Calling all Pentax DSLR users.

Hmm it seems Pentax has decided to up the ante in driving me insane.

Now they are offering a cash back deal on the K20D, well they have been for a while but I only just noticed now.

Which means I can get a new K20D with kit lens for £480

Bringing the price difference between a used and guarantee less K10D and a new K20D with 2 year warranty down to £215

It's still a sizeable difference but the gains are significant too;

Higher resolution - This does not really draw me
Lower noise at high iso's - This is interesting
CMOS instead of CCD - Even though I can argue against it, it would still be very very nice to have.

Anything else I missed out?

[edit] Oh yeah, live view - now THAT I have no use for whatsoever.
And bigger screen, not really a big issue either, I don't like chimping and 2.5" is fine for showing a histogram.

What is this "Expanded dynamic range function" and did the K10D have that too?

Are focusing screens still the same or has this gotten harder on the K20D? Remember that split prism is important to me.

//J
 
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Another plus for the K20D over the K10D is the ability to fine-tune the camera auto-focus system individually for each Pentax auto-focus lens you use. This is not such an important factor if you plan to use mainly manual-focus lenses, but it was the deciding factor in my decision to upgrade from the K10D to the K20D. I can now use my lenses with total confidence that they will focus where I want them to.

The live-view function may be useful for critical focusing with the older manual-focus lenses.
 
I have only used the K100 Super (that I bought for my dad-in-law last Xmas) and was incredibly impressed. I wish I could afford one.
The camera handles great, is very responsive and the menus/ionterface was extremely easy to navigate.

I put some old K-M and M42 lenses on it and just shoot away, even at 1/2 second (with SR) and got good results.
The colors are pleasing and the overall image quality was excellent.

Re: the Takumar 50/1.4 is a very special lens, it is excellent when sharpness is not an issue, otherwise get the 55/1.8 which is razor-sharp.
If your takumar 50/1.4 is yellow, put it in a windowsill facing south for a few days, the UV light clears the yellowing away.

dpreview has a review of the new Pentax 50/1.4 which I believe to be an update of the old design.
 
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snip said:
Why on earth did you sell it?

I've got my eye on this PORST thing, it's 55/1.2 anyone have any experience with that?

Also, how much better are Super Taks than SMC-M's or SMC-A's ? Or are they in fact the same? I'm a little confused here. I seem to believe that Tak's are all M42

//Jan
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I didn't need eight 50mm lenses. :) I still have an SMC Takumar 50/1.4 and a 55/1.8 Super Tak left. To be honest, I don't find myself using that focal length much so will probably just keep the SMC 50/1.4 since it's an eight-bladed beast with gorgeous rendering and in absolutely perfect condition. My "normal" fast lens is the Sigma 30/1.4 which gives a field of view close to that of a 50mm lens on a 35mm camera.

A lot of the post-Takumar lenses are virtually the same optically. The Taks are legendary because of their amazing build quality and impossible-to-beat manual focusing. :) If you haven't used one, you won't understand until you do; the focusing ring is so smooth and well damped...

And yes, they are all M42 mount. You will need a genuine Pentax adapter or one identical to it; many of the cheaper M42->K adapters have a flange which messes up infinity focus. The flange->sensor/film distance is the same on M42 as for K-mount so the lens needs to sit flush.
 
Right then, on my desk right now is a refurbished K10D that I got from Pentax UK

In a box I have not opened and which I will likely not open any time soon is the kit lens that they gave me for free (I only ordered and paid for a body)

Sitting in the throat of the camera is a PORST 55/1.2, I couldn't resist a max. aperture of f/1.2 I'll post later when I have had a chance to take some pictures with it.

I have an M42 adaptor on order but I would prefer to get a few K mount's so I can use the "automatic stop down metering" feature (the green button)

So I'm thinking of getting a 24 and a 35mm (36 and 52.5 equiv.) Which K mount's in this length are the most powerful happiness inducers known to Pentax user kind?

//J
 
Hey, congrats, snip. I have the new-ish 35mm DA limited macro, and I think it's great. A wonderful walkaround lens, and the macro function is superb.

I'm curious about the Porst! I've watched a few on eBay but have never taken the leap. I ended up getting the Canon 50/1.2 rangefinder lens instead, since I use my RF gear more often than my SLR.
 
mabelsound said:
Hey, congrats, snip. I have the new-ish 35mm DA limited macro, and I think it's great. A wonderful walkaround lens, and the macro function is superb.

I'm curious about the Porst! I've watched a few on eBay but have never taken the leap. I ended up getting the Canon 50/1.2 rangefinder lens instead, since I use my RF gear more often than my SLR.
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Well as I mostly want to use this camera to take snapshots of my daughter to send overseas through the interwebs for her grandparents and great grandparents to look at and say "aaaw" It seemed like a good focal length and the large aperture would make it ideal for a bit of night time stal^h^H "grab shooting" *ahem*


Yeah that 35 DA Limited looks nice. Bit expensive though, how big is it? Is it heavy?


