Vintage Pentax lenses brought back to life

Noel Cramer · 02-09-2015, 09:20 AM

The very recent announcement by P/R that a FF will be available within a year or so is good news. Especially so for owners of vintage Pentax glass.
I, however, lost hope and patience not long ago, and got a Sony Alpha 7 II. What made me do so was the internal shake reduction of the A7II body - similar to the Pentax solution. I also got a Novoflex adaptor that has the advantage of having a ring that allows getting a pre-set diaphragm before taking the photo. One is in the "vintage" situation of the older manual SLRs. However, focus peaking in the Sony viewfinder if quite efficient. Auto ISO and shutter speed is also an advantage in most cases. In my tests exposure has always been very good.
My first tests were with the following non AF lenses (centred on a dust bin at the end of the garden…):
SMC Pentax1:3.515mm
SMC Pentax-A*1:1.485mm
SMC Pentax-A*1:1.8135mm
SMC Pentax-A*1:2.8200mm ED
I also did one with the 200mm and the Rear Converter A2x – S. It was also hand-held and shows the very good quality of the shake reduction at 400mm FL.
Two more were made with the SMC Pentax DA 12-24 at 12mm. The circular field limit is well defined, but the use of the HD Pentax – DA 1.4x AW Rear Converter almost does away with the vignetting.
I am nevertheless looking forward to the future FF Pentax, which should be better adapted to these lenses.

Dlanor Sekao · 02-09-2015, 10:58 AM

Just watch the prices of "F" primes shoot through the roof when it does.....lol.

Not a Number · 02-09-2015, 12:50 PM

Vintage K and screw mount lenses were never really dead since the K mount was never orphaned. However I do anticipate the demand and prices for (ultra)wide and fast lenses going up

manntax · 02-09-2015, 12:53 PM

Are you going to post any images or...

Noel Cramer · 02-10-2015, 01:22 AM

Here are the photos. The ones marked D are with the 12-24 and with the rear converter.

manntax · 02-10-2015, 02:09 AM

Originally posted by Noel Cramer

Here are the photos. The ones marked D are with the 12-24 and with the rear converter.

Nice results - particularly good first 4 shots - even edges and corners appears to be sharp ! That 12-24 seems to be really good at wide end (shame it vignettes heavily) , and not really up to the task at the 24mm .
Thanks for sharing those !

**Kerrowdown** · 02-10-2015, 03:26 AM

Originally posted by Noel Cramer

My first tests were with the following non AF lenses (centred on a dust bin at the end of the garden…): SMC Pentax1:3.515mm SMC Pentax-A*1:1.485mm SMC Pentax-A*1:1.8135mm SMC Pentax-A*1:2.8200mm ED

I see that we share a common collection of lenses, the only difference is that mine have names...“Mistress" (SMC Pentax-A 15mm F3.5), “Sweetheart” (SMC Pentax-A* 85mm F1.4), "Lady Luck” (SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8) and the SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F2.8 ED is still unnamed at the moment.

As far as I'm concerned "bring it on" with the FF.

Noel Cramer · 02-10-2015, 03:02 PM

That means that you really are "fond" of those lenses. I originally bought them for astrophotography - while I was working as a professional european astronomer in Chile - but I did so as as an "amateur" since that was not considered to be up to the academic standards of the profession at that time. Those lenses were of optimal quality then. I took some beautiful photographs with them - If you consider the limitations of non-numeric capture to be relevant. I could post some of those photos taken 20 to 40 years back, if they may still be of some interest today...

manntax · 02-10-2015, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by Noel Cramer

I could post some of those photos taken 20 to 40 years back, if they may still be of some interest today...

Of course do - at least myself and loads of others here are suckers for all kind of photos taken on film

Noel Cramer · 02-11-2015, 09:04 AM - **2 Likes**

Here are some. In sequential order:
1. View over the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland from the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory. Thunderstorms over the Po plain light up the southern horizon. Pentax 15mm F3.5
2. Six hour exposure of the southern sky. The Earth has rotated...Atacama desert. 15mm F3.5
3. Really "vintage". SMC 28mm F3.5 screwmount - of the central Milky way (1976 with Anscochrome 500)
4. Comet Hale-Bopp. May 1997. Pentax 85mm F 1.4
5. Southern Cross and Eta Carinae region. Pentax 135mm F1.8
6. Comet Hale-Bopp. April 1997. 135mm F1.8
7. Alpha and Beta Centauri. Alpha is the next closest star. The closest - Proxima - is very faint and just visible on this image - if you know where to look
8. Eta Carinae nebule with "vintage" screwmount SMC Pentax 300mm F4.0

manntax · 02-11-2015, 09:07 AM

Originally posted by Noel Cramer

Here are some. In sequential order: 1. View over the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland from the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory. Thunderstorms over the Po plain light up the southern horizon. Pentax 15mm F3.5 2. Six hour exposure of the southern sky. The Earth has rotated...Atacama desert. 15mm F3.5 3. Really "vintage". SMC 28mm F3.5 screwmount - of the central Milky way (1976 with Anscochrome 500) 4. Comet Hale-Bopp. May 1997. Pentax 85mm F 1.4 5. Southern Cross and Eta Carinae region. Pentax 135mm F1.8 6. Comet Hale-Bopp. April 1997. 135mm F1.8 7. Alpha and Beta Centauri. Alpha is the next closest star. The closest - Proxima - is very faint and just visible on this image - if you know where to look 8. Eta Carinae nebule with "vintage" screwmount SMC Pentax 300mm F4.0

Stunning results on film - thanks for sharing !

