You should try the DA 16-45/4 if you get a chance. I never even owned a zoom until just a year or so ago. I've been shooting primes for thirty years. But this is a very good lens. I'm quite surprised at how sharp and contrasty it is, even wide open at 16mm. I wouldn't be surprised if it outperformed the 15/3.5 on an *ist D. According to someone on the list (Dario I think), it outperforms the SMC 18/3.5. The 14/2.8 must, of course, is probably quite superior to all of these on the *istD, and I lust for it as well. But it will have to wait.
Paul
On Oct 22, 2004, at 6:08 PM, Amita Guha wrote:
Any list member been to the NYC show yet? I intend to go tomorrow to check out the *istDs, among other things. I'll see if they have any information about operation with M/K/M42 lenses there.
Yep, I went. I went to the Pentax booth first. Didn't like the istDs at all.
The front scroll wheel is missing, I didn't see a meter in the right side of
the viewfinder...little features I've gotten used to on the istD are
missing, so I won't be buying one. But go check it out for yourself. I
played with the Optio750Z, the retro-looking one. It was a very nice looking
machine, but a little small even for me to handle.
I also got to try out the DA 14mm, and I fell in love instantly. I even ran
over to B&H afterwards (they still don't have the FA 50mm 1.4, even though
the Pentax guy told me they should by now) and I almost bought the 14mm, but
of course it's not a full frame lens. But the sales guy tried his darndest
to convince me that it was, heh. I wouldn't mind it not being full frame for
$200 or $300, but not for $700. Anyway, that's why I asked about the K 15mm
last night.
Saw some other fun things...bought a magnifying Hoodman for my camera's LCD,
and after the show I bought the nifty Promax system from LumiQuest so I can
start having some fun with my flash. Also, I've been looking forever for the
right toploader, and Roadwired Podzilla turned out to be pretty cool, with
tons of room for other gadgets besides the camera, so I ordered one last
night.
I went to the Nikon booth to check out the Coolwalker, their image tank. No
one there knew what the product was or where it was, but one nice person
helped me find it; it was in with the pro gear. The guy behind the counter
didn't know anything about it either. I really liked it, but of course it
can't read RAW thumbnails from anything besides Nikons, which is a shame.
Also, it was a little big, which I could have lived with under other
circumstances. But the screen was big and the user interface was easy, so
I'll be looking for something like this that can support other formats.
I've been wanting to get a superlight tripod for shooting flowers, and Bogen
has a new line of "digital" tripods that'll easily support a body & macro
lens, and which are mostly under $100, so I'll be buying one of those soon.
So that's my recap of the show. No big surprises, but I'm happy with what I
learned. Now I just have to get my hands on a super wide angle lens!
Amita