I still think I'll stick to the oldies, I should be able to get a 35/2 and a 200/4 for less than £100.

I can always concentrate on getting a wide angle some other time, wide angle and SLR don't really mix that well for me anyway and I have the 15,21,25 and of course a fast 35mm on my rangefinder kit anyway.

The whole point of getting rid of my 5D and all the other bits was to get away from using SLR's, or rather having SLR's that I never used.

//Jan
 
et the k10 if i had too I would sell all i have and only have the k10. I couldn't be happier with it. Gotten shots blown to 8x10 that look very good to my eyes cant tell a difference between it and more expensive dslrs.
 
The 35mm DA is a superb lens, and goes to 1:1 macro without any adapters or extensions! The downside is that it's a little costly, but extremely well built. A slightly less expensive option would be the FA 35/2 which is very sharp.

For 24mm range, might I suggest the 21mm DA Limited if you're ok with paying the premium for it? I just got mine a few days back and it's blowing me away with its wonderful colors and detail.

You mention the 200/4, which is also a nice piece of glass. I have one but selling it since I never really use it; 200mm prime is just too long for me.
 
cmedin said:
The 35mm DA is a superb lens, and goes to 1:1 macro without any adapters or extensions! The downside is that it's a little costly, but extremely well built. A slightly less expensive option would be the FA 35/2 which is very sharp.

For 24mm range, might I suggest the 21mm DA Limited if you're ok with paying the premium for it? I just got mine a few days back and it's blowing me away with its wonderful colors and detail.

You mention the 200/4, which is also a nice piece of glass. I have one but selling it since I never really use it; 200mm prime is just too long for me.
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I think we have a case of crossed wires here, I'm talking about old manual focus lenses. not expensive new auto focus ones :)

I'm looking to spend around £100 on a 35/2 (possibly a 35/2.8) and a 135/2.8 or a 200/4

//J
 
First, get the K20D-it addresses 95% of the faults of the K10D. Second, if thinking 35mm, get the new 35/f2.8 Macro. Go over to The Online Photographer and search for the reviews about both the K20D and 35/f2.8 Macro and see what two highly respected pro shooters say about both (Mike Johnston and Carl Weese). The extra $$$ for the combo is well worth it. They're so RF in their size, usage, etc. you could almost forget you're shooting a DSLR! *o)
 
Hope no one minds me jumping in here but is there an adapter to mount P645 lenses on the DSLR's?

If so can the P645 AF lenses AF on the DSLRs?

Take care,

JIm
 
shop M42, K mount is nice, but unless you go A (which are still pricey) you do have to use the green button. Not that bad a deal, but with the M42 lenses you can use aperture priority and fire away. Most M42 lenses are cheap too.
 
you can fit Pentax 645 (and even 6x7) lenses on the Pentax 35mm and dSLR bodies - but manual focus only as no links.

probably not worth doing much as so many good 42mm and Kmount lenses available and the adapters are expensive

Here's another vote for the pentax or samsung d10 or 20 and all the wonderful old lenses - it's now time for some enterprising manufacturer to bring out a "no-frills" digital slr body in a variety of lens mounts so we can all use our collections of old slr lenses - it wouldn't be too hard for Cosina or one of the Chinese contractors.
 
MacDaddy said:
First, get the K20D-it addresses 95% of the faults of the K10D. Second, if thinking 35mm, get the new 35/f2.8 Macro. Go over to The Online Photographer and search for the reviews about both the K20D and 35/f2.8 Macro and see what two highly respected pro shooters say about both (Mike Johnston and Carl Weese). The extra $$$ for the combo is well worth it. They're so RF in their size, usage, etc. you could almost forget you're shooting a DSLR! *o)
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Sorry, already got the K10D and I won't be spending that much on glass, the whole point of this exercise was to move away from using expensive gear for what is essentially just snap shots.

So far I got the K10D and a PORST 55/1.2, oh and the kit lens that Pentax send me for free even though I did not order or pay for it but that has been returned to the box and is in the cupboard.

//Jan
 
rover said:
shop M42, K mount is nice, but unless you go A (which are still pricey) you do have to use the green button. Not that bad a deal, but with the M42 lenses you can use aperture priority and fire away. Most M42 lenses are cheap too.
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I'm going to, unfortunately we made it into December before I managed to source anything good and even an adaptor (already have a fair bit of M42 glass)*

I also need a split prism I've figured, it's too hard to focus in low light with the standard screen.

On a sidenote, I would have liked to have had auto iso available in M mode, it seems like a clever function after a bit of thinking, normally I shun all things automatic, but this seems clever.

M42 on Av solves this I guess. however focusing will become hard beyond f/8 I guess.


*I don't buy anything for myself in December, only presents, and every time I find myself thinking of buying something for myself that I don't really need I donate £10 to charity, December can be a very expensive month for me.


//Jan
 
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