On Tue, 7 Oct 2003, graywolf wrote: > In some cases there were optical compromises made to make the M lenses > smaller and lighter. One of the things you have to know is that a kit of > 2 MX camera bodies with motors and 6 M lenses (pretty common > photojournalist set in those days) weighed about 1/2 what the same Nikon > kit did.
Do tell! This is where Pentax (and Olympus) have excelled since the '80s and are only now getting real competition from Nikon and Canon--small but capable equipment. Until recently my own kit was two F4s and 5-6 lenses and it made for one big, heavy, and expensive camera bag compared to the Super Programs and 5-6 lenses that I carried in college. > Another of the things you have to realize here is that most of folks > here on this list, or any other photo equipment list for that matter, > are nitpickers. Honestly Nikon pros are bigger whiners still, and perhaps less forgiving about small equipment faults, so I'm used to it. The 150% crop factor and nikon's "G" lenses (like FA J in having no aperture ring) are causing a monumental bitching session on the Nikon forums. Of course if you are spending over $1000 each on your lenses, you expect a lot. > One honestly would be hard pressed to tell the quality > difference in any non-defective Pentax lens or another in a good 8x10 > print. So take the comments on this list with a grain of salt. Most > Pentax lenses very between very very good, and fabulous. One or two are > only very good, none are crap. I can see noticeable differences in my testing (which I'll send to the list as soon as my 30mm f/2.8 shows up and gets tested) which I evaluate with a 10x loupe which is about an 11x14" print. Whether this would really be noticeable in an 8x10 I don't know. As a journalist I rarely produce anything bigger than 5x7 anyway, so a 5x loupe would be more realistic in terms of showing actual differences in use. In general I would agree that most similar lenses appear to be about equal in performance, except for the occasional exceptionally good or bad design. I'd be kinda curious to shoot with a lens that is known to be "crap", since I'm pretty sure that I've always had average-to-exceptional glass. DJE
