Help me choose my next manual lens!

Fat Albert · 12-07-2013, 07:04 AM

Hi folks,

After acquiring my second K-01, I want to pick up some nice legacy glass. I've been puttering around with my M 50/1.7 and focus peaking--it's really getting addictive! I'd like to acquire something a bit longer, and I know that there are tons of great vintage lenses out there.

What should I buy next?

Jonathan Mac · 12-07-2013, 07:58 AM

Addicitive, isn't it?

For something a bit longer, get an 85mm if you can find/afford one. The M 85/2 is the cheapest legacy Pentax 85mm and it's superb, though people say the Takumar and K 85mm lenses are even better.

If you can't find/afford one, then you can find 100 or 105mm lenses more easily and cheaply. The M 100/2.8 & Takumar 105/2.8 are both very nice (but not as nice as the 85s) and quite easy to find. Bear in mind Takumar's are M42 mount so you'll need an adapter (I'd strongly recommend an original Pentax one) but there's lots of great M42 glass out there to try too.

**boriscleto** · 12-07-2013, 08:02 AM

How much longer? The next longer focal length in the M series is 85mm. The 135/3.5 is plentiful and cheap. The 100/4 is a 1:2 macro.

It's unfortunate that Pentax never made an A 85/2, the A* 85/1.4 is kinda pricey...but there is always the Samyang.

Fat Albert · 12-07-2013, 08:15 AM

Most of those 85s are a bit more than I care to spend--I'm trying to stay below ~$150. There are a few M 100/2.8 on ebay that are reasonably priced and look intriguing in the lens reviews. Any thoughts regarding the 100/2.8 vs the 100/4 Macro?

kh1234567890 · 12-07-2013, 09:40 AM

Get the M135/3.5. Stupidly cheap, physically small and sharp wide open.

Fat Albert · 12-07-2013, 10:05 AM

Originally posted by kh1234567890

Get the M135/3.5. Stupidly cheap, physically small and sharp wide open.

I like the looks of this lens. Are you aware of any significant differences between this lens and the Takumar 135/2.8?

**boriscleto** · 12-07-2013, 10:45 AM

Originally posted by Fat Albert

I like the looks of this lens. Are you aware of any significant differences between this lens and the Takumar 135/2.8?

The Takumar Bayonet was a budget lens. No SMC and a 4 element optical design. Not that a 4 element optical design is a bad thing. The A135/2.8 is a 4 element design and is a nice sharp lens.

Fat Albert · 12-07-2013, 02:50 PM - **1 Like**

Bought the M 135/3.5 on ebay and the seller happened to live the next town over, so I'll be posting some pics tonight. First impression: this is tougher than I thought to shoot handheld in dim light. It's much lighter than I'd expect of this FL.

kh1234567890 · 12-07-2013, 03:13 PM

Originally posted by Fat Albert

Bought the M 135/3.5 on ebay and the seller happened to live the next town over, so I'll be posting some pics tonight. First impression: this is tougher than I thought to shoot handheld in dim light. It's much lighter than I'd expect of this FL.

Persevere. I love that lens.

**Jacquot** · 12-07-2013, 04:15 PM

Looking forward to the photos!

**boriscleto** · 12-07-2013, 05:04 PM

135mm indoors requires a fairly big room...

Action Jackson · 12-07-2013, 06:38 PM

Are you after a prime lens? If not the Pentax SMC-A 35-105 3.5 is a great lens if you don't mind the 3.5 and it's called a "stack of primes" for good reason.

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-07-2013, 06:50 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

135mm indoors requires a fairly big room...

Nice shots. The 135 does work out great when you have that big room. You can be invisible and no one realizes how much reach the lens has. I was going to suggest the Pentax-M 100mm f2.8, maybe 2X the 135/3.5 price. The M100/2.8 has a better minimum focus distance (3 meters instead of 5), a tick faster, and a more useful indoors focal length. The Pentax-M 85m f2 is even more practical indoors but crosses the price/value line for me.

bassek · 12-08-2013, 01:23 AM

In addition to the M50/1.7 I have gotten the M85/2, M100/4 and the M135/3.5 without breaking the bank. They are all terrific.
Too bad the Wide M lenses are expensive, I guess they were expensive in the 70's too.

Nice owl, boriscleto.What was the occasion if I may ask?

Seb

**boriscleto** · 12-08-2013, 09:44 AM

Originally posted by bassek

Nice owl, boriscleto.What was the occasion if I may ask?

Seb

The folks from Wild Wings in Honeoye Falls, NY came to Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY in April and gave a presentation about 4 of the birds they have rescued. They presented an American Kestrel (second picture), Broad-winged Hawk, Great Horned Owl and the Saw-Whet in the last picture.

The first picture is from my cousin's book reading in November.

Beaver Lake has a fairly large meeting room and everyone in attendance had assigned seating. I was in the second row of seats behind 3 boys who weren't even paying attention. The tallest sat right in front of me...

