[Don Promillo]

Sigma 135 F/2.8 for my real camera, aka the Pentax with a film inside.

Cheap as Beans, sharp as Chili *

* Level of sharpness may depend on local cuisine.

[dadipentak]

the Pentax with a film inside.

Yeah, I heard about those--dug up from the ruins of Pompeii? ;~)

[wtlwdwgn]

I have a ton of slides dating from 1965 so I decided to get a slide scanner. I've tried using my flatbed scanner but it's slow and awkward to use. So I went on eekBay and found this (cough) Nikon Coolscan IV. Instead of going through the rigmarole of old software I got a copy of VueScan Pro to use. It isn't as fast as the latest scanners (USB 1.1) but it works just fine. With VueScan I can output jpeg, tiff, or dng files.

My setup.


Scan of my 1964 Spitfire taken in 1965 with a Pentax SV and Ektachrome. A little PP in LR CC.

[jeallen01]

HiFi speakers:
A Tannoy DC6LCR Signature as the new Centre for my D6T's floorstanders - Great!

[y0chang]

KEH had a pentax flash sale and a EX DA 15mm...somehow my mind was a blank and it showed up 3 days later.

[hjoseph7]

I recently purchased the infamous Takumar 50mm f1.4(8 element) lens. A few months earlier I had purchased the 50mm f1.4 (7 element), but I was still very curious about all the fuss that was being said about the 8 element version.


I waited for the finances to get a little better, then sprung for one once an 8 element became available on eBay. Unfortunately after a few weeks of trials, I have yet to see any difference between the 7 element and the 8 element version? As a matter of fact my 7 element is slightly sharper wide open and the focusing ring is smoother than on my 8 element, but this might have more to do with a defect/damage with my 8 element copy.


I also managed to find a Takumar 135mm f2.5(6 element) in practically mint condition at a very decent price. The 6 element is supposed to be the sharper of the series for this focal length and it does not disappoint. I don't think the seller knew what he had, because if he did, he would have sold it at a much higher price.


A few months earlier, I had purchased the 135mm f2.5(Bayonet mount) which was highly disappointing. In any case, I never thought I would be going back to Manual lenses, but these lenses and the Focus Confirmation light in my camera makes it a breeze.

[monochrome]

As I suspected might happen, some of the harder-to-find legacy FF lenses are coming off the shelves at (lower) prices not seen for several years.

K50/1.2. Don't need it and won't use it much, but I have that extra KX which needs a body cap.
[EDIT:] In nearly Like New condition - perfect glass, shiny black paint, not a trace of brassing on high edges, shiny rubber. You'd think this had say unused in a camera bag for 35 years or something. Just a touch tight on the focusing helicoid as if the grease has thickened over time, and even that isn't offensive. I wouldn't call it an 'Eric Offense'.

I suppose a round of family portraits is in order but for today I've promised to complete a household task.

---

Last edited by monochrome; 07-20-2015 at 03:55 PM.

[magkelly]

Chinon CM-3, which is not quite as nifty as my Gaffer, in that it has no mirror lock up, but I am not complaining because it looks a lot like the Gaffer, almost like a Chinon Memotron, and I don't use mirror lock up much anyway. It has the same funky shutter button which I just totally dig a lot. I got the CM-3, a 55 F1.7, a 28mm Sun Wide Auto, a 2x Tele-Converter, and what I believe is a set of M42 macro rings or something similar. All clean, I emailed and specifically asked them to check carefully for fungus before I even bid. They obligingly did and pronounced the kit very clean. I then won it for $18.88 plus a few $$$ to ship. Not too shabby. I'm really hoping it still works, but even if it doesn't I got my $$$ worth otherwise. My Gaf Memotron is one of my favorite M42 bodies. It's built like a tank and it's a lot of fun to use. I take it a long a lot as a backup to my SPII's when I am shooting film.

[ChristianRock]

I was set on buying a DA 50 1.8 because who can argue with the current prices?

But the DA 50 also seems to have brought down the prices on the F 50 1.7, which sells for almost the same now. So after agonizing for a few days over those two lenses, I ended up getting a used F 50 1.7 from Adorama (and a 77mm circular polarizer to boot, for my 19-35 and maybe in the future for a Sigma 17-50 which is in my want list). It's all John Flores' fault, his reviews of both lenses on Amazon made up my mind.

[Lukinosity]

It's all John Flores' fault, his reviews of both lenses on Amazon made up my mind.

Just blame Flores for everything. It seems to work for me.

[gaweidert]

My latest acquisition didn't acquisitionate. I had ordered an Induro gimbal tripod head. They were on back order, but went to discontinued. So now I am looking at a Nest NT530-H gimbal head, Just can't justify a Katana or Wimberley at this time.

[wtlwdwgn]

I have the Nest gimbal head. I think you'll like it especially for heavy lenses.

[ivanvernon]

Just received Pentax-A 135mm f 2.8, paid $120.00. It has a self-storing hood and is sturdily built. I am experiencing lots of sharpness and excellent color rendering. Sorry no pix as computer is acting up. I expect to use this lens a lot for flowers and maybe portraiture.

[Kameko]

I finally got a second body, so happy to have a K5 again The grip feel fantastic in my tiny hands. I also sprung for a battery grip and new lens to cover the gap between my 77 and 400.

[Jonathan Mac]

Yesterday, after years of consideration, I finally picked up a small mirrorless camera to use with my old manual lenses. The NEX cameras lead the pack during most of that time but in the last couple of years it's become clear that Fuji's X system is the THE mirrorless system for photographers. So, I got a very lightly used X-M1 for a decent price and have already had a play using an old Minolta 50mm f/1.7.