ijustshotu Loc: Northern California

While I realize that my Pentax equipment is the 'stepchild' of the camera world and I use a 3rd party lens, UHH seems to be 'the place' where I can get a 'straight answer to a question that I have, since Tamron can't or won't answer.
I shoot a K20D (which I really enjoy) and when I use it with my Tamron AF70-300mm f4-5.6 LD Di, run it out to 300mm, take the shot, the info recorded by the camera states that the picture was shot at 148mm. No matter what I do, standard or macro 148mm is always the reading. Might this have something to do with the fact that I don't have a full frame sensor or somethin' else? (I don't know anyone else that shoots a Pentax so I can't compare the lens on another Pentax camera).
I understand the basic principals of photography however only shooting digital for a year, at times I can get overwhelmed. There's a bunch of very smart folks on this site and I'm sure one or two of ya can give me an idea as to what's goin' on. Thanks for your time.

hangman45 Loc: Hueytown Alabama

When Tamron and others make 3rd party lens for Pentax they reverse engineer the system and it has not always ended up exactly right you will run into it a lot when you are doing micro adjustments for focus a lot of the 3rd party lens will all show up as the same lens to the camera so it is not possible to set individually.

ijustshotu Loc: Northern California

Thanks for the reply.

sinatraman Loc: Vero Beach Florida, Earth,alpha quaudrant

pentax is not the stepchild of anybody! the new K-30 has been getting smash reviews from popular photography among others. Their being bought by ricoh seems to have energized both companies. I like the fact that pentax neither changed their lens mount (unlike canon) or took the AF motor from the body where it belongs unlike Nikon did on anything other than pro or prosumer level) the image stabilization is kept in the body as well. unlike n + c. I have 2 much invested in Nikon to switch, but if starting out I would take a real hard look at pentax! say it now and say it loud you are a pentaxian and your proud!

ijustshotu Loc: Northern California

In no way am dis'n Pentax. If you read what I say about my camera is that, "I love it"! Pentax is the stepchild in the way of popularity for the product by the masses not by those of us that know, use and respect a very good product.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

What does your data tell you when you shoot it at 70mm? Maybe 34mm?

ijustshotu Loc: Northern California

At 70 I get 70. The numbers are all over the place. Here's a short list; lens setting 100mm, camera records 200mm; lens 135mm, camera records 148mm; lens 180mm, camera records 200mm; lens 230, camera 200mm; lens 280, camera 160mm. I have no idea what it all means (pulling on what hair I have left on my head).

I have found someone in the neighborhood that uses Pentax equipment so we're gettin' together in a while to see what's up. Hope this will answers some questions.

Bruce with a Canon Loc: Islip

not to be persnickity, Pentax is a great company with wonderful line up of high quality gear.
I used Minolta, Pentax and mamiya 35mm gear for 30 years and save for routine maintenance none have ever cost me lost shots ( even the ocassional smack in off a granite outcrop or adventure off the tripod)
My first DSLR was an entry level *Ist/dl and some of my all time slow water shots were taken with that Pentax and kit lens.
Do you know what stove top chefs use? Do you know what typewriter hemmingway used?
It aint the wrench that builds the engine. The talent and experience makes the image.
short story long, it is difficult to buy a bad quality dslr these days.