[NeoAkela]

Hi all!

I've been taking photos for a while with my K1000 and just recently got a 130mm and a 24mm lens to compliment my 55mm lens that I have always used. These lenses are both AF lenses with an "A" and "M" setting on the base.

I know, of course, that the K1000 cannot use the AF function.... but my question is, what setting do I put the lens at? If the lens is in the "A" position, my view through the viewfinder is crystal clear, but the light meter does not move much and seems to be "higher" than usual. If I switch to "M", the meter usually drops, and in most situations the view becomes dark and somewhat grainy when looking through to compose the shot (this is much more noticeable on the 130 mm lens). In low lighting it is almost impossible to make out what I am looking at with the M setting (even though the light meter may show a perfect reading).

I took a bunch of shots switching back and forth between A and M, and got photos back today which were mixed between overexposed, underexposed and great. Of course, I can't remember which setting belonged to which photo! So, before I go and blow a few more rolls of film to figure out which is which, are there wiser heads out there than mine who can shed a little light on the situation for me? I really love the new lenses but cannot find anything so far on line that gives me an answer to the question.

Thanks in advance!!!!

[Stratman]

Just take the lens off of the "A" setting and use it just like any other fully manual lens, should work fine !!

[NeoAkela]

Thanks! Simple enough!

The only reason I really questioned what seems an obvious answer was because the view is extremely dark with a narrow aperature when the "M" setting is selected, even though the light meter shows a decent exposure level. It is very hard to compose the shot as it is hard to see when I am attempting something at, say, f22 or so.

What is the reason for that? When the switch is set to "A", everything brightens up and is much clearer (but the light meter jumps up). Perhaps the AF lens is allowing the view through the largest aperature despite the aperature setting? What happens differently when a shot is taken in "A" mode?

I suppose I can compose the shot with the A setting, then set the meter and shoot in the M setting... but why the difference?

Sorry for all the questions - I just have this nagging need to know why things do what they do so I can better understand

[Stratman]

Do you mean that there is an "M" setting on the aperture ring? Never heard of that before, all lenses i have seen with the A setting just have the A, and the regular F stop numbers

[Lowell Goudge]

Can you take a photo and post it of the apature ting, the A/M switch, and the lens mount (rear of the lens)

What this sounds like is a lens which can use automatic apature (i.e. full apature metering, and stop down only when shooting), and also manual apature with stopped down metering.

I don't think this is a lens with KA mount where the camera uses the lens contacts for max and min apature range and controls apature through the camera body as opposed to by the apature ring.