attack_donut
member
Reged: 16/12/2006
Posts: 135
Loc: East Coast
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I'm in need of one for my GX-1L, I'm really confused by all the nominclature out there (DG? EX? FA?) and could use some guidance.
I would like a really sharp lens, I have some dedicated macro lenses for my k1000 that function in manual mode just fine on my dSLR, but the other lenses I own range from modest to downright fuzzy when it counts, and I feel i'm at the skill level where this is holding me back...
Suggestions/comments are welcome.
Cheers!
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Storms arise and eclipse the sun, the march of kings has begun.
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johnriley1uk
addict
Reged: 08/06/2006
Posts: 436
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The SMC Pentax-DA 16-45mm f4 is a superb lens at a currently very modest price.
The SMC Pentax-FA 24-90mm is also superb if you can find one.
FA lenses cover the full 35mm frame. DA lenses cover the reduced image circle of the APS-C sized sensor.
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Best regards
John Riley
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5991
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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The Sigma 17-70 (25 to 105 Equivalent) is a good quality lens at a reasonable price. It has been well recommended on here by several Forum members including me.
see this
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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The Sigma and Tamron 18-50 f2.8 lenses have plenty positive comments on these forums. Sigma's 17-70 is also a very capable performer.
If you're not set on a zoom then prime lenses are always top performers with that old favourite the 50mm still being amazing value for money in image quality.
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5991
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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Prime lenses wear your shoes out quicker....
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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Done&rundleCams
Senior Member
Reged: 20/12/2001
Posts: 16748
Loc: Vancouver, BC
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Quote:
Prime lenses wear your shoes out quicker....
buy cheap shoes and lots of them
Jack
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Life is a Photo-op
MY BLOG: www.nakedmanonawire.blogspot.com
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attack_donut
member
Reged: 16/12/2006
Posts: 135
Loc: East Coast
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Thank you kindly.
I do have a pair of dedicated (prime) pentax macros for my old k1000. A 100/f4 and a 50/f2.8 (I think it's 2.8) which are nice lenses, but the 100/f4 is all manual and I don't think the aperture will properly adjust (in other words, I can manually set it to 22, but I'm not seeing any difference between f22 and f4) whereas the 50 is an "a" and will adjust DoF nicely.
Can these things be used for anything other than macro? in other words, can they be used as an "everyday" lens?
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Storms arise and eclipse the sun, the march of kings has begun.
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Monobod
'Phantom' of the forum!
Reged: 03/04/2003
Posts: 5991
Loc: Just West of Norwich, Norfolk
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Yes, I have the Pentax 100mm F/2.8 Macro (1:1) lens and it is fine for portraits or enything else, see here:
Flickr Page 7
All of the boat and river shots along the Wey are taken with this lens.
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David.
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Photos hosted by Flickr.
www.flickr.com/photos/monobod/
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I see the world thro' a viewfinder, but the world watches me via CCTV!
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9463
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Quote:
but the 100/f4 is all manual and I don't think the aperture will properly adjust (in other words, I can manually set it to 22, but I'm not seeing any difference between f22 and f4) whereas the 50 is an "a" and will adjust DoF nicely.
IIRC, and I'm sure a proper Pentaxer will be along to confirm or deny, but with fully manual lenses yo have to go into the custom menu and find a particular function which is called something like 'Enable Aperture Ring'... When set to the correct value I think this then allows the camera to read the position of the aperture ring when metering and to stop the lens down to the correct aperture on exposure.
HTH
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is better than one in the cupboard........
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Zou
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/02/2007
Posts: 2117
Loc: Edinburgh
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Quote:
Quote:
but the 100/f4 is all manual and I don't think the aperture will properly adjust (in other words, I can manually set it to 22, but I'm not seeing any difference between f22 and f4) whereas the 50 is an "a" and will adjust DoF nicely.
IIRC, and I'm sure a proper Pentaxer will be along to confirm or deny, but with fully manual lenses yo have to go into the custom menu and find a particular function which is called something like 'Enable Aperture Ring'... When set to the correct value I think this then allows the camera to read the position of the aperture ring when metering and to stop the lens down to the correct aperture on exposure.
HTH
Indeed. The OP's Samsumg is basically a K100D (I believe) - so go to the custom settings menu, enable aperture ring, and set preview to 'proper' stop down, rather than 'digital preview.' Then, in M mode (can't speak for the others 'cos I don't use them) set aperture on lens, quick twist the on/off switch to the right, and the lens stops down. It'll show the 'correct' exposure (centre weighted mode) as 0.0 or over/under exposure as anything between -3.0 and 3.0. Adjust as desired. I have set the AE-L button to quick shift the shutter speed to the 'correct' value for my given aperture. This works really well, much quicker than this description would make it sound. 
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Zou's Flickr Page
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welshwizard645
addict
Reged: 29/09/2006
Posts: 439
Loc: Out of my mind
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Quote:
Indeed. The OP's Samsumg is basically a K100D (I believe)
It's actually the *ist DL2 , but I guess there is not much difference in the user interface between the DL and K100D/S....
The OP likes his 2.8 lenses, and my DA*16-50 is sharp...That's what I would recommend. BUT, here's the BUT, to get the best of the DA* lenses you have to have the K100D Super, K10D, K20D or K200D (for SDM)...
If you can find one the FA 24-90 is Superb (FA is Pentax's line of film SLR AF lenses). The Sigma DC 17-70 has its fans. I have a Sigma EX 24-70 (EX is Sigma's pro line) which is a really good lens.
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welshwizard645
addict
Reged: 29/09/2006
Posts: 439
Loc: Out of my mind
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Quote:
Quote:
but the 100/f4 is all manual and I don't think the aperture will properly adjust (in other words, I can manually set it to 22, but I'm not seeing any difference between f22 and f4) whereas the 50 is an "a" and will adjust DoF nicely.
IIRC, and I'm sure a proper Pentaxer will be along to confirm or deny, but with fully manual lenses yo have to go into the custom menu and find a particular function which is called something like 'Enable Aperture Ring'... When set to the correct value I think this then allows the camera to read the position of the aperture ring when metering and to stop the lens down to the correct aperture on exposure.
HTH
Yes, you can do that, it's an easy thing to do to allow the camera to use pre-A lenses....
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attack_donut
member
Reged: 16/12/2006
Posts: 135
Loc: East Coast
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Huh-
Had the M setting set in the BIOS of the camera, but didn't know about the turning to the right of the on/off switch, that makes all the difference. Thanks!
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Storms arise and eclipse the sun, the march of kings has begun.
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