Hi! Thanks for your greetings. I'd like to answer some of what you've said. In no particular order though:
1. In fact, first I subscribed to the list, not the digest. Having received quite a lot of e-mail I successfully unsubscribed from the list and subscribed to the digest. So I guess I could unsubscribe from the digest too if I wanted :). 2. Thanks for the advise on wide lenses. At the moment 50 mm is the widest I would go. I simply am not too good in wide angle shots. Until I get a taste of it with my Sigma zoom I don't think I will be getting wide primes. By the way in 28-50 range this Sigma zoom has 3.8 as a lowest aperture. So it is good enough for a start, isn't it? I'd rather get some (AF) tele converter and some more macro equipment. Idea of turning my Soligor to 140-444/4.5 or 140-444/5.6 autofocus lens is rather fascinating. Also I had a chance to shoot with (not super) Takumar 135/2.5 lens and liked it immensely. I am going to be putting some pictures taken with this lens soon on my GeoCities page. Now, of I course I did not just join the club. I have my questions. 1. I have Panagor Macro Converter. It goes from 1:10 (-2.5 Ev) to 1:1 (-2.75 Ev). It is automatic meaning the aperture closes automatically when shutter is engaged. So my camera's metering related automatics and DOF preview work fully except multi pattern metering. The converter is on the loan from a friend who recently sold most of his Pentax equipment. I decided I also wanted to buy it. I use it rather extensively along with SMC FA 50/1.7. The piece seems completely in order. I had to clean up its front and rear surfaces. The macro factor ring (I can call it macro zoom :) ) moves rather easily but it does not disturb me at all. You can see the pictures I took with this little converter on my page. Now how much would be a respectable price? I don't want to pay too much nor I want to offend my friend by paying too little. 2. Another macro question. Is it a good idea to buy macro filter set? There're two options - 58 mm for Sigma that can go to f/32 in 135 mm giving supposedly more DOF, or 49 mm for 50/1.7. I am leaning towards 49 mm because I hope to collect more Pentax primes that feature same filter thread. Or such thing is not worth the money anyway - poor optical quality... What do you say? 3. Finally, feel more than free :) to critique our photos. We need some constructive criticism to grow :). And then something I guess I would say regarding recent discussions here. 1. Pentax D-10. IMHO it is doubtful that Pentax would use Foveon sensor for their camera. It would be too risky since Foveon is not yet market-proven tech. I think that Pentax is more conservative than to take such a bleeding edge steps. But then who knows? As for the price - I'd start buying DSLRs once their prices loose one zero. You see, body is the body, optics do the magic. In DSLR land this is different, but I'd rather vary my film (and learn in the process) than vary the ISO setting of DSLR... 2. DOF preview. I thought that having a camera with DOF preview I'd might say a word. Out of my limited experience and taking into account my rather weak eyes (even with glasses) I use DOF preview for apertures up to f/5.6, f/8 being the roof. I'd love to use it for my macro work, but it is too dark at f/22 minus 2.75 Ev of the converter... At the moment I see DOF preview as useful for portraits - verify that background is provably non-disturbing. I've been thinking about future cameras. You see, essentially DOF preview of today is mechanical - just move the lever on the lens and close down the aperture. Say they'd produce a hybrid camera that would have digital DOF preview - actually take a shot in digital form and display it from the memory somehow in viewfinder or LCD screen of say 800x600 pixels. It would seem enough to see what DOF preview is about. Even more it would be limited shot preview. I think that 800x600 pixels sensor is not too big a deal nor LCD screen. Some high level cameras can have such a feature already today. Thanks again. I am getting too wordy... Boris