12-07-2013, 07:04 AM	#1
Fat Albert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 966	Help me choose my next manual lens! Hi folks, After acquiring my second K-01, I want to pick up some nice legacy glass. I've been puttering around with my M 50/1.7 and focus peaking--it's really getting addictive! I'd like to acquire something a bit longer, and I know that there are tons of great vintage lenses out there. What should I buy next?

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12-07-2013, 07:58 AM	#2
Jonathan Mac Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 10,887	Addicitive, isn't it? For something a bit longer, get an 85mm if you can find/afford one. The M 85/2 is the cheapest legacy Pentax 85mm and it's superb, though people say the Takumar and K 85mm lenses are even better. If you can't find/afford one, then you can find 100 or 105mm lenses more easily and cheaply. The M 100/2.8 & Takumar 105/2.8 are both very nice (but not as nice as the 85s) and quite easy to find. Bear in mind Takumar's are M42 mount so you'll need an adapter (I'd strongly recommend an original Pentax one) but there's lots of great M42 glass out there to try too.

12-07-2013, 08:02 AM	#3
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	How much longer? The next longer focal length in the M series is 85mm. The 135/3.5 is plentiful and cheap. The 100/4 is a 1:2 macro. It's unfortunate that Pentax never made an A 85/2, the A* 85/1.4 is kinda pricey...but there is always the Samyang.

12-07-2013, 08:15 AM	#4
Fat Albert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 966 Original Poster	Most of those 85s are a bit more than I care to spend--I'm trying to stay below ~$150. There are a few M 100/2.8 on ebay that are reasonably priced and look intriguing in the lens reviews. Any thoughts regarding the 100/2.8 vs the 100/4 Macro?

12-07-2013, 09:40 AM	#5
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Get the M135/3.5. Stupidly cheap, physically small and sharp wide open.

12-07-2013, 10:05 AM	#6
Fat Albert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 966 Original Poster	Originally posted by kh1234567890 Get the M135/3.5. Stupidly cheap, physically small and sharp wide open. I like the looks of this lens. Are you aware of any significant differences between this lens and the Takumar 135/2.8?

12-07-2013, 10:45 AM	#7
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Fat Albert I like the looks of this lens. Are you aware of any significant differences between this lens and the Takumar 135/2.8? The Takumar Bayonet was a budget lens. No SMC and a 4 element optical design. Not that a 4 element optical design is a bad thing. The A135/2.8 is a 4 element design and is a nice sharp lens.

12-07-2013, 02:50 PM - 1 Like	#8
Fat Albert Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 966 Original Poster	Bought the M 135/3.5 on ebay and the seller happened to live the next town over, so I'll be posting some pics tonight. First impression: this is tougher than I thought to shoot handheld in dim light. It's much lighter than I'd expect of this FL.

12-07-2013, 03:13 PM	#9
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by Fat Albert Bought the M 135/3.5 on ebay and the seller happened to live the next town over, so I'll be posting some pics tonight. First impression: this is tougher than I thought to shoot handheld in dim light. It's much lighter than I'd expect of this FL. Persevere. I love that lens.

12-07-2013, 04:15 PM	#10
Jacquot Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sun City Center, FL Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,544	Looking forward to the photos!

12-07-2013, 05:04 PM	#11
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	135mm indoors requires a fairly big room...

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12-07-2013, 06:38 PM	#12
Action Jackson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Markham, Ontario, CANADA Posts: 243	Are you after a prime lens? If not the Pentax SMC-A 35-105 3.5 is a great lens if you don't mind the 3.5 and it's called a "stack of primes" for good reason.

12-07-2013, 06:50 PM	#13
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by boriscleto 135mm indoors requires a fairly big room... Nice shots. The 135 does work out great when you have that big room. You can be invisible and no one realizes how much reach the lens has. I was going to suggest the Pentax-M 100mm f2.8, maybe 2X the 135/3.5 price. The M100/2.8 has a better minimum focus distance (3 meters instead of 5), a tick faster, and a more useful indoors focal length. The Pentax-M 85m f2 is even more practical indoors but crosses the price/value line for me.

12-08-2013, 01:23 AM	#14
bassek Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 706	In addition to the M50/1.7 I have gotten the M85/2, M100/4 and the M135/3.5 without breaking the bank. They are all terrific. Too bad the Wide M lenses are expensive, I guess they were expensive in the 70's too. Nice owl, boriscleto.What was the occasion if I may ask? Seb

12-08-2013, 09:44 AM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by bassek Nice owl, boriscleto.What was the occasion if I may ask? Seb The folks from Wild Wings in Honeoye Falls, NY came to Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, NY in April and gave a presentation about 4 of the birds they have rescued. They presented an American Kestrel (second picture), Broad-winged Hawk, Great Horned Owl and the Saw-Whet in the last picture. The first picture is from my cousin's book reading in November. Beaver Lake has a fairly large meeting room and everyone in attendance had assigned seating. I was in the second row of seats behind 3 boys who weren't even paying attention. The tallest sat right in front of me...