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11-05-2014, 10:32 AM   #1
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Breaking Out the "Crappy" Lenses (Take a Swing At Me - I can Take It)

I have the opportunity to be one of three people driving 3 pickups from Portland, OR to Las Vegas this weekend and fly back Monday afternoon. it's a quick trip but I still want to take a camera. I purchased a ZX-5n some time ago from a PF member and have yet to use it. I decided to travel light and take the ZX-5n and two AF lenses - my Tamron 28-105 1:4-5.6 and Pentax F 35-80 1:4-5.6. I wanted to make use of the AF since my other film bodies are MF. I never use these lenses so I thought I would give them a run. Will be shooting Kodak T-Max 400 B&W film.

OK - so hit me with it and tell me I'm a fool for not taking either the K-x with kit lens & the DA 35mm or my ME Super and 50mm & 28mm legacy glass.

(Not taking a tripod, trying to travel light and will be working (driving) 8-9 hours a day, but have the flexibility to stop at will to grab a pic. and take some pics in the off hours.)


Last edited by OrangeKx; 11-05-2014 at 10:40 AM. Reason: Added text.
11-05-2014, 10:47 AM - 1 Like   #2
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Hey, you could do a lot worse. The ZX-5n is a great camera and has given me many fine 35mm images of late. I use it with the FA 28-80 sliver lens, not highly regarded in the data base but...for film it does just fine. TMax 400 is fun too. Take a polarizer with you for clouds. Have fun.
11-05-2014, 10:55 AM - 1 Like   #3
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the ZX 5 is a very capable body (and I shot a lot with the 28-200kit lens andd the 28-80 neither of which are fantastic but they weren't god awful and in the right scene produce excellent results (if you have the da35 take it as well it works very well on ff)
11-05-2014, 01:06 PM - 1 Like   #4
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I got a Pentax FA 35-80 a while back when i puchased a package. For the heck of it I tested and compared it to my DA* 16-50mm and some other lenses. To my surprise it produced sharper or at leaset comparable pictures than the DA* - far better than the 18-55 kit lens.

Having said that, the build quality was awful and it was very noisy. Suspect the results vary greatly with individual copies. Never used it and sold it for $25 or so (I think). Point is that some of these older lenses can surprise you!

11-05-2014, 01:44 PM - 1 Like   #5
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Depending on what you like, there are some great sceneries along the way and of course in and around Las Vegas. Might want to take some slides or color negatives too!
11-05-2014, 02:35 PM - 1 Like   #6
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Have fun!
crappy lenses can produce awesome results
11-05-2014, 02:53 PM   #7
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Well thanks, all - that was painless. I'm looking forward to playing with the new camera. I've included a few filters: yellow, red and polarizer.

11-05-2014, 05:27 PM - 1 Like   #8
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You've had a recent trip to prepare you for what to expect - https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/14-general-talk/269144-first-trip-las-vegas.html

I don't know if you got a chance to get the sign . . . Kodak Ektar 100


Since you are shooting b&w . . . Kodak TMAX 100



And if you can visit the Hoover Dam at night . . . Pentax LX aperture priority >40minutes on Kodak Ektar 100.

11-06-2014, 05:47 AM   #9
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Frak, I want to visit LV at night!!! My Nikon F2AS demands it!
11-06-2014, 07:11 AM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by Cuthbert Quote
Frak, I want to visit LV at night!!! My Nikon F2AS demands it!
Hack all my camera demand it (though i think the Bronica 645 with the 40 and some velvia may be the answer)
11-06-2014, 08:18 AM   #11
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LV at Night

QuoteOriginally posted by Cuthbert Quote
Frak, I want to visit LV at night!!! My Nikon F2AS demands it!
When we went to Vegas a month ago I quickly learned that the night pictures are way more fun and interesting than the stuff taken during the day. It's like two kinds of shooting options. Day is pretty good, but the lights just make it all happen.
11-06-2014, 02:13 PM   #12
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There are definitely many photographic opportunities in and around Las Vegas . . .

Agfa Ultra 100



Fuji Sensia 100



Fuji Sensia 100


---------- Post added 11-06-14 at 04:15 PM ----------

QuoteOriginally posted by Cuthbert Quote
Frak, I want to visit LV at night!!! My Nikon F2AS demands it!
Now that you have the light gathering LX, new opportunities need exploration!
11-06-2014, 02:39 PM   #13
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QuoteOriginally posted by OrangeKx Quote
I have the opportunity to be one of three people driving 3 pickups from Portland, OR to Las Vegas this weekend and fly back Monday afternoon. it's a quick trip but I still want to take a camera. I purchased a ZX-5n some time ago from a PF member and have yet to use it. I decided to travel light and take the ZX-5n and two AF lenses - my Tamron 28-105 1:4-5.6 and Pentax F 35-80 1:4-5.6. I wanted to make use of the AF since my other film bodies are MF. I never use these lenses so I thought I would give them a run. Will be shooting Kodak T-Max 400 B&W film.

OK - so hit me with it and tell me I'm a fool for not taking either the K-x with kit lens & the DA 35mm or my ME Super and 50mm & 28mm legacy glass.

(Not taking a tripod, trying to travel light and will be working (driving) 8-9 hours a day, but have the flexibility to stop at will to grab a pic. and take some pics in the off hours.)
I take old K, M, A & FA series zooms when I'm travelling quite often, they aren’t that bad and I get good shots with them. Sometimes zooms have an advantage when you want to travel light. I do always take at least one prime for the faster aperture.

Phil.
11-06-2014, 06:21 PM - 1 Like   #14
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Traveling light is great, but I'd make sure I took a back up. Nothings worse than coming home empty handed...Take a light back up such as the ME super, but take something. Just say'n. Murphys law will punish you and cameras aren't that heavy...even old ones.
11-06-2014, 09:43 PM   #15
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QuoteOriginally posted by gofour3 Quote
I take old K, M, A & FA series zooms when I'm travelling quite often, they aren’t that bad and I get good shots with them. Sometimes zooms have an advantage when you want to travel light. I do always take at least one prime for the faster aperture.

Phil.
I think I will drop a faster prime in the bag. Good call. What I'm taking is pretty slow.
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