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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-26-2007, 04:21 PM
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Hello Freddy
The Phoenix lens is one that was sold under a lot of different names, including Pentax. Mine is a Cosina and I bought it brand new with the matched multiplier to make it focus to 1:1. You are right about the build quality but optically it is a match for much more expensive lenses. Have a look here for some photos taken with it. Flickr: The Cosina 100mm f/3.5 Macro Pool
If it's going for $100 get one it's a steal at that price. The manual focus is fine. I use it all the time as I find AF not very effective for macro.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
06-24-2007, 03:02 PM
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This looks like two different things to me. The marks on the top photo look like dust spots on the lens but the ones on the bottom photo look like hot pixels. I get the dust spots on the lens when I shoot at f22-32. The dust is tiny particles on the skylight filter which I assume are in focus at such small apertures. I have a few hot pixels on my *istD and they look like those in your second photo. They only occur against dark backgrounds so I tend not to notice them. You might be able to get a repacement camera if they are stuck pixels because I think the warranty covers from 3 or more (something like that anyway). Bear in mind that for printing, you would have to print very big before individual pixels can be seen. My main concern would be that if you have had the camera for only 2 months and you already have 2 stuck pixels, how many would you have in a couple of years.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-23-2007, 04:25 AM
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The Sigma 70-300 APO DG is quite a reasonable price for what it is and it does a decent job. If you want to go longer but haven't got the money for the 50-500 or 70-200 with tc then the 135-400 is OK as is the 170-500 both are in the £400 region.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-23-2007, 04:17 AM
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It really depends what the use is going to be but personally I would relace the kit lens. I did and I chose the 16-45 f4 which is a really nice lens for lanscapes and architecture so long as you get some software to correct the distortions at the short end (I have ptlens that works fine and costs buttons). The other option for me would be the Sigma 17-70 DC. I had one of these for another camera and it was on the camera for 90% of the time. It's a really useful lens having a larger zoom range than the 16-45 and the macro is useful at 1:2 for flowers etc. I would say that the optical quality is about equal between these 2 and the Sigma is about £70-80 cheaper.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-18-2007, 10:20 AM
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I think that is probably the Sigma lens that I used to have before I bought the 70-300. If I remember correctly it has a 52mm thread and there is a matched 'achromatic macro lens-AML) for it but it's been out of production for a while. I don't think it gets you to 1:1 but it is a cheap option if yu can find one. I have one and it's a two element lens that's roughly equivalent to a +2 dioptre. As roy says there is a reduction in quality but not as much with this one as the cheap ones that are sold on ebay. You could do worse than buy the cosina 100mm f3.5 macro lens which is dirt cheap and quite good quality. It was sold under a lot of different names like phoenix and vivitar and Pentax (though theirs has the smc coating). It is a 1:2 lens that if you are lucky comes with a matched adapter to give 1:1. I've used one for a while and there is a german on Ebay who is selling them for about £60. To see some photos taken with one do a search in flickr groups for cosina 100 macro. There is a group dedicated to the lens and there are many good photos on there.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-16-2007, 07:05 PM
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I don't know where you are but in this country that lens would probably go for £20-30 in a shop so I would be inclined to offer £20 for it and go to £25 if you need to. It looks OK but just that.
Carl
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
06-16-2007, 12:45 PM
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It will work as my Vivitar 2x does but you lose autofocus. I assume that it has the contacts for retaining auto aperture unless it's really old. I think these old converters are not that hot optically though so be prepared to lose some quality. If you use it on fast lenses (up to about f3.5) you will retain focus confirmation. Like any lens with no A setting you will have to shoot in manual and set the aperture from the lens and use the green button for metering but they are ok in an emergency.
Carl
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