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Friday, May 11, 2012

I am selling almost exclusively on Amazon now. That is where my most current prices are. As some of my photo gear ages, prices are falling so please check with me if you see prices here & you wonder if it is current.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Pentax K-Mount Lenses for AK_49_Photo Customers

Welcome to my inventory of great K-mount (-M, -A & -AF) lenses that will work great with your new Pentax (film or digital SLR (DSLR) camera (or any other camera that accepts K-mount lenses like Ricoh, Sears and even Samsung GX DSLRs).

o $30 Pentax-M 50mm f2.0
o $40 Pentax-M 50mm f1.8
o $120 Pentax-M 40mm f2.8 pancake--famous for great IQ in a very compact package!
o $65--Pentax-M 135mm f3.5
o $50--Pentax-M 40-80mm f2.8

o $75--Sears-M 135mm f2.5--fast! Just because Sears sold under their brand--the lenses have a great reputation
o $25--Focal-M 28mm f2.8

o $50 Pentax-A 50mm f2.0
o $100 Sigma-A 28-80mm f3.5
o $115--Tokina-A 70-210mm f4--this is a fantastic lens--it was primary on my K20D most of the winter
o $25--Five Star-A 75-200mm f4.5

o $90--Sigma 35-105mm f3.5

o $130--Sigma-FA 70-210mm f4 (won't autofocus on these manual cameras)

I have successfully used all of these lenses on my Pentax K20D digital SLR. The manual lenses (-M) work just fine using the magic green button for metering. The -A lenses communicate fully with the camera.

Note: K1000 owners can most economically add to their lens kit by purchasing -M (manual) lenses. While these manual lenses will work great on any more modern camera (film or digital), they only can be used in manual mode. Pentax-A lenses communicate with the camera and allow use of automated modes (Program, AV (Aperture-Priority), TV (Speed Priority), etc.). If you have or think you might acquire a more modern camera, you might want to focus (excuse the pun) on the A lenses.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Back to the future: Screw-mount (M42) lenses

Would you like to own some classic & classy glass. Look at using older screw-mount lenses with an adapter on any modern film or digital SLR camera. I discuss the ins & outs here.

Here is my stock:

Mamiya/Sekor 135mm f2.8 (203mm DSLR)
Mamiya/Sekor 50mm f2.0 (75mm DSLR)
Auto Rikenon 135mm f2.8 (203mm DSLR)
Aragon 2x Auto Tele-Converter (75mm to 150mm or 203mm to 406mm DSLR)

for now I am keeping my Super Takumar 50mm f1.4--talk about fast!
Just google and read the raves.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Canon A-1 Deluxe Package

$149 OBO A-1 (near mint!, 9+)
comes w/Canon 50mm f1.8 prime, Canon external flash & very nice camera bag (several to choose from, including a beautiful Canon-branded bag)

Unfamiliar with this great camera? See for a thorough discussion

Adorama sells the A-1 (body only) for $144 see listings here

I also have several FD-mount lenses that are available:
$65--Canon 70-210mm f/4 macro zoom (condition: 9)--Ebay Buy It Now $129.99
I just tested this lens with my FD to EOS adapter on my Canon 350D and the results were quite acceptable (even in the weak light of our recent cloudy days!)--see samples at this link.

Canon DSLR + Canon 70-210mm f4 FD TEST w/ EOS adapter

$80 Canon 28mm f/2.8 prime --condition: 9)--Ebay Buy It Now $99.99
$20--Canon 35-70mm f/3.5 zoom (condition: 9)--Ebay Buy It Now $24.99


Update: FD to EOS adapter: I have been experimenting with a $35 adapter to use FD lenses on EOS bodies (film or digital). While reviewers say there is "some" loss of IQ--I am finding I am getting a lot of decent shots (on Canon 350D DSLR). Given the low prices of FD lenses, I think you should see for yourself.

Canon FD-Mount Cameras on CraigsList/AlaskasList (as of 7/23/2010)
no A-1s currently listed

**SPECIAL** Canon EOS Rebel 2000 BODY

Looking for a modern auto-focus film camera at a new unbeatable price--look no further!

Nice Canon Rebel 2000 (lens NOT included), strap, new battery & roll of film.

Use with your Canon full-frame or pre-digital lens--see here for why you can't use Canon AF-S lenses (designed for APS-C-sensor digital cameras) on film bodies

I have several great Tamron Adaptall-2 lenses (both prime & zoom) that work in manual mode on this camera with a simple, inexpensive lens adapter. If you are looking for "Image Quality", this older glass is a very economical way to go. See my inventory here.

New to EOS?, read this first

Adorama's stock of used EOS--compare!

