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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-11-2021, 12:12 PM  
Better to buy Pentax 77mm or 85mm* ???
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 129
Views: 7,946
Looking at your samples there, it is hard to believe you need a new lens. :-) Lovely work!

I find the 77 to be the best lens I own, for pictures of people. I've never used the 85, though.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 04-25-2021, 02:26 PM  
Best lens for landscapes: 16-85 or 20-40 Limited?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 50
Views: 4,435
I think both are quite good and have their strengths. I usually grab the 20-40 first because it is light and compact. I agree with the other posters that the ability to get to 16mm is extremely valuable in a landscape lens, and would probably make the 16-85 worth its size and weight.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 04-22-2021, 01:06 PM  
What is the worst Pentax lens ever made?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 165
Views: 15,116
I've had 3 copies of the DA* 16-50 and every one was pretty bad. 2 were so bad I thought they were broken, although my local camera repair place couldn't find anything wrong. I know people have had amazing results from the lens, and I may have had a few decent shots with the one "better" copy, but given the price and label, it was a huge disappointment.
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-21-2019, 10:14 AM  
3 Exceptional Used Pentax K-1 Cameras On Sale For Under $1,200
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 3
Views: 971
Very intriguing!
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 07-17-2019, 06:19 PM  
Is the 43mm really that bad? (APS-C)
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 28
Views: 4,164
I love my FA 43. Probably my favorite lens. TBH I liked the DA 40 quite a bit as well, but the 43 is just a little more interesting. I love it for pictures of people or pets. The FA 77 is also fantastic, in my book, but the narrower field of view can sometimes feel a little limiting. I only use APS-C, FWIW.
Forum: Sold Items 11-29-2018, 06:37 PM  
For Sale - Sold: SMC Pentax-FA 50mm F2.8 Macro
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 2
Views: 816
That is a great lens!
Forum: Welcomes and Introductions 09-07-2018, 06:24 PM  
Help! Advice on Super Wide Angle Lens for K-30
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 15
Views: 1,045
You can probably find the same lens you used to have in K mount. I have one and it is quite good. I don't think they are available new but should be readily available used.
Forum: Post Your Photos! 06-08-2018, 09:35 PM  
Cityscape Skyline of Seattle
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 13
Views: 1,444
Excellent use of black and white!
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 05-21-2018, 08:14 PM  
Wow, I absolutely adore the FA 43!
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 41
Views: 3,742
The 77 is really amazing, too. I talked myself out of it for a long time, but now I'll never part with it. The 43 was my favorite for a long time, though.
Forum: Pentax K-70 & KF 02-18-2018, 08:49 PM  
Things I wish I knew then
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 15
Views: 2,695
I have found, in my quest to capture decent pictures of my kids and my family's moments, that a bounce/swivel flash has been by single most useful piece of gear. It makes almost any zoom usable inside. The one I have is old and doesn't even communicate with the camera - just set the aperture as per the back and fire away. Even with an 18-55, you'd get good results at about f/8. Your 28/2.8 would shine, too. Welcome and good luck!
Forum: Pentax Price Watch 12-01-2017, 09:45 AM  
Exclusive deal: DA 20-40mm for $597
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 7
Views: 994
This is my favorite and most used lens.Highly recommended!
Forum: Pentax K-3 & K-3 II 09-01-2017, 05:47 PM  
Pentax K-3 developed "mode dial failure", what's my best plan?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 2
Views: 1,508
Hi all! My K-3 is 2+ years old, and last Monday it spontaneously stopped responding to changes of the mode dial, staying in manual mode at all times. Sometimes it would flicker into or out of another mode while fiddling with the knob, but it wouldn't stick, and now it is in "M" mode all the time. My warrantee is expired, naturally. Alas!

I haven't found reports of this failure with K-3s, but it has been an issue with K-1s. I tried a fresh battery, and gave it a little time to rest - no change. I don't see any advantage to tracking down the official Pentax repair channels here in the US, so I will probably just take it to my local camera repair place- they say they can get parts from Pentax. I'm not crazy about what opening it up might mean for weather-sealing, etc. but I don't see any good alternatives. Any thoughts?
Forum: Mini-Challenges, Games, and Photo Stories 09-01-2017, 04:58 PM  
Game Single in September 2017
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 182
Views: 10,529
In with an FA 43 on a *ist DS while my K3 is being repaired (I hope!)
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 08-28-2017, 03:26 PM  
K1 Mode Dial Failure
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 262
Views: 49,136
This appears to have happened to my K-3, now just over 2 years old. Not sure what to do with it. Ugh.
Forum: Lens Sample Photo Archive 08-27-2017, 05:39 PM  
Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC Lens Samples
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 36
Views: 27,638
K3, northern Wisconsin, Tamarack Bog

[IMG]IMGP5077c by siebersn, on Flickr[/IMG]
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 08-24-2017, 05:07 AM  
F 24-50 or FA 24-90?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 24
Views: 2,994
The only place where the 24-90 suffers compared to the 24-50 is in the build, which is slightly flimsy. Optically, I found the 24-90 to be somewhat better, although the F lens gives more of a vintage "look". Either would work well, although neither was quite as strong as the FA 20-35, which is then lens I ended up keeping (for use on aps-c). Until I got a 20-40, whole other story. In a vacuum I would prefer the 24-90.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 08-18-2017, 09:29 PM  
The Six-Megapixel Club
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 4,290
Views: 393,637
I love my *ist DS! It reminds me of my first DSLR, a K1000 super I never should have sold. I still find the 1-control-wheel interface very intuitive. Plus, I use an accessory TTL flash sometimes, no problems, and I have a Canon matte focus screen in there instead of the original. It is GREAT for manual focus, especially fast lenses. Here's one with a Tokina 90mm macro:

