The best $X you ever spent...

mikemike · 02-03-2014, 02:17 PM

Under $100:
Lightscoop - it was a great bridge until I had the money to spend on an external flash.

$200-300:
DA 16-45

$500+:
K-30... HUGE upgrade over K-x

donfenix · 02-04-2014, 08:59 PM - **1 Like**

Under $100: $37 for a Pentax-F 100-300 zoom. The lens quality is nothing to write home about but at $37 a 300mm lens is unbeatable.

donfenix · 02-04-2014, 09:00 PM

$151-250: Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7

donfenix · 02-04-2014, 09:01 PM

$401-600: smc DA 15 f/4 Limited

donfenix · 02-04-2014, 09:02 PM

$601-750: My first Pentax, a K-x dual lens kit.

donfenix · 02-04-2014, 09:03 PM

Over $1000: K-30 18-135 kit

dansamy · 02-04-2014, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by donfenix

$601-750: My first Pentax, a K-x dual lens kit.

Mine too!

mikemike · 02-04-2014, 11:19 PM

After spending some time in it, I have a new one for $100-150: Lightroom.

If time is money, it paid for itself in just a few hours!

TaoMaas · 02-05-2014, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by mikemike

After spending some time in it, I have a new one for $100-150: Lightroom.

If time is money, it paid for itself in just a few hours!

Oh...good one! I was a hard-core PhotoShop user until I picked up Lightroom for cheap as a particular version was being discontinued. Now, I'm a believer.

Flinn · 03-19-2014, 09:33 PM

Tamron 17-50 2.8 for $130+
Minolta AF 50mm 1.4 for $140

Yos · 03-19-2014, 11:22 PM

130 $ Pentax DA 40mm XS.
Brand spanking new! Bought at a camera market in Beijing.

**ivanvernon** · 03-20-2014, 01:41 AM

*Under $100 Helios 44K-4 58 mm Love this lens as much as some much more expensive lenses.
*$100-150 Pentax 24-90 f 3.5-4.5 One of the best Pentax zooms that you hardly ever hear mentioned.
*$151-250 Yellow K-01 that gives fantastic images and teaches me how to laugh when I bump my nose against the viewing screen.
*$251-400 Sigma 30 mm f 1.4 that almost lets me take photos in the dark when hitched to the K-5II.
*$401-600 Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 Another great low-light performer.
*$601-750 No doubt here: closeout K-5II
*$751-1000 Pentax Limited 77 the one that has pixie dust.
*Over $1000 Never spent this much on a single purchase, but might consider K-3 or Pentax 31 limited sometime in the future!

OOPS! THIS IS MY SECOND POST BUT THUMBING DOWN I SEE THAT MY POSTS, WHILE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME, ARE NOT ENTIRELY INCONSISTENT!

**Des** · 03-20-2014, 04:54 AM

*Under $100 - DxO Optics Pro 9 - Easy to use, but great capability. Takes photos up two levels.
Like others, I would also give an honourable mention to the A50 1.7.
*$401-600 - K100D Super in 2007. My first DSLR after 25 years of film SLR. It was astonishing what it could do - and amazing value.
*$601-750 - Tamron 18-250 in 2007. After years of swapping between lenses (and always having the wide angle on when I need the tele, and vice versa), the versatility for travel and walks was marvellous.

Flinn · 03-20-2014, 02:43 PM

Canon 550ex - $45

davek · 03-22-2014, 07:19 PM

Originally posted by dansamy

ordinary, everyday stuff that you bought & when you started using it thought, "Wow! That was money well spent!"

For me, a few things come to mind, (I'm excluding my K5ii and lenses) :

free
Smugmug camera strap - so much more comfortable than the factory strap. Used it till I got my Spyder system

<$100
Cheap lowepro SD card holder on clearance - compact, worked great for organizing, empty on one side, full on the other, till it broke last year

Demb flash diffuser - bought it 5-6 years ago, always in my bag, and used 90% of the time with flash
Ebay wireless flash system - cheap, but something to play with.
Extra QR plates for backup cameras, long lenses.
Paintshop pro - I'm too cheap to use photoshop, PSP does what I need.

$100-$150
Spyder holster system - bought it for shooting a wedding, hands down the best carrying system I've used. (ok, not so much in the winter when wearing a coat).

$250 -ish
Manfrotto 055Pro Tripod legs.Heavy, but I love the height I get with them.

02-04-2014, 08:59 PM - 1 Like	#62
donfenix Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	Under $100: $37 for a Pentax-F 100-300 zoom. The lens quality is nothing to write home about but at $37 a 300mm lens is unbeatable. Last edited by donfenix; 02-07-2014 at 02:15 AM.

