to that effect got to give them kudos.<br>

http://www.sigmaphoto.com/sigma-lens-finder</p>

<p>I have to say I was stunned to see all those Sigma lenses available in Pentax mount. Good to know at least one lens company supports the brand with their new products. I finally acquired an 85mm f/1.9 Super-Takumar so I already have the focal length covered. Not quite as fast but it will work for me. It would be interesting to see how they compare.</p>

<p>Wow, flowers! Nice photos Michael. All we're getting here in Houston is cold rain.</p>

<p>If you buy it through Amazon I'd check the reputation of the vender who is selling it. Just to be sure they're good. However I just checked and it appears B&H has the lower price. I've dealt with them in the past. Excellent customer service.</p>

<p>On my venerable K10D a screwmount adapter and:<br>

1. Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 (just got it!)<br>

2. Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 135mm f/2.5<br>

3. Asahi Pentax Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4</p>

<p>Nice looking photos. I have the Super-Takumar version of the lens with 58mm filter size. Is yours the 49mm or 58mm filter version? I really love the lens. Smooth focusing and superb construction.</p>

<p>1. It's not Canon of Nikon.<br>

2. Outstanding legacy glass (Takumars!) can still be used and be fully stabilized<br>

3. DA & FA Limiteds.<br>

4. Feature rich digital cameras. (K10D)<br>

5. FA 50mm F/1.4</p>

<p>I wasn't too bad at first. I bought a K10D (my first DSLR) but I didn't want the kit lens so I got it body only. The lenses I got with it were the DA18-250 and the FA50/1.4. I had to wait awhile for what I wanted next though, a macro lens. The Tamron 90mm f2.8 macro fit the bill nicely.</p>

<p>I was happy and figured I had all I needed for my new hobby - a super zoom for outdoors, a macro for close ups, and a fast 50 for low light and portraiture.</p>

<p>Then I started reading these blasted forums and everybody kept mentioning Takumar this and Takumar that. What on earth is a Takumar? After finding out what they were and doing a little investigation I decided to get one. A Super-Takumar 35mm f/3.5 and an adapter. I got a low priced one off ebay since I don't know if I would like this manual focus only thing...<br>

It arrived. Mmm, sure is small. Mmm, it's all metal. Focus ring sure is smooth. Glass looks nice. Let's try this out...</p>

<p>Uh yeah I'm sold! Since then I've acquired a few more:</p>

<p>Super-Takumar 28/3.5, another 35/3.5 (came with a nice Spotmatic attached to it), 50/1.4, 55/1.8, 85/1.9, 105/2.8, 135/2.5 and a 200/4. Also an SMC 135/3.5.</p>

<p>Now because of you people I'm itching to get into the M series lenses and try a few of those. Thanks alot! ;-)</p>

<p>Do I have LBA? You betcha!</p>

 

<p>Thanks for the responses ya'll. </p>

<p>LC - I have the magnifier loupe already. It certainly helps.<br>

ME - Just loving my ever expanding collection ;-) I looked into KatzEyes focus screen. One thing I read about them on the K10D is that the red focus point disappears. Any truth to that?<br>

AG - I pretty much use AF.S and Av mode. I do use manual mode also but mostly in static situations.<br>

Seems for the most part guys that for me I just need to practice and try some of your pre-focus suggestions. Thanks.</p>

<p>Have a Happy New Year everybody!</p>

<p>Over the past months I have picked up several Asahi Takumar manual focus lenses for use with my K10D. I enjoy their optical quality, superb construction and smooth operation. However when it comes time for family gathering photography I tend to fall back on my FA50mm f/1.4 for it's auto focus and speed to get those spontaneous shots.<br>

<br /> Well I'd like to use my wide/short Taks (28/3.5, 35/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8) for interior photos and my more tele Taks (85/1.9, 105/2.8) for exterior photos in these situations. Any tips on speeding up my focus techniques and general Tak usage?</p>

