Thinking about returning to Pentax

Art Vandelay II · 01-28-2008, 03:54 PM

I thought about the D80 actually. I've even used it (seems like all my friends shoot Nikon), but there's only a $200-300 price gap between it and the Canon 40D, and I prefer the 40D. Plus there is no price gap at all between it and the K10D, and again, I would rather have the K10D over the D80. I am highly interested to see if Nikon announces a D90 at PMA though. Hopefully it will be a better upgrade than the rumored D60 is to the D40x.

solar1 · 01-28-2008, 04:07 PM

Art,

Please convey my best regards to George Costanza.

Art Vandelay II · 02-01-2008, 09:03 PM

Welp, I am officially back with Pentax now. Well, kind of. I spent a whopping $30 here locally on a old Pentax K1000 film camera kit. It included the kit SMC-M 50mm f/2 lens with it as well as a Takumar (Bayonet) 135mm f/2.5. I figured it was worth $30 just to collect if nothing else. The 135mm lens is almost in mint condition. It looks like its hardly ever been used. Unfortunately it turns out there are some really mixed reviews on it.

In addition to that stuff I broke down and ordered a SMC-A 50mm f/1.7 off of ebay for $95. For once I actually had a pleasant shopping experience there. No one jumped in at the last second and outbid me, which has almost always been my experience there in the past. I guess that means I paid too much...lol

Oh well, now I just have to wait for a K20/K200D price to drop. Either that for a decent deal on a used K10D. I might be shooting film for a while...

PS: Solar, I'll pass that on to Costanza

jeffkrol · 02-01-2008, 09:32 PM

Originally posted by Art Vandelay II

Welp, I am officially back with Pentax now. Well, kind of. I spent a whopping $30 here locally on a old Pentax K1000 film camera kit. It included the kit SMC-M 50mm f/2 lens with it as well as a Takumar (Bayonet) 135mm f/2.5. I figured it was worth $30 just to collect if nothing else. The 135mm lens is almost in mint condition. It looks like its hardly ever been used. Unfortunately it turns out there are some really mixed reviews on it.

If that's the newer Takumar, the only real downside is the lack of SMC coating. It's probably optically no different than the A 135 (4 elements,4 groups). Unfortunately this is based on the compairison between the 2.8 versions. I'm guessing the 2.5 was not much different in optical configuration.Your results will probably depend more on the QC than anything.... Anyways enjoy it.
Pentax Prime Lenses without SMC Coating
"new" Takumar 135 2.5: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Originally posted by Art Vandelay II

In addition to that stuff I broke down and ordered a SMC-A 50mm f/1.7 off of ebay for $95. For once I actually had a pleasant shopping experience there. No one jumped in at the last second and outbid me, which has almost always been my experience there in the past. I guess that means I paid too much...lol

You bought it at a somewhat historically high price times... BUT it's still well worth it.

Originally posted by Art Vandelay II

Oh well, now I just have to wait for a K20/K200D price to drop. Either that for a decent deal on a used K10D. I might be shooting film for a while...

Baby steps......

Art Vandelay II · 02-01-2008, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by jeffkrol

You bought it at a somewhat historically high price times... BUT it's still well worth it.

I was afraid of that, but it was at least $30 less then KEH was asking, and there was no way I was getting involved with the frantic biding on the 50mm 1.4's. They still had 2 days to go and were already up to $100. I saw that I could get the M version for much less then the A, but I figured they A would be nicer once I finally plunk down the change for a digital body.

jeffkrol · 02-01-2008, 09:55 PM

Originally posted by Art Vandelay II

I was afraid of that, but it was at least $30 less then KEH was asking, and there was no way I was getting involved with the frantic biding on the 50mm 1.4's. They still had 2 days to go and were already up to $100. I saw that I could get the M version for much less then the A, but I figured they A would be nicer once I finally plunk down the change for a digital body.

and the'd go much higher (the 1.4's)... especially if I was bidding. Of course if I didn't someone would get one for like $30

I was a bit surprised at the current KEH prices. Guess I haven't been lens shopping lately.
Think I paid $50 for my f1.7 (A version).

