Time to keep my word.

Dear Thomas,

Let me just say that this is such an incredible act of kindness. I am not the best typer so please bear with me.

I will start out to say that I have not always used Pentax. I had Nikon equipment before and so starts my true story. I had a whole slew of Nikon equipment some very good stuff- D100, D1h, 80-200 f2.8 etc. I, however, wasn't happy with it. I always got dust in the sensor of the bodies. So I decided to sell all of my equipment and go with the new K10d that was coming out. It was so much cheaper than the comparable Nikon d200 and it had so much more- SR, dust cleaning, sealed body. So back in September I sold all of my Nikon equipment to buy Pentax. I got a fair amount for it which was good because I already had my 10d on order. Here comes the problem though, all of the money I had received for my Nikon equipment was not able to go to an equal Pentax setup. Around that same time I had over a $1000 in car repairs and a month later I was partaily layed off from work! All of my money was now gone for bills and trying to support my wife.

Not only that but now I had about $800 in debt from my new 10d with only a crappy Tamron 28-135 I got off of Ebay with very little money to pay for it. I am also having an extremely hard time finding used lenses for it, anywhere!! When I had Nikon I could find an 28-80 f2.8 without to much problem even used in a Sigma, Tamron, etc. And I don't buy new lenses just because my budget doesn't permit it. So these are my problems. I really love the camera but I don't feel I am getting the most out of it since I don't have a nice lens to go with it. I can't find one that I can afford either!

I was hoping to shoot a wedding for my friend this summer but with the setup I have now I don't think I can. The Tamron is a very slow f4.5-5.6 and it isn't that sharp.

I hope I was not to long winded but that is my story and that is why I believe I could benefit from your very nice Sigma.

Thanks,
Chris

Wow Thomas, I do not envy your position right now. Good luck making your choice.

As for the great idea of a photo equipment clearing house, I think we should also remember those close to home. I know I would have no problem finding needing AND deserving students for used digital P&S cameras (not to mention SLR's) right here in poverty striken Paterson. Folks in Brooklyn or Queens or Newark know the same is true there, as it is in the barrios and ghettos of LA and Oakland (and Chicago, and......).

I guess what I'm getting at is just, if anyone in North Jersey is in a position to donate gear, I would be willing to find the right home(s) for it. For a taste of Paterson, check out my small gallery:

http://picasaweb.google.com/gidon.w

All,

After thinking about this tonight, I feel bad for what I did asking for a handout and a little bit of generosity. As much as I would love to have a better lens for my K10D, the fact is that I do have a lens and I am grateful for having what I do. I'd like to withdraw my application for the lens as I am sure there is someone much more deserving that has a higher need than I do. Thanks Thomas for you kindness and generosity, it makes me proud to be a member of this forum and a fellow Pentaxian. If I am ever in the position to do the same I vow that I will. I have promised myself to try and take my K10D out this weekend and trying to snap a few shots, perhaps getting this shutterbug back into action.

Kevin

Let me first start off by saying we are all lucky to have this offer. This is a truly one of a kind offer, probably only found in the pentax slr forum.

I have been eyeing the sigma 17-70 mm for a very long time, but being a pharmacy student I barely found enough money to invest in the k10d. To this day I have the kit lens and the 50mm 1.4f lenses. I wanted the sigma 17-70mm as an all around lens due to the fact that I have seen so many beautiful pictures taken with the lens. I have had the k10d since christmas, but haven't taken too many pictures with it because I wasn't satisfied with the kit lens. Please rekindle my love with the k10d. I would do it myself, but being in pharmacy school takes a huge hit to my student income.
Regardless who you give it to, we all appreciate it. Thank you.

This is one of the strangest threads I've seen on any of the forums, if only because I have a hard time accepting that anyone with the resources to own a Digital SLR could truly qualify as disadvantaged or needy. If you really want to help someone in need, I'd suggest selling the lens for as much as possible, and then giving the proceeds to the local food bank.

As for all of the impoverished DSLR users here, I'm sorry to have to say this, but if things are really that tight for you, you might want to consider selling your digital gear, purchasing a nice film setup for $50 or so, and spending the balance on more important things until your circumstances improve...

Thomas, I have to say this is truly a selfless act amoung the photgraphy relm and I want to thank you for your kindness. I'am a working collage student at a local comunity school with a pregnant wife and 2 year old son. Working outside and having a love for the outdoors, it did not take long for the attack of the shutter-bugs. Armed with my fathers 18 year old hand-me-down ricoh KR-5 super and 50 mm f 2, I was off to save nature one frame at a time. Unsatisfied with not being able to do more I set out for another lense (used of course, lets face it their more green than glass). Not long after that I met my mentor, who through his knowledge and love of photography has helped me three fold. Over the years he has helped me build my stash of used gear from a couple of lenses to his retired pentax PZ1-P. Today I shoot a digital Pentax (*istD), you probably ask how does a man need a free lense that shoots a digital camra? Well, it took me three months of saving to buy a used camera for @ 500.00. Not to mention the deal I had to make with my wife that I give up my b-day, anniversary, and christmas til when ever. As for your lense, nothing in my bag comes close. Do I have need for a wide angle lense? In the worse way, my current wide angle workhorse is a 35-80 f 3.5-5.6 and with a 1.5 magnification factor we all know what that means, I'll just back up as room lets me. Do I deserve to be the proud new home to this exceptional peice of glass? That is for you to decide, however I can tell you it will see more camera time than bag time. Sorry for the history lesson, but with photography and friends all their are is story and photo sharring. Good luck in your search Thomas.
George71

It's called pay-it-forward (as opposed to pay-me-back). It's what I try to do every day with my education.

