Funny you should mention it, Ed. I'm in the process of parting with several lenses, and I've decided that it makes more senses to give away some that to sell them.
I'm giving my Pentax 50/1.4 PKA to my 24-year-old stepdaughter, with a Super Program attached. I'm happy with my Rikenon P 50/2. The 50/1.4 would be devalued anyway, because it has a rough spot in the focusing ring from when a lightweight tripod tipped over with the camera mounted, landing on (and bending) the lens's metal hood. I'm giving my Zenitar 20/2.5 to the 17-year-old daughter of my 14-year-old's middle-school art teacher. The girl has been enjoying her dad's MX and is seriously interested in photojournalism. I lent her some lenses once with the intent of mentoring her, but she didn't want to burden me by borrowing more lenses. Given that I'd get just about $60 if I sold the Zenitar, I'd rather it go to a student. I almost decided to give her my Kiron 105/2.8 1:1 macro, since Steve Larson has talked me into keeping my Vivitar Series One 90-180 1:2 zoom. I could find another Kiron, but I'd probably go years before finding another 90-180. But I could get $130 or more if I sold it, and anyway giving up the Kiron would leave a hole in my lineup between 50 and 135. It's not a gaping hole, but there are times, as when shooting a wedding, that I want to capture, say, the bride and groom and clergyman and no one else, or three bridesmaids, or a couple and their child in the audience, and from where I'm set up the 135 would be too tight. You didn't say what your budget is, but if you can spare $100, get her something that would expand her creative possibilities. That means a 90-class macro or a wide-angle of 24mm or wider. It will be a challenge to find either at that price, but if you stalk EBay it can be done--going third-party, of course. If you decide on a 28, I suggest the Vivitar 28/2 Close Focus (55mm filter), a sleeper that is said to approach the Series One 28/1.9 in optical quality. Make sure the lens says Close Focus; I can send you .jpgs so you know what to look for. If you go for a 24, the Sigma 24/2.8 is probably your best bet. Anything wider in that price range is a screwmount except one: If you can spare $120, you might consider a Zenitar 16/2.8 fisheye. Paul Franklin Stregevsky - This message is from the Pentax-Discuss Mail List. To unsubscribe, go to http://www.pdml.net and follow the directions. Don't forget to visit the Pentax Users' Gallery at http://pug.komkon.org .
