The K10D Club!

Dartmoor Dave · 07-09-2018, 01:19 AM

Originally posted by ChristianRock

Ah yes. The lens you have is known to be a Pentax design failure. So, nothing lost by taking it apart and playing with the glass What do you do with it? I ask because I have a 2nd SMC Pentax-A 70-210 that I bought with a K1000 a few years ago and when I got it out of the bag it came apart in my hands. It's part of my desk decoration at work, but I wonder what else I could do with it.

The idea was to use the 100-300mm carcass plus bits and pieces from my collection of salvaged lens elements to frankenlens something interestingly funky together. So far the best I've managed is something with about a 400mm focal length that's reasonably sharp in the centre but just a swirly blur around the edges.

Actually, this discussion about 100-300mm lenses has made me want to put it back together with the original elements for another try. Maybe with everything cleaned and tightened up inside it'll give better results. I could also put in a limiter to stop it zooming all the way to 300mm, which is where it's worst. I seem to remember that it was actually okay up to about 275mm, then the sharpness fell off a cliff.

Edit: I'll add a sample of the 400mm-ish frankenlens version, which is certainly funky but not really in a very fun way. The lens was never designed to be taken apart then put back together again, so if I do reassemble it it'll be missing some features that I don't really want anyway. You know: autofocus, autoexposure, that sort of stuff.

Attached Images

View Picture EXIF

Last edited by Dartmoor Dave; 07-09-2018 at 02:35 AM.

**goatsNdonkey** · 07-09-2018, 04:13 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

The idea was to use the 100-300mm carcass plus bits and pieces from my collection of salvaged lens elements to frankenlens something interestingly funky together. So far the best I've managed is something with about a 400mm focal length that's reasonably sharp in the centre but just a swirly blur around the edges.

Actually, this discussion about 100-300mm lenses has made me want to put it back together with the original elements for another try. Maybe with everything cleaned and tightened up inside it'll give better results. I could also put in a limiter to stop it zooming all the way to 300mm, which is where it's worst. I seem to remember that it was actually okay up to about 275mm, then the sharpness fell off a cliff.

Edit: I'll add a sample of the 400mm-ish frankenlens version, which is certainly funky but not really in a very fun way. The lens was never designed to be taken apart then put back together again, so if I do reassemble it it'll be missing some features that I don't really want anyway. You know: autofocus, autoexposure, that sort of stuff.

The picture reminds me of what my Helios f2 58mm does white open: very sharp in the center, with what might be called progressively out of focus vignetting out from there.

**paulh** · 07-09-2018, 07:32 AM - **7 Likes**

These discussions make me want to dig out my optically-identical FA100-300, which hasn't seen use in years. It's the same lens as Dave's, but with the Power Zoom function, which I've never tried. With the hood attached, that zoom is about a foot long!

SMC Tak 55/1.8 on K10D:

F35-80 on K10D:

**subsea** · 07-09-2018, 10:19 AM - **4 Likes**

I used my FA100-300mm (power zoom) on my K10D for airshow pictures as you can see below. As other have seen, I found it to be soft at 300mm and acceptable at mid-focal lengths. The pictures below were taken at a couple of airshows at Jones Beach. The first is of a solo F-18 taken at 300mm and the second is of the Blue Angels, taken at 150mm. When I got my K-3II, I tried it and wasn't at all happy with it. I put it aside and pretty much stopped using it. When the 55-300mm PLM lens came out, I quickly got it and the images are much better than those of the FA 100-300mm.

Attached Images

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View Picture EXIF

ChristianRock · 07-09-2018, 11:01 AM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

Edit: I'll add a sample of the 400mm-ish frankenlens version, which is certainly funky but not really in a very fun way. The lens was never designed to be taken apart then put back together again, so if I do reassemble it it'll be missing some features that I don't really want anyway. You know: autofocus, autoexposure, that sort of stuff.

Thanks for sharing that shot. It is very interesting... sharp in the center as you said. All in all, sort of an artistic rendering...

If you decide to go for the 100-300mm lens again, you might as well get the 4.7-5.8 version, as they don't seem to be very expensive nowadays...

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-10-2018, 11:51 AM

K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-10-2018, 11:52 AM - **1 Like**

K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-10-2018, 11:52 AM - **3 Likes**

K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

Dartmoor Dave · 07-10-2018, 12:32 PM

Okay, I've rebuilt the F100-300mm with the original elements and taken some test snaps. . .

. . . and. . .

It's still a crappy lens. Just really, really, bleeeurgh. Here's the test blurs. (You might notice that the exif shows 135mm. These are actually both at 300mm, but somehow I got the shake reduction setting wrong. I doubt it made any difference at 1/500th.)

dbs · 07-10-2018, 04:48 PM

Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave

Okay, I've rebuilt the F100-300mm with the original elements and taken some test snaps. . .

. . . and. . .

It's still a crappy lens. Just really, really, bleeeurgh. Here's the test blurs. (You might notice that the exif shows 135mm. These are actually both at 300mm, but somehow I got the shake reduction setting wrong. I doubt it made any difference at 1/500th.)

Hi Dave
At web size they look fine,but I'm no judge.

Dave

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-10-2018, 05:50 PM - **1 Like**

K10D and D FA 28-105.

**wtlwdwgn** · 07-10-2018, 05:51 PM

K10D and D FA 28-105.

