Hi Susi and welcome from me too!
> I am new to this forum and am a current owner of a Pentax ZX-7 with a > Pentax 28-80mm F/3.5-5.6 lens that came with it. I use to be into > photography many years ago (15+years) and am slowly getting back into > it. Loved my ME Super when I used it back then and decided to stay > with Pentax as I relearn photography. My questions to this forum > are: > > 1) I believe this Pentax 28-80mm lens to be not of good quality. Is > this the general census as well? I had this lens, which got a bum rap from most of the people in this group: I have to say I was not disappointed in the results I got from it optically. Not quite as good as the FA*28-105 power zoom, which I have now, but certainly not the bottom of a coke bottle! Build quality wasn't great, but it held together as long as I had it, and I don't 'baby' my gear. > > 2) Thinking about replacing this slow lens with a Tokina AF 28-70mm > AT-X-PRO II F/2.6-2.8. Is there any compatability problems? None I am aware of - but it is a comparatively heavy lens. > > 3) Why is it that my local camera shops here in Northern California do > not support the "pentax" brand as much as Nikon or Cannon? I've > called all my local dealers to see if they carry Tokina lens for > Pentax mount and none carry them. They only seem to carry 3rd party > manufacturer stuff for Nikon and Cannon. Whats the deal here? > I am afraid Pentax dealer support and marketing is abysmal just about anywhere - you would be lucky to find any dealer with any more than a couple of entry-level Pentax bodies, and, here in Australia, the distributor always bundles them into kits with Sigma lenses. I don't think they advertise anywhere either. You can't blame the dealers, they will follow consumer demand, which is led by advertising. > Thanks in advance for all your help > You're welcome! John Coyle Brisbane, Australia
