The M Club!

[augustmoon]

Everyone (else, at least) has been posting some really lovely images...

It looks like it's a bigger "club" than I thought it would be. These lenses are actually why I bought a K20D instead of upgrading my EOS 20D.

I'm glad I'm seeing it confirmed in others' images, there seems to be a certain richness and smoothness, zoomed into pixel-level perhaps a lack of resolved detail, but a lovely rendered overall image.

I hope this thread doesn't drive up the demand and price for some of these manual lenses!

[zmem]

great idea
How long are you going to run the post

[monochrome]

All beautiful images and lenses. I've decided to clean out the rest of my M's and concentrate on my KX and the K glass, though. Watch for me in the Marketplace - some good, some average!

Maybe I should start a K Club.

[augustmoon]

I've never tried any of original K lenses, when I got into Pentax 35mm and got an MX, these M lenses were the newest things and matched up with the MX in size real well, then they sat in boxes for a couple decades. I would be interested in learning more about the K series, however....

[8540tomg]

Hi all,

I hope this thread goes on for a while. There are 20 or so M series primes. So far we have samples from only three: the 50 1.4, 135 3.5 and 150 3.5. I would like to have a look at some images made from as many lenses in this group as possible. It is one thing to read about a lens in the database. The opinions found there are fine. It is quite another thing, however, to see how photographers of varying degrees of experience and ability put them to use. The combination of opinion from the lens database and actual images will provide potential buyers and users of these optics with valuable information. Besides it is a lot more fun to see the actual images than read about them. Great idea Jay! I think we should do the same for the K series and A series as well. Let's finish the M series first though.

TG

[monochrome]

Originally Posted by augustmoon

I've never tried any of original K lenses, when I got into Pentax 35mm and got an MX, these M lenses were the newest things and matched up with the MX in size real well, then they sat in boxes for a couple decades. I would be interested in learning more about the K series, however....

As I make pictures with them that are worthy I will post and try to remember to alert you.

There's quite a bit of Pentax history on the internet, including the brief (1975 - 1977) K period.

[Eaglerapids]

Here's some shots from the M-28/3.5 and a couple more from the 135/3.5.
I took 120 or so pics of the Coeur d'Alene River this morning which is flooding and it's a mess up there. We had record snowfalls this year and virtually no spring, then, this weekend the temps soar to the high 80's (F). The melt is on! On top of that it's supposed to rain this week. The news just said the Cd'A has crested but I'm not so sure of that. Ok, a few from the M-28/3.5









The M-135/3.5






BTW Jay, I had the A-50/1.7 I bought from you on my Super Program loaded with Velvia 100 but I never got that camera out:-(. That is a very nice lens.
I took a bunch of pics with the A35-105/3.5 today and I must say that is a very nice lens, also. I never broke out my Takumars, though.

I must say I've been very pleased with the M28/3.5. Reviews of it are a bit mixed. I've had a Vivitar M equivalent 28/2.8 since last year that I bought for $21 or something like that and I love that lens but I wanted the Pentax M in my collection. I also have the Super Takumar 28/3.5 which is a very very nice lens. You just can't beat the Takumars for "feel". Anyway, this M28/3.5 has been a very pleasant surprise. I'm on the side of the reviewers who love it.

[deudeu]

I have only two lenses in my lineup, the kit and the M 50 f1.7.

the only thing i can say is that i am proud to be a member of the M club!

Here are a couple shots taken at night in Montreal:





Unfortunately i don't remember the F stop on these. I would assume somewhere around 4... maybe

[jsherman999]

.


Wow.... Incredible stuff. It's really nice to know others are out there who
appreciate these lenses, and a little humbling to see some of the results.
Honored to be a member.

G_Money, that's super sharp. 200mm I see. That ebay deal is what we all wish for

Stratman, the conifer shot is one of the best yet. You gotta bring more.

TG, that second shot alone makes me want to get the 150. Sure you don't
want to sell?

Brian, I'd keep that 'affected' 50 - the first shot reminds me of a dream sequence
in some movie I saw, can't remember which one.

zmem - I'll keep posting M shots here, hopefully others as well. The M-club
has existed informally for what, 25-30 years?

Paul - Looking forward to seeing what you put in the marketplace! I have
4 M's - would like to expand that a bit.

augustmoon - re K-club - someone needs to sell me a K before I can become a
member

Eaglerapids - nice shots. Can't wait until I have a wider M like that to try.
Good to know my old A 50 1.7 has a happy home, too! Good to hear from you.

Deudea - all I can say is... wow. Probably two of the best so far, very strange,
evocative, sombre images. Very European feel. I need to get up to Montreal.

Originally Posted by 8540tomg

Hi all,

I hope this thread goes on for a while. There are 20 or so M series primes. So
far we have samples from only three: the 50 1.4, 135 3.5 and 150 3.5. I
would like to have a look at some images made from as many lenses in this
group as possible. It is one thing to read about a lens in the database. The
opinions found there are fine. It is quite another thing, however, to see how
photographers of varying degrees of experience and ability put them to use.
The combination of opinion from the lens database and actual images will
provide potential buyers and users of these optics with valuable information.
Besides it is a lot more fun to see the actual images than read about them. ...

TG

Tom - that pretty much sums up why I started this thread, very well put.





.

[ramshot]

Taken with a M 200/4 and the onboard flash.

[Canada_Rockies]

Ramshot - I would not want to get that cat mad at me! Great shot.

[jsherman999]

.


Here are some shots taken today with my personal favorite M - the 85 f/2.

Note: Very little PP in these, despite the 'weird' nature of some of the lighting
effects and colors - the 85 can do funky things on it's own sometimes.
I've described it before as "Tolkienish".
















No PP on this one, promise! It just 'did that'.

[Tdo0003]

This is from a SMC M 50mm 1.4 wide open

[8540tomg]

This keeps getting better!

If you will forgive the pun another M series bouquet by Jay. Well done! I always wanted the M 85 and these shots do little to dampen that desire. The M 85 gets a short shrift from some as being the weak sister of the Pentax 85mm lenses. It is said to be not as sharp as the K 85 1.8, A 85 1.4 or various other incarnations of this lens. Looks good to me. Great colours and bokeh. The images seem to pop from the screen. Seems to match up well with the K20. I’ve got to get one of these soon. You’re setting the bar pretty high Jay.


Tdo0003

Nice aquatic shot.


TG

[jsherman999]

.