If you had $600.....

ivoire · 03-25-2008, 09:57 PM

Originally posted by jsherman999

If you want to build a collection of nice primes, I think you should consider:

1) Voigtlander SL 180mm f/4 APO-Lanthar $380
2) SMC-M 50mm f/1.4 $60-$120 -or- FA 50mm f/1.4 $150-$200
=~ $450 - $580

Or, what you *really might want to do is kick in a few bucks of your own on top of the $600 and nab a DA* 50-135. Sweet, sweet, sweetness. Actually I'd probably recommend that. You can think of the 50-135 as a 'collection of nice primes', 50, 70, 85, 100, 135mm primes!

.

is the 50-135 really that good? have seen numerous raves, just hard to believe a zoom is that close to a prime

praxxis · 03-25-2008, 10:01 PM

thats a great shot!

how would you compare the image quality of your M50 1.4 to M50 1.7...

i'm on a lookout for a 1.7 these days...

heatherslightbox · 03-25-2008, 10:27 PM

This is where reality hurts--my $600 of the $1200 DH and I will be getting will most likely be going towards one of the credit card bills.

If I could do anything with my $600, I'd most likely put it towards the 77 or 31 (combined with some extra cash).

On the subject of the M50/1.4, I just picked up one on Fleabay tonight for $63.50, including shipping. I got mainly to use on the K1000, but it may also be spending some time on the K10.
Twinda, that is a beautiful shot.

Heather

dantuyhoa · 03-25-2008, 10:39 PM

I will use that money for a quick trip to somewhere for photography . Another lens is nice but it won't do much for my photography skill . A fresh look , a break from daily grind , a little escape will do my soul good .

Just my .04 $ , adjusted for the gas price in California , ofcourse .

Venturi · 03-25-2008, 11:23 PM

$600 would put a nice dent in my current wish list.

I could get all 3 of these...
KatzEye focusing Screen: $135 ($190 w/ OptiBrite). I'm actually ordering this at the end of the week. This is the one thing I have missed from day one after having taken it for granted with my old K1000 years ago. Split screen prism view screen! I've been missing or botching shots because of slow or soft focus problems with my K10D that I would never have missed with the split prism, and in low light or low contrast situations no AF (outside of JPL) can beat a human armed with a prism. IMHO *every* Pentax SLR should come stock with this, or at least have it as a factory option.

Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG IF: $190 w/o HSM or $220 w/ HSM. I've always been one to try and keep both my ISO and f-stop low - and I have an irrational love of big barrel glass (82mm). So for me at this price point this one is a no-brainer.

Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash @ $255 - When I do use a flash I try to bounce when possible so the on camera flash just annoys me. The AF-360 would be perfect for my needs if Pentax had had the foresight to put swivel on it, but the DG ST packs basically all the features of the AF-540 at about $100 less.

or I could get one of the above and one of these macros I've been drooling over...
Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro or Pentax D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro or Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro: range between $397 and $480. I'm starting to fall in love with the close-up/macro end of shooting which I can accomplish a little bit of with the FA 50mm f/1.4 but I want something I can get a bit closer with.

FYI - The Konica Minolta NP-400 battery is essentially identical to the Pentax D-LI50 (1500mAh vs 1700mAh), except you can pick them up for $10 ea. at B&H.

LBA? GBA? why not just PBA!

**monochrome** · 03-25-2008, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by madisonphotogrl

Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600.

Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL

First Choice: Serious art classes.
Second choice: Part of my current K10D Wish List at B&H, to wit:

FA 35/2 (before they are gone, even though I have a K 35/3.5)
Sigma EF-530 DG Flash
Optio A40 for my pocket

benjikan · 03-26-2008, 02:07 AM

Originally posted by madisonphotogrl

Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600.

Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL

Buy something made in the US of A...

Ben

Yeah and I am Canadian....

benplaut · 03-26-2008, 02:31 AM

DA 17-70, plus a bit of $$$ left over. I really like that idea of switching to a K20d, though...

Buddha Jones · 03-26-2008, 05:13 AM

DA35mm Macro, yeah... I can almost taste it.

drabina · 03-26-2008, 05:35 AM

If I ever get the $600 check, then I think I will have to send it to my CC to cover all the bills I made buying new equipment recently

So in other words, I already spent it

madisonphotogrl · 03-26-2008, 05:39 AM

Originally posted by Stratman

I don't mind manual focusing, I have several older totally manual lenses, including the SMC-M 50MM F1.4, love it !! Also have an RMC Tokina 28MM F2.8 that I really like, and a cheapo 135MM F2.8.

