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Originally posted by MSM Jay, Great thread. I am new to Pentax. Is there a thread or primer on the older manual focus lenses. I am confused with the nomenclature or SMC M, Takumars, Super Takumars. Which ones need a special adapter to mount (to a K10D) to my camera? Are the adapters hard to find? I went to KEH and there were several variants of the say 50 mm/1.4. I would love to try an older manual prime say 135, 200, a fast 50 and a 28 mm. Anyone have any recommendations? You have to type slow, because I am so dense.
I love everyone's posted pics!!
Many thanks!
Mark, what others have said - no need for an adapter unless you want to use
an M42 mount (screw mount) lens, and then it's best to get a genuine Pentax
adapter.
The manual focus M42 lenses including the Super Takumars (and Super
Multicoated Takumars, etc) came first, then the K's, then the M's, then the
A's (& A*'s), then the autofocus F's (& F*'s), FA's (FA *'s) , FA J's, DA's, and
then the DA *'s.
There are 'limited' series lenses in both the the FA and DA lines - super high
optical and build quality. The "*'s" also denote top quality and usually technical
innovation.
'SMC' or Super MultiCoating started appearing with the "M" line, although
Pentax had been using an unbranded version of it before then. SMC cuts down
on glare and can greatly increase contrast in certain situations. Since Pentax
came out with it, other manufacturers have introduced their own
multicoating formula, but in the 70's, Pentax alone had that.
Everything except the M42's are considered 'K-mount'.
Have fun!
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