[lazyeye]

Hi ppl,

First post.
I just bought a P30n and I'm thinking of maybe looking for a (used) wide angle lens for it. The manual says the appropriate mount for the camera is KA. But I'd like some advice before I decide on anything. I must admit I'm a little confused about the variety of stuff that's available out there. So, what would be a good quality wa lens for this camera?

Thank you

[k100d]

how about the M28 3.5? solid build, smooth focus ring and nice and sharp
should be able to be found for about $60 to $80

[Peter Zack]

Welcome to the forums. I'd suggest something more like this: Pentax Lens Review Database - 28mm F2.8

Get an "A" series lens for that camera. The metering works better and easier. Plus if you switch to a digital, you will have better control on those cameras as well.

[lazyeye]

thanks both of you.
I gather the 28mm 3.5 is kind of hard to find. I'll be on the look out for both.

Say, a neophyte question (perhaps a tad off topic): if a lens is 3.5 (or 2.8), I understand we're talking f-stops here (do we?), but what does this indicate exactly?
I'm a total noob in terms of optics.

Henri

[Peter Zack]

These 2 lenses are both discountinued but you can find them used at various places like our marketplace here, KEh and Ebay as well as other places.

There are also some third party lenses that might suit your needs The tamron and vivitar 19-35mm zoom comes to mind as well as the Pentax FA J 18-35mm.

As for f stops the smaller the number, the faster the lens and better in low light situations. So from f 8 one stop higher (brighter) would be f5.6 and one stop darker would be f11. A full stop scale is the following: 1.4 2.0 2.8 4 5.6 8 11 16 22

here is a link to the Tamron:
Google Image Result for http://photo.net/equipment/tamron/17_35_Di/17mm_real.jpg

[j0n4hpk]

Hi community

About the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens, I REALLY need an answer to the following question: If I mount the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens (I know there’s no aperture ring on it) on a PENTAX LX or KX 35mm film SLR body, will the aperture stay wide-open, closed down or in between by default? Has anyone tried this?

[Andi Lo]

There's an F 28 in the marketplace last time I checked. I keep getting conflicting reports on whether the FA or F is better though. Either way you probably don't lose as there are happy owners from both camps.

@j0n4hpk: IINM it's wide open all the time. I'm honestly not familiar with KX and LX but if it works like the MZ-L (it probably does) regarding metering M lenses, it should be wide open all the time as you change the aperture, only this time you actually cant change the aperture. Cheers.

[Peter Zack]

Hi community

About the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens, I REALLY need an answer to the following question: If I mount the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens (I know there’s no aperture ring on it) on a PENTAX LX or KX 35mm film SLR body, will the aperture stay wide-open, closed down or in between by default? Has anyone tried this?

Unless the body has the electrical contacts (like a PZ series body) the lens will stay wide open and you have no aperture controls. So on both the cameras you listed, it will only work at max aperture. You need a lens with an aperture ring for full control.

[troyz]

Hi community

About the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens, I REALLY need an answer to the following question: If I mount the FAJ 18-35mm zoom lens (I know there’s no aperture ring on it) on a PENTAX LX or KX 35mm film SLR body, will the aperture stay wide-open, closed down or in between by default? Has anyone tried this?

Views wide-open, exposes fully-stopped-down on anything earlier than an A-series body. Quite useless.