So what treasures came out of the boxes under your christmas trees?

jazzman · 12-27-2007, 03:51 PM

After lurking around the forum for a while and reading peoples stories about lenses, I bit the bullet and got the tamron 18-250 and the DA* 50-135 in one go

.

For me the real treasure will have to be the Tamron 18-250

. I really didn't know what to expect and yet here I am just drooling over it. Wow. I am so so pleased with myself for getting this lens. The DA* 50-135, may be it is still a case of post-shopping depression but I have not yet dropped my jaw. It is impressive yes, but I am still waiting for its wow moment.

So, I will now gladly say goodbye to the DA 50-200, and the DA 16-45 and replace these with the Tamrom 18-250. This plus the DA* 50-135 and the FA 35 and FA 50 1.4 will be my gear.

I am look forward to reading stories of what people got in their boxes.

*Canada_Rockies* · 12-27-2007, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by jazzman

After lurking around the forum for a while and reading peoples stories about lenses, I bit the bullet and got the tamron 18-250 and the DA* 50-135 in one go .

For me the real treasure will have to be the Tamron 18-250 . I really didn't know what to expect and yet here I am just drooling over it. Wow. I am so so pleased with myself for getting this lens. The DA* 50-135, may be it is still a case of post-shopping depression but I have not yet dropped my jaw. It is impressive yes, but I am still waiting for its wow moment.

So, I will now gladly say goodbye to the DA 50-200, and the DA 16-45 and replace these with the Tamrom 18-250. This plus the DA* 50-135 and the FA 35 and FA 50 1.4 will be my gear.

I am look forward to reading stories of what people got in their boxes.

Won't you miss the 16-18mm part of the range? That's huge.

Tyler · 12-27-2007, 04:12 PM

I got a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 from my dad a bit before Christmas and also got a Pentax AF360 flash too on christmas day. I had no clue I was getting it. I started opening the box and saw a little silver box with big red letters on it and instantly knew it was something from pentax. I thought it was a lens at first but was equally happy when I saw it was the flash. Can't wait to really use it.

Mr Hyde · 12-27-2007, 04:16 PM

Well there was one lens under the tree this year. I bought it for my wife. I gave her the DA* 50-135mm. She also has a K10D.

I'm just a bit puzzled by her gifts to me however.... she gave me a book and an oven thermometer :/

*Sailor* · 12-27-2007, 04:36 PM

I got the Pentax version of the 18-250, and I'm pretty impressed as well. I also have a DA 16-45 and 50-200; originally I thought I'd keep them both. I assumed that image quality of the 16-45 would be superior, but now I'm not so sure. I have a feeling my "standard" kit will now be DA 18-250, DA 10- 17 FE and FA 35/2. We'll see.

Jer

Nesster · 12-27-2007, 05:13 PM

My birthday is 4 days before, and it was a Round Number so I got plenty of loot: a Slik DX700 (or whatever the exact name is) tripod, a Crumpler bag, and the big surprise: a 70 Limited lens.

But to be honest, even more exciting were two books under the tree: a huge Bernice Abbot / Eugene Atget tome with tons of Atget photos... and the 1938 edition of Miniature Camera Work book. This second one is awesome - it has pages and pages of ads (for example, multi page Zeiss and Leica catalogs), plus articles on several aspects of photography, plus what looks to be hundreds of chemistry formulas for developers and such, plus lighting tutorial, plus plus plus... Back in '38, what's now called Medium Format was lumped in with 35mm as Miniature.

Well, I am pretty stoked about the 70.

ps. and I did manage to end up with a working Spotmatic 1000 and 35/3.5 SMC Takumar as part of my putting together a near mint Spotmatic setup for brother in law's present. But that's a side benefit.

*Fl_Gulfer* · 12-27-2007, 08:39 PM

We don't exchage gifts we just buy what ever we want when we want it so I bought the Tamron 18-250 and she got new livingroom furniture, and we both got money from her mother.
Looks like you guys got what you wanted too. My B-Day is the 10th of next month and I want a 10-17 fisheye.
Is it a good lens?

SpecialK · 12-27-2007, 09:15 PM

A refurbished open-box laptop that I loaded my Pentax software and editing software on for processing and burning while away from home. At least, that's how I rationalized it.

Mechan1k · 12-28-2007, 04:04 AM

I had a nice shiny FA50 f/1.4 sitting under the tree for me.
Happy days.

*clawhammer* · 12-28-2007, 03:40 PM

likewise, Mechan1k. Been really happy with it so far. Made a great party lens with all the nieces and nephews over at my place that evening. Just wish it was a little wider, but I'll get used to it. Love the bokeh I get from it.

rormeister · 12-28-2007, 04:42 PM

My long awaited unveiling of a new K10D (body only) happened on Christmas Eve. Not too worried to be w/o lenses as I have my M42 50/1.4, 28/3.5 and 135/3.5. Got to play a little with them (WOW) before settling in for my long winter's nap. Following morning arrived a shiny Sigma 17-70. But the shock for me was PS CS3. Mrs Claus must really want her web site cleaned up

This was more fun than soloing with my first drivers license.

Cheers, will post first pics as soon as the sun shines (Seattle)

Jodokast96 · 12-28-2007, 04:56 PM

Even though it wasn't a surprise, I received a Lowepro Slingshot AW300. I don't have a lot of gear, but this lets me keep everything together in one place. And until I get more, it can hold all of my video camera stuff too.

*TomInJax* · 12-30-2007, 05:43 PM

How about an after-Christmas gift to myself? I decided that I needed a lens that would replace some older, mediocre gear. So I ordered the DA* 50-135! I am still suffering sticker shock, but I have several old lenses on eBay right now to pay for about 1/3 of it.

Wish me luck!

PaulAndAPentax · 12-30-2007, 06:13 PM

I got a Cokin P Filter holder. I also got Hi Tech .3 and .6 ND Grad filters to fit the holder. I also got an IOU for the new cam coming out next year.....very exciting! (pending any unforseen budget constraints) I received "Digital Photography for Dummies" (I really needed that!) and a book called "Bird, A Definitive Guide" by Audubon. Very exciting stuff!

FastPhotography · 12-30-2007, 06:32 PM

I don't have the money for a 70-200/2.8 or anything like that...I got some Cokin filters though! And a gift card to a camera shop!
That means it's $40 less that I will have to spend on the k20d! hehe