Adventures in Devon with the Pentax K-1

Adventures in Devon with the Pentax K-1

We're just back from a week in Devon and it gave the opportunity to really try out my new Pentax K-1 with its HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm WR lens. I knew the lens was a good one from the sample I had for review, and the one I bought was exactly the same. In Days of Yore I started out with 28mm/50mm/100mm lenses on a Pentax MX and this new zoom encapsulates all of those focal lengths in one. I also took the SMC Pentax-FA 43mm f/1.9 Limited and SMC Pentax-D FA 100mm f/2.8 Macro lenses, plus of course the HD Pentax-D FA 150-450mm AW lens. The standard zoom was used most, but the 150-450mm came into its own when we got to the Exmoor Zoo. That was a great day and we all shot a lot of images.

It must have looked a bit like a Pentax Day Out wherever we went, me with the K-1, Sue with the K-3, Sue's brother Mark with the K20D and sister-in-law Di with the K10D. A formidable Posse of Pentax.

But it's results that count, and I was really very happy with the K-1 and took it out in all weathers without any problem. One interesting diversion was using it with a Soligor 400mm f/6.3 Pre-set lens. The images were actually not at all bad, but the handling was really slow and the closest focus distance was a ridiculous 22 feet. That last point is really the killer, making the lens only suitable for long range photography.

Here's a few sample images from the week. There will be many more of the hundreds shot appearing in my EPZ portfolio and the Gallery over the coming weeks.



Above: With Soligor 400mm f/6.3 lens