Finally some cash to spend !

T

testbloke

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Kevin
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But it brings with it many questions in my head ...

Only started this year, my kit so far :-

Pentax K-m
18-55 kit lens
55-200 Pentax 4.5 - 5.6
old M50 F2
CP filter, welding glass filter (!), uv filters, hoods ...
Half decent tripod
Bag that is just managing to kep it all together

I now have 250-300 gbp to spend. Had been planning to get external flash next, but now that I have the cash I really cant make my mind up what would be best purchase :-
1) Flash - currently "scared" to use built in flash due to por performance, also wanted external flash to try water droplets, smoke art and some high speed stuff using a mic trigger.
2) A lens - think my current glass may be etting me down but unsure how much it is the lens and how much it is the body ...
3) Sell all the above and go for a new body (canon or nikon). Seem to be some good deals around at the moment, would something ike a D5000 or EOS500 make a noticeable difference to my K-m ? There are many things I really le about the Km utacouple of real gripes already (the viewfinder doe not give 100% and some comonly use functionslike focaus and apperture lock are menu only, no button on the body).

I know a lot of this is subjective but comments are most appreciated, I dont often have cash to spend and want to make the most of it !
 
That's a small budget for photo gear - serious suggestion - why not use the money to go somewhere different for a few days and get some great shots with the gear you have?
 
1) good idea because you can enter new territory.
2) quite a good idea but you need to think what your current lenses are lacking because £300 wont get you much of a lens especially because you use pentax which lens are hard to get.
3) takes quite long with selling but at least you can get more lenses and sony,canon,nikon are the top dogs in DSLR.
 
This would be a great lens, for two reasons, first it gives you the chance to try some macro shots, not 1:1 but with cropping you can get some lovely shots.
And secondly it gives you the range for some motorsports/air shows/ sports shots with the extra range over your 55-200mm zoom, even better second hand is even cheaper!
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tamron-70-300mm-f4-5-6-af-di-ld-macro-lens-pentax-fit/p1013820

I shot this with it.

3962692943_3779ab5ac2.jpg
 
I'd maybe spend £100 on some flash goodies from Flash in the Pan, that'll open a whole new world for you!

Then maybe take a trip somewhere with the remaining cash.. just to give your creative juices a big injection :)
 
Thanks for initial responses, AWP I know this is a small budget but bear in mind my whole kit so far has cost less than 500 gbp. Also, one of the big advantages of using Pentax is the excellent "old" A series lenses available. When purchasing my kit, I was told by my Japanese colleagues to buy either Canon, Nikon or Pentax (as these are the only three that actually produce optics), I got a great deal on the Km.
The limited availability of kit on the high street (Jessops no longer support) is a pain, but at the time the alternative was a Nikon D40 for the same money and (IMHO) the K-m was a step up from the D40.
 
sbowler579 said:
This would be a great lens, for two reasons, first it gives you the chance to try some macro shots, not 1:1 but with cropping you can get some lovely shots.
And secondly it gives you the range for some motorsports/air shows/ sports shots with the extra range over your 55-200mm zoom, even better second hand is even cheaper!
http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-tamron-70-300mm-f4-5-6-af-di-ld-macro-lens-pentax-fit/p1013820

I shot this with it.

3962692943_3779ab5ac2.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks, I have had a look at this lens as it semed to good to be true. Is this the plastic one ? Have you had any issues with it ?
 
purpleclouds said:
I'd maybe spend £100 on some flash goodies from Flash in the Pan, that'll open a whole new world for you!

Then maybe take a trip somewhere with the remaining cash.. just to give your creative juices a big injection :)
Click to expand...

Problem is the world of flash is a mystery to me ! I know if I get the Pentax one it will do everything (including TTL) but no idea what I get with £100 of flash goodies ?
Trips / holidays etc comes from different budget, this is cash purely for me to spend on camera gear without the missus complaining or me feeling guilty for not spending it on my daughter !
 
Done some web browsing, taking advice above on board ...

Could just about squeeze the Pentax AF-360 (180 on line) and have just seen the sigma 70 - 300 on Jacobs for 125.
http://www.jacobsdigital.co.uk/index.php?target=products&product_id=23940

Considering the price, the sigma seems to get good reviews, the extra range would come in very handy. Ignoring the triggers, diffusers etc that still have to be purchased for the flash, does this look like a good option for me ?
 
Buy the flash, buy the Sigma, sell your 55-200 and get yourself a tripod.....one like this would do lovely!!:D

Those 3 items will open up all sorts of new types of photography to you....
 
Slimbert said:
Buy the flash, buy the Sigma, sell your 55-200 and get yourself a tripod.....one like this would do lovely!!:D

Those 3 items will open up all sorts of new types of photography to you....
Click to expand...

Thanks Slimbert, reckon the 50-200 is worth £100+ on ebay so that would help, but would need to compare the performance of the sigma before selling.
Have a Hamna star610 tripod, otherwise would have had that one. Going to buy the sigma now, cant really go wrong at that price :shrug:
 
I have the Sigma 70-300mm APO and will only replace it when I get some L glass....apart from slightly slow AF it's hard to fault at that price!!
 
Slimbert said:
I have the Sigma 70-300mm APO and will only replace it when I get some L glass....apart from slightly slow AF it's hard to fault at that price!!
Click to expand...

Just noticed there is this one at £125
SIGMA 70-300mm F4-5.6 PAF DG Macro

and this one at £175
SIGMA 70-300 F4-5.6 PAF APO Macro DG

what is the APO ? Struggling to see the difference in the specs.
 
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