[Andrew Faires]

The only off-brand lens I had was a Tamron 70-300 f/4-5.6 APO Macro (older version), which I traded in to get the 10-17 fish-eye. Since then, I've only got Pentax glass. However, I keep looking at the UWA's from Sigma and Tamron. I suspect I may cave in within the next year if Pentax doesn't get something out there in the 10-11mm range.

[K-9]

It would also be interesting to run the poll at the end of the year asking people what they bought more of during the year, but limit it to new retail lenses to see what the ratio is.

Have another poll for new versus previously loved lenses to see if people are using the backwards comparability to their advantage. I'm probably 2/3 used with1/3 new.

Thank you
Russell

Well, this was the year I sold off my 3rd party lenses and went all Pentax. Mostly because I was switching from zooms to primes and most of my zooms were 3rd party. Nothing against 3rd party primes, as I just happened to find good buys on Pentax primes. I am still looking for a 3rd party wide angle, probably a 24mm.

[SylBer]

I own only Pentax lens. My next purchase will be a DA*300. Later, I plan to buy a long macro lens. I don't like the DFA100 mainly because of it's poor construction quality. So this Time, I might go with a Voighlander 125mm macro or a Tamron 90mm. I wish Pentax refresh it's 100mm macro.

[apemen]

I have only one 3rd party lens and that is Tamron 90mm macro, I wish Pentax 100mm macro would be better.

I choose Pentax because of its lenses and prefer them in first place naturaly,
but if anyone launches a K-mount 400mm prime lens I would not wait Pentax.

[retroflex]

I only have one Pentax lens, the kit zoom which I never use. I replaced it a couple of years ago with a Sigma 18-50/2.8, which is basically the only lens I use. I also have two Chinons when I want to play around with MF primes. So I fall in the category of more third party lenses.

If money were no object I would have gone with the Pentax 16-50, but with the price difference it's kind of hard to justify the Pentax. Unless sealing and silent focusing is crucial to you.

Anyway, my long term plan is to replace the zoom with DA21+70 to have a nice small kit But the K-7 is higher on my list, so the lenses will have to wait...

[woodworm]

I have 4 lenses, 2 Pentax and 2 Sigma.

I'm not a brand snob so don't care what the badge on the front says and don't really believe that Pentax glass is better than 3rd party - obviously I'm generalising a bit when I say that.

Of my 4 lenses I definitely use the Sigmas the most but that is because I prefer their range but when looking to buy something in that range the Sigma's were the best option for me. My next lens will probably be a Pentax though as I quite fancy the 10-17mm fish eye ...

[little laker]

I answered the poll wrong, Pentax and Takumar lenses Are Third Party for me
Since I shoot Sigma bodies, and only have one Sigma lens that fits I guess that 90+% of my lenses are Third Party

[8540tomg]

I’m a self-admitted Pentax snob. The reasons are partly chance and I supposed some sort of brand snobbery. When I got my first SLR in 1981, a Pentax MX, I was living in a small town in Manitoba. Pentax was the only brand you could buy in town so options were (fortunately) limited. Over the next almost thirty years I have added a number of Pentax lenses K, M and A series. I wanted the known quality of the Pentax glass and the build quality of the lenses was in my mind unmatched by any other maker. Furthermore I have always felt Pentax made the best-looking optics of any maker. Canon and Nikon lenses always looked stumpy to my eye and still do. Granted I didn’t see many Leica or Zeiss optics in rural Manitoba but even so Pentax stands up well in comparison with what I have seen since. The only 3rd party lens which ever seriously tempted me was the Tamron 180/2.5 SP - a beautiful lens that slipped through my fingers. Fortunately, I found a K200/2.5 which I suspect is even better.

When I went digital Pentax backward compatibility kept me in the club. The Pentax Limiteds are still the best looking/performing lenses out there. The old Pentax glass still looks great on my K10 and more importantly performs the same way. I still want more lenses (LBA) but already have more than I need or actually use. That being said, the DA* 16-50, DA* 50-135 zooms hold a lot of appeal for me as does the DA* 300/4. If I buy more lenses in the near future these are the most likely candidates.


Tom G

[axl]

I answered the poll wrong, Pentax and Takumar lenses Are Third Party for me
Since I shoot Sigma bodies, and only have one Sigma lens that fits I guess that 90+% of my lenses are Third Party

Stu,

how big/difficult is the modification one nneds to do to fit K bayonet onto Sigma mount?

[audiobomber]

Pentaxiums?

Pentaxumars?

[audiobomber]

I wonder how much impact the new Pentax DA-specific processing for CA and distortion as featured in the K-7 will feature in peoples' buying decisions?

I'm only using Pentax lenses now, and I'm resistant to changing that.

[attack11]

first party glass only in my bag right now. i'm interested in expanding my primes into third party waters after i get a few more from pentax.

[Wheatfield]

One third party lens, somewhat over 40 Pentax lenses. I suspect I'll be selling my Tokina zoom pretty quickly.

[gofour3]

All Pentax

- One "A" prime
- One "FA" Zoom

All the rest are K series primes.

Phil.

[RoxnDox]

Mixed bag for me. I've got the lenses that we used with the wife's ME Super and my K1000 (2x SMC-M 50mm f/2, SMC-M 135 f/3.5, SMC-M 80-200 f/4.5, and a Promaster 19-35 MF/AE zoom), and the K100D 18-55 kit lens (Mk 1), and a Promaster (Tamron) 70-300 AF/AE zoom. The 70-300 was acquired based mostly on affordability, but I've been happy with it.

I'd like to go wider for landscapes (especially here in the flatlands of Nebraska), but I don't know when hte budget will allow it. When it does, price will be as important as IQ.

Jim