35 Year Old Lenses on a 2 Year Old K-r!

**boriscleto** · 04-19-2013, 08:26 PM

Focusing Screen

You will however lose spot metering...

**Just1MoreDave** · 04-19-2013, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by Martowski

The one on the MX is an Asahi SMC Pentax 1:2.8 24mm.

Oh, 52mm filter size like the 135. Thanks, never would have guessed that one.

The MX doesn't just have a split prism, the viewfinder is huge. Some say that lesser cameras like the ME are the same but they are not. The rest of the cameras used ordinary silver to coat their pentaprisms (less than $24 an ounce today). The MX and LX have prisms coated in platinum ($1400 more an ounce than silver).

**JimJohnson** · 04-20-2013, 05:51 AM

Originally posted by Martowski

I wish the K-r had a manual focus option like the MX's viewfinder, with the two half circles that align when focused. I love that option on the MX, which I do not believe was present on the K 1000 (which was the "standard issue" camera that the other photo students in the class used).

Having never used a MX (I had a Super Program), I don't know if its focusing screen pattern is available, but there are numerous 3rd party replacement screen designs available. Search threads in the Forum for focusing screens and you will get lots of opinions about the pros & cons of various alternatives.

Martowski · 04-20-2013, 12:13 PM

Hmmm... all I know is that on both of my father's MX bodies, any lens I put on has a circle in the middle with two halves that line up when the center is in focus.

tim60 · 04-20-2013, 02:13 PM

The default screen on the MX was split iage in the centre, with a microprism ring and plain grund glass around. It worked well for lenses between f2 and about f4. (I never had a lens faster than the 50/2.)

But Pentax made a range of about 8 or 10 other screens as accessories. These were easy to change and did not have any fuss like shims because they made it as a system to work together. My favourite was the grond glass with 6mm grid.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Camera for a 2.5 year old	Ramitt	Photographic Technique	7	11-14-2009 03:35 PM
Proud owner of a 35 year old Pentex	Nancy1340	Welcomes and Introductions	11	02-06-2009 12:45 PM
Nothing like a really happy 2 year old	bigben91682	Post Your Photos!	5	09-08-2008 03:58 AM
A 2 year old girl took this photo	little laker	Post Your Photos!	9	05-11-2008 10:58 PM
A 2 year old (or so) took this picture	little laker	Post Your Photos!	6	07-22-2007 10:21 AM

04-19-2013, 08:26 PM	#16
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,477	Focusing Screen You will however lose spot metering...

04-19-2013, 09:07 PM	#17
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by Martowski The one on the MX is an Asahi SMC Pentax 1:2.8 24mm. Oh, 52mm filter size like the 135. Thanks, never would have guessed that one. The MX doesn't just have a split prism, the viewfinder is huge. Some say that lesser cameras like the ME are the same but they are not. The rest of the cameras used ordinary silver to coat their pentaprisms (less than $24 an ounce today). The MX and LX have prisms coated in platinum ($1400 more an ounce than silver).

04-20-2013, 05:51 AM	#18
JimJohnson Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Summer:Lake Superior - Michigan Winter:Texas Hill Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,774	Originally posted by Martowski I wish the K-r had a manual focus option like the MX's viewfinder, with the two half circles that align when focused. I love that option on the MX, which I do not believe was present on the K 1000 (which was the "standard issue" camera that the other photo students in the class used). Having never used a MX (I had a Super Program), I don't know if its focusing screen pattern is available, but there are numerous 3rd party replacement screen designs available. Search threads in the Forum for focusing screens and you will get lots of opinions about the pros & cons of various alternatives.

04-20-2013, 12:13 PM	#19
Martowski Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 105 Original Poster	Hmmm... all I know is that on both of my father's MX bodies, any lens I put on has a circle in the middle with two halves that line up when the center is in focus.

04-20-2013, 02:13 PM	#20
tim60 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 8,757	The default screen on the MX was split iage in the centre, with a microprism ring and plain grund glass around. It worked well for lenses between f2 and about f4. (I never had a lens faster than the 50/2.) But Pentax made a range of about 8 or 10 other screens as accessories. These were easy to change and did not have any fuss like shims because they made it as a system to work together. My favourite was the grond glass with 6mm grid.