**rayallen** · 07-12-2018, 02:34 AM - **4 Likes**

Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice.

The pointy end of a ferry.

Palm Beach wharf.

We are commandeering this boat.

ChristianRock · 07-12-2018, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by rayallen

Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice.

The pointy end of a ferry.

Palm Beach wharf.

We are commandeering this boat.

Very, very nice. The first and third pictures are absolutely perfect. I could see them printed out and framed.

The middle picture is also very nice - but I would like to see it with a warmer WB. I would play with the WB slider (if you shot RAW) until the fence is white instead of blue and see how it would look then.

Dartmoor Dave · 07-12-2018, 01:41 PM

Originally posted by rayallen

Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice.

I love the saturated colours in the first one, Ray. I agree with Christian about the white balance being on the blue side in the second one, and I'm thinking that there's a really good B&W just waiting to come out of it.

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07-09-2018, 04:13 AM	#3902
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,736	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave The idea was to use the 100-300mm carcass plus bits and pieces from my collection of salvaged lens elements to frankenlens something interestingly funky together. So far the best I've managed is something with about a 400mm focal length that's reasonably sharp in the centre but just a swirly blur around the edges. Actually, this discussion about 100-300mm lenses has made me want to put it back together with the original elements for another try. Maybe with everything cleaned and tightened up inside it'll give better results. I could also put in a limiter to stop it zooming all the way to 300mm, which is where it's worst. I seem to remember that it was actually okay up to about 275mm, then the sharpness fell off a cliff. Edit: I'll add a sample of the 400mm-ish frankenlens version, which is certainly funky but not really in a very fun way. The lens was never designed to be taken apart then put back together again, so if I do reassemble it it'll be missing some features that I don't really want anyway. You know: autofocus, autoexposure, that sort of stuff. The picture reminds me of what my Helios f2 58mm does white open: very sharp in the center, with what might be called progressively out of focus vignetting out from there.

07-09-2018, 07:32 AM - 7 Likes	#3903
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,301	These discussions make me want to dig out my optically-identical FA100-300, which hasn't seen use in years. It's the same lens as Dave's, but with the Power Zoom function, which I've never tried. With the hood attached, that zoom is about a foot long! SMC Tak 55/1.8 on K10D: F35-80 on K10D:

07-09-2018, 11:01 AM	#3905
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave Edit: I'll add a sample of the 400mm-ish frankenlens version, which is certainly funky but not really in a very fun way. The lens was never designed to be taken apart then put back together again, so if I do reassemble it it'll be missing some features that I don't really want anyway. You know: autofocus, autoexposure, that sort of stuff. Thanks for sharing that shot. It is very interesting... sharp in the center as you said. All in all, sort of an artistic rendering... If you decide to go for the 100-300mm lens again, you might as well get the 4.7-5.8 version, as they don't seem to be very expensive nowadays...

07-10-2018, 11:51 AM	#3906
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

07-10-2018, 11:52 AM - 1 Like	#3907
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

07-10-2018, 11:52 AM - 3 Likes	#3908
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	K10D and A 70-210 f/4 Macro.

07-10-2018, 12:32 PM	#3909
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,888	Okay, I've rebuilt the F100-300mm with the original elements and taken some test snaps. . . . . . and. . . It's still a crappy lens. Just really, really, bleeeurgh. Here's the test blurs. (You might notice that the exif shows 135mm. These are actually both at 300mm, but somehow I got the shake reduction setting wrong. I doubt it made any difference at 1/500th.)

07-10-2018, 04:48 PM	#3910
dbs Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Clare Valley S A Photos: Albums Posts: 7,564	Originally posted by Dartmoor Dave Okay, I've rebuilt the F100-300mm with the original elements and taken some test snaps. . . . . . and. . . It's still a crappy lens. Just really, really, bleeeurgh. Here's the test blurs. (You might notice that the exif shows 135mm. These are actually both at 300mm, but somehow I got the shake reduction setting wrong. I doubt it made any difference at 1/500th.) Hi Dave At web size they look fine,but I'm no judge. Dave

07-10-2018, 05:50 PM - 1 Like	#3911
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	K10D and D FA 28-105.

07-10-2018, 05:51 PM	#3912
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,851	K10D and D FA 28-105.

07-12-2018, 02:34 AM - 4 Likes	#3913
rayallen Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Forresters Beach, NSW, Australia. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,014	Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice. The pointy end of a ferry. Palm Beach wharf. We are commandeering this boat.

07-12-2018, 08:20 AM	#3914
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,910	Originally posted by rayallen Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice. The pointy end of a ferry. Palm Beach wharf. We are commandeering this boat. Very, very nice. The first and third pictures are absolutely perfect. I could see them printed out and framed. The middle picture is also very nice - but I would like to see it with a warmer WB. I would play with the WB slider (if you shot RAW) until the fence is white instead of blue and see how it would look then.

07-12-2018, 01:41 PM	#3915
Dartmoor Dave Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Dartmoor, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,888	Originally posted by rayallen Photography Club outing today. Ferry trip from Patonga to Palm Beach. K10D and Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4.0 DC Macro HSM 013 Contemporary. It was a bright sunny day so the K10D was an obvious choice. I love the saturated colours in the first one, Ray. I agree with Christian about the white balance being on the blue side in the second one, and I'm thinking that there's a really good B&W just waiting to come out of it.