New Guy Here

[cbass]

Hello, I'm new to DSLRx but I've been a member of the sister site Rangefider Forum for over a year. I noticed a few familiar screen names here:) .

I'm a recent convert to digital -- I bought the inexpensive Pentax *ist DL with the kit lens. It's my first digital SLR and I've been having fun using it to make photos at family gatherings.

However, in October I'm hoping to use the camera to shoot a bicycle race through Death Valley, California. I'd like to add a longer telephoto lens for this purpose. Can any other Pentax users recommend a good AF lens in the 300mm focal length range? I'm new to the Pentax line.

Also, can anyone tell me how to insert the gallery link in my signature?

Thanks!

[chenick]

Welcome Chris,

I'm new here too, also via RFF! I've just got a Samsung GX-1S (rebadged Pentax *istDS2)

Your gallery is
http://www.dslrexchange.com/photopostdslrx/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=418
So to add your gallery to your sig add the following:

[URL="http://www.dslrexchange.com/photopostdslrx/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=418"]My Gallery[/URL

and add another "]" after to finish the link

Cheers!

Nick

[ChrisN]

Hi Chris - another Pentax! Hey, that's almost enough for a forum!

My lenses stop at 200mm - I'm starting with the wide end and gradually working my way up. Death Valley - sounds hot!

[Jorge Torralba]

Welcom aboard :)

[dostacos]

Hello, I'm new to DSLRx but I've been a member of the sister site Rangefider Forum for over a year. I noticed a few familiar screen names here:) .

I'm a recent convert to digital -- I bought the inexpensive Pentax *ist DL with the kit lens. It's my first digital SLR and I've been having fun using it to make photos at family gatherings.

However, in October I'm hoping to use the camera to shoot a bicycle race through Death Valley, California. I'd like to add a longer telephoto lens for this purpose. Can any other Pentax users recommend a good AF lens in the 300mm focal length range? I'm new to the Pentax line.

Also, can anyone tell me how to insert the gallery link in my signature?

Thanks!


the good news about the Pentax line is you can use any Pentax lens even the 42MM screw mount[great glass] of course they won't be auto focus but great lenses, and you can find lots of Pentax lenses on ebay

[dostacos]

Hi Chris - another Pentax! Hey, that's almost enough for a forum!

My lenses stop at 200mm - I'm starting with the wide end and gradually working my way up. Death Valley - sounds hot!
I broke a fanbelt right across from the sign marking 282ft below sea level, yeah you could say HOT:eek:

[zuikologist]

I understand Pentax' own long-range zoom 80-320mm is highly regarded.

http://www.pbase.com/cameras/pentax/smc_pfa_80_320_f45_56

http://kmp.bdimitrov.de/lenses/zooms/long/FA80-320f4.5-5.6.html

[cbass]

Thanks for the tips. For my next lens I might go in another direction...the 50/1.4, which seems to be highly praised by users.

I can keep using my "ancient" Panasonic FZ-1 for cycling photos.

[Kin Lau]

Thanks for the tips. For my next lens I might go in another direction...the 50/1.4, which seems to be highly praised by users.

I can keep using my "ancient" Panasonic FZ-1 for cycling photos.

I have the SMC 50/1.4 in m42... very nice lens and dirt cheap too. Works well with my 20D + Haoda manual focusing screen.

[Al Patterson]

Finally joined here myself after a while on RFF. I'm looking at the Pentax K100, Nikon D70s or whatever DSLR fits my hand the best when I pick it up...

Thinking of buying a DSLR for my Birthday/Christmas present to myself in December, so I decided to de-lurk and join up over here.

[cbass]

Al, I can highly recommend the *ist DL. It's a nice camera (and inexpensive, too). By December, the Pentax K100D should be an even better buy.

I've been using the *ist DL for almost a month and I'm having a lot of fun making photos with it. The only image quality issue I've found is that my camera tends to under-expose by about a full stop even in good light. Most of the time I set the default metering to center-weighted and apply +1.0 expsoure compensation.

Does anyone know if the under expsoure tendency is common to Pentax digital SLRs or am I doing something wrong?

[ChrisN]

The under-exposure thing seems to be fairly common. What lenses are you using?

When I use Pentax-A lenses (manual focus, automatic aperture) I get the same and use +1 exposure compensation. The Sigma kit lenses (autofocus) seem to meter ok. I'll be receiving a Pentax DA40 lens in 10 days time; I'll be interested to see how that meters.

[cbass]

I'm using the DA 18-55 kit lens. It's currently the only Pentax lens that I own.

Do you recommend the Sigma lenses? I'd like to purchase a fast 35 or 50 before the days begin to shorten and light becomes scarce here in the northern hemisphere :( .

[ChrisN]

My camera came with a Sigma 17-50 and a 50-200. I've been reasonably happy, but they are not as sharp as the Sigma 18-125 that came with my wife's DL, and my old Pentax prime lenses are better again. The standard Pentax-A 50/1.7 (manual-focus) is a must-have; fast, sharp and cheap! And the 50/1.4 (both old and new versions) is very well respected.

Have a look at the whole range of Pentax lenses at http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/.

[Kin Lau]

Currently, both Tamron & Sigma make a 17-50/2.8, and Sigma has a 17-70/2.8-4.5 which is getting some good reviews also.

For my Canon's, I use a EF35/2 as a low light lens. I also have a m42->EOS adapter and use a SMC 50/1.4 and a Russian 35/2 at times as well.