Do you uses the orginal focusing screen? I saw a thread where a lot of folks using manual focus lenses were getting Katz eyes... seemed expensive.

superfuzzy · 03-26-2008, 07:18 AM

Originally posted by creampuff

That $600 is anything but free. You're really borrowing from the future.

Agreed. After you have put put into savings your goal for the year - 15% of your gross income or whatever, then calculate how much you have left over to spend on new photo gear. You can always grab manual focus glass at the thrift shop to satisfy your LBA

k100d · 03-26-2008, 07:51 AM

Originally posted by superfuzzy

Agreed. After you have put put into savings your goal for the year - 15% of your gross income or whatever, then calculate how much you have left over to spend on new photo gear. You can always grab manual focus glass at the thrift shop to satisfy your LBA

as well, a tax return is your own money which you haven't been able to collect interest on either. it's actually much much better to not get a tax return.

**Canada_Rockies** · 03-26-2008, 09:14 AM

Originally posted by k100d

as well, a tax return is your own money which you haven't been able to collect interest on either. it's actually much much better to not get a tax return.

I advised all my clients that the ideal tax return left you owing $200. That's not enough to get the various revenue "services" excited about too low deductions, but low enough that you don't lend money to the revenooers at no interest.

cardinal43 · 03-26-2008, 10:13 AM

Originally posted by Canada_Rockies

I advised all my clients that the ideal tax return left you owing $200. That's not enough to get the various revenue "services" excited about too low deductions, but low enough that you don't lend money to the revenooers at no interest.

I would be as happy as a pig in slop if I could get down to the point where I only owed $200.

I have had to pay federal and state for the last 2 years, after almost 40 years of getting refunds (albeit normally a small refund). I am a retired civil servant and work full time as a consultant, so while the income is really good, the amount of additional taxes are killing me.

03-25-2008, 11:28 PM	#21
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	$600 plus my birthday AMEX Gift Cards Originally posted by madisonphotogrl Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600. Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL First Choice: Serious art classes. Second choice: Part of my current K10D Wish List at B&H, to wit: FA 35/2 (before they are gone, even though I have a K 35/3.5) Sigma EF-530 DG Flash Optio A40 for my pocket

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03-25-2008, 09:57 PM	#16
ivoire Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,381	Originally posted by jsherman999 If you want to build a collection of nice primes, I think you should consider: 1) Voigtlander SL 180mm f/4 APO-Lanthar $380 2) SMC-M 50mm f/1.4 $60-$120 -or- FA 50mm f/1.4 $150-$200 =~ $450 - $580 Or, what you really might want to do is kick in a few bucks of your own on top of the $600 and nab a DA 50-135. Sweet, sweet, sweetness. Actually I'd probably recommend that. You can think of the 50-135 as a 'collection of nice primes', 50, 70, 85, 100, 135mm primes! . is the 50-135 really that good? have seen numerous raves, just hard to believe a zoom is that close to a prime

03-25-2008, 10:01 PM	#17
praxxis Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Quezon City, Philippines Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 143	thats a great shot! how would you compare the image quality of your M50 1.4 to M50 1.7... i'm on a lookout for a 1.7 these days...

03-25-2008, 10:27 PM	#18
heatherslightbox Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Gainesville, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,599	This is where reality hurts--my $600 of the $1200 DH and I will be getting will most likely be going towards one of the credit card bills. If I could do anything with my $600, I'd most likely put it towards the 77 or 31 (combined with some extra cash). On the subject of the M50/1.4, I just picked up one on Fleabay tonight for $63.50, including shipping. I got mainly to use on the K1000, but it may also be spending some time on the K10. Twinda, that is a beautiful shot. Heather

03-25-2008, 10:39 PM	#19
dantuyhoa Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: California Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,245	I will use that money for a quick trip to somewhere for photography . Another lens is nice but it won't do much for my photography skill . A fresh look , a break from daily grind , a little escape will do my soul good . Just my .04 $ , adjusted for the gas price in California , ofcourse .