Giving something away like Thomas proposes will make one person ridiculously happy and gracious, and hopefully will influence them and others to do something along the same line (like give away their kit lens, or influence us with a new point of view in their pictures, or use their lens-buying savings to do something for someone else).

If Thomas can buy limited lenses and still give away a $400 lens, I wouldn't doubt he has other ways of "paying-it-forward" in other arenas that are equally generous.

Duplo said:

Hi all,

What I am about to do was started as an initiative by Don in this
thread:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=21895652
Reading it made me realise that we all need to do something good
for each others.
I gave you all a silent promise that when my prime collection was
complete I would follow in Don's footstep and do the same.
It is actually not complete, I am still missing the DA70 and FA 43,
but they are on order...

With the arrival of the FA35 today, my belowed sigma 17-70 wil be
sent on permenet retirement (it has been since the arrival of the
DA21 already). but in stead of selling it off on ebay or somewhere
else, I have decided to give it away for FREE.
Postage must be paid by you and I will confirm the winner in a
reply to this thread after the deadline has been reached.
Now the rule is that the one needing it the most will get it.

Click to expand...

I guess this excludes people from Europe?

All the best,

tels

--
View my gallery:

http://bloodgate.com/photos?id=first&s=ascore

--
Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://www.duplophotography.com/
http://www.my.opera.com/duplo
My pictures categorised by lens used:
http://main.duplophotography.com/f311992052/

Greetings!

I'm new. DUH. Been reading you folks for several weeks now and finally went and changed my E-mail address just so's I could register and interact.

Anyhow, - saw this thread and thought I might stick my foot in the door here in hopes of garnering such a prize which would be exactly what I was seeking to start outfitting myself for a new (well, - rejuvenated perhaps..) career.

I've been out of the breadwinning league for over a year now due to a bothersome physical glitch which has kept me from my chosen field of earnings. (that being a Handyman to the local area's homeowners) So I'm now pinning my hopes to the idea of dredging up my old skills as a Wedding/portrait photog and have been studying / researching the new digital cameras for equipment that'd do the trick. Considered the N*kon as I have shot those the past few years, - but no. Got my mitts on a Pentax locally, then worked a lucrative little deal with a California firm on a shiny new K10D and a spare battery. BUT, - haven't yet been able to find a suitably-priced lens for the job, - although this was exactly one of the top 2 lenses I had been wishing to hook that might fit into my (admittadly meager) budget.
(no, - I'm not mortgaging the farm, - but will be borrowing a bit... sigh )

SO... - should I be granted this boon, I do hereby vow (avow?) that when I am properly established into my local market niche I will make some form of this same type of grant unto some other deserving individual in the means of either a piece of my older Can*n equipment, (A-1 and AE-1) or maybe a nice N*kon flash or lens. (oodles of film stuff)

(I still haven't figured out why y'all do that " " thing, - but hey, - who am I to argue whilst groveling for a favor such as this? ;-D )

Aside from the "contest" here, - this being my very 1st post on this forum, - I'd just like to say "howdy" to everyone, and mention that I do hope my future posts aren't deemed too crude nor frivilous, - and to acknowledge that I have already gleaned much of information from many of you, - and for that I do wish to express my thanks!

Cheers!
Cowboy
(AKA: John)
(AKA: Hey, you, - izzdatyercooler?)

Hi,
I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just give it a try.

My wife and I made the switch to digital a few years ago. I had an old Canon Rebel film camera, but the cost of film and developing was high, plus where we live and travel, dust was frequently scratching the film.

I did a lot a research and bought a point and shot. Portability was a big concern. But we have generally been unhappy with the camera. It's not fast enough for my wife and she misses pictures. It can't handle difficult lighting situations.

I've been lurking on the boards for some time now, and reading reviews of all the cameras. I'd like to get a dSLR. I would address our issues with our point and shot. I have strongly considered the k100d because it would be an economical choice. It's not too expansive and I could use our SD cards and rechargeable AA batteries. However, I wanted a good lens like the 17-70mm Sigma for our primary lens.

But money is an object. Right now we have too many other needs. Then I saw your post, and thought I could manage purchasing the camera, if I don't have to purchase a lens!

Thank you for being so generous.

Scott

Tim Robson said:

This is one of the strangest threads I've seen on any of the
forums, if only because I have a hard time accepting that anyone
with the resources to own a Digital SLR could truly qualify as
disadvantaged or needy. If you really want to help someone in
need, I'd suggest selling the lens for as much as possible, and
then giving the proceeds to the local food bank.