Art Vandelay II · 02-01-2008, 10:02 PM

Yeah, I would have liked to of had the 1.4, but no way was I going up to the $200 range to get one. At that point your getting into the range of new FA 50's and within a whisper of the new DA*55 coming out soon (assuming it will be $300-400).

Not that I really care, I almost always manually focus when using primes anyway, so an FA would just be a waste for me, plus I'll be stepping down to f/2 or lower most of the time anyway, so no need to waste $100 more for the 1.4.

f:stop fitzgerald · 02-02-2008, 05:18 PM

Old Pentax lenses are getting pricey. My SMC-A 50 - f1.7 was about the same price. It's no wonder - it's a great lens, it's very small and light, sharp as all hell. Perfect for portraits.

Art Vandelay II · 02-05-2008, 02:03 PM

Well, my return is complete. I broke down and ordered a K100D today. $370 was just too good of a price for even me not to justify it. Beach Camera/BuyDig both had it at that price and I noticed today that Beach no longer had it, so in a panic I placed an order from BuyDig before it was gone from there too.

It’s a shame, I’ve really enjoyed using the old K1000 I bought, but I simply can’t justify the film/development/scanning costs. It's amazing how much more deliberate you become from using an old camera like that. You don't even have to shoot a lot, just one roll of film will do. It really makes you pay attention to what you're doing. I think I will still shoot a roll of film every once in a while just to stay sharp.

At any rate, this K100D will be more than good enough for me until the K20D drops to a justifiable price in a year or two. And even then my K100D with the 21mm pancake lens will make a better street camera due to size (I’ve given up hope on an affordable digital range finder).

I guess I need to get one of those snazzy K100D proud owner signatures now that I see all over here.

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01-28-2008, 03:54 PM	#46
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886 Original Poster	I thought about the D80 actually. I've even used it (seems like all my friends shoot Nikon), but there's only a $200-300 price gap between it and the Canon 40D, and I prefer the 40D. Plus there is no price gap at all between it and the K10D, and again, I would rather have the K10D over the D80. I am highly interested to see if Nikon announces a D90 at PMA though. Hopefully it will be a better upgrade than the rumored D60 is to the D40x.

01-28-2008, 04:07 PM	#47
solar1 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Southern Calif Posts: 565	Art, Please convey my best regards to George Costanza.

02-01-2008, 09:03 PM	#48
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886 Original Poster	Welp, I am officially back with Pentax now. Well, kind of. I spent a whopping $30 here locally on a old Pentax K1000 film camera kit. It included the kit SMC-M 50mm f/2 lens with it as well as a Takumar (Bayonet) 135mm f/2.5. I figured it was worth $30 just to collect if nothing else. The 135mm lens is almost in mint condition. It looks like its hardly ever been used. Unfortunately it turns out there are some really mixed reviews on it. In addition to that stuff I broke down and ordered a SMC-A 50mm f/1.7 off of ebay for $95. For once I actually had a pleasant shopping experience there. No one jumped in at the last second and outbid me, which has almost always been my experience there in the past. I guess that means I paid too much...lol Oh well, now I just have to wait for a K20/K200D price to drop. Either that for a decent deal on a used K10D. I might be shooting film for a while... PS: Solar, I'll pass that on to Costanza

