[ryan s]

I was thinking about the radioactive glass the other day. If you set your white balance manually, wouldn't that compensate for any cast the (decaying) thorium doped glass might induce? (even if it is a pleasant effect with the cast, I'm just curious if manual white balance gets rid of it.)

Also does the lens give you any powers? X-ray vision or super strength as a consequence of the radiation?

Far as I understand, the WB will take care of the yellow cast. Under artificial lighting, the lens should give a more neutral WB without touching the cam

The radiation isn't strong enough to do anything to you, unless you have it within 4" of your body for 50 years, or something like that. We're getting hit with more radiation right now (and through cell phones) than the lens can produce. Nothing to worry about, unless you've had the lens with you for ~20,000 days...showered with it...slept with it under your pillow...etc. There were some that were stronger, but I don't believe any of us would be using them.

[Trawlerman]

My oldest lens is a 1939 Ernst Leitz SUMMAR 5cm f2. But thats an L39 lens and technically doesn't count as this is PentaxForums.

My oldest lens that I use on my Pentax kit is a 1969 Meyer-Optic Goerlitz 135/2.8 'ORESTOR'. It's in the Zebra finish which so many people don't like these days but for me it gives the lens a really smart finish. It's also a Preset lens so a little tricky to use but otherwise its a fine performer.

[séamuis]

But thats an L39 lens and technically doesn't count as this is PentaxForums.

why not doesn't it count? pentax made a 39mm leica to m42 adapter (if you can find one).

[Chako]

My oldest lens is a Pentax 55mm f/2.2 circa 1957. Either that or a Soligor 35mm f/3.5 which probably dates to the same time. I haven't tried the Soligor on the Pentax yet, but I have tried the 55. Both lenses came with a Pentax S camera.

Old meets new.


A few test shots.

[Nesster]

Chaco - awesome photographs... but I don't know how to say this, so I'll just blurt it out: your lens makes the cat and deep diver guy look like toys. I always thought more modern lenses were too perfect and so took the life out of the subjects, now I see that antique lenses do it too, only in a different way... oh... wait... never mind

[barryr]

I am pretty sure this is my oldest lens so far. If anybody knows how old please let me know
Thank You
Barry

[Canada_Rockies]

why not doesn't it count? pentax made a 39mm leica to m42 adapter (if you can find one).

And the Asahiflex was 39mm screw mount. Pentax is [Asahiflex + Pentaprism]. They enlarged the mount while they were at it. So, you can mount an Asahiflex 39mm lens on your m42 adapter and mount that on your K mount Pentax SLR. I am not sure the mount to film distance is the same, however - it might not focus to infinity.

[bobrapp]

My oldest lens could probably be the 83mm f1.9 Takumar. The 83 was available for the Asahiflex and, for a short time in the M42. Mine is the latter - bought for next to no money at a camera market. It was hard to with hold my excitement with I bought it.

Bob
Loyal Pentax ("Funtax") user since 1968

[Abbazz]

And the Asahiflex was 39mm screw mount. Pentax is [Asahiflex + Pentaprism]. They enlarged the mount while they were at it. So, you can mount an Asahiflex 39mm lens on your m42 adapter and mount that on your K mount Pentax SLR. I am not sure the mount to film distance is the same, however - it might not focus to infinity.

The Asahiflex had a 37mm thread mount. The registration distance was the same as the M42 mount (45.46mm).

Speaking of Asahiflex, and to return to the topic of this thread, my oldest Pentax lens is the Takumar 58/2.4 in Asahiflex mount (1954). Here are some pictures taken with this lens on my K10D:





Cheers!

Abbazz

[Abbazz]

My oldest lens could probably be the 83mm f1.9 Takumar. The 83 was available for the Asahiflex and, for a short time in the M42. Mine is the latter - bought for next to no money at a camera market. It was hard to with hold my excitement with I bought it.

That's not fair, Bob. I have been looking for this lens for years and the rare samples that I managed to locate were either grossly overpriced or in very bad condition. Please post some pictures taken with this legendary lens.

Cheers!

Abbazz

[Arjay Bee]

I use my Dad's old Super Takumars.
50mm F1.4 Model 1 early (1964)
135mm F3.5 Model 1 early (1963)

Non pentax (m42)
Isco Gottingen Tele Westenar 135mm f3.5 Unknown age but late 50s -came with an Pentax H2 body that pre-dates the spotmatic.


15 aperture blades and all metal body.
Examples:

[ftpaddict]

Carl Zeiss Tessar 120mm f/4.5. Circa 1945 with Compur Shutter. (almost made a typo and wrote "Shitter" )

No pictures yet. I'm still trying to make an adapter for it.

[bobrapp]

That's not fair, Bob. I have been looking for this lens for years and the rare samples that I managed to locate were either grossly overpriced or in very bad condition. Please post some pictures taken with this legendary lens.

Cheers!

Abbazz

I will have to do that. Right now is not the time for me. Perhaps later in the week and I will start a thread on that lens.

By the way, my copy is almost faultless. the only signs of age are on the chrome caps.

Bob Rapp
Loyal Pentax ("Funtax") user since 1968

[Trawlerman]

What strikes me with these old lenses is that some of them are producing images that are as good as their modern counterparts if not quite a bit better, albeit without the modern niceties such as AF and auto aperture.

Myself I'm loving my old lenses. I have a bag full of old SMC-M lenses along with various others from the 70's and 80's. Most of them have cost very little but provide me with excellent service.

[barryr]

It's more recognizable now.......and works!