[ChristianRock]

K85 1.8 and K5II

Old Lady, by an old Lady

by Noelpolar, on Flickr

That is a fantastic picture. I can see why this lens is so sought after.

[ChristianRock]

K 55 f2, all wide open (x posted)

[womble]

Cross-posted from the Single in April thread.

K-3, K30/2.8.


April 22nd: study in red par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity

Best wishes, Kris.

[Jacquot]

Cross-posted from the Single in April thread.

K-3, K30/2.8.


April 22nd: study in red par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity

Best wishes, Kris.

Great photograph, and strange sign for an American, at least. I'm guessing the red circle means NO. I really like the composition, color and textures. Lots going on here, really lovely.

[ChristianRock]

Great photograph, and strange sign for an American, at least. I'm guessing the red circle means NO. I really like the composition, color and textures. Lots going on here, really lovely.

Actually the circle with no slash across means permitted. It's the same in Brazil, where I'm from.

Also, great picture Love those 30 2.8 pictures I've seen.

[womble]

April 26th: Made in England par Kris Lockyear, on ipernity

K-3, K30/2.8. Cross-posted with the "Single in..." thread.

K.

[noelpolar]

K85 1.8


by Noelpolar, on Flickr

[Bunch]

The K55 1.8 - wide open on a K-3
1/320
100 iso

[jbrooksII]

Sunset at Tagaytay City, Philippines

[Pixel-8]

Nice shots here! Especially like the look of the K30 and K35/2. Has anyone compared the two? I remember seeing some test results that showed the 30/2.8 to be sharper corner to corner, from around f4, but the K35/2 has a unique character that I don't see in modern lenses like the plastic fantastic 35/2.4. Also, w.r.t. color rendition, I find that the K30/2.8 shots are very color neutral, whereas the K35/2 shots that I have seen appear to be somewhat warm.

Does anyone know it the K35/2 turns yellow over time like the smc and non-smc takumar 35/2??

I ask because both lenses are on my list to find someday and I don't think I can afford both.

[CreationBear]

Pixel-8-- Slightly off-topic, but I was wondering if you've tried running a CPL on your K20/4? (I had a sudden spasm of LBA when I saw KEH had an Excellent+ copy this weekend and have one headed my way.) I'm going to try a B+H thin 58mm on it to see if it vignettes--hopefully it will serve if I'm not trying to frame a big chunk of sky.


Otherwise, back to the K30 2.8, Adrian ("Dr Orloff") does great work with his copy--worth hunting down threads here at PF and on Flickr.

[Pixel-8]

CreationBear - I haven't tried a CPL filter, but have used a regular thickness UV filter without noticeable vignetting on the K20/4. Mind you that was on the Pentax K7 and K5 and these are both crop sensor cameras. I don't think it will be a problem with a thin 58mm CPL especially stopped down to 5.6 and smaller apertures unless you are expecting to use it on a full frame sensor camera. You will love the K20/4. It got a so-so rap in the film days but I think that might have been a few bad samples and also before field curvature correction in digital. I find it is plenty sharp. I will take a look for Adrian's shots using the K30.

I just looked again at the older Y. Takinami lens tests, and for sure the K30/2.8 did well, especially in the center from wide open (f2.8) and out to the corners stopped down a tad.

The other current favorite of mine in the K series besides the 20/4 is the lowly K35/3.5. Get a good copy of that lens and shoot it at f5.6 (street) or f8-11 (landscapes) and I think the results compare to any lens out there. At f5.6 it did better than the K30/2.8 in Y. Takinami's tests. Max performance overall is f5.6 - rather than f8 for most other K lenses which is why I consider it a sleeper in the K series.

These K lenses are hard to find. Only produced for a few years. I love the look they produce on the K series pentax digital bodies.

I also have a K50/4 macro - sweet lens and built like a tank. A great street kit for me is K20/4, K35/3.5 and K50/4 macro.

[CreationBear]

built like a tank

Thanks for the detailed reply! Right now, I have the K28/3.5, K55/1.8, and K135/2.5 so I really appreciate the build qualities of those older lenses. About the only downside this legacy glass I've found is that the K28/3.5 provides inconsistent exposures at different apertures, but the histogram usually keeps you on track.


At any rate, I'll look forward to more of your lens samples--I think the 35/3.5 is the only one I might intentionally pass on, since it's pretty close to the focal lengths I have, but you never know when it comes to LBA.

[Pixel-8]

Creation - check some of my earlier posts including both photos earlier in this forum and under "sold" items and you will see some photos from the K35/3.5 that may change your mind. Also some from the K20/4 (not selling it, ever).

[CreationBear]

that may change your mind

Ha, no doubt...I keep wavering between it and the FA43 to put fill the (largely imaginary) gap in my bag. Look forward to seeing more shots from all of your K's though.