As for all of the impoverished DSLR users here, I'm sorry to have
to say this, but if things are really that tight for you, you might
want to consider selling your digital gear, purchasing a nice film
setup for $50 or so, and spending the balance on more important
things until your circumstances improve...

Click to expand...

I couldn't have said it better.

In light of the above comment, I just want it!
--
leeboy

First all I would like to say that time is up.

Secondly I would like to thank you leaving your own ticket or recomending others. I will now go over all the bids and make a very difficult choice.

To those of you giving me so many kind compliments I would like to say thank you, really thank you. I appreciate them all greatly and you are all most kind.

To those of you thinking that I should just sell it and give the money to something else. All I can say is that I disagree with you. nothing more nothing less.

I will post the details and my choice later on this weekend.

Thanks again you alll
--
Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://www.duplophotography.com/
http://www.my.opera.com/duplo
My pictures categorised by lens used:
http://main.duplophotography.com/f311992052/

Tim Robson said:

This is one of the strangest threads I've seen on any of the
forums, if only because I have a hard time accepting that anyone
with the resources to own a Digital SLR could truly qualify as
disadvantaged or needy. If you really want to help someone in
need, I'd suggest selling the lens for as much as possible, and
then giving the proceeds to the local food bank.

As for all of the impoverished DSLR users here, I'm sorry to have
to say this, but if things are really that tight for you, you might
want to consider selling your digital gear, purchasing a nice film
setup for $50 or so, and spending the balance on more important
things until your circumstances improve...

Click to expand...

Point well taken.

Tim Robson said:

This is one of the strangest threads I've seen on any of the
forums, if only because I have a hard time accepting that anyone
with the resources to own a Digital SLR could truly qualify as
disadvantaged or needy. If you really want to help someone in
need, I'd suggest selling the lens for as much as possible, and
then giving the proceeds to the local food bank.

As for all of the impoverished DSLR users here, I'm sorry to have
to say this, but if things are really that tight for you, you might
want to consider selling your digital gear, purchasing a nice film
setup for $50 or so, and spending the balance on more important
things until your circumstances improve...

Click to expand...

So you can get a nice film setup (camera + lens) for $50 or so? I guess nice film lenses cost much less than nice lenses for digital cameras. I must also guess that film + developing is cheaper than digital also.

I also think that this is a strange thread, why must everyone second guess someone who is just trying to do something good?

--



Kristian Farren
http://kf3.net

the anticipation is killing me

Hi All,

KNow weekend is almost over, but having to chose the new home for my sigma 17-70 has been a long and hard thing to do... I just wish I had more than one...

I have however made a decision.

The one deserving it the most in my opinion is a guy named Milarmon in Uruguay, yes he has a 16-45 and thus might not be "needing" this lens, but it was the choice that ended up feeling right to me and that is what matters...

Sam, a lens will be heading you way soon shipping paid and all.
You know it requires that you post a first picture right;-)

Thanks again all for your kind compliments and for those putting their name in the hat...

--
Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://www.duplophotography.com/
http://www.my.opera.com/duplo
My pictures categorised by lens used:
http://main.duplophotography.com/f311992052/

Seems like you made a very good choice to me. And my kudos for what you have done. That is one very nice lens and it was truly wonderful of you to give it away.
--
PRH

Thank you for the kind words...

I think I made the right choice here too.
--
Thomas

Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
http://www.duplophotography.com/
http://www.my.opera.com/duplo
My pictures categorised by lens used:
http://main.duplophotography.com/f311992052/

5 days ago I´ve got the mail telling me about this thread... and some minutes ago I´ve got another...

Between this two mails I´ve been reading all the posts one, two, three, undred times. I was amazed reading how Uccemebug, Ipiapacs90, Zardozformoz, Magine photography, Rupert60, Cbkiyanda and Darren M where pointing to me... I felt (and keep feeling) really strange. At first I was in some of a shame position, because when so much people points at you in a situation like this, you just feel your face go from red to bordeaux (I think is burgundy in english). I cried the first times I watched the posts, and I feel a litlle bit like that again now. I told that I didn´t expected to get the lens, and I´m amazed because I was chosen.

I want to say thankyou... To the guys that pointed to me; to the guys that even offered to pay the postage, and specially to Thomas, because we didn´t spoke before, we were not friends, but he is giving a great gift to me.

Some time ago, when I first posted at the forum, I said that I felt at home. I readed tons of posts before I´ve got my camera, and sometimes I felt like I knew some of the members of the forum. Now I feel that I am part of a family, and I will give all as I can in return... I have posted some pics in this weeks, and I will add more soon... SO MUCH more... you can bet it...

Now I want to finish this message, because I don´t want to be borring, and I repeat to you all (And I said ALL): If you come to the South, and I mean to Uruguay, don´t forget to send a message to me, because you have a friend, wo will allways have a place in his home for anyone from thie forum... You are my family, and you will be welcome as that!

--
Impossible is something that takes a little bit more work to achieve...





[email protected]

Check my blogs:

http://milarmon.blogspot.com
http://my.opera.com/milarmon/albums/