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Piotrek K · 11-22-2019, 03:42 AM

Originally posted by Serkevan

I think the best quality of the M 135/3.5 is that it's a full frame 135mm that happens to be a bit faster than the slew of slower 70-200ish zooms, while weighing a lot less than the D FA* 70-200/2.8 (or any other such zoom, let's be honest). A pocket long portrait/tele lens is actually quite practical, I just toss it in the bag alongside the 28-105 if I don't want to carry "anything". Now if I just pony up for a 20/4 on the other side...

...the fringing in out of focus areas from M135/3.5 is sometimes to big to my taste, but sometimes it helps just adjusting WB carefully. Otherwise, no complaints at all.

**Serkevan** · 11-22-2019, 03:55 AM

Originally posted by Piotrek K

...the fringing in out of focus areas from M135/3.5 is sometimes to big to my taste, but sometimes it helps just adjusting WB carefully. Otherwise, no complaints at all.

That's very true. Luckily, most of the CA gets wiped out in one click from Lightroom, and spherochromatism... well it can be a problem sometimes, particularly wide open, but avoiding harsh light helps a lot as well, I've found.

**simple1** · 11-22-2019, 05:05 AM

Depends on the day for me.

I do tend to mostly use the Super Tak 50/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Macro Tak 50/4 and Vivitar 100/2.8 Macro. The Helios 44-2 58/2 is up there also.

**Cerebum** · 11-23-2019, 01:09 AM - **1 Like**

I tend to find if I single in with something it hits the list. This month I am using the aforementioned pentax-m 135mm f3.5 on apsc and it is now right up there, it was nowhere near before. Next month its the alloy preset Zeiss tessar. I have used it, but not much. Should be fun

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-24-2019, 06:54 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by bikehead90

It’s a very simple question: what (Pentax) manual focus lenses would you never want to be without? Part of this is to get some ideas of lenses to look out for, and also I’m simply curious.

Allow me to start:

SMC Super Takumar 200mm/3.5. Although I don’t use this lens on the reg, nor is it always in my bag, but the images it produces have a je ne sais quoi about them. The bokeh is fantastic, the subject is always sharp I would never part with my 200.

I have to admit I am also partial to this lens. Much better than tak through K 200/4 which suffer more from ca than this beauty, but from a use basis my K300/4. Although I cheat as it usually is attached to the 1.7x AF adaptor, for a reasonably fast very light 500mm combo.

kevinWE · 11-24-2019, 08:23 AM

I'm a fan of my Pentax-M 50mm 1.7. I've had for many years and I have no plans on letting it go.

dcpropilot · 11-25-2019, 08:03 PM

My favorite manual focus is the Samyang 135 2.0

Sandy Hancock · 11-25-2019, 08:53 PM - **2 Likes**

I must confess to being extremely happy with my newly acquired K28/2.0

bikehead90 · 11-26-2019, 09:54 AM

I’ve recently given my M 28mm/2.8 a second thought and I feel bad neglecting it for so long. Hasn’t replaced my M 50mm/1.4 on my Me Super, but is definitely seeing more use than before.

**clickclick** · 11-30-2019, 08:16 PM

Been spending more time shooting an A 50/1.2 on my K-1 II. Nice lens.

Wasp · 12-01-2019, 04:36 AM

Another one taken with my Samyang 85mm f/1.4.

ChristianRock · 12-05-2019, 01:11 PM - **2 Likes**

I find that these lenses with older coatings improve a whole lot wide open with a good hood... being that I shoot on APS-C, I can get hoods that are quite big, so I recently bought a few of those 5 dollar metal hoods they have on Amazon and Ebay. It improves the sharpness and contrast wide open quite noticeably.

Pictured here are my K 50 1.2 on the K-50, and the M 100 2.8 and K 55 f2 alongside with it. I have them for my Rikenon P 50 1.4 and Pentax-M 50 1.4 as well. If you have a K-1, of course you probably will need to buy a smaller hood about half the size (which is what I use on the Rikenon 50 1.4 and it still works quite well).

**Cerebum** · 12-07-2019, 10:17 AM - **1 Like**

I am absolutely blown away with my 1958 model CZJ Tessar f2.8. Its very labour intensive but the IQ is astonishing

Wasp · 12-07-2019, 01:40 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ChristianRock

I find that these lenses with older coatings improve a whole lot wide open with a good hood... being that I shoot on APS-C, I can get hoods that are quite big, so I recently bought a few of those 5 dollar metal hoods they have on Amazon and Ebay. It improves the sharpness and contrast wide open quite noticeably.

Pictured here are my K 50 1.2 on the K-50, and the M 100 2.8 and K 55 f2 alongside with it. I have them for my Rikenon P 50 1.4 and Pentax-M 50 1.4 as well. If you have a K-1, of course you probably will need to buy a smaller hood about half the size (which is what I use on the Rikenon 50 1.4 and it still works quite well).

The M 100mm f/2.8 is a wonderful, underrated lens. Here is one I made with mine:

BillO · 12-10-2019, 07:45 PM

The very simple answer - my A* 200/4 macro.