02-09-2015, 09:20 AM	#1
Noel Cramer New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Geneva Posts: 21	Vintage Pentax lenses brought back to life The very recent announcement by P/R that a FF will be available within a year or so is good news. Especially so for owners of vintage Pentax glass. I, however, lost hope and patience not long ago, and got a Sony Alpha 7 II. What made me do so was the internal shake reduction of the A7II body - similar to the Pentax solution. I also got a Novoflex adaptor that has the advantage of having a ring that allows getting a pre-set diaphragm before taking the photo. One is in the "vintage" situation of the older manual SLRs. However, focus peaking in the Sony viewfinder if quite efficient. Auto ISO and shutter speed is also an advantage in most cases. In my tests exposure has always been very good. My first tests were with the following non AF lenses (centred on a dust bin at the end of the garden…): SMC Pentax1:3.515mm SMC Pentax-A1:1.485mm SMC Pentax-A1:1.8135mm SMC Pentax-A*1:2.8200mm ED I also did one with the 200mm and the Rear Converter A2x – S. It was also hand-held and shows the very good quality of the shake reduction at 400mm FL. Two more were made with the SMC Pentax DA 12-24 at 12mm. The circular field limit is well defined, but the use of the HD Pentax – DA 1.4x AW Rear Converter almost does away with the vignetting. I am nevertheless looking forward to the future FF Pentax, which should be better adapted to these lenses.

02-11-2015, 09:04 AM - 2 Likes	#10
Noel Cramer New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Geneva Posts: 21 Original Poster	Here are some. In sequential order: 1. View over the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland from the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory. Thunderstorms over the Po plain light up the southern horizon. Pentax 15mm F3.5 2. Six hour exposure of the southern sky. The Earth has rotated...Atacama desert. 15mm F3.5 3. Really "vintage". SMC 28mm F3.5 screwmount - of the central Milky way (1976 with Anscochrome 500) 4. Comet Hale-Bopp. May 1997. Pentax 85mm F 1.4 5. Southern Cross and Eta Carinae region. Pentax 135mm F1.8 6. Comet Hale-Bopp. April 1997. 135mm F1.8 7. Alpha and Beta Centauri. Alpha is the next closest star. The closest - Proxima - is very faint and just visible on this image - if you know where to look 8. Eta Carinae nebule with "vintage" screwmount SMC Pentax 300mm F4.0 Attached Images

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02-09-2015, 10:58 AM	#2
Dlanor Sekao Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 1,457	Just watch the prices of "F" primes shoot through the roof when it does.....lol.

02-09-2015, 12:50 PM	#3
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Vintage K and screw mount lenses were never really dead since the K mount was never orphaned. However I do anticipate the demand and prices for (ultra)wide and fast lenses going up

02-09-2015, 12:53 PM	#4
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Are you going to post any images or...

02-10-2015, 02:09 AM	#6
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by Noel Cramer Here are the photos. The ones marked D are with the 12-24 and with the rear converter. Nice results - particularly good first 4 shots - even edges and corners appears to be sharp ! That 12-24 seems to be really good at wide end (shame it vignettes heavily) , and not really up to the task at the 24mm . Thanks for sharing those !

02-10-2015, 03:26 AM	#7
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Originally posted by Noel Cramer My first tests were with the following non AF lenses (centred on a dust bin at the end of the garden…): SMC Pentax1:3.515mm SMC Pentax-A1:1.485mm SMC Pentax-A1:1.8135mm SMC Pentax-A1:2.8200mm ED I see that we share a common collection of lenses, the only difference is that mine have names...“Mistress" (SMC Pentax-A 15mm F3.5), “Sweetheart” (SMC Pentax-A 85mm F1.4), "Lady Luck” (SMC Pentax-A* 135mm F1.8) and the SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F2.8 ED is still unnamed at the moment. As far as I'm concerned "bring it on" with the FF.

02-10-2015, 03:02 PM	#8
Noel Cramer New Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Geneva Posts: 21 Original Poster	That means that you really are "fond" of those lenses. I originally bought them for astrophotography - while I was working as a professional european astronomer in Chile - but I did so as as an "amateur" since that was not considered to be up to the academic standards of the profession at that time. Those lenses were of optimal quality then. I took some beautiful photographs with them - If you consider the limitations of non-numeric capture to be relevant. I could post some of those photos taken 20 to 40 years back, if they may still be of some interest today...

02-10-2015, 04:04 PM	#9
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by Noel Cramer I could post some of those photos taken 20 to 40 years back, if they may still be of some interest today... Of course do - at least myself and loads of others here are suckers for all kind of photos taken on film

02-11-2015, 09:07 AM	#11
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Originally posted by Noel Cramer Here are some. In sequential order: 1. View over the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland from the Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory. Thunderstorms over the Po plain light up the southern horizon. Pentax 15mm F3.5 2. Six hour exposure of the southern sky. The Earth has rotated...Atacama desert. 15mm F3.5 3. Really "vintage". SMC 28mm F3.5 screwmount - of the central Milky way (1976 with Anscochrome 500) 4. Comet Hale-Bopp. May 1997. Pentax 85mm F 1.4 5. Southern Cross and Eta Carinae region. Pentax 135mm F1.8 6. Comet Hale-Bopp. April 1997. 135mm F1.8 7. Alpha and Beta Centauri. Alpha is the next closest star. The closest - Proxima - is very faint and just visible on this image - if you know where to look 8. Eta Carinae nebule with "vintage" screwmount SMC Pentax 300mm F4.0 Stunning results on film - thanks for sharing !