03-25-2008, 11:23 PM	#20
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	$600 would put a nice dent in my current wish list. I could get all 3 of these... KatzEye focusing Screen: $135 ($190 w/ OptiBrite). I'm actually ordering this at the end of the week. This is the one thing I have missed from day one after having taken it for granted with my old K1000 years ago. Split screen prism view screen! I've been missing or botching shots because of slow or soft focus problems with my K10D that I would never have missed with the split prism, and in low light or low contrast situations no AF (outside of JPL) can beat a human armed with a prism. IMHO every Pentax SLR should come stock with this, or at least have it as a factory option. Sigma 17-35mm f/2.8-4 EX DG IF: $190 w/o HSM or $220 w/ HSM. I've always been one to try and keep both my ISO and f-stop low - and I have an irrational love of big barrel glass (82mm). So for me at this price point this one is a no-brainer. Sigma EF-530 DG Super flash @ $255 - When I do use a flash I try to bounce when possible so the on camera flash just annoys me. The AF-360 would be perfect for my needs if Pentax had had the foresight to put swivel on it, but the DG ST packs basically all the features of the AF-540 at about $100 less. or I could get one of the above and one of these macros I've been drooling over... Tamron SP 90mm f/2.8 Macro or Pentax D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro or Sigma 105mm EX DG Macro: range between $397 and $480. I'm starting to fall in love with the close-up/macro end of shooting which I can accomplish a little bit of with the FA 50mm f/1.4 but I want something I can get a bit closer with. FYI - The Konica Minolta NP-400 battery is essentially identical to the Pentax D-LI50 (1500mAh vs 1700mAh), except you can pick them up for $10 ea. at B&H. LBA? GBA? why not just PBA!

03-26-2008, 02:07 AM	#22
benjikan Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Paris, France Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,308	Originally posted by madisonphotogrl Ok.. so with the supposed tax refund checks coming from Mr Bush is anyone thinking of their LBA? I think I would buy my BG2 grip for the K10D, a 50 mm f1.4 manual focus, and the tamron 70-300mm DI that several people seem to love on the forum. i don't think that's a bad way to spend a free $600. Dream big those with extra tax write offs, i think they call them children!! LOL Buy something made in the US of A... Ben Yeah and I am Canadian....

03-26-2008, 02:31 AM	#23
benplaut Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central NY Posts: 268	DA 17-70, plus a bit of $$$ left over. I really like that idea of switching to a K20d, though...

03-26-2008, 05:13 AM	#24
Buddha Jones Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Charlotte, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,587	DA35mm Macro, yeah... I can almost taste it.

03-26-2008, 05:35 AM	#25
drabina Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 525	If I ever get the $600 check, then I think I will have to send it to my CC to cover all the bills I made buying new equipment recently So in other words, I already spent it

03-26-2008, 05:39 AM	#26
madisonphotogrl Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 270 Original Poster	Originally posted by Stratman I don't mind manual focusing, I have several older totally manual lenses, including the SMC-M 50MM F1.4, love it !! Also have an RMC Tokina 28MM F2.8 that I really like, and a cheapo 135MM F2.8. Do you uses the orginal focusing screen? I saw a thread where a lot of folks using manual focus lenses were getting Katz eyes... seemed expensive.

03-26-2008, 07:18 AM	#27
superfuzzy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ, USA (close to NYC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 278	Originally posted by creampuff That $600 is anything but free. You're really borrowing from the future. Agreed. After you have put put into savings your goal for the year - 15% of your gross income or whatever, then calculate how much you have left over to spend on new photo gear. You can always grab manual focus glass at the thrift shop to satisfy your LBA

03-26-2008, 07:51 AM	#28
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	Originally posted by superfuzzy Agreed. After you have put put into savings your goal for the year - 15% of your gross income or whatever, then calculate how much you have left over to spend on new photo gear. You can always grab manual focus glass at the thrift shop to satisfy your LBA as well, a tax return is your own money which you haven't been able to collect interest on either. it's actually much much better to not get a tax return.

03-26-2008, 09:14 AM	#29
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Originally posted by k100d as well, a tax return is your own money which you haven't been able to collect interest on either. it's actually much much better to not get a tax return. I advised all my clients that the ideal tax return left you owing $200. That's not enough to get the various revenue "services" excited about too low deductions, but low enough that you don't lend money to the revenooers at no interest.

03-26-2008, 10:13 AM	#30
cardinal43 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,412	Originally posted by Canada_Rockies I advised all my clients that the ideal tax return left you owing $200. That's not enough to get the various revenue "services" excited about too low deductions, but low enough that you don't lend money to the revenooers at no interest. I would be as happy as a pig in slop if I could get down to the point where I only owed $200. I have had to pay federal and state for the last 2 years, after almost 40 years of getting refunds (albeit normally a small refund). I am a retired civil servant and work full time as a consultant, so while the income is really good, the amount of additional taxes are killing me.