My other Canon EOS cameras for sale are described here

Update: Canon FD to EOS lens adapter:
I have been experimenting with a $35 adapter to use FD lenses on EOS bodies (film or digital). While reviewers say there is "some" loss of IQ--I am finding I am getting a lot of decent shots (DOF was small in the weak light of our recent cloudy days!). Given the low prices of FD lenses, I think you should see for yourself.

For Example: Canon 70-210mm f/4 macro zoom (condition: 9)--Ebay Buy It Now $129.99 --see samples at this link:

Canon DSLR + Canon 70-210mm f4 FD TEST w/ EOS adapter

Craigslist & Alaska List (I only see the following as of 7/22/2010)
$130--Rebel ? w/2 lenses
$190--Rebel G w/2 lenses
$250--Elan 7e w/2 lenses


Rebel 2000

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Thursday, July 15, 2010

Canon FD Lens on Canon DSLR--Test Results Are In

I found a Sigma 200mm f3.5 lens awhile back and decided to give it a go on the 350D using my FD to EOS adapter. This lens equates to about 300mm and my closest focus distance is less than three feet.

The results are very encouraging--see for yourself at the link below. Once I got used to the manual setting of shutter speed & aperture while watching the 350D exposure meter in the viewfinder, I started getting great results.

FD-EOS Sigma Results

I can't wait to try out my Canon FD extension tubes and tele-extender (both of which are for sale).

It is not hard--it is exactly how most photographers took pictures starting in the 60's with the advent of built-in exposure meters.

Of course, I wouldn't be bothering if it weren't for this great vintage glass that can be had at a steep discount. Since camera companies and the media they support with their advertising are all about the new stuff, you aren't going to hear much about this. So take advantage of what other people don't know, you can get great glass & great IQ without spending a bunch of money. Save your money for what is really important to your photography--glass, not glass holders with lots of superfluous electronics and menus that stand between you and getting great results. Glass holders lose value at a very fast rate--good glass holds its value.

My recommendation--get good glass that you can use on a classic film camera like the AE-1 Program and with an adapter on a DSLR. With the 6-8mp DSLR price drops--you capture some great images without having to take out a loan!

Another thing about using these lenses on a DSLR. Because of the smaller image capture area on the sensor, the light is being captured from the sweet, central portion of the lens. See more about this below:

DSLR Sensors

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Olympus Pen FT w/two stellar lenses--$???

Mint Condition Olympus Pen FT w/fast H.Zuiko Auto-S 42mm f1:1.2 (very fast!) lens and E.Zuiko Auto-T 150mm f4 telephoto lens, original camera & lens cases, original front & back lens caps

Pen FT
"..The Pen FV/FT was a technological tour-de-force. Olympus Pen lenses, by virtue of their short focal lengths (for half-frame), had greater depth of field and ultra-high resolving power (many lenses topped 80 lp/mm at multiple apertures).

...Pen F normal (like the 42mm) lenses focus to about a foot"

This is related to why many people get such great shots with their P&S--good depth of field. Imagine coupling greater depth of field with ultra-high resolving power (In a 3600dpi negative scan, the Pen's 17.5x24mm format still delivers close to 22 megapixels of resolution (equivalent in the digital world, where it is three pixels to each image file pixel, to 66 megapixels).

more on Pen FT

Make an offer

42mm--Highly sought after super fast prime 42mm f1:1.2 This lens is great for low light and natural light photography. It is going for $849.99 on Ebay:
42MM-F1.2-LENS-OLYMPUS-PEN-F-H-ZUIKO

150mm-- lens going for $220 on Ebay:
150MM-F4-LENS-OLYMPUS-PEN-F-E-ZUIKO

Read up on it here: http://www.cameraquest.com/olypenf.htm or http://www.photoethnography.com/ClassicCameras/index-frameset.html?OlympusPenF.html~mainFrame

You can use your Nikon, Pentax, Olympus lenses on this camera with an adapter.

They are also used on Digital 4/3 cameras like Panasonic G1, GHI & EP-1, by adding a adapter. They are available on Ebay (see below) and Amazon (see below) for sale.

Ebay Adapter

Amazon Adapter

High quality metal lens mount! It allows Olympus Pen F lens to be used on micro 4/3 camera body. The adapter has no electrical connection and diaphragm & focusing are required to be set by manual. Compatible to: Panasonic: G1, GH1, E-P1 G2 G10 Olympus: E-P E-PL1 E-P2 Material: Made of Copper & Aluminum. To use Micro 4/3 camera with Olympus Pen F Lens, pleas set"Shooting without lens" in camera menu, set camera shooting mode to A or M, use manual focus and shoot.

Includes: One 42mm F1:1.2 Zuico lens. No caps. Serial no.117027. 49mm Ashai Pentax filter included.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Olympus-Pen-FT-F-lens-adapter-Olympus-Pen-E-PL1-/380250000893?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item5888aa8dfd