benhai_zhang1

<p>FYI. I just bite a push pull version of 80-200mm 2.8 ED AFD lens in BGN condition at keh. Filter ring damaged. It is $379.</p>

<p>I am happy ^_^</p>

<p>I had the 18-70mm with D70 for a long time before they were stolen. Smaller aperture works really good through not as good as primes. Now I'm using a 35mm 1.8G. Let's see if I can used to move my foot to zoom. I think the meaningful update would be primes or f2.8 zooms if you cares very much about picture sharpness and clarity at max aperture. By the way, the used price is ridiculous now. </p>

<p>Enjoy!<br>

^_^</p>

<p>Thanks for all of the inputs! For Pentax camera, it seems I have to shoot in raw to get most of the capability out.<br>

I enjoy browsing local ad. and email questions. Wish my camera will come across soon.</p>

<p>I don't like ebay. I sometimes get rid stuff on ebay. I sell them cheap cause I don't like them but they are still useful. I bought stuff from ebay too. Sometime really good stuff but another half are really bad. I still have a pile of trash from ebay.<br>

I prefer an used K10D cause I like the color from it. My stolen D70 used CCD sensor as well. Personally I prefer CCD sensors.<br>

Sometimes people sells their K10D locally around $300. Is it a good price?</p>

<p>Hi, Friends!<br>

I'm looking for an used K10D or K20D or K7. What's a fair price for a good one? What should I check before I pay? I'm planning to buy from private party.<br>

Thanks!<br>

Ben</p>

<p>My sca is M 3702. Cause I have a M2 3402 for Nikon(older as well). M version won't enable P-TTL.</p>

<p>I have a AF280T in mint condition cosmetically but it doesn't work now. So I got this Metz. Trying to find the best optimal usage of it. I see there is still some room to improve by EV compensation or pure manual control. One thing I noticed that Metz naturally gives pictures a golden cast which makes you feel very warm. I can remove that easily by using photoshop.</p>

<p>Yes! So far it works great for me! The A mode is much better than the P-TTL(personal oppinion). I think only Nikon flash can beat Metz. If I realize this earlier I could buy the metz 54 mz-3 with the sca m 3702. This can save me about $70 at KEH.</p>

<p>The problem is the sca 3702 module. On my SCA, it marked as "M 3702". So it is not M2 module? Keh just labeled this as M2. Shame on KEH. I do love the current result in A mode.</p>

<p>^_^</p>

<p>I am using FA 28-70mm F4 lens. Aperture is set on A. Sorry I don't have much time to spend on camera now, so I can't test anything now. Based on several pictures I got from P-TTL, they are all over exposed. Looks like the flash uses its full power. While in the A mode, everything just works fine. The flash can auto zoom, display the aperture I am using on camera(I don't have to set anything on the flash). It even displays some number like 13m, 17m(not sure what's that). Now I feel there is not much need to figure out P-TTL. Metz A mode works much nicer than I thought.</p>

<div></div>

<p>I have a small problem with this flash. I can't get the p-ttl work. I have the sca 3702 m2 module with it. I can perfectly using it in A mode. But when I switch it to TTL mode, it just fires at the full power. Though I don't insist on the p-ttl must work perfectly, I'm curious to know what's going on here? People curious to compare the two modes.</p>

<p>By A and TTL mode, the aperture, iso, distance, information are displayed on Metz. So I think the sca 3702 m2 module does it job.</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>Hi Douglas:</p>

<p>I'm in the process of getting my dreamed setup. I'm keep trying and hopefully I can end up with a dream set quickly. Yes, AF does help. I can get good result from the kit lens. But I just wish to use MF lens to get better IQ with less money.So far the picture quality from this pentax-m 50mm f1.4 is very pleasant. I might try a lens. I am ok with a lens cause I have no problem with m42 lens but m42 do hurt my eyes a lot.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Seems that's the thing I have to live with m lenses :)<br>

Thanks,<br>

Benhai</p>

<p>Hi, friends:</p>

<p>I have an interesting problem when using Pentax-m lens on K-x with kids. When I use the green button to do step down metering, every kids think I'm down and try to leave or change poses. So how would you solve this problem? What I can think of is fully manual without metering. But sometimes this trick would give you unexpected memorials as well ^_^.</p>

<p>Thanks, - Benhai</p>

<p>Markus,<br>

Yes, with lens hood, they are beautiful! Below are the lenses with hood I sold not long ago.<br>

http://picasaweb.google.com/Benhai.Zhang/Pentax_gear#</p>

<p>Andrew, I think it probably the flares. Cause I can see the originals have more light cast compared to the old Nikkors lenses I used before.I think SMC pentax should be better.</p>

<p>Markus, there are many Takumar lenses pop up locally in my area not expensive(around $100 for 2 - 3 Takumars). The boy's picture is one of the good shot I got with it at zoo. Since I am always shoot my kids, so focusing and exposure at the same time is challenging. For exposure I have to +0.7 ~ 1.5 for the Takumar 135mm f2.5 several times to get it right. I like to use the super takumar 28mm f3.5. I sold all 4 of my Takumars already. I'm searching for pentax-a lenses now. Maybe you can let me know which Takumar you are interested in and maybe I can find one locally for an exchange with you someday.</p>

