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link800 · 03-20-2019, 05:19 PM

Greetings all. I'm getting back to basics with my dads 35mm Pentax Spotmatic II. My dad purchased it new while stationed in Vietnam and gave it to me years ago when I switched to DSLR and now I'm dusting it off to practice the basics.

I'd like to try darkroom basics as well.

My lens kit is the Takumar 38mm, 50mm and a Vivitar 85-205mm

Any advice on what other lenses to source?

Docrwm · 03-20-2019, 05:28 PM

Welcome aboard. I've never heard of a 38mm, perhaps either a 35mm or a 28mm lens?

link800 · 03-20-2019, 06:18 PM

Sorry typo! 28mm

Docrwm · 03-20-2019, 06:55 PM

Originally posted by link800

Sorry typo! 28mm

No problem at all. 28mm & 50mm were the duo back in the day. The third lens in the triad was typically a 135 at either 2.8 or 3.5. My brother-in-law gave me that trio when I bought my first Pentax dSLR 10 years ago. He had them from his father and two of them were BNIB never used, only the M50/2 had been mounted on the ME. If you want to do portraits something 85-135 (with 105 being the sweet spot) in manual focus is the way to go. Modern 85/1.4's from Samyang are excellent and relatively inexpensive.
Samyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF Lens Reviews - Samyang Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Unregistered User 8 · 03-20-2019, 10:00 PM

Hi from Australia.

arnold · 03-20-2019, 11:51 PM

Welcome to the Forum. Be sure to check the foam in the door grooves and mirror bumper have not turned to dust or glue. Search the forum for threads on replacing these.

link800 · 03-21-2019, 04:41 AM

I’m going to send it off in a few weeks to get calibrated and cleaned. I shot a roll this past weekend and I can see some foam bits on the mirror, so I’m sure that needs to be replaced.

**Kerrowdown** · 03-21-2019, 02:23 PM

Welcome to the forum, enjoy all that it has to offer.

03-20-2019, 05:19 PM	#1
link800 New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 12	Back to basics Greetings all. I'm getting back to basics with my dads 35mm Pentax Spotmatic II. My dad purchased it new while stationed in Vietnam and gave it to me years ago when I switched to DSLR and now I'm dusting it off to practice the basics. I'd like to try darkroom basics as well. My lens kit is the Takumar 38mm, 50mm and a Vivitar 85-205mm Any advice on what other lenses to source?

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03-20-2019, 05:28 PM	#2
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Welcome aboard. I've never heard of a 38mm, perhaps either a 35mm or a 28mm lens?

03-20-2019, 06:18 PM	#3
link800 New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 12 Original Poster	Sorry typo! 28mm

03-20-2019, 06:55 PM	#4
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	Originally posted by link800 Sorry typo! 28mm No problem at all. 28mm & 50mm were the duo back in the day. The third lens in the triad was typically a 135 at either 2.8 or 3.5. My brother-in-law gave me that trio when I bought my first Pentax dSLR 10 years ago. He had them from his father and two of them were BNIB never used, only the M50/2 had been mounted on the ME. If you want to do portraits something 85-135 (with 105 being the sweet spot) in manual focus is the way to go. Modern 85/1.4's from Samyang are excellent and relatively inexpensive. Samyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF Lens Reviews - Samyang Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

03-20-2019, 10:00 PM	#5
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Hi from Australia.

03-20-2019, 11:51 PM	#6
arnold Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,253	Welcome to the Forum. Be sure to check the foam in the door grooves and mirror bumper have not turned to dust or glue. Search the forum for threads on replacing these.

03-21-2019, 04:41 AM	#7
link800 New Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 12 Original Poster	I’m going to send it off in a few weeks to get calibrated and cleaned. I shot a roll this past weekend and I can see some foam bits on the mirror, so I’m sure that needs to be replaced.

03-21-2019, 02:23 PM	#8
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,293	Welcome to the forum, enjoy all that it has to offer.

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