11-24-2019, 06:54 AM - 1 Like	#140
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,892	Originally posted by bikehead90 It’s a very simple question: what (Pentax) manual focus lenses would you never want to be without? Part of this is to get some ideas of lenses to look out for, and also I’m simply curious. Allow me to start: SMC Super Takumar 200mm/3.5. Although I don’t use this lens on the reg, nor is it always in my bag, but the images it produces have a je ne sais quoi about them. The bokeh is fantastic, the subject is always sharp I would never part with my 200. I have to admit I am also partial to this lens. Much better than tak through K 200/4 which suffer more from ca than this beauty, but from a use basis my K300/4. Although I cheat as it usually is attached to the 1.7x AF adaptor, for a reasonably fast very light 500mm combo. Last edited by Lowell Goudge; 11-24-2019 at 09:55 AM.

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11-22-2019, 03:42 AM	#136
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	Originally posted by Serkevan I think the best quality of the M 135/3.5 is that it's a full frame 135mm that happens to be a bit faster than the slew of slower 70-200ish zooms, while weighing a lot less than the D FA* 70-200/2.8 (or any other such zoom, let's be honest). A pocket long portrait/tele lens is actually quite practical, I just toss it in the bag alongside the 28-105 if I don't want to carry "anything". Now if I just pony up for a 20/4 on the other side... ...the fringing in out of focus areas from M135/3.5 is sometimes to big to my taste, but sometimes it helps just adjusting WB carefully. Otherwise, no complaints at all.

11-22-2019, 03:55 AM	#137
Serkevan Site Supporter Join Date: May 2019 Photos: Albums Posts: 5,976	Originally posted by Piotrek K ...the fringing in out of focus areas from M135/3.5 is sometimes to big to my taste, but sometimes it helps just adjusting WB carefully. Otherwise, no complaints at all. That's very true. Luckily, most of the CA gets wiped out in one click from Lightroom, and spherochromatism... well it can be a problem sometimes, particularly wide open, but avoiding harsh light helps a lot as well, I've found.

11-22-2019, 05:05 AM	#138
simple1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: In the Florida swamps Posts: 773	Depends on the day for me. I do tend to mostly use the Super Tak 50/1.4, Mamiya 55/1.4, Macro Tak 50/4 and Vivitar 100/2.8 Macro. The Helios 44-2 58/2 is up there also.

11-23-2019, 01:09 AM - 1 Like	#139
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,829	I tend to find if I single in with something it hits the list. This month I am using the aforementioned pentax-m 135mm f3.5 on apsc and it is now right up there, it was nowhere near before. Next month its the alloy preset Zeiss tessar. I have used it, but not much. Should be fun

11-24-2019, 08:23 AM	#141
kevinWE Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 497	I'm a fan of my Pentax-M 50mm 1.7. I've had for many years and I have no plans on letting it go.

11-25-2019, 08:03 PM	#142
dcpropilot Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Vermont Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 941	My favorite manual focus is the Samyang 135 2.0

11-25-2019, 08:53 PM - 2 Likes	#143
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,276	I must confess to being extremely happy with my newly acquired K28/2.0

11-26-2019, 09:54 AM	#144
bikehead90 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Photos: Gallery Posts: 193 Original Poster	I’ve recently given my M 28mm/2.8 a second thought and I feel bad neglecting it for so long. Hasn’t replaced my M 50mm/1.4 on my Me Super, but is definitely seeing more use than before.

11-30-2019, 08:16 PM	#145
clickclick Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2016 Location: East Coast Posts: 2,904	Been spending more time shooting an A 50/1.2 on my K-1 II. Nice lens.

12-01-2019, 04:36 AM	#146
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,663	Another one taken with my Samyang 85mm f/1.4.

12-05-2019, 01:11 PM - 2 Likes	#147
ChristianRock Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: People's Republic of America Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,912	I find that these lenses with older coatings improve a whole lot wide open with a good hood... being that I shoot on APS-C, I can get hoods that are quite big, so I recently bought a few of those 5 dollar metal hoods they have on Amazon and Ebay. It improves the sharpness and contrast wide open quite noticeably. Pictured here are my K 50 1.2 on the K-50, and the M 100 2.8 and K 55 f2 alongside with it. I have them for my Rikenon P 50 1.4 and Pentax-M 50 1.4 as well. If you have a K-1, of course you probably will need to buy a smaller hood about half the size (which is what I use on the Rikenon 50 1.4 and it still works quite well).

12-07-2019, 10:17 AM - 1 Like	#148
Cerebum Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Lancaster Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,829	I am absolutely blown away with my 1958 model CZJ Tessar f2.8. Its very labour intensive but the IQ is astonishing

12-07-2019, 01:40 PM - 1 Like	#149
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,663	Originally posted by ChristianRock I find that these lenses with older coatings improve a whole lot wide open with a good hood... being that I shoot on APS-C, I can get hoods that are quite big, so I recently bought a few of those 5 dollar metal hoods they have on Amazon and Ebay. It improves the sharpness and contrast wide open quite noticeably. Pictured here are my K 50 1.2 on the K-50, and the M 100 2.8 and K 55 f2 alongside with it. I have them for my Rikenon P 50 1.4 and Pentax-M 50 1.4 as well. If you have a K-1, of course you probably will need to buy a smaller hood about half the size (which is what I use on the Rikenon 50 1.4 and it still works quite well). The M 100mm f/2.8 is a wonderful, underrated lens. Here is one I made with mine:

12-10-2019, 07:45 PM	#150
BillO Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ontario Photos: Albums Posts: 89	The very simple answer - my A* 200/4 macro.

Opinion time: what are your favorite manual lenses?

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