<p>Whoa! 297,500 x 87,500 pixels! Now that's resolution! Zooming in on that bad boy is pretty awesome!</p>

<p>Walmart is usually good a returns (within reason) with almost everything they sell. One of many plusses they have over many other retailers. Never seen Pentax product there though. Big minus for that ;-)</p>

<p>Glad to hear the good news Michael. My wife is a cancer survivor too. Has been now for years. Merry Christmas and enjoy the skiing!</p>

<p>Got to go with the FA50 f/1.4. Great for portraits and dam near anything else. Nice and light tack sharp and flexible.</p>

<p>If you like old M42 manual lenses try the Super-Takumar 85mm f/1.9 or the SMC Takumar f/1.8 if you can find one. Classic portrait focal length, excellent IQ, good bokeh and quality build. I just got a f/1.9 myself.</p>

<p>Tamron 90mm f/2.8 is also a good one. Great lens.</p>

 

<p>It's broken. Dang K10D are getting too old. Time to get a K7.<br>

Just practicing for when/if something like that happens to my K10D so I know what to tell my wife. :)<br>

Sorry I have no idea what the problem is you're having but a tend to side with Orlando's recommendation.</p>

<p> </p>

<blockquote>

<p>... I had a K10D for a while and used it with some of my old Pentax lenses. If pressed, I would would give it a grade of C+, B- at best. The AF was lazy and vague. The thing that got me most was what a heavy camera it was considering that it's plastic. I mean, it weighed more than my Canon 30D. The purpose of a plastic camera that weighs that much still eludes me.<br /> But, there's no denying the camera's popularity, and its healthy resale value, even though it's not a current model. I even have a WTB post up for it right now just to see if I missed anything likable about the camera the first time one crossed my path...</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Some of this just comes down to personal taste and preference. Me, I like the extra heft of the K10D. It feels solid and comfortable in my hand. Back when I was considering buying a DSLR I tried the comparable Nikon (D70S) and Canon (Rebel) and they both felt light and plastic to me. Good cameras, great image quality but I didn't like the feel and control placement. The K10D has a stainless steel chassis I believe. That and the weather seals add to the weight.</p>

<p>Don't forget the importance of backward compatibility of the K10D with old Pentax lenses. Have you seen the cost of new Nikon and Canon lenses, not to mention Pentax? But get on ebay, pentaxforums or right here on photo.net and you might could score some old vintage Pentax glass for a fraction of the cost of new. Some of that old glass gives some striking images. I've got some of those old MF screwmount lenses for my K10D and they work just fine. Sometimes with photography it's not all about speed. It's about IQ and for that you need quality lenses. Some of those old MF lenses were good in their day and some still are.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I got spoiled with full frame and the great performance in low light and second the possibility that Pentax will make a full frame which will render all these beautiful little guys useless.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I don't think I have ever read where the Pentax Limited lenses and "useless" were used in the same sentence. No matter if you go to full frame (Pentax or Canon), medium format, large format or what ever else comes down the pipe those lenses will never be useless. That is just silly.</p>

<p>Slap one of those jewels on your K7 and take some photos and enjoy them. When you use some of those big heavy full frame lenses on a big heavy full frame camera for a while and find yourself wishing for something a little lighter, you'll know what to do.</p>

<p>I like the headstone picture. That little 55mm f1.8 Takumar is a nice lens. I have one too. I use with my K10D.</p>

<p>I change out lenses quite a bit so I have my K10D set to shake at start up. I'm so used to it now, just the normal turn it on shake the crap out, then start taking pictures.</p>

<p>It's a great little lens. Tried one a while back when it first came out. It really gives some nice images. I like the color and depth of the images here. That f/2.8 is great for low light.</p>

<p>Looks like you got another fine entry level camera there Ned. Photos look great. I'm glad to see that you post here and get a chance to read some of our postings. I've learned plenty from Pentax photographers here and their passion for the brand. I've had my K10D for a few years now and I'd like to continue with the brand, so I've got my eye on the K7.</p>