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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 04-01-2010, 08:06 AM  
I shoot Nikon, but my mother needs advice about her Pentax...
Posted By chris.bersbach
Replies: 19
Views: 3,657
Thanks for all of the replies. It looks like just about everyone is suggesting the same kit, which I think will be good for her. For those asking, her current lenses are (to the best of my recollection) a variable aperture 28-80, which she doesn't use much because it has something like a 4' minimum focusing distance, and an off-brand 100-400 which has, frankly, terrible IQ (and something rattling around inside). Add to that the fact that she she's shooting it handheld, often at full zoom, with no image stabilization of any kind, and she's not getting great images from it.

She's planning to sell her *ist D, and despite the warning from one poster about its TTL abilities, I'm not sweating that. I'll give her a little extra coin to invest in starting a more solid kit, and I don't see her ever shooting much flash work. She also doesn't still own any of her older lenses, which were essentially all kit lenses anyway. The only exception is a 50mm 2.8, which is on her old ME Super, sitting on my shelf presently (and she'll have to pry that old metal beast from my cold, dead hands).
Nikon has been all over the place with lens compatibility, so the concept of being able to use a 25 year old lens on a new camera is probably an unheard of concept.
This actually isn't the case. Unlike Canon, Nikon didn't change their mount when they started putting AF motors in their cameras, so you can still use almost any F-mount lens on the newest Nikon bodies. There are some *really* old AI lenses that won't even meter on new bodies, but nearly all of their old lenses are still shootable.

Anyway guys, thanks again for all the help. I like the sound of that 40mm 2.8; I might look into getting something like that for her as a gift. Either that or a tripod, which she needs to start using desperately.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 04-01-2010, 12:29 AM  
I shoot Nikon, but my mother needs advice about her Pentax...
Posted By chris.bersbach
Replies: 19
Views: 3,657
Update: I think she was looking at this kit, which would fit her needs really well, from what I can tell. The K-X appears to have great reviews, as does the 55-300mm, and the 18-55mm focuses pretty darn close. Plus it's way under her budget, so maybe I could convince her to buy a fast prime to go with it. I'd happily take recommendations in that department as well. Thoughts from the peanut gallery?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 04-01-2010, 12:03 AM  
I shoot Nikon, but my mother needs advice about her Pentax...
Posted By chris.bersbach
Replies: 19
Views: 3,657
Background: my mother has been shooting Pentax for over 20 years, starting with an ME Super (which was handed down to me and got me started as a photographer), moving through two more advanced film bodies, and then into digital with the *ist D. She's thinking of upgrading, and asked me for advice. I started by simply suggesting she switch to Nikon, only because she'd then be dealing with a product line I know well, and could advise her better on. Even Canon would be better, since I have friend who shoots Canon, whom I could consult. But she's happy with her Pentax cameras, and sees no reason to switch. Yet, she still wants my advice. So here I am, asking for help from the Pentax community.

Mom's strictly an amateur, mostly shoots on auto (although I'd love to help her take more control of whatever she ends up buying), and likes to shoot wildlife and "macro" (we're not talking 1:1 here, a decent, close-focusing zoom will suit her fine for now), and has a budget of about a grand. One thing that I understand about Pentax bodies is that they have the Pentax equivalent of IS/VR built into their bodies, and I'd like her to be able to take advantage of this, since she is hoping to get to at least 300mm. I don't know what size Pentax sensors are, or what the crop multiplier is, I don't know what the well-regarded consumer lenses are, but I'd like to help her find a long zoom that will get her to at least 300mm uncropped, and maybe a wider zoom that will focus pretty close. I don't think she has the patience for primes.

Sorry for the long post, but I'd rather include too much info than too little, in order to get the best help/advice that I can for my mom. Thanks in advance for any help you guys can offer.
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