Sorry to bother on a non-Leica question but this group has been so helpful when I was buying my M6 and later find Rich's Photovillage, buying filters, etc, etc. You folks are wonderful.

Now, I'm trying to buy a manual Pentax 300 f/4 for my MX. I just missed getting one on Ebay (by 15 sec.) and KEH doesn't have one. I'd consider any fairly compact, quality 300 for the MX.

I'm going on a wildlife trip in British Columbia, beginning in early May, and plan to take my M6 with a 21 and 35. I have a wonderful 150mm Pentax lens and would like to supplement with a 300.

Any advice on places to look, other than KEH, B&H, etc. or anyone who has an appropriate lens ... will be greatly appreciated

-- tom (therbert@miami.edu), April 12, 2002

Answers

Try Ritz Camera. They have an extensive inventory of used equipment (most with pictures).

http://www.ritzcam.com/

I've never bought anything there, but I'm sure someone else can give you their rating of the place.

Good Luck.

-- Vikram (VSingh493@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

Consider a Tamron 300/2.8 SP LD IF with Pentax adaptall adaptor. Very nice sharp lens, really compact for a 300/2.8, and you could use it with any SLR brand in the future.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), April 12, 2002.

Jay, sounds like a great idea .... but .. I don't use such a lens enough to justify the $2300 (new, without mount) or $1399 (used, B&H). I'm saving my pennies for a second M body.

I missed a 300 f/4 Pentax-M lens on Ebay, which went for $356. That would have been perfect for me .. drats!

-- Tom (therbert@miami.edu), April 12, 2002.

Tom,

A Dutch shop has two of the Pentax 300 f/4 second hand for 349 and 450 euro. I ordered a few things myself there and I was happy with the service. http://www.geengeld.nl Good luck!

-- Eric Kragtwijk (e.kragtwijk@hccnet.nl), April 12, 2002.

HI Tom, How about the 300mm for the Pentax 6X7. Get the K-Mount adapter for your 35mm. You get a 300mm for your 35 but, it is made for the Pentax 6X7 which is a great format. They make two versions the SMC/67/300/F4 and a SMC/67/300/F4EDIF very nice. Hey tom just a thought. PS. Stop down metering on the 35.

-- Richard Brown (rubyvalentine@earthlink.net), April 13, 2002.

Thanks for all your suggestions!!! I finally decided that I would use a 70-300mm zoom I already have for the Nikon, even though it is slower at 300mm than a single focal length lens. I'm going save my money for an M7, probably a 0.72 or 0.85 body to go with my 0.58 M6.

Again .. thanks everyone for wonderful ideas. I'll keep the Tamron and Pentax 645 solutions in mind, in case I run across a good buy on one of these lenses.

-- Tom (therbert@miami.edu), April 13, 2002.