Article link: IMPERFECT, BUT POCKETABLE

jcdoss · 11-25-2019, 07:17 AM

My inbox has been receiving more Pentax-related film photography info in the past couple weeks. 35mmc usually posts short but interesting articles and photos about film photography from all makes/models and by multiple writers. Here's the latest one.

THE PENTAX-M 40MM F/2.8 AND PENTAX MX – IMPERFECT, BUT POCKETABLE!

Discuss!

Snapppy · 11-25-2019, 08:00 AM - **1 Like**

Interesting that you posted this right now, as I am currently running a roll of film through a Pentax ME (first time) and a 40mm 2.8 (first time). I haven't finished yet, so don't have a verdict, but I would say my feelings match up so far with those of the author of the article.

In some brief testing on my DSLR the 40mm wasn't particularly good, and my first thought was the same as the author, why not just use the 50mm as it's almost the same size and really good? But the 40mm focal length is a little bit better in my eyes, and I can fit the camera and the lens in a little fannypack

We'll see how the scans look after I'm finished.

danielblues · 11-25-2019, 09:05 AM

Originally posted by Snapppy

Pentax ME (first time) and a 40mm 2.8 (first time)

Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results

**gofour3** · 11-25-2019, 10:18 AM

I like the M40/2.8 and it's pretty sharp at middle apertures. It pairs nicely with my ME, though I've also used it with my heavier K Series bodies.

The 49mm Pentax rubber hood is a must.

Phil.

murrelet · 11-25-2019, 10:20 AM

Went through a pancake phase a little while ago. Personally, I prefer the Chinon 45mm F2.8. Sold all my pancakes and immediately after selling the Chinon, had buyers regret and bought a 2nd copy. The knobs on the focusing ring are slightly more raised and a smidge wider so it's less slippery to focus.

Eyewanders · 11-25-2019, 10:29 AM

Never got on with that one. If the handling were better I'd forgive its lackluster rendering. If the rendering were better I'd overlook its clumsy handling.

For quite a while the FA43 has been the weapon-of-choice for this sort of size-consideration application. Best of all worlds.

**pres589** · 11-25-2019, 10:50 AM

I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8.

Eyewanders · 11-25-2019, 11:24 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by pres589

I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8.

That's exactly the same that I use with my FA43. Works wonderfully.

Snapppy · 11-25-2019, 12:28 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by danielblues

Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results

That should be a nice combo. I don't have anymore autofocus bodies right now, or else I'd try out my FA43 on one. Maybe that'll be next on the list

Eyewanders · 11-25-2019, 12:52 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by danielblues

Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results

Frederic ("fs999" here on the forums) has some very nice DA40 examples shot on film bodies you can search for on his Flickr stream if you're interested.

fs999 | Flickr

**JensE** · 11-25-2019, 01:24 PM

I'd be really curious how the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2.0 compares. Curiosity wasn't strong enough to actually buy one, because I mostly use the FA35, even if manual focus is difficult.

08amczb · 11-25-2019, 01:33 PM - **1 Like**

I love so much the size of the Pentax lenses. In my bag I can easily pack 5 Pentax primes. With my Nikon I struggle with the third one.

**cpk** · 11-25-2019, 05:18 PM

I bought the 40 mm 2.8 film lens a few years ago to use with my film cameras. I have the 40 mm DA Limited lens which is one of my favourite street lenses, but of course its field of view on an APSC digital camera is different from the original 40 mm lens on a film camera.

I agree that the 40 mm film lens is a good match for the MX in terms of size, but I use it on the street on my LX. Why? With the LX I can zone focus the lens and allow the camera to set the shutter speed for the f-stop I have set for the zone focusing. This way I don't have to worry about changing lighting conditions as I walk down the street. On the MX I could be continually resetting the shutter speed as the light changes.

ecostigny · 11-25-2019, 06:14 PM

I have the SMC PENTAX-M 40mm f2.8 as well, and it certainly made for a pocketable combination with my ME Super. However, I agree with the article's author in finding the focusing ring to be a bit too small for my fingers. As a result, I don't have a large enough sample size to comment intelligently on its optical qualities.

**monochrome** · 11-25-2019, 08:03 PM

Originally posted by gofour3

I like the M40/2.8 and it's pretty sharp at middle apertures. It pairs nicely with my ME, though I've also used it with my heavier K Series bodies.

The 49mm Pentax rubber hood is a must.

Phil.

The M40/2.8 has been my go-to lens for use with the MX for walking around just taking street architecture snapshots. I usually just set at infinity and f/8 and rarely even adjust the SV once I’ve metered the first time.

Originally posted by pres589

I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8.

Why didn’t I think of that? Much better for simple street stuff than the collapsible hood.

I have a spare DA40 set in a drawer left over from a time I lost the small cap and found it the day after the replacement arrived from eBay.

