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Lenses for Pentax K20D

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mattmiles

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Hello,

I am a proud owner of a Pentax K20D and am just wondering what make of lenses I can use for this camera. You hear of all these stories of lenses getting stuck on the Camera and don't want this to happen. Being an Amateur as well I don't want to spend a fortune.

Can anyone help

Matt
 
You can buy and use any current or past Pentax (K mount) lens and have no problem with it being stuck. Some of the m42 to K mount adapters and some of the Ricoh K mount lenses have a problem getting stuck on.
 
mattmiles said:
You hear of all these stories of lenses getting stuck on the Camera.
Click to expand...
Where did you heard this from? Haven't seen anyone on here with lenses stuck to cameras. I would have gotten the kit lenses to go with your K20D if I were you.

--
K20D
Metz 58 AF-1+studio strobes
12-24mm, DA* 16-50mm, DA* 50-135mm
 
paul_do said:
mattmiles said:
You hear of all these stories of lenses getting stuck on the Camera.
Click to expand...
Where did you heard this from? Haven't seen anyone on here with lenses stuck to cameras. I would have gotten the kit lenses to go with your K20D if I were you.
Click to expand...
Some lenses do get stuck. They are old manua focus lenses of a non-Pentax varity. See the The Canonical Stuck Lens Information thread at:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1036&message=19213554

Cheers.

--
Ron - 'We don't have time to go take pics this afternoon Carl.'
Carl - 'What do you mean? It will only take 1/1000s.'

'Keep your eyes looking forward. However, glance back now and then to see where you've come from. It will put a smile on your face.' ~ brandrx

Ron ~ Retired.
 
I started with these lenses for my K320D that I bought back in July:

DA35 Limited (great sharp 1:1 macro for product shots as well as general shooting), FA43 Limited, FA77 Limited (pure magic...sometimes happy magic, other times...ummm, not so much...hehehehe) and a DA*50-135mm. I had a bit of an issue with the 50-135. I do feel it was an early build/older stock build and the SDM began to struggle before my full-refund return period ended, so that is what I did, returned it for a refund for now...I fully plan on replacing it in the future as the IQ was just supurb...probably next Spring...

Otherwise, learn your mounts and reseach the older manual glass (original K mount glass along with M, A & M42 mounts) as well as the F, FA & FA* glass...there are some real super lenses to be had for well under $300 if you are OK with manual focusing.
 
Shoot with the lens that you have. I assume that it's the kit zoom lens.

You'll find yourself running up against limitations, and those will tell you what you need in a new lens. Do you need something faster, longer, wider ?

Buying old manual focus, or manual focus and exposure, lenses is relatively inexpensive, and using them is a great way to learn photography.

Some lenses in particular to think about:

The tamron 18-250 is an amazingly versatile, ready for anything lens. It's not as fast, or as sharp as some others, but it's plenty sharp for a do anything lens.

The DA40 is amazingly small, amazingly sharp and reasonably fast. I usually leave it mounted on one of my bodies to have camera to stick in my fannypack.

The 16-50 has a reputaiton for being very sharp, it's reasonably fast, and it covers the range you need for indoors.

My favorite portrait lens is my FA77ltd.

--
The first step is learning to take great photos,
the second step is learning to throw away ones that are merely good.
photos at http://flickr.com/ellarsee
 
you mention "make"
Tamron and Sigma make lenses for Pentax mount.
some of them are pretty nice lenses.

if you don't have a lens and really aren't sure at all what you would like, think about that 18-250. if it is in the cost range you like, it will give you a great focal range to play with. you can see which focal lengths you prefer before spending money. and, it should be a useful snapshoot lens if you decide to buy higher quality lenses later.
 
a couple weeks or so ago...

there was a thread about a fellow that got his lens stuck. i think it was an old Rico... no, i think it was the screw mount adapter thing. ppl pointed out those weren't designed to be used on/off the camera frequently. they were designed more to stay on the camera and take the Lens on/off frequently.

i think that was it...
paul_do said:
mattmiles said:
You hear of all these stories of lenses getting stuck on the Camera.
Click to expand...
Where did you heard this from? Haven't seen anyone on here with lenses stuck to cameras. I would have gotten the kit lenses to go with your K20D if I were you.

--
K20D
Metz 58 AF-1+studio strobes
12-24mm, DA* 16-50mm, DA* 50-135mm
Click to expand...
 
Can anyone recommend a cheap Wide Anlge/Fish Eye lens for a K20D?

I am new to Pentax (and the K20D is a fantastic Camera) and am a little unsure.

Many Thanks

Matt
 
mattmiles said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap Wide Anlge/Fish Eye lens for a K20D?
Click to expand...
The Zenitar 16mm (manual focus) is the standard answer here if you're looking for cheap and don't don't mind fisheye:

http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/zenitar_m_fisheye_lens.htm

Plenty of other options too if you'd rather spend more to get AF, zoom, or something less "fishy".

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Blog: http://marcsabatella.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/
 
Personal view of course but I think they are a waste of good money that could be put towards a proper lens.

What lens do you have now? Lenses wider than the kit 18-55 tend to be much more expensive especially older film lenses which were ultrawide angle therefore rare and expensive. Have a look for the Zenitar second hand, people buy them then don't use them much and let then go so you might find a bargain.

--
Steve

http://www.pbase.com/steephill
 
mattmiles said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap Wide Anlge/Fish Eye lens for a K20D?

I am new to Pentax (and the K20D is a fantastic Camera) and am a little unsure.

Many Thanks

Matt
Click to expand...
Until today I was seriously considering selling mine because it rarely gets used but (I'm hanging on to it for now) if you can find a Zenitar 16mm FishEye for a reasonable price, (I think new ones are running around $180+ship) it's worth having..







--
http://s134.photobucket.com/albums/q109/jjkyle/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13300089@N08/
 
mattmiles , Ari likes his Zenitar.
it doesn't seem too fishy.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1036&thread=33344657&page=1
Marc Sabatella said:
mattmiles said:
Can anyone recommend a cheap Wide Anlge/Fish Eye lens for a K20D?
Click to expand...
The Zenitar 16mm (manual focus) is the standard answer here if you're looking for cheap and don't don't mind fisheye:

http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/zenitar_m_fisheye_lens.htm

Plenty of other options too if you'd rather spend more to get AF, zoom, or something less "fishy".

--
Marc Sabatella
http://www.marcsabatella.com/
Blog: http://marcsabatella.blogspot.com/
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcsabatella/
Click to expand...
 
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