<p>Hi Michael:</p>

<p>Sorry I might just be too picky sometimes! I'm not intended to be angry. I should control my temper ^_^. Actually the build quality of Takumar lenses are superb. They are better than Nikon I used. As to the optical quality, I can still tell the color loss or differences with the Nikon lenses I used before. I had a Nikkor AF 70-210m constant F4 and a Nikkor 50-135mm f3.5. They both can produce more vivid or brighter color than Takumar 135mm f2.5. I'd guess the Nikkor I had are newer than the Takumar. I used to use Zenit 122, Russian made m42 camera. That camera's step dowm metering is integrated with the shutter. When I half press the shutter the lens step down. I never had an issue with that camera with screw mount lenses. When I use m42 on Pentax DSLR, there is about 1/8 turn off the normal position, so the Auto switch on the Takumars happen to be right under the the Prism. It is not quite convinent to switch. So I end up with setting the lens in auto mode to step down all the time. This really hurts my eyes a lot.</p>

<p>The super Takumar do seem very easy to get more unwanted lights. I don't mind using manual focus lenses, so I'd try some pentax-a lenses later. I think they should give me better results.</p>

<p>Regards,<br>

Ben</p>

<p>FYI, Here is a picture from Super Takumar 135mm f2.5. It's good but not the best lens I've used.</p>

<p>http://picasaweb.google.com/Benhai.Zhang/PentaxKX?authkey=Gv1sRgCKHklv-x5diaFg#</p>

<p>I am not satisfied with the picture clarity with this Takumar plus the step metering. What's the problem? Those steps for m42 might be great pleasure for some people to use but not for me. Even 40 years ago, do you need to this painful step down metering with your Takumar? If I am not satisfied with one of your favorite then somebody must find out what I did wrong? Actually this is some frustration I have when I switch to Pentax. I normally compare the result with my old Nikon lenses. I think Super Takumar 28mm f3.5 and 50mm f1.4 are good comare to old Nikon lenses.</p>

<p>I sold all my Takumars to a nice guy not long ago very cheap. He is quite happy with the result. I think this is mostly personal taste rather than somebody did things wrong.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I've found that 28mm f3.5 Takumar is almost excellent. 135mm f2.5 takumar is not very good. My eyes got hurt by step down metering and focusing in the past. I might need to try pentax-a prime lenses.</p>

<p>Anthony:</p>

<p>I'm looking at the Pentax-A lenses now. Hope I can have a good collection soon.</p>

<p>Ben</p>

<p>I tried a 16-45mm from a local seller. That lens got extensive use. I checked f4 but I don't see much differences between it and my kit lens at the same f4. It did show lighter color for the black against the kit lens. The differences won't express me for an update.</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences with lenses you used. It seems pentax is good at prime lenses. Not many high quality but inexpensive zoom lenses out there. I may consider one wide angle of their DA line prime or FA line prime sometime later.</p>

<p>I missed a Pentax 35-105mm f3.5 MF lens two weeks ago. After search the internet it seems to be a highly rated old lens. I'd try that if pops up locally again.</p>

<p>I'm trying to find a zoom that covers wide to mid range with f2.8 - f4 with cheap price. So far I haven't convince myself on any. Lenses that in my mind are:<br>

Pentax 16-45mm f4<br>

Pentax 28-70mm f4<br>

Vivitar Series 1 28-90mm or 28-85mm<br>

Tamron 28-75mm f2.8</p>

<p>Any comments on them?</p>

<p>Hi All:</p>

<p>Based on what we are talking or arguing about, it seems I'd need to change my attitude towards FA pentax lenses. I do had lots of old lenses. Even though I just get rid of my Super Takumar lenses, I still have a whole set of m42 russian Zenit 122 lenses from 35mm - 200mm. I still don't want to spend $300 - $400 for only a 50mm 1.4 FA(it's just a starting point). I'd try to get an older f2.8 AF zoom, range from 28-70mm or 16-50mm. I prefer one lens can take care of 90% of job, family photos. So I am searching for a good Vivitar 28-90mm or a Vivitar 28-85mm now.</p>

<p>I think I'd rent a Pentax 16-50mm f2.8 someday to convince myself to spend the money. </p>

<p>Hi Robin:<br>

<em>Benhai Zhang: I have no idea on what basis you say "If you want upgrade to high grade lenses, you'd better stick with Canon or Nikon". Pentax make some of the best lenses in the business, better than Canikon and of a grade at least equal to Zeiss and Leica. This has been confirmed by many people a lot more knowledgeable than myself.</em></p>

<p>Your statement might be true for the best pentax lenses in your mind that can beat Zeiss and Leica. For me I never got the chance to try any Pentax * series primes. There are many cameras that uses Zeiss and Leica lenses namely Sony and Panasonic. How do you think of those modern lenses? From the sample pictures and price tag of them I don't think they are way superior than Canon and Nikon higher grade lenses any more. I'd dought that Zeiss and Leica lenses users would agree with either you and me. For a cheap shooter like me, I can only afford to try Vivitar series 1 MF lens and enjoy myself ^_^.</p>

<p>Two cheap Nikon lens I used to enjoy before they were stolen are nikkor 28mm f3.5($40) and Nikkor 50-135 f3.5($165). Super Takumar or SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5, 50mm f1.4 and 135mm f2.5 are very good but can't pass the two old nikkors I used. We may argu that Tarkumar may not be fully SMC. But SMC lenses are about the same price as Nikon and Canon.</p>

<p>I do impressed with K-x's kit lens at f6.7 and smaller. Now I'm still hesitate to upgrade the kit lens. It's almost free with the body. I got it for $463 in the kit. I'm not 100% satisfied with K-x but for the price tag I'm satisfied. If my wife allow me to spend the extra money, I'd move to Nikon again. Just my personal preference.</p>

<p>Check pictures here.<br>

http://picasaweb.google.com/Benhai.Zhang/KXWithKit1855mm#</p>