Aperture rings = More fun?

penquin · 09-20-2011, 04:38 PM

After using older generation lens with the aperture rings, I tend to find them more enjoyable and more convenient to use than the DA lens/ no aperture ring lens.

It feels a heck of a lot faster than actually switching back and forth between to shutter and aperture to get the right settings.

Am I the only one that feels this way? Maybe the higher end models have a better way of controlling both compared to my K-x?

Jodokast96 · 09-20-2011, 04:41 PM

Originally posted by penquin

Maybe the higher end models have a better way of controlling both compared to my K-x?

Ding, ding, ding. Just one of the many virtues of the higher end models. One wheel for shutter, the other wheel for aperture.

penquin · 09-20-2011, 04:45 PM

Awe man, now this just makes me want a k-5 even more. =\ Time to blow my Financial Aid!

RioRico · 09-20-2011, 04:48 PM

IMHO on-camera control of aperture in A-type and AF lenses is very handy. There are times when an aperture ring on an AF lens is absolutely necessary. Only the merest fracton of my many lenses are DA's, and a small portion are otherwise AF or A-type. The vast majority are manual. I've been spinning aperture rings for some decades, so that's second nature. Different tools demand various usage. No problem, not on my K20D.

**Digitalis** · 09-20-2011, 04:55 PM

all of my lenses save the DA15mm f/4 have aperture rings on them - I do quite a bit of studio work and the aperture ring is far more intuitive to me than using a flipping dial.

Adam · 09-20-2011, 05:30 PM

Get a 645d, you can always use the aperture ring on it

penquin · 09-20-2011, 06:44 PM

Bahaha! Good one Adam good one. Might have to sale my kidney for that one

pentaximus · 09-20-2011, 06:52 PM

if you reverse a lens you pretty much have to go aperture ring.

penquin · 09-20-2011, 07:08 PM

Yeah, don't have any current plans for reversing lens yet. Maybe one day. But does anyone else find spinning that ring around more enjoyable?

Just1MoreDave · 09-20-2011, 07:50 PM

Originally posted by penquin

Awe man, now this just makes me want a k-5 even more. =\ Time to blow my Financial Aid!

You'll also need to sell all the M or older lenses and purchase KA-mount or newer replacements.

russell2pi · 09-21-2011, 12:54 AM

Much as I lament some of the downsides of DSLR vs my trusty old manual SLR...

... it's really not hard to flip the little wheel with my right index finger and watch the number change on the LCD. If anything it's marginally easier.

Hmm, another thing to make me second-guess getting a Kr when I have to hand this K10D back...

Tonto · 09-21-2011, 01:41 AM

Aperture ring on our Kx is a god send - so fave lenses to use are FA31 and A70-210

dragonfly · 09-26-2011, 08:34 AM

Doesn't the camera give you access to f stops that aren't available on the aperture ring?

Just1MoreDave · 09-26-2011, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by dragonfly

Doesn't the camera give you access to f stops that aren't available on the aperture ring?

Aperture rings usually have some mechanism to hold them at certain f stops. You get all the full stops (1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, etc.) and most of the time, half-stops. The ring keeps moving the blades continuously so maybe you could set it in between some positions, or disable the holding mechanism and set an infinite number of apertures.

When the camera can control the aperture (KA or newer mount), the settings you can use are whatever the camera body can use. All the Pentax DSLRs can be set to use 1/3 stop increments or 1/2 stop increments. Since you can only choose one, you might gain f2.2 and f2.5 but lose f2.4. So more, but less.

allesschonweg · 09-26-2011, 11:51 AM

aperture-rings are also a good feature, if you want to work with retro-adapters as cheap macro lenses (ok, not with a really high field of depth, but it works great)

09-20-2011, 04:38 PM	#1
penquin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 57	Aperture rings = More fun? After using older generation lens with the aperture rings, I tend to find them more enjoyable and more convenient to use than the DA lens/ no aperture ring lens. It feels a heck of a lot faster than actually switching back and forth between to shutter and aperture to get the right settings. Am I the only one that feels this way? Maybe the higher end models have a better way of controlling both compared to my K-x?