03-20-2014, 01:41 AM	#72
ivanvernon Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Medina, OH Photos: Albums Posts: 7,224	My best buys. Under $100 Helios 44K-4 58 mm Love this lens as much as some much more expensive lenses. $100-150 Pentax 24-90 f 3.5-4.5 One of the best Pentax zooms that you hardly ever hear mentioned. $151-250 Yellow K-01 that gives fantastic images and teaches me how to laugh when I bump my nose against the viewing screen. $251-400 Sigma 30 mm f 1.4 that almost lets me take photos in the dark when hitched to the K-5II. $401-600 Tamron 17-50 f 2.8 Another great low-light performer. $601-750 No doubt here: closeout K-5II $751-1000 Pentax Limited 77 the one that has pixie dust. Over $1000 Never spent this much on a single purchase, but might consider K-3 or Pentax 31 limited sometime in the future! OOPS! THIS IS MY SECOND POST BUT THUMBING DOWN I SEE THAT MY POSTS, WHILE NOT EXACTLY THE SAME, ARE NOT ENTIRELY INCONSISTENT! Last edited by ivanvernon; 03-20-2014 at 01:48 AM.

03-20-2014, 04:54 AM	#73
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Under $100 - DxO Optics Pro 9 - Easy to use, but great capability. Takes photos up two levels. Like others, I would also give an honourable mention to the A50 1.7. $401-600 - K100D Super in 2007. My first DSLR after 25 years of film SLR. It was astonishing what it could do - and amazing value. $601-750 - Tamron 18-250 in 2007. After years of swapping between lenses (and always having the wide angle on when I need the tele, and vice versa), the versatility for travel and walks was marvellous. Last edited by Des; 03-20-2014 at 03:18 PM.*

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, Best $300 I ever spent (lots of pics)	Edgar_in_Indy	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	144	04-22-2015 07:01 AM
Best 90 bux I have ever Spent	cali92rs	Pentax K-5 & K-5 II	54	08-10-2012 03:48 PM
Best $50 you have spent	indy	Pentax Camera and Field Accessories	17	07-04-2010 01:38 PM
the best tablet drawing you'll ever see	pete_pf	General Talk	7	06-04-2009 06:46 AM
Best $60 I've ever spent!	codiac2600	Post Your Photos!	11	02-03-2008 08:48 AM

02-03-2014, 02:17 PM	#61
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	Under $100: Lightscoop - it was a great bridge until I had the money to spend on an external flash. $200-300: DA 16-45 $500+: K-30... HUGE upgrade over K-x

02-04-2014, 09:00 PM	#63
donfenix Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	$151-250: Pentax-F 50mm f/1.7

02-04-2014, 09:01 PM	#64
donfenix Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	$401-600: smc DA 15 f/4 Limited

02-04-2014, 09:02 PM	#65
donfenix Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	$601-750: My first Pentax, a K-x dual lens kit.

02-04-2014, 09:03 PM	#66
donfenix Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 77	Over $1000: K-30 18-135 kit

02-04-2014, 09:03 PM	#67
dansamy Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,450 Original Poster	Originally posted by donfenix $601-750: My first Pentax, a K-x dual lens kit. Mine too!

02-04-2014, 11:19 PM	#68
mikemike Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: New Orleans Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,053	After spending some time in it, I have a new one for $100-150: Lightroom. If time is money, it paid for itself in just a few hours!

02-05-2014, 05:24 AM	#69
TaoMaas Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,574	Originally posted by mikemike After spending some time in it, I have a new one for $100-150: Lightroom. If time is money, it paid for itself in just a few hours! Oh...good one! I was a hard-core PhotoShop user until I picked up Lightroom for cheap as a particular version was being discontinued. Now, I'm a believer.

03-19-2014, 09:33 PM	#70
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27	Tamron 17-50 2.8 for $130+ Minolta AF 50mm 1.4 for $140

03-19-2014, 11:22 PM	#71
Yos Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Stockholm Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 533	130 $ Pentax DA 40mm XS. Brand spanking new! Bought at a camera market in Beijing.

03-20-2014, 02:43 PM	#74
Flinn Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 27	Canon 550ex - $45

03-22-2014, 07:19 PM	#75
davek Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Elmira, On, Canada Posts: 461	Originally posted by dansamy ordinary, everyday stuff that you bought & when you started using it thought, "Wow! That was money well spent!" For me, a few things come to mind, (I'm excluding my K5ii and lenses) : free Smugmug camera strap - so much more comfortable than the factory strap. Used it till I got my Spyder system <$100 Cheap lowepro SD card holder on clearance - compact, worked great for organizing, empty on one side, full on the other, till it broke last year Demb flash diffuser - bought it 5-6 years ago, always in my bag, and used 90% of the time with flash Ebay wireless flash system - cheap, but something to play with. Extra QR plates for backup cameras, long lenses. Paintshop pro - I'm too cheap to use photoshop, PSP does what I need. $100-$150 Spyder holster system - bought it for shooting a wedding, hands down the best carrying system I've used. (ok, not so much in the winter when wearing a coat). $250 -ish Manfrotto 055Pro Tripod legs.Heavy, but I love the height I get with them.