[gratefulbruce]

I am considering buying a new lens (lenses) for the following:

Pentax K1000
Pentax Super Program

Current Inventory of lenses
50mm Pentax-M 1:2
50mm Pentax-A 1:1.7
28mm Chinar 1:2.8
70-210mm Promaster Telephoto zoom 1:3.8

I certainly would like to be able to take some of the cool macros I see so many people taking here on this site, but I'd also like to be able to take wildlife photos (birds mostly) without looking like you are still 1 10th mile away from the bird! I'm very new to purchasing lenses, so any discussion of lenses/teleconverters macros etc. will be new to me, so please tell me what the advantages and disadvantges of each are. I guess I also have to look at the A function of the Super Program, and if I want the Automatic features, I'll need an automatic lens (though not auto focus). Thanks for your help.

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Last edited by gratefulbruce; 04-11-2007 at 06:26 AM.

[MRRiley]

Bruce,

I'd advise a nice fast 300mm for birds. Get a monopod as well (more agile than a tripod).

Check out the Pentax-A 300mm f4. Very hard to find but much more affordable (approx $300) than it's slightly faster big brother, the Pentax-A* 300mm f2.8 (approx $5000 (OUCH)).

I'd avoid teleconverters unless you are willing to spend top dollar on one. Most if not all of them increase your focal length at the expense of your f-stop and good ones can cost more than the lens itself, so better to spend a little more on a longer lens and you dont have the TC side effects and expense.

For macro work get a "reversing ring" in the same size as the filter thread on your 50mm lenses and mount the lens backwards. You have to shoot manually but it works great.

Good luck...

[gratefulbruce]

Thanks, I just purchased two reversing rings (my daughter also has a K1000), and they are due to my house tomorrow, in time for weekend testing. I'm so glad this site is here, I had never heard of a reversing ring until yesterday.

[MRRiley]

Make sure you post some samples for us... Good luck and have fun!