Re: filmscanners: OT: Places to ask about lenses?

["Rob Geraghty" <harper@wordweb.com>]

Hi Alex!

> Rob, there are many Mailing Lists and Forums available online
> for any major brand (Canon, Minolta, Nikon and Pentax) where you will find
a
> lot of that brand specialists who can surely advise you about the brand
and
> third-party lenses you would go with.

Thanks.  Someone sent me an address to subscribe to a Pentax list and I've
asked the question there.

> regard. I don't know which camera system do you use, so will hold from
> speaking particularly about something special.

My current SLR is a Pentax MZ5.  I have two old K mount lenses, 50mm and
28mm, and two FA lenses, 28-80 and 70-300.

> One word only: basically all 28-80 (especially those of f/3.5-5.6) are
> so-called kit lenses produced especially to e sold in kits with low and
> low-mid specified bodies. They featured by very cheap glass capable of
> delivering mediocre results, since the main goal of such lenses is the
> lowest possible price rather then quality.

Sure, I'd expect that.  The 28-80 zooms are essentially thrown in for free
when you buy the camera.

> In optics the rule: "you get what you pay for" has almost 100 % meaning...

I'm usre this is generally true, although I imagine there's such a thing as
limiting returns.  I find it hard to believe that the price difference
between the Pentax 50mm f1.7, f2.8 and f1.4 lenses would be obvious in the
results.  I'd like to have at least one lens I *know* is as sharp as I can
afford.

Rob