09-20-2011, 05:30 PM	#6
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 49,830	Get a 645d, you can always use the aperture ring on it Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

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09-20-2011, 04:41 PM	#2
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by penquin Maybe the higher end models have a better way of controlling both compared to my K-x? Ding, ding, ding. Just one of the many virtues of the higher end models. One wheel for shutter, the other wheel for aperture.

09-20-2011, 04:45 PM	#3
penquin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 57 Original Poster	Awe man, now this just makes me want a k-5 even more. =\ Time to blow my Financial Aid!

09-20-2011, 04:48 PM	#4
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,264	IMHO on-camera control of aperture in A-type and AF lenses is very handy. There are times when an aperture ring on an AF lens is absolutely necessary. Only the merest fracton of my many lenses are DA's, and a small portion are otherwise AF or A-type. The vast majority are manual. I've been spinning aperture rings for some decades, so that's second nature. Different tools demand various usage. No problem, not on my K20D.

09-20-2011, 04:55 PM	#5
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Adelaide. Posts: 10,158	all of my lenses save the DA15mm f/4 have aperture rings on them - I do quite a bit of studio work and the aperture ring is far more intuitive to me than using a flipping dial.

09-20-2011, 06:44 PM	#7
penquin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 57 Original Poster	Bahaha! Good one Adam good one. Might have to sale my kidney for that one

09-20-2011, 06:52 PM	#8
pentaximus Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Covington, Georgia Photos: Gallery Posts: 915	if you reverse a lens you pretty much have to go aperture ring.

09-20-2011, 07:08 PM	#9
penquin Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 57 Original Poster	Yeah, don't have any current plans for reversing lens yet. Maybe one day. But does anyone else find spinning that ring around more enjoyable?

09-20-2011, 07:50 PM	#10
Just1MoreDave Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,813	Originally posted by penquin Awe man, now this just makes me want a k-5 even more. =\ Time to blow my Financial Aid! You'll also need to sell all the M or older lenses and purchase KA-mount or newer replacements.

09-21-2011, 12:54 AM	#11
russell2pi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Victoria, Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 252	Much as I lament some of the downsides of DSLR vs my trusty old manual SLR... ... it's really not hard to flip the little wheel with my right index finger and watch the number change on the LCD. If anything it's marginally easier. Hmm, another thing to make me second-guess getting a Kr when I have to hand this K10D back...

09-21-2011, 01:41 AM	#12
Tonto Inactive Account Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wellington Posts: 969	Aperture ring on our Kx is a god send - so fave lenses to use are FA31 and A70-210

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09-26-2011, 08:34 AM	#13
dragonfly Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: on the wall Photos: Gallery Posts: 715	Doesn't the camera give you access to f stops that aren't available on the aperture ring?

09-26-2011, 09:51 AM	#14
Just1MoreDave Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,813	Originally posted by dragonfly Doesn't the camera give you access to f stops that aren't available on the aperture ring? Aperture rings usually have some mechanism to hold them at certain f stops. You get all the full stops (1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, etc.) and most of the time, half-stops. The ring keeps moving the blades continuously so maybe you could set it in between some positions, or disable the holding mechanism and set an infinite number of apertures. When the camera can control the aperture (KA or newer mount), the settings you can use are whatever the camera body can use. All the Pentax DSLRs can be set to use 1/3 stop increments or 1/2 stop increments. Since you can only choose one, you might gain f2.2 and f2.5 but lose f2.4. So more, but less.

09-26-2011, 11:51 AM	#15
allesschonweg New Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8	aperture-rings are also a good feature, if you want to work with retro-adapters as cheap macro lenses (ok, not with a really high field of depth, but it works great)