[tweet25]

I am fairly new to this so i hope my question(s) doesn't sound too stupid.

I have a Kr (got 3 months ago)

it came with a 18-55 lens - I also have an older 80-320 and 35-80 (these went with my old 35 mm) (i find that i sometimes get a big delay or my camera won't shoot with the 80-320) any info on why this happens would be great too!

i really enjoy taking photos of my grandchildren, sitting, playing and soon i imagine in sport and dance.
What lens (or lenses) should i have???

also I am looking for a Remote control F 37377 (I have tried 3 different sites and 2 stores) and no luck. Are there any good sites to purchase this from? Canadain perfered, I did try a US site and they wanted 92.00 for shipping.
thank you

[Captmatt]

If it were me, I would sell those two lenses, and buy a 55-300mm DA Pentax lens, designed for digital. Unfortunately I have heard of frequent problems using non digital era lenses on the Kr/KX cameras. You can probably get around 125.00 for the two on here under buy/sell or Ebay, and pick up the 55-300mm for about 350.00 new, or the less expensive 55-300mm DA-L, which is the same lens optically, just has a plastic lens mount and you can't manually focus without switching to manual on the camera. The DA-L version goes for about 250 new, and both can be found for sale on this site or through BH Photo. Bh Photo will generally ship to Canada reasonably if you choose USPS for delivery, sometimes Amazon works well for that too. Anyway, that is my two cents worth.

[Philoslothical]

Welcome to the forums. Last point first, you can get a knock off remote on Ebay for $5 that will do the job just fine. They are not a complicated piece of electronics. If you're really worried about quality, order two different ones (it'd still amount to about $10 including shipping).

What series is the 80-320? What camera mode are you using with it?
Edit: I guess that'd be the FA 80-320. First thing would be thoroughly clean the contacts with a dry, lint free cloth. Beyond that... there are some known issues with this lens, especially if it's the black version. Check the reviews on the link.

There is a DA 35mm f./2.4 AL available very cheaply right now. It's a very sharp lens for not much money. It sounds ideal for you. If you're looking for something long like your 80-320, the DA 55-300 is a good zoom. The DA-L version is fine too, difference being a plastic mount, no hood (you can get it separately) and no Quick Shift (which is a nice feature).

[Marc Sabatella]

The delay you mention is probably just the time it takes the camera to focus - telephoto lenses usually are slower to focus than shorter lenses.

[Verglace]

Agree on the DA 35mm 2.4. Its cheap and is great, cheap and can be compared to the limiteds in terms of IQ. Once you put it on you will find that it stays on a lot of time, its like magnet.

[tweet25]

Thank you ! - i have been finding that Amazon says 'sorry don't ship to your area" i will look at the reviews on the lens.

the only marks i can find on the 80 - 320 mm is SMC Pentax-FA1: 4.5 - 5.6 - It is an older lens, i have been getting some good photos with it, but it is heavy and slow.
thanks again

[tweet25]

ok so it turns out B & H will ship and not at an outragous price. I will go with the DA 35mm f.2.4 AL. I have the 18 - 55 (that is the one i bought when i got my camera) I hope this new lens will have a noticable difference. I guess when sports start i will go with the 55-300 - will the DA 55-300 go with my K-r? thank you all very much - fast forward 10 years and I may be able to answer somebody elses questions

[SpecialK]

I will go with the DA 35mm f.2.4 AL. I have the 18 - 55 (that is the one i bought when i got my camera) I hope this new lens will have a noticable difference. I guess when sports start i will go with the 55-300 - will the DA 55-300 go with my K-r? thank you all very much - fast forward 10 years and I may be able to answer somebody elses questions

The 35 should be noticeably sharper and of course it is faster. The 55-300 will work on your camera.

[Captmatt]

Amazon Canada- Amazon.ca should have the lenses too. Just curious, is it the duty/VAT that makes the Canadian Amazon less desireable? Matt

[Philoslothical]

will the DA 55-300 go with my K-r?

Every K mount lens ever is compatible with the K-r, or any Pentax DSLR, and pretty much functional at their original specs. So, AF lenses will still AF, auto aperture lenses (A series) still have that capability, etc. M and K series lenses you need to use in M mode, with the green button to meter, but it's not bad.

Any K mount lens from other brands like Sigma and Tamron will work just fine, too.

Amazon Canada- Amazon.ca should have the lenses too. Just curious, is it the duty/VAT that makes the Canadian Amazon less desireable? Matt

14% tax here. Considering it doesn't apply to U.S. purchases, and (in my experience) they don't usually charge a duty on small packages, it's a significant savings (enough to risk that they might charge a duty on it). On more expensive gear they are probably more aggressive about collecting duties.

It should also be noted that it's generally cheaper for me to have a package shipped from California (or anywhere U.S.) than from a few cities over, in Canada. Canada Post is just outrageous for shipping within Canada.

[jatrax]

Canada Post is just outrageous for shipping within Canada.

On the other hand the US postal service lost somewhere around $5 billion last year.

[RioRico]

On the other hand the US postal service lost somewhere around $5 billion last year.

And that's due to a congressionally-mandated pension-funding scheme -- but that's a political point and I'll go no further.

Some good lens recommendations above. The DA35/2.4 is a good fairly-cheap option. I find myself shooting the squirmin' vermin (grandkids) with variously the kit DA18-55 or super DA18-250 or the old F35-70 when light is good. In lower light it's the FA50/1.4 (my gotta-get-the-shot lens), or the manual-focus Vivitar-Kiron 24/2 or a modded Nikkor 85/2.

[Philoslothical]

but that's a political point and I'll go no further.

Haha, I've been biting my tongue here since jatrax mentioned that.

I know I can come off as a little bit opinionated sometimes, didn't want to do that to this thread.

[tweet25]

Amazon Canada- Amazon.ca should have the lenses too. Just curious, is it the duty/VAT that makes the Canadian Amazon less desireable? Matt

I find most of the time at Amazon Canada it say 'unavailable to ship to your area' .. so I quit looking - also I got the lens from B & H and even with duty and shipping it is still less than shipping and HST.

[Captmatt]

Thanks, Always wondered why I had so many Canadian customers on Ebay. Matt