[IMG]IMGP9797 by siebersn, on Flickr[/IMG]
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 08-12-2017, 06:53 AM  
Portrait lens: 55mm f1.4, 70mm f2.4 or 77mm f1.8
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 36
Views: 8,999
I've never had a DA*55, but I am sure OP will like it. Those cosplay shots look great. But I will say that I resisted the 77 for a long time, because I had a DA70 and a Bokina 90. But eventually I caved, and now the 77 is my favorite lens. I don't get results quite as good as LeRolls, for many reasons (ha ha ha), but it is really fantastic for taking pictures of people. I also have the 43, and that does darn well when you need a wider option as well.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 08-07-2017, 02:01 PM  
Is the new DA 20-40mm a worthy alternative to the DA 21 and DA 40 ltd?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 32
Views: 6,253
My DA 20-40 is best at the wide end, where it seemed to equal my DA 21. I got rid of the latter lens as a result. The DA 20-40 is not quite as good at the long end, wide open; but stopped down a few clicks it does just fine. This is similar to the DA 40 that I subsequently sold. I've mostly considered my self a prime lens person, but the DA 20-40 is on my camera most of the time, now. I do still have a few primes for when I am in the mood.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 04-30-2017, 09:26 PM  
What´s your lens keeping rate?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 45
Views: 3,552
17/167, if I am doing that right. Although to be fair, I may be counting some sold bodies as lenses, as I don't distinguish in my "sold" folder. Still it is pretty clear that for a long time, buying and selling gear was my main hobby, as much as taking pictures was.
Forum: Sold Items 04-30-2017, 08:32 PM  
For Sale - Sold: SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm F/2.8 Lens for limited use, parts or ? repair. *READ*
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 0
Views: 949
SMC Pentax-DA* 16-50mm f/2.8 lens - $150 plus $15 for shipping in US but read below

Here's a sad tale. This DA* lens is in pretty bad shape. For one, the SDM motor is dead. I sent it to KEH, but they were unable to repair it because the lens had been opened previously and they wouldn't even attempt to work on it. It sounds like the previous owner had the SDM repaired and then it failed again? It is a confusing story. In any case it is not working now.

I do not have a body on which I can convert it to screw drive. But I do have a *ist DS which can use the lens with screw drive. And on that body this lens' performance is not great. It frequently misfocuses slightly (can't adjust fine focus on a *ist) and shows some evidence of decentering. Wide open it is tricky to get a good shot. Stopped down a few clicks those issues recede and I have made some nice pictures with the lens, but I have other lenses I prefer to use. So I am offering this one for sale cheap, with the caveats that it is sold "as is" with no returns unless you find it grossly other than as described. Maybe a lens tinkerer can return it to full glory.

$15 to ship in the US, I am happy to ship to other countries but it will cost more, please ask about rates to your country. I accept PayPal, and will not mark items as a "gift" for customs purposes. Feel free to ask questions if you would like. Thanks for looking! Nick
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 03-28-2017, 04:42 PM  
FA43 - Favorite light to shoot in
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 4
Views: 1,099
All light. You'll love it.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 02-22-2017, 06:42 AM  
28 mm vs 21 / 20-40 questions
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 15
Views: 2,652
My experience with the DA 20-40 vs. the 21 has been similar to what photogem describes. I no longer own a 21, the DA 20-40 is quite good at that range. Both are better than the FA28, in my experience.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 02-21-2017, 08:51 PM  
Limited Primes or 20-40?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 21
Views: 4,404
I do use the 31, when I am aiming for the best picture I can possibly take at that approximate focal length. And it has given me some of my favorite pictures, that I would consider the best. But also at times it has given me washed out colors, in the wrong light; less DOF than I needed; or strong CA that distracted from what I wanted. All could have been prevented or avoided with better technique, true. But with the DA 20-40 I've had those issues crop up fewer times. Partly because of how I use it, partly because my uses for it are different, and maybe a little lower expectations.

The DA Limiteds do tend to produce dense color saturation, so may not be ideal for most portraiture. Still they are fine tools that can be used for most purposes, and post-processing can certainly deal with saturation. I agree that sometimes the FA limiteds are a notch above, and I won't soon be selling mine. The DA 20-40 is what stays as default on my main camera, though.
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 02-17-2017, 08:29 PM  
Limited Primes or 20-40?
Posted By Nick Siebers
Replies: 21
Views: 4,404
I like the images from my 20-40 as much as the ones I got with a DA21. My limited zoom is a little weaker at the long end, but really quite good short. I don't have reason to put on the 31 unless I am really going for maximum quality. And with that said, the 31 tens to be a bit more temperamental - my best shots ever are mostly with it, but I get some that I am not that happy with. I am sure it is user error, but the 20-40 seems to give more even results.

Right now I have found the 20-40 and the 77 cover almost everything I tend to shoot. But I have a bunch more, just because.
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