Need opinion with my Pentax KX camera

[GrimTheRipper]

Hello guys, I recently received my new Pentax KX DSLR camera.



Now I'm looking to purchase wide-angle, macro and telephoto. I love to do general thing with my camera such as looks really close to something, landscaping, and a good shot at the animals. I thought about picking up macro lense first. So, I'm not sure if I should pick this up from the eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...#ht_3191wt_930

Or would you suggust me to wait and pick up a real expensive lense like this?
http://www.pentaximaging.com/camera-...mm_F2.8_Macro/

Thanks for your supports.

[Donald]

Alan

I'm not a Pentax user so can't comment in detail on your lens options. But, in general terms, it's about getting the balance between various variables.

• Will you be producing images that demand the very highest quality (and therefore most expensive) lens?
• What budget do you have available?
• If you want the best, but can't afford it at the moment, are you prepared to wait until you have funds available, or do you want the lens NOW?

These, I think, are some of the questions you have to ask yourself.

Unless you have a very deep pocket and funds are not an issue, then there are always decisions that involve some compromise have to be made.

As to what sort of lens - Macro, Wide Angle, Telephoto. I think that is about you having to decide where your interests lie at the moment and which aspects of photography you wish to develop. The thing to remember with a Macro, is that you can use it for other purposes as well.

And welcome to the forum.

[GrimTheRipper]

Donald- Thanks for your help. I'm on tight budget as for now since I bought Pentax few day ago. So, I don't mind picking up a cheap wide-angle + macro for cheap on ebay for now. So, could save up some money and pick up a true Macro lense. I'm more of into general photography and haven't decide which aspects I wish to develop. I love shoot something so close, landscaping and something far away. I'm not really a person like to do portrait.

Thanks

[Wirefox]

Well thats one up on Canon. A white lens and a white body. I would be mindful about bolting anything to the front of that kit lens that costs as little as $40. You may be disappointed with your results. If Pentax have the same form as most other brands your kit lens will be a fine lens to start off with. Personally I would have a really good play with the lens you have. Get used to the camera and note the limitations of the lens. If you have limited funds (don't we all...Colin excepted) I would think twice about going for a specialist lens too soon especially with fixed focal length. Many will disagree but my advice would be to look at a decent quality zoom that perhaps overlaps your kit lens slightly. If your kit is 18-55 go for a 70-200. This give you the mid range that most of us shoot within. That range will also help you find the gaps. If you end up shooting mainly w/a landscapes you may go for a w/a prime or zoom. If you end up shooting mainly gnats eyelashs at two hundred yards you probably need a bazooka. If your first hunch is correct then the 100mm is your man. But you still have the full range to do other things.

I would seriously consider fully compatible external flash gun and extension cable before that prime...you would probably need one anyway with that 100mm for macros (preferably a ring flash if you really want to make use of that prime)

This is just an opinion and ultimately you must go with your gut.

Steve

[Peter Anson]

Hello, For the time being, follow the advice given already and use the kit lens. It is a very good introduction for you. Always stay away from those cheap add on things. When you are ready, buy a lens, not a gadget. The Pentax kit lens is capable of producing very good images and will, with care, focus at just under 10 inches.If you want to buy something else buy a tripod and don't forget to switch off the shake reduction.

[GrimTheRipper]

Decided to bought a several filters on eBay and one of the filter just came with a macro kit as well. So, I decided to give it a try and it gave me a pretty impression result.

This picture is original and no cropping.


This got a small cropping job.

[Donald]

Alan

Good start with the new gear.

Of the two I prefer the second one. I think the reason for this is that there is a clearly definable point of interest. We can see what the subject is and it is well presented. Of course we also know what the first image is. But I think you've maybe got too close. If you had been back a bit we would have seen the whole of the flower head and I think that may have made for a better picture.

[GrimTheRipper]

Donald- Thanks for your comment. I wasn't really showing my pictures of how interested is it. I was just wanted to show you guys of how good if the macro kit that I bought UV filter for my camera. I wasn't thinking that it might looks good, but it actually gave me a good result on a cheap macro kit. I bought filter with macro for only 10.49 + shipping last monday and it got here this afternoon. It kind of give me a bit of tempting on buy a 500mm Mirror Len Telephoto. I read a review about it an it got a mix up feedback such as it's really good and some said it's doesn't impressing them.

[George Hazelton]

As a fellow Pentaxian - K10d and lots of film gear - I'd suggest you check the used market. I've had good success with KEH, for example. For macro use autofocus is not essential. I've had fine results with a Vivitar 100 f3.5 manual focus macro lens. With its dedicated plus lens it goes to 1 to 1 on film, which means about 1 to 1.5 on a digital sensor. As Peter Anson suggests, spring for a tripod - I like the Manrotto line - and get the wireless remote release, so you don't jar the camera. I replaced my viewing screen with a KatzEye replacement screen. While it affects the spot metering function (one can compensate!) it makes manual focusing much easier, regardless of the focus confirmation light.

I have a 500 mirror lens. Remember, they are fixed aperature, usually f8. Contrast tends to be low, and highlights render as donuts. But they are small, light, and affordable.

A real wide angle, equivalent to 18 mm or shorter in 35mm format, is another matter entirely. Decent ones are EXPENSIVE, at least for me, and very few have trickled down into the used market at an affordable price. Is this so because it is more difficult to design a lens for a back focus identical to a 35 mm body? But as time passes they will probably get cheaper.

With Pentax you have available a huge number of used lenses available. Do be careful, though. There are some variants on the K mount which will NOT mount to a Pentax DSLR. I have a Sigma zoom which mounts properly to my Pentax LX, but not to the K10. I gather that the same problem obtains with at least some Ricoh lenses, and that some variants will mount, but then cannot be removed! Pentax or Takumar are probably the safest, and are of good to excellent quality.

There are several dedicated Pentax forums. Have a look, they are wonderful resources.


Good hunting!

[pentaxian]

like George has said the Pentax kit lens is one of the best & weather resistant so you can shoot in a rain shower,after that i would suggest the Pentax 55-300mm, there are 2 versions DA or DA L. The DA has quick shift(allows you to manual focus while in auto focus mode) and metal mount the DA L does not have this facility and it has a plastic mount. optically they are the same DA price about £200 or just under, 2nd hand the DA L probably about 150. this would give you a range from 18mm -300mm. with two very good lenses. macro ,three lenses seem to be highly rated Tamron 90mm , Pentax 100mm or Sigma 105mm take your pick. unfortunately nobody does a 150 to 200mm macro for Pentax any more and when they are avaliable you need a mortgage. also definitely a tripod, all the best from a fellow Pentax user