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Forum: Post Your Photos! 08-06-2017, 11:35 PM

Misc My first real picture on the newly acquired used K-3
Posted By Des

Replies: 6
Views: 784

Weather resistant. There are seals at various points around the lens that will help stop water getting into the lens. When you use a WR lens with a WR body (such as the K-3), it will help protect the camera from water ingress too. The weather resistance isn't perfect - I wouldn't try dropping the camera and lens into a river, although people have done so, with mixed results. But WR lets you use the camera and lens in the rain with reasonable confidence. It's still prudent to minimize exposure to moisture, and to wipe down the camera and lens as soon as possible if they get wet.

Some Pentax lenses (e.g. the big, heavy and expensive DA 560mm f5.6) are designated "AW" for all-weather - they have a higher grade of weather-resistance.

Weather-resistance was only introduced to Pentax lenses after they started making lenses specifically for digital cameras (the DA and DFA lens series), and after they started making camera bodies that supported weather-resistance. (So none of the Takumars or M42 lenses, or lenses in the Pentax K, M, A, F or FA series of lenses, was WR.) All the Pentax DFA zoom lenses are WR or AW. The current version of the wonderful DFA 100mm f2.8 macro lens is WR, but earlier DFA primes are not. All the DA* lenses are WR, and some of the plain DA lenses too. If you look at the lists in the Pentax Forums lens reviews (Pentax Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database), it will tell you which lenses are WR.

As far as I know, none of the third-party lenses available in Pentax K-mount has weather-resistance.

The popular Pentax DA 55-300 zoom comes in four variations. Three use the same optical formula, and screw-drive autofocus. The last of those three has the WR designation. It is still available new from some suppliers, although I think it is being discontinued. The fourth model is a completely new design, with an in-lens Pulse Lens Motor (PLM) autofocus system which is fast and quiet. The PLM version is also WR. It also retracts so it is smaller for carrying when not in use. The PLM is a nice lens, but the previous models (whether new or used) are good value if you want to save some money - optically they stack up well against the PLM lens.

Incidentally, the PLM lens has an electric aperture control system, which will only work on the K-3 if the latest firmware (version 1.30) has been installed. Don't worry if it hasn't - the firmware update is free and is simple to install: http://www.ricoh-imaging.co.jp/english/support/digital/k3_s.html

Forum: Post Your Photos! 08-06-2017, 09:59 PM

Misc My first real picture on the newly acquired used K-3
Posted By Des

Replies: 6
Views: 784

K-3 is an excellent camera. Don't be surprised if there is a bit of a learning curve - well there was for me from a K-30. I found it helpful to read the PF review of the camera in detail, and of course the manual. And Yvon Bourques's ebook is very informative too.

Work out your criteria first. Here are some ideas in autofocus (AF) lenses:
1. Zoom, money and weight no object, very high IQ, WR, quiet AF: DFA 150-450. (And for more reach in good light, add a DA 1.4x tele-converter (TC).)
2. Zoom, substantial budget, prefer mid-weight, prepared to wait and look for it, don't need WR, screw-drive AF is OK: Sigma 100-300 f4 + TC
3. Zoom, want a lot of reach, money limited, but don't mind the weight, don't need WR, screw-drive AF is OK: Bigma, or Little Bigma (ie Sigma 50-500 and 150-500, respectively).
4. Zoom, light weight matters more than long reach, reasonable amount available to spend, WR, quiet AF: DA 55-300 PLM
5. Zoom, light weight matters more than long reach, limited amount available to spend, WR, screw-drive AF is OK: DA 55-300 screw-driven WR
6. Zoom, light weight matters more than long reach, tight budget, don't need WR, don't mind screw-drive AF: DA or DA-L 55-300 screw-driven non-WR
7. Prime, max reach, unlimited budget: DA 560 or Sigma 500
8. Prime, decent reach, substantial budget, WR, excellent IQ: DA*300 f4 + DA 1.4 TC
9. Prime, decent reach, reasonable budget, excellent IQ, not too heavy, don't need WR, don't mind screw-drive AF: F* or FA*300 f4.5 + third party 1.4 TC
10. Prime, decent reach, reasonable budget, very good IQ, don't need WR, don't mind screw-drive AF, don't want to use a TC, prepared to wait and look: Sigma 400mm f5.6 tele macro

5 & 9 are the value options at present IMO. You could get both for about a grand. (That would barely get you the hood and tripod foot of the DFA zoom. ;-) )

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