02-01-2008, 09:32 PM	#49
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by Art Vandelay II Welp, I am officially back with Pentax now. Well, kind of. I spent a whopping $30 here locally on a old Pentax K1000 film camera kit. It included the kit SMC-M 50mm f/2 lens with it as well as a Takumar (Bayonet) 135mm f/2.5. I figured it was worth $30 just to collect if nothing else. The 135mm lens is almost in mint condition. It looks like its hardly ever been used. Unfortunately it turns out there are some really mixed reviews on it. If that's the newer Takumar, the only real downside is the lack of SMC coating. It's probably optically no different than the A 135 (4 elements,4 groups). Unfortunately this is based on the compairison between the 2.8 versions. I'm guessing the 2.5 was not much different in optical configuration.Your results will probably depend more on the QC than anything.... Anyways enjoy it. Pentax Prime Lenses without SMC Coating "new" Takumar 135 2.5: Pentax SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review Originally posted by Art Vandelay II In addition to that stuff I broke down and ordered a SMC-A 50mm f/1.7 off of ebay for $95. For once I actually had a pleasant shopping experience there. No one jumped in at the last second and outbid me, which has almost always been my experience there in the past. I guess that means I paid too much...lol You bought it at a somewhat historically high price times... BUT it's still well worth it. Originally posted by Art Vandelay II Oh well, now I just have to wait for a K20/K200D price to drop. Either that for a decent deal on a used K10D. I might be shooting film for a while... Baby steps......

02-01-2008, 09:44 PM	#50
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886 Original Poster	Originally posted by jeffkrol You bought it at a somewhat historically high price times... BUT it's still well worth it. I was afraid of that, but it was at least $30 less then KEH was asking, and there was no way I was getting involved with the frantic biding on the 50mm 1.4's. They still had 2 days to go and were already up to $100. I saw that I could get the M version for much less then the A, but I figured they A would be nicer once I finally plunk down the change for a digital body.

02-01-2008, 09:55 PM	#51
jeffkrol Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Wisconsin USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,434	Originally posted by Art Vandelay II I was afraid of that, but it was at least $30 less then KEH was asking, and there was no way I was getting involved with the frantic biding on the 50mm 1.4's. They still had 2 days to go and were already up to $100. I saw that I could get the M version for much less then the A, but I figured they A would be nicer once I finally plunk down the change for a digital body. and the'd go much higher (the 1.4's)... especially if I was bidding. Of course if I didn't someone would get one for like $30 I was a bit surprised at the current KEH prices. Guess I haven't been lens shopping lately. Think I paid $50 for my f1.7 (A version).

02-01-2008, 10:02 PM	#52
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886 Original Poster	Yeah, I would have liked to of had the 1.4, but no way was I going up to the $200 range to get one. At that point your getting into the range of new FA 50's and within a whisper of the new DA*55 coming out soon (assuming it will be $300-400). Not that I really care, I almost always manually focus when using primes anyway, so an FA would just be a waste for me, plus I'll be stepping down to f/2 or lower most of the time anyway, so no need to waste $100 more for the 1.4.

02-02-2008, 05:18 PM	#53
f:stop fitzgerald Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 4	Old Pentax lenses are getting pricey. My SMC-A 50 - f1.7 was about the same price. It's no wonder - it's a great lens, it's very small and light, sharp as all hell. Perfect for portraits.

02-05-2008, 02:03 PM	#54
Art Vandelay II Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 886 Original Poster	Well, my return is complete. I broke down and ordered a K100D today. $370 was just too good of a price for even me not to justify it. Beach Camera/BuyDig both had it at that price and I noticed today that Beach no longer had it, so in a panic I placed an order from BuyDig before it was gone from there too. It’s a shame, I’ve really enjoyed using the old K1000 I bought, but I simply can’t justify the film/development/scanning costs. It's amazing how much more deliberate you become from using an old camera like that. You don't even have to shoot a lot, just one roll of film will do. It really makes you pay attention to what you're doing. I think I will still shoot a roll of film every once in a while just to stay sharp. At any rate, this K100D will be more than good enough for me until the K20D drops to a justifiable price in a year or two. And even then my K100D with the 21mm pancake lens will make a better street camera due to size (I’ve given up hope on an affordable digital range finder). I guess I need to get one of those snazzy K100D proud owner signatures now that I see all over here.