[DRad]

Hello guys, I have a Pentax K1000 with a 35 and 50mm lens but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach. I want to use it for landscapes and cityscapes from a tripod. I've found these two zooms that seem to be reasonably priced:

SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm f4
SMC Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5

Are these compatible with the K1000 and are they good choices? Are there any others I should consider?

[UncleVanya]

Hello guys, I have a Pentax K1000 with a 35 and 50mm lens but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach. I want to use it for landscapes and cityscapes from a tripod. I've found these two zooms that seem to be reasonably priced:

SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm f4
SMC Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5

Are these compatible with the K1000 and are they good choices? Are there any others I should consider?

The 75-150 is a strong lens even today. The 80-200 not as much but not bad. Both should work on your k1000. Of the two I’d go for the 75-150. I like the range and the slightly faster optical performance. The A series 70-210 is another good choice - you would just ignore the A setting and use in standard manual mode.

[DRad]

Thanks or the reply - I was leaning towards the 75-150. What would be a good price? I've seen some on ebay anywhere from £15 to £100

[marcusBMG]

If you search iheiramo 's posts in eg the M club, he has worked his way through most of the "K" and "M" series primes as a single lens a month, including the less common ones like the 120mm, 150mm. Give you some good perspective on the quality and perhaps on what focal length you might want.
The 75-150mm is reckoned to be better than many of the older zooms. But for quality the emphasis is on primes.

[DRad]

If you search iheiramo 's posts in eg the M club, he has worked his way through most of the "K" and "M" series primes as a single lens a month, including the less common ones like the 120mm, 150mm. Give you some good perspective on the quality and perhaps on what focal length you might want.
The 75-150mm is reckoned to be better than many of the older zooms. But for quality the emphasis is on primes.

I'm aware the primes are better. For now I'm just looking for something on the cheaper end to experiment with. I probably won't be printing any larger than 5x7 and mostly shooting around f8 to get the best out of the lens.

[jatrax]

I had the 75-150 f/4 for a while before getting a more modern lens. I found it to be quite good for that time period.

[aaacb]

I have a version 3 Vivitar S1 70-210 and it's quite nice and plently sharp even for k1ii, though heavier than the Pentax options from that era (M 70-210 f4). I paid $50 and it's in nice shape, so maybe you can find one around the same price as the other options you're considering.

[ismaelg]

Hello,
You can consider the A70-210 f4. One of my favorites.

Thanks,

[TwoUptons]

I think in this case, I'd go with what happens to be available when you're in the mood to buy... there are millions of lenses that will work on the K1000...

I've had the 80-200, and I liked it a lot until it had a case of element separation.
I've also had the M200 mm f4, and that would be a great combo with the 75-150 if you needed a bit more reach. They are usually inexpensive, and they pair extremely well with a Raynox closeup attachment for some very decent macro work.
There are loads of third-party 70-210-ish zooms that would also be very good. Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, Vivitar, Cosina... all made some good ones (and some rubbish). I'd wander through the lens database to see what strikes your fancy.
I'll note there are also some more modern lenses from the past 20 years or so that are also good choices. I have a Tamron 70-300 that I bought for my K10D, but it works great on the K1000. It purple fringes like mad on a modern, high-resolution sensor, but the K1000 doesn't care about that...

-Eric

[aslyfox]

I have a version 3 Vivitar S1 70-210 and it's quite nice and plently sharp even for k1ii, though heavier than the Pentax options from that era (M 70-210 f4). I paid $50 and it's in nice shape, so maybe you can find one around the same price as the other options you're considering.

I also recommend the OP consider a Vivitar Series ! 70-210 version 3 ( Komine ) if one can be found

Description:
This is the vaunted version three of Vivitar's Series One 70-210mm lenses. Can be found in PK and PKA mounts (and M42 and other mounts). Made by komine (28xxxxx serials).
This lens offers a relatively strong macro capability to 1:2.5 ratio at 210mm. There is an internal cam mechanism that automatically shifts you to 100mm focal length from 70mm when close focussing past 1.6m. Conversely, if focussed closer than 1.6m the zoom is stopped at 100mm. At M-R on the distance scale you are at the CFD and max macro ratio is achieved at 210mm, no change in focus. . . .

Read more at: Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm F2.8-4 Version 3 (komine) Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

follow the link above for good information about the lens

[Lowell Goudge]

Hello guys, I have a Pentax K1000 with a 35 and 50mm lens but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach. I want to use it for landscapes and cityscapes from a tripod. I've found these two zooms that seem to be reasonably priced:

SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm f4
SMC Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5

Are these compatible with the K1000 and are they good choices? Are there any others I should consider?

I would go for a vivitar series 1 70-210/3.5 Version 1

One of the best lenses in that range for the manual focus era.

[aslyfox]

I would go for a vivitar series 1 70-210/3.5 Version 1

One of the best lenses in that range for the manual focus era.

There are six versions of the manual focus Vivitar Series 1 (VS1) 70-210 zoom lenses, all of which can be distinguished apart from each other visually (and their manufacturers can be identified by using their serial numbers). . . . .

The first VS1 70-210 zoom was manufactured by Kino (SN 22nnnnnn), from about 1973 to 1981. ...

Vivitar Series 1 70-210mm Line Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

the above link leads to information about the Vivitar Series 1 70-210 zoom variations

there are separate review threads for the versions

[TwoUptons]

There's also the Vivitar 75-200 Autofocus lens...
Vivitar 75-200mm f4.5 Autofocus (Cosina?) Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

Yeah, not the same as the Series 1
But I can vouch for the fact that it will autofocus on a K1000...

Something I did mean to mention in my earlier post is the Pentax F70-210 (not the Takumar one)
It is an autofocus lens, so the ergonomics are pretty sloppy on a K1000 (and unlike the weird Vivitar above, it will not autofocus on a K1000), but it's optically solid and it works a treat on the modern digital cameras as well (and of course, older Pentax AF bodies).

-Eric

[rvandenbrink]

Hello guys, I have a Pentax K1000 with a 35 and 50mm lens but I'm looking for something with a bit more reach. I want to use it for landscapes and cityscapes from a tripod. I've found these two zooms that seem to be reasonably priced:

SMC Pentax-M 75-150mm f4
SMC Pentax-M 80-200mm f4.5

Are these compatible with the K1000 and are they good choices? Are there any others I should consider?

Try out a 35-135, you might never take it off the camera!

[Wasp]

You might want to price the SMC Pentax M 100mm f/2.8 and SMC Pentax M 200mm f/4 before you pay up for a zoom. They might just come in at the same money as a zoom. Optically, they are definitely better than the zooms mentioned. You will never want anything else. I am not just saying this - these two served me well in my film days. Never owned a zoom back then, never wanted to either.