I need an ultra wide angle (UWA) lens for my K5 for use on a project that I took on. The K5 being an APS-C camera, I have looked at the Pentax DA 12-24mm and the Sigma 10-20mm EX DC HSM zooms. The Pentax is way out of my affordability range. The Sigma is possibly within my reach, but it has its own focusing motor. I’m thinking that if I could find a lens without a focusing motor, the lens may be even more affordable. Is there another UWA in a Pentax mount that uses the in-body auto-focus motor of the K5? I haven’t been able to find anything on Google searches – I’m not very astute at constructing a google search query, I guess.

If there are no other Pentax mount AF lenses without in-lens focusing motors, I guess I’ll have to go with the Sigma 10-20mm with its HSM motor. Which raises another question. If I use the Sigma with its own HSM focusing motor, how will it interact with the K5’s auto-focusing function? Will the lens motor override the in-body motor or vice versa? The K5 in-body motor functions through a screw-drive connection in the mount. If the Sigma lens mount doesn’t have a matching connection socket, will the in-body focusing motor free wheel as the camera tries to focus? Or will the in-body motor be deactivated by the lens by way of information sent to the camera through some electrical contacts? Looking at the mount end of the Sigma I don't see a screw drive socket, but I do see two electrical contacts that appear as though they may mate with two contacts located in the lens throat of the K5. Are these the connection points for disabling the in-body focusing motor and controlling the lens focusing motor? My other Pentax lenses and Sigma 70-300mm DL Macro in Pentax mount don’t have those extra electrical contacts – only the ball contacts on the mount flange itself.

Thanks to you Pentaxians out there on UHH that can help me clarify this information. My apologies for being too wordy.

Stan

Last night I took my NikonP-900 and my Pentax K-1 with the 150-450mm telephoto lens out to "shoot the moon". Unfortunately, it was rather cloudy at moon-rise here in my part of Michigan. BUT!!! the bad part of my evening was that with neither of those combinations was I able to fill the frame with MOON. When ever I got the moon "right where I wanted it, The Ball-head just would not stay correctly aimed. When you tight-zoom on the topic-pic, and tighten the ball lock knob, there's always a bit of post-adjusting DRIFT. Just enough to loose part of the moon I had honed in on. The BALL is an SBH-300 by Vanguard, and the tri-pod is a pretty substantial Vanguard model. I believe that the DRIFT I'm getting is the fault of the ball. My wife was with me as I was attempting to get the shot, she shared in my frustration , and get this...She said "for gods' sake, Bob, get the appropriate tri-pod and Head" She went on to say, "why have great cameras & lenses for Distant pictures & not have a really great Head and try-pod??" She actually ordered me to get some advice on this issue and get what you need .. I said that It might cost a bit of money to really get stabile stuff....She said "Merry-Christmas" Can any of you BELIEVE this?? SOOOO, I'm asking HOGG folks to advise me on a rig. Thanking you in advance. RJM I'm serious, no kidding, My wife Blew my mind

I hope someone is willing to shed a pit of light on the direction I should take. I am looking to purchase a new camera. We are going on a dream vacation and in addition it is time. Here is a bit of information that might be helpful. I am a person that loves photography and takes 1000(s) of pictures during any trip. I am not often found without my camera in hand. That being said I have never had any formal training and am self-taught. Learning on the fly and making mistakes seem to be my learning style. I love to be able to capture nature from a distance yet zoom in to see their eyelashes when possible, so I have always had a pretty large zoom lens. I am not well versed in the manual setting and at time I feel like I just know enough to get in trouble so the camera must have a selection of pre-set fully automatic modes for those shots that are once in a life time and I do not want to mess up. In addition I often find myself needed a fast lens and the ones I have are not amazingly fast so if it comes to a different brand a new lens with speed would be needed. I am not gentile or kind to my equipment, we are outside all the time. It is across my body on a strap and goes where I go. Exposed to the elements would be an understatement, it never has a lens cap on however, always has a clear filter to protect the glass. We believe as a family you purchase things to be used and if they break using them we hope memories were made and captured. I have often been asked by other travelers about my camera being out and our response is simple. We buy things to use them and camera in a bag does not capture memories when they are being made. All this in consideration a durable camera must be selected.

I have had a Pentax D-SLR for years I have had a K200, and K100 both of which had a sealed body to take on the elements. The lens I shoot with the most is my Tamron 28-300. My Tamron 18-250 was my first love however, it was starting to act funny after many years. I also carry a Pentax 18-55 however, it rarely gets used and when the 19-250 was on the camera it never was used. I am not married to Pentax however, if you all feel they have a good camera that would fit my needs I can then keep my lenses.

I am looking for any recommendation that would help guide my selection. Budget - I would like to stay around $1000 for the body however, I believe sometimes when you creep upwards in price you loos some of the auto features I have requested. So this might be one time under budget is called for. The lens if needed I would like to stay around $800 so total would be under $2000. Thank you in advance for any information you can send my way!