Heh... I get to do a 3-for-1 here. :) My $0.02 on the PUG/Pentax gear thing... For almost 17 years I've been a Pentax user. My first camera is a K-1000 with the factory SMC-A 50mm/f2.0 lens. I used that for almost 3 years as my exclusive rig. I then obtained a Sigma 75-200/f2.8~3.5 lens. Why Sigma and not Pentax (or any other brand for that matter?) Simply put... Cost. It cost me around $800US for that Sigma lens. I don't remember if Pentax offered a similar lens, but I do know that no other make had one I could afford (delivering papers and cutting lawns doesnt make for a tremendous income.) Now that I've settled into my house finally I'm planning on submitting some pictures to the PUG. I do hope the future of the PUG doesn't exclude me from using my 50mm lenses (have a 50mm/f1.4 now also for my ZX-5n.) I have and probably always will consider myself a Pentax shooter/user. I like their gear, the way it works, the way it handles, etc. And of course there's the whole focusing thing (I'm naturally left-handed. For some reason I have trouble focusing lenses that focus in the opposite direction of Pentax and Nikon lenses.) FYI... That was another reason for the Sigma choice. Tamron, Vivitar and Tokina all focused the wrong way. I my opinion is, if it's shot with a Pentax body -OR- a Pentax lens it should be allowed. I personally now have 6 lenses in my stable, only 2 of them are Pentax, and they're both 50mm's. Anyway, here's hoping I'll be allowed to submit in the future. Now as for eBay sellers. I can honestly say I've only been nearly-burned once. Precautions are a must. And, I gotta plug a someone who may or may not be here. I just received a pair of Sigma MF lenses in PK-A mount from a Mr. Andrew Go. They are a 14mm/f3.5 rectilinear and 15mm/f2.5 semi-circular fisheye. Both came in astoundlingly excellent condition. They look and feel brand new! AND I got a great deal on them. So hats off to Mr. Go. He will definitely be one of my first calls when I begin my next glass hunt quest. :P (Next up... Some long and fast glass... 400mm/f5.6 or better. Thinking about a nice big lens for some auto racing and little league photography work I like to do.) Anyway, peace all. I look forward to hearing more on these topics and more. PDML is a great list! -- John - 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 .
