I remember saving money on e-Bay. I bought my first FA 70-210 for 60.00 plus shipping. Pentax lenses are now selling at a premium. On e-Bay at least there's a chance of getting some of the more sought after lenses. The old standbys like KEH rarely if ever have anything more than the most pedestrian zooms, or the commonest [K] and M class primes. I'd gladly buy a bargain lens from them at a few dollars more, than take my chances on e-Bay if what I was looking for was available.
Glen Tortorella wrote: > Thank you, r. I know for certain that the dust (or dirt or specks) > is not in my lens, as I put the lens on another camera, and I do not > see these specks in the viewfinder of this camera. I see the specks > only through the viewfinder of this one particular body. > > I realize that these small specks will not in any way affect the > image quality of the camera. My "beef," so to speak, is with the > willy nilly basis and inherent vagaries of buying unseen used items. > The strange reality of the matter is that I could have probably > bought a "speckless" body on eBay. It seems almost purely hit and > miss. In fact, eBay is rarely a true "bargain" these days. After > all the hassle of waiting for auctions to end and asking numerous > questions that people do not seem to want to answer (or outright > evade, if possible), is saving $10 or $20 really worth it? I know > that many of you bid on lenses that cost as much as my car. Perhaps > more can be saved in these situations...but, then again, more can be > lost if the item disappoints. That is how I feel about my this body > purchase: I saved about $10, but got one with specks...I suppose it > is not hard to figure out why I paid $10 less than the going rate... > > Glen > > On Sep 9, 2007, at 12:54 PM, Rebekah wrote: > > >> Glen, I'd like to show you one of my lenses. I know it's kinda off >> topic. Don't look if the idea of stuff inside your lens will be >> harmful to your health. >> >> http://picasaweb.google.com/rg2pdml/Album8/photo? >> authkey=A0xklGveJQw#5108246410935972162 >> >> That speck you see in the middle of the lens (yep, middle) is a scrap >> of aluminum, or so the list here decided. It's easily a millimeter >> long, maybe one and a half. But, I can't find it in my pictures, and >> it doesn't even show up on my test shots. Even when I use it with a >> reversing ring it's invisible. Someone here suggested that it may >> cause some distortion, but I've never seen any, although I'm sure >> they're probably right, it must be minimal. Of course, I know it's >> there, and I can see it when I look through my viewfinder, but since >> it's not in my pictures, I've made peace with it, or at least, I'm too >> scared to open the lens up anyways. I'd probably just get a bunch of >> dust in there if I did open it up. Maybe you can shoot a test shot of >> the sky or your ceiling and carry it around with you so you can feel >> better about the dust not really being a problem. So, I guess my >> point is, even if the dust is actually in your lens, that might not >> cause a problem anyways. :o) >> >> >> rg2 >> >> >> On 9/9/07, P. J. Alling <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >>> Good question, I don't even know where to look on your camera, all >>> the >>> Pentax's I own are much older or have user replaceable screens, or >>> both. >>> >>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>> >>>> I know that before I bought the camera, it was "professionally" >>>> serviced. It had new seals installed. I do have a set of small >>>> screwdrivers. What would I have to remove, etc.? >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> Glen >>>> >>>> On Sep 9, 2007, at 11:38 AM, P. J. Alling wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>>> Depends on your definition of inexpensive, and if you have a shop >>>>> nearby >>>>> with an in house repair guy. If they have to send it out you >>>>> might as >>>>> well get a CLA because you'll end up paying for one. >>>>> >>>>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>>>> >>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, PJ. Have you ever done this? If I bring it to a shop, I >>>>>> gather this would be a rather inexpensive repair? >>>>>> >>>>>> Glen >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sep 9, 2007, at 11:22 AM, P. J. Alling wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>>> The viewfinders in most Pentax are not dust sealed. Most >>>>>>> likely it's >>>>>>> between the focusing screen and the pentaprism. A good repair man >>>>>>> can >>>>>>> usually clean it up. You could do it yourself but a slip of a >>>>>>> screwdriver could mar the surface of your focusing screen >>>>>>> which is >>>>>>> infinitely more annoying... >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Glen Tortorella wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I agree with whoever replied (I think PJ) that dust or dirt >>>>>>>> in the >>>>>>>> viewfinder is somewhat irritating. To reiterate, I have checked >>>>>>>> over >>>>>>>> the various relevant parts (including the mirror) of my Super >>>>>>>> Program >>>>>>>> and cannot find the specks I see in the viewfinder. Is there >>>>>>>> any way >>>>>>>> to get them out? Is this dust or dirt something only a >>>>>>>> professional >>>>>>>> can remove, or is it just stuck there forever? >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> In retrospect: I wish eBay sellers would be unmistakably clear >>>>>>>> about >>>>>>>> these things...such is why I like buying new...there are just >>>>>>>> too >>>>>>>> many things that can be problematic or objectionable with unseen >>>>>>>> used >>>>>>>> gear. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>>> Glen >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> Remember, it's pillage then burn. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>>>> [email protected] >>>>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Remember, it's pillage then burn. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>>>> [email protected] >>>>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> -- >>> Remember, it's pillage then burn. >>> >>> >>> -- >>> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>> [email protected] >>> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >>> >>> >> -- >> "the subject of a photograph is far less important than its >> composition" >> >> -- >> PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >> [email protected] >> http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> > > > -- Remember, it’s pillage then burn. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net

