Carpe Lux Seize the Light

Just when I have discarded the thoughts of getting a fisheye (both the zany Zenitar and prudent Pentax 10-17mm were on the list) and settled for a rectilinear wide-angle lens, I get sidetracked. Again.

I'm one of those guys that can sweat a purchasing decision for weeks - comparing tests, reading online reviews and soliciting advice on forums, but when I decide on what I want, I can't wait another minute.

The hunter, waiting for his prey.

If the bokeh were any creamier, I'd need a triple-bypass, stat!

I just pulled the trigger and ordered a Pentax smc DA* 16-50mm F2.8ED AL [IF] SDM lens from Adorama. $659.95USD was just too good a price to pass up, especially with this weak dollar.

Update 1: UPS should be delivering it any minute now. Opening this box and testing the contents will be a lot like looking at Schroedinger's cat; I don't know if this copy of the lens is a dud (too many have been) or a gem.

Hey, I can see my house from here!

Last week, I finally took delivery of a slightly used SMC Pentax DA* 50-135mm F2.8 ED [IF] SDM lens. I got it from an eBayer who was switching brands. As I had the 1.20 firmware in my K10D, a video camera and a tripod, I figured I'd tape the lens while focusing back and forth and then measure the focus speed from the video clip.

"And I want you all to know that I am the politician best-equipped to deal with this impending crisis!"

Hi, I'm Richie. I bought a new lens today. It's an old manual focus Vivitar, said to be one of the sharpest lenses ever made. It can shave a man from ten feet away. It resolves the unresolvable, cuts the unwary and feels great to handle. Apart from being sharp, it can be defined as being very solid.

I got mine from TraderJim's on eBay and can't recommend him enough. Now and then, he seems to find some old new in the box stock and offers up a BIN or Best Offer auction. It seems he accept offers around $190 USD, I got mine for $240 with fast international shipping.

Here's a new twist - a blind camera with no optics. Instead of taking a picture, it records the exact time you press the shutter button and then starts searching Flickr for images taken at the same time which it then downloads and displays - hours or days later.

Useful? Well, maybe as a gift to someone who has everything else, and I mean everything.

Pentax seems hell-bent on milking the K10D for every last drop. Here's a limited golden edition to commemorate the Camera Grand Prix it recently won: http://www.pentax.co.jp/english/news/2007/200748.html

It'll go nicely with the DA* lenses (also with golden trim) but it positively screams "steal me now!".