[SEWIS]

I am new to both this forum and DSLR photography. However I am not new to photography or Pentax. My first Pentax was the spotmatic which I still have as well as quite a few lenses and other equipment. I upgraded to a SF1 and have a number of lenses for that as well. I very much enjoyed that camera but was lured away to digital point and shoots for ease and convenience. I just received my K-5 with kit lens a few days ago and have spent quite a bit of time with the owners manual. My head hurts, but has not exploded yet. I will have to reengage with real photography.

My first question is this, can I successfully use some of my Pentax SMC F lenses with my K-5? They range from a 50mm f1.4 to several zooms. I know that they will fit but will they produce good results?

Has any one ever used the older spotmatic lenses with an adaptor on the DSLRS? I have a number of good lenses for that old friend.

Perhaps there is a thread covering this topic to which someone can direct me.

Thanks for your help, I am looking forward to getting back into the type of photography as a thinking hobbyist rather than just a point and shooter. I am not disparaging point and shoot, I have had some very good results with my Sony cameras.

Doug

[jstevewhite]

Welcome, SEWIS. I can answer with an unqualified YES. You can use all of those lenses, and with mostly excellent results. I've used screw mount lenses with excellent results - the sole caveat being you have to use them stopped down. Anything bayonet mount works and meters, although pre A series lenses require you to use Manual and the green button, and they stop down to meter. In general, if it was a good lens for film, it will be at least decent for digital, with a few exceptions. Your F lenses should work very well.

[Deimos]

I just ordered an F28 for my K-r, cant wait!

Enjoy

[Rupert]

Work great on my K5! Even the metering with the Green button is more accurate than with my K20D. I usually have to adjust it a little, but it gets me very close with the first exposure.
Regards!

[acrollet]

The F lenses work wonderfully on digital bodies, especially the primes - I have a 50mm f1.7 and 135mm, and love them both... See the F club for many wonderful examples: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/39866-f-club.html

[yeatzee]

I just ordered an F28 for my K-r, cant wait!

Enjoy

I absolutely adore that lens

my F 135mm and F 28mm are two lenses I'd have an extremely hard time letting go.

Some of my F 135mm shots on flickr

Some of my F 28mm shots on flickr

[Bart]

...Has any one ever used the older spotmatic lenses with an adaptor on the DSLRS? I have a number of good lenses for that old friend.

Perhaps there is a thread covering this topic to which someone can direct me.

Here you go: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/lens-clubs/31601-takumar-club.html

(501 pages)

my first camera was a SP500

[henryk]

The sharpest lens I own is a F* 300mm f4.5. The results with it mated to a K-5 are breathtakingly sharp and vivid.

[Deimos]

I absolutely adore that lens

my F 135mm and F 28mm are two lenses I'd have an extremely hard time letting go.

Some of my F 135mm shots on flickr

Some of my F 28mm shots on flickr

Just got my F28, the rendering is sooo nice. Ive never used a 31 ltd but it seems to have some similar qualities and the colours are amazing!

[Vinny4k5]

I have an SMC F 28-80 lens that I plan to use on the K5. I am encouraged by the responses here. Is that the equivalent of 18-55 approximately? Thanks.

[pcarfan]

F 50/1.4 would be a SUPERB lens, there are so many other top notch ones including the 50/1.7, 135/2.8, F300/4.5 and also the 28/2.8 is pretty good.

So, what other F lenses do you have?

[rvannatta]

F 50/1.4 would be a SUPERB lens, there are so many other top notch ones including the 50/1.7, 135/2.8, F300/4.5 and also the 28/2.8 is pretty good.

So, what other F lenses do you have?

I use an F 50mm macro and it's happy. In many instances the F and FA lenses
are optically identical with the difference being mostly cosmetic-----the F lenses have garish Red orange lettering on them....

[conradj]

I have an SMC F 28-80 lens that I plan to use on the K5. I am encouraged by the responses here. Is that the equivalent of 18-55 approximately? Thanks.

On an APS-C sensor camera it has the equiv. angle of view of a 42-120mm lens on a 35mm film camera.

i use the SMC-F 28-80, it's quite a nice lens: quite a lot of barrel distortion on the wide end, plus mine has a lot of CA and the macro mode is poor (low contrast and not the greatest rez), but otherwise it's nice. Heavy and solid too.

[robtcorl]

Welcome to the forum Doug!

Our stories sound similar.
I moved from the K1000, Super Program, to the SF1, then to point and shoot digitals.
Last year to a used K10D, now to the K5.

I think your question has been well answered by others, so I'll just say Have Fun!

[Michaelina2]

I am new to both this forum and DSLR photography.

Has any one ever used the older spotmatic lenses with an adapter on the DSLRS? I have a number of good lenses for that old friend.

Be sure to get the M42 adapter produced by Pentax. Some third party adapters do not allow you to mount the lens flush with the camera face which prevents you from infinity focus. Plus, be sure to 'permit' the use of lenses with aperture rings (Manual, pp 339).

Enjoy...