New/Old Pentax User from Canada

Frank29 · 01-14-2019, 11:17 AM

Hi, I just purchased a white K-S2 DSLR. I used to do film photography with an old K-1000 that I bought nearly 40 years ago. Did some of my own darkroom stuff, but eventually switched to digital, though all I had were a series of ever improving point and shoots. My last one was a fuji 5 megapixel camera. The new DSLR is 1000 times better than that camera though. Just getting used to it, and love this forum already!

Docrwm · 01-14-2019, 11:32 AM

Welcome Aboard. Are you using any old lenses from your K1000 days?

**Mikesul** · 01-14-2019, 01:20 PM

Welcome to the forum, Frank. Lots of friendly help to be found here.

**PJ1** · 01-14-2019, 01:31 PM

Welcome to the Forums. The K-S2 is a great start point but once you start experimenting with old lenses on it the fun will really begin.

**Des** · 01-14-2019, 04:16 PM

Welcome Frank. I've got a white K-S2 as well. It's a fun camera to use and people tend to find the white body less intimidating. Little do they know that it's a seriously capable camera! Enjoy the journey.

**Asgardian** · 01-14-2019, 09:40 PM

Welcome Frank. I recently joined this group myself and have a similar background, and I am on the west coast of Canada. IF you still have them I think you will find shooting manual lenses on the K-S2 very rewarding - hoping to see some of your shots soon!

Frank29 · 01-16-2019, 08:48 AM

Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp.

Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens?

Frank

Docrwm · 01-16-2019, 10:29 AM

Originally posted by Frank29

Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp.

Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens?

Frank

Portrait lens length was traditionally 70-150. I love my 85/1.4 and the runner up is my DA70 LTD. The 85 is manual focus, which is fine for portraits. The DA70Ltd is AF and better for portrait style candids.

Joule1991 · 01-16-2019, 10:43 AM

Welcome!

I also use a K-S2, though mine is the desert beige version

. It's a really nice camera with functions that I continue to discover.

Originally posted by Frank29

Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens?

On an APS-C camera a ~50mm lens will perform really nice for portraits, I have the K 55 f1.8 and find it wonderful, the M 50 f1.7 is perhaps the most popular piece of vintage glass in the forum so it should be good as well, they can be had for real cheap if you look in the marketplace here or ebay

**Asgardian** · 01-16-2019, 08:11 PM

Originally posted by Frank29

Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp.Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens?Frank

Someone started a thread about this not that long ago that I thought had some good information - take a look at this thread:

APSC Portrait Lens info - PentaxForums.com

I was recently playing around with a Super-Takumar f/2.8 105 mm that preformed much better than expected. With nothing but an overhead light it was able to capture this at ISO 25600, 1/30 of a sec somewhere near wide open:

">

I've acquired most of my vintage lenses by scouring local buy & sell sites online and on E-bay. I have used the lens reviews on this site to help me make some form of an informed decision on if the lens is worth the price. Also keep your eyes open for those local bulk lots that come by from time to time - I've gotten lucky and found some lenses that really shine this way.

I hope something I have said here is useful to you - good luck!

**Kerrowdown** · 01-26-2019, 09:00 AM

Welcome to the forum and welcome back to Pentax after a bit of a break...

01-14-2019, 11:17 AM	#1
Frank29 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 53	New/Old Pentax User from Canada Hi, I just purchased a white K-S2 DSLR. I used to do film photography with an old K-1000 that I bought nearly 40 years ago. Did some of my own darkroom stuff, but eventually switched to digital, though all I had were a series of ever improving point and shoots. My last one was a fuji 5 megapixel camera. The new DSLR is 1000 times better than that camera though. Just getting used to it, and love this forum already!

01-16-2019, 08:48 AM	#7
Frank29 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 53 Original Poster	Old Lenses Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp. Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens? Frank

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01-14-2019, 11:32 AM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Welcome Aboard. Are you using any old lenses from your K1000 days?

01-14-2019, 01:20 PM	#3
Mikesul Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 7,594	Welcome to the forum, Frank. Lots of friendly help to be found here.

01-14-2019, 01:31 PM	#4
PJ1 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,484	Welcome to the Forums. The K-S2 is a great start point but once you start experimenting with old lenses on it the fun will really begin.

01-14-2019, 04:16 PM	#5
Des Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Victoria Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 6,423	Welcome Frank. I've got a white K-S2 as well. It's a fun camera to use and people tend to find the white body less intimidating. Little do they know that it's a seriously capable camera! Enjoy the journey.

01-14-2019, 09:40 PM	#6
Asgardian Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 78	Welcome Frank. I recently joined this group myself and have a similar background, and I am on the west coast of Canada. IF you still have them I think you will find shooting manual lenses on the K-S2 very rewarding - hoping to see some of your shots soon!

01-16-2019, 10:29 AM	#8
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by Frank29 Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp. Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens? Frank Portrait lens length was traditionally 70-150. I love my 85/1.4 and the runner up is my DA70 LTD. The 85 is manual focus, which is fine for portraits. The DA70Ltd is AF and better for portrait style candids.

01-16-2019, 10:43 AM	#9
Joule1991 New Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Caracas Photos: Albums Posts: 21	Welcome! I also use a K-S2, though mine is the desert beige version . It's a really nice camera with functions that I continue to discover. Originally posted by Frank29 Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens? On an APS-C camera a ~50mm lens will perform really nice for portraits, I have the K 55 f1.8 and find it wonderful, the M 50 f1.7 is perhaps the most popular piece of vintage glass in the forum so it should be good as well, they can be had for real cheap if you look in the marketplace here or ebay

01-16-2019, 08:11 PM	#10
Asgardian Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Beautiful British Columbia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 78	Originally posted by Frank29 Thanks for the warm welcome folks. I just bought a couple of vintage lenses, a 70-200 and a 28mm. Both had the dreaded Ricoh pin, which I removed after watching a couple of helpful videos on it. I am starting to use them. The 28mm one seems to be very sharp.Any advice on a good vintage portrait lens?Frank Someone started a thread about this not that long ago that I thought had some good information - take a look at this thread: APSC Portrait Lens info - PentaxForums.com I was recently playing around with a Super-Takumar f/2.8 105 mm that preformed much better than expected. With nothing but an overhead light it was able to capture this at ISO 25600, 1/30 of a sec somewhere near wide open: "> I've acquired most of my vintage lenses by scouring local buy & sell sites online and on E-bay. I have used the lens reviews on this site to help me make some form of an informed decision on if the lens is worth the price. Also keep your eyes open for those local bulk lots that come by from time to time - I've gotten lucky and found some lenses that really shine this way. I hope something I have said here is useful to you - good luck!

01-26-2019, 09:00 AM	#11
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,819	Welcome to the forum and welcome back to Pentax after a bit of a break...