[Marcus Rowland]

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Got one of these on order - paid £12.99 including P&P which I think is fair. Keeping my fingers crossed it's OK, since you can adapt PB gear to a LOT of cameras. Although on reading this through I've just realised that the lens will only autofocus when it's on a Praktica body.

Pentacon Prakticar AF 55-200mm MC Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Praktica B BC BM BX & Jenaflex SLRs

And since the lockdown has been eased some charity shops are open again and I got one of these for £2 this afternoon.

Serenity Inara's Shuttle ornament limited 5000 pieces Firefly Dark Horse Deluxe | eBay

If I can sell it at a decent profit I'll be giving a portion to the charity.

[D1N0]

I thought this was a 1:1 macro lens?

Maybe 1:3 refers to max aperture, but the macro ratio is 1:1? That's what I infer from the pic

Yes. It is also on the focus ring second pic. The only reason this lens is F3 is apparently that Vivitar had dibs and didn't want others to have to same speed lens (in name only though) A later version of the Panagor is also marked F2.8 The true F value is probably somewhere between 2.8 and 3.0. I copied a slide with it and it seems pretty much 1:1 (slide is balancing i a lens wrench so a bit crooked )

[pepperberry farm]

Yes. It is also on the focus ring second pic. The only reason this lens is F3 is apparently that Vivitar had dibs and didn't want others to have to same speed lens (in name only though) A later version of the Panagor is also marked F2.8 The true F value is probably somewhere between 2.8 and 3.0. I copied a slide with it and it seems pretty much 1:1 (slide is balancing i a lens wrench so a bit crooked )

ah - the aperture is an f3; now I understand...

[JimJohnson]

Several years ago I acquired a Panagor macro converter lens (linked to PF review page) with a K-mount (M, not KA). It is meant to pair with a 50mm lens (works with other focal lengths but with a loss of IQ). The adapter is scaled for variable ratios. The IQ is actually as good or better than close-up filters and a lot more convenient.

[D1N0]

Tele-Takumar 300mm 1:6.3 arrived today. It was a bit hazy so I cleaned the front element after some trouble getting the name ring out. Threads of the ring were damaged, so I made some notches to get it back in, bit I managed to get it completely stuck so now the front element is loose and I can't attach a hood which it most definitely needs. There also is some dirt in it, but I don't think I can reach the inner elements without a complete disassembly.



name ring looked pristine before I had a go it it....




so bummer...

---------- Post added 17-04-21 at 20:28 ----------

Several years ago I acquired a Panagor macro converter lens (linked to PF review page) with a K-mount (M, not KA). It is meant to pair with a 50mm lens (works with other focal lengths but with a loss of IQ). The adapter is scaled for variable ratios. The IQ is actually as good or better than close-up filters and a lot more convenient.

I know about those. I have a Vivitar version. (Made by Kino/Kiron I think)

[boriscleto]

[Marcus Rowland]

Got one of these on order - paid £12.99 including P&P which I think is fair. Keeping my fingers crossed it's OK, since you can adapt PB gear to a LOT of cameras. Although on reading this through I've just realised that the lens will only autofocus when it's on a Praktica body.

Pentacon Prakticar AF 55-200mm MC Zoom Lens with Auto Focus for Praktica B BC BM BX & Jenaflex SLRs

I think I've got this one figured out. PB cameras weren't designed for autofocus, but did have electrical open-aperture metering with three electrical contacts on the lens. The information I have is that the lens only autofocuses when the camera shutter button is pressed for metering. Praktica lenses use a simple bridge-type circuit for open aperture metering, and there is always about 1.9v between the outer two pins when the shutter button is being pressed for metering, no voltage at other times. My guess is that the voltage powers a relay which switches on autofocus in the lens (which contains several batteries); firing the shutter or releasing the button drops the voltage to zero, which would be consistent with that. For various reasons I'm going to be testing this one on a Sony NEX using a 3D printed adapter someone is making for me, which means that there will be room to insert contacts into the lens mount. My feeling is that any voltage in this general range will trigger the autofocus; 1.5v isn't far off that so a button cell, push button and resistor may be all I need to make it start autofocusing. I'll report my progress (or lack of it) when I have more news.

[degral]

Guess my wife is right. I've gone nuts but at $25, I could not resist getting yet another Roffe ski jacket.

[JimJohnson]

No photos but have or will shortly have a well rounded K-1 kit, all used.
K-1 body
Pentax FA 20-35
Pentax DFA 28-105 (primary workhorse)
Sigma AF 70-300mm APO DG Macro

My K-3 kit and Super Program kit have several lenses and accessories fully compatible with the K-1 in full frame mode. I should be good to go.

[bmgroves]

I just bought my first light kit (nothing ostentatious, just a couple of cheaper LED panels from Amazon). I also got a ring light and have been having a good time using that in different ways.

[WPRESTO]

Yes. It is also on the focus ring second pic. The only reason this lens is F3 is apparently that Vivitar had dibs and didn't want others to have to same speed lens (in name only though) A later version of the Panagor is also marked F2.8 The true F value is probably somewhere between 2.8 and 3.0. I copied a slide with it and it seems pretty much 1:1 (slide is balancing i a lens wrench so a bit crooked )

Vivitar also had some less common f-stop values for their Series 1, Lenses = 135mm f2.3 and 200mm f3.0. On the other hand, none of us think it unusual to have a normal lens with a 'tweeny f-stop, such as 50~58mm f1.9, or f1.8, or f1.7, or f1.5, or f1.2 or f1.1, or f0.95 - but I cannot remember a 50~58mm f1.6*, although there probably was one*.

*I thought f1.6 seemed familiar The current Lensbaby 56mm is f1.6. So for normal focal length prime lens there are or have been some with maximum apertures of: f0.95, f1.0, f1.1, f1.2, f1.4, f1.5, f1.6, f1.7, f1.8, f1.9, f2.0, f2.2, f2,4, f2.8, f3.5 and f4.0 (a 50mm macro). Did I miss any?

[AgentL]

FedEx should deliver my package with two Olympus OM-1's today. Hoping they're in good condition!

[disconnekt]

I had got a Pentax FA 50mm Macro from KEH ended up having an issue with the aparture ring (it went down only to 3.5 on the display, and only went to 2.8 when it was set to the "A" setting), so I sent it back to get a refund. I was looking to get a used DFA version, but they were either $10 bucks cheaper than a brand new one or more expensive (like $100 bucks more and up). Found one that was ~$260 but was a bit too much for me.

Ended up getting a 'Excellent condition' Sigma EX DG 50mm f2.8 Macro from UsedPhotoPro for $139

[robbiec]

I lost a 77mm lens cap for my 16-50 so I bundled that in with my K-3iii order plus a O-ME53 to turn it into a MF monster.

[Mbaez]

An exciting prime is coming my way. My FF kit is almost complete. I'll post a photo when it arrives.