11-25-2019, 07:17 AM	#1
jcdoss Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,768	Article link: IMPERFECT, BUT POCKETABLE My inbox has been receiving more Pentax-related film photography info in the past couple weeks. 35mmc usually posts short but interesting articles and photos about film photography from all makes/models and by multiple writers. Here's the latest one. THE PENTAX-M 40MM F/2.8 AND PENTAX MX – IMPERFECT, BUT POCKETABLE! Discuss!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
On the merits of the imperfect image.	MD Optofonik	General Photography	10	06-21-2015 07:17 AM
Weekly Challenge Winners ! beauty of things imperfect and transient	tessfully	Weekly Photo Challenges	19	11-27-2013 02:18 PM
Weekly Challenge # 265 - beauty of things imperfect and transient	tessfully	Weekly Photo Challenges	36	11-27-2013 06:53 AM
For Sale - Sold: Third-party screwmount lens sale, imperfect but take great pics m42	thornburg	Sold Items	5	10-29-2013 10:53 AM
Nature Simplicity and Imperfect Beauty	tessfully	Post Your Photos!	14	03-22-2013 04:18 PM

11-25-2019, 08:00 AM - 1 Like	#2
Snapppy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 485	Interesting that you posted this right now, as I am currently running a roll of film through a Pentax ME (first time) and a 40mm 2.8 (first time). I haven't finished yet, so don't have a verdict, but I would say my feelings match up so far with those of the author of the article. In some brief testing on my DSLR the 40mm wasn't particularly good, and my first thought was the same as the author, why not just use the 50mm as it's almost the same size and really good? But the 40mm focal length is a little bit better in my eyes, and I can fit the camera and the lens in a little fannypack We'll see how the scans look after I'm finished.

11-25-2019, 09:05 AM	#3
danielblues Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Cascais, Portugal Posts: 173	Originally posted by Snapppy Pentax ME (first time) and a 40mm 2.8 (first time) Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results

11-25-2019, 10:18 AM	#4
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	I like the M40/2.8 and it's pretty sharp at middle apertures. It pairs nicely with my ME, though I've also used it with my heavier K Series bodies. The 49mm Pentax rubber hood is a must. Phil.

11-25-2019, 10:20 AM	#5
murrelet Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland, OR, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 506	Went through a pancake phase a little while ago. Personally, I prefer the Chinon 45mm F2.8. Sold all my pancakes and immediately after selling the Chinon, had buyers regret and bought a 2nd copy. The knobs on the focusing ring are slightly more raised and a smidge wider so it's less slippery to focus.

11-25-2019, 10:29 AM	#6
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Never got on with that one. If the handling were better I'd forgive its lackluster rendering. If the rendering were better I'd overlook its clumsy handling. For quite a while the FA43 has been the weapon-of-choice for this sort of size-consideration application. Best of all worlds.

11-25-2019, 10:50 AM	#7
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8.

11-25-2019, 11:24 AM - 1 Like	#8
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by pres589 I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8. That's exactly the same that I use with my FA43. Works wonderfully.

11-25-2019, 12:28 PM - 1 Like	#9
Snapppy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2011 Photos: Albums Posts: 485	Originally posted by danielblues Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results That should be a nice combo. I don't have anymore autofocus bodies right now, or else I'd try out my FA43 on one. Maybe that'll be next on the list

11-25-2019, 12:52 PM - 1 Like	#10
Eyewanders Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Land of the Salish Sea Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,343	Originally posted by danielblues Sailling a similar boat, using a DA40HD on a MZ-m for the first time, I really like it on APS but it takes longer with film so see the results Frederic ("fs999" here on the forums) has some very nice DA40 examples shot on film bodies you can search for on his Flickr stream if you're interested. fs999 \| Flickr

11-25-2019, 01:24 PM	#11
JensE Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Leipzig Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,969	I'd be really curious how the Voigtländer Ultron 40mm f/2.0 compares. Curiosity wasn't strong enough to actually buy one, because I mostly use the FA35, even if manual focus is difficult.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-25-2019, 01:33 PM - 1 Like	#12
08amczb Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Posts: 796	I love so much the size of the Pentax lenses. In my bag I can easily pack 5 Pentax primes. With my Nikon I struggle with the third one.

11-25-2019, 05:18 PM	#13
cpk Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Montreal Posts: 638	I bought the 40 mm 2.8 film lens a few years ago to use with my film cameras. I have the 40 mm DA Limited lens which is one of my favourite street lenses, but of course its field of view on an APSC digital camera is different from the original 40 mm lens on a film camera. I agree that the 40 mm film lens is a good match for the MX in terms of size, but I use it on the street on my LX. Why? With the LX I can zone focus the lens and allow the camera to set the shutter speed for the f-stop I have set for the zone focusing. This way I don't have to worry about changing lighting conditions as I walk down the street. On the MX I could be continually resetting the shutter speed as the light changes.

11-25-2019, 06:14 PM	#14
ecostigny Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Branford, CT Posts: 561	I have the SMC PENTAX-M 40mm f2.8 as well, and it certainly made for a pocketable combination with my ME Super. However, I agree with the article's author in finding the focusing ring to be a bit too small for my fingers. As a result, I don't have a large enough sample size to comment intelligently on its optical qualities.

11-25-2019, 08:03 PM	#15
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by gofour3 I like the M40/2.8 and it's pretty sharp at middle apertures. It pairs nicely with my ME, though I've also used it with my heavier K Series bodies. The 49mm Pentax rubber hood is a must. Phil. The M40/2.8 has been my go-to lens for use with the MX for walking around just taking street architecture snapshots. I usually just set at infinity and f/8 and rarely even adjust the SV once I’ve metered the first time. Originally posted by pres589 I use a JJC knock-off of the DA 40 Ltd hood on my M 40 f2.8. Works very well on my film cameras. I find it to be okay but I wish it was faster. I do like the focal length on 35mm; it's great for candids and street shooting. I like the idea of taking it out on city streets, f8 and be there, and let one of my automatic exposure cameras deal with that end so I can point & shoot without any effort at all. That said, the handling is so fiddly that I prefer my M 35 f2.8. Why didn’t I think of that? Much better for simple street stuff than the collapsible hood. I have a spare DA40 set in a drawer left over from a time I lost the small cap and found it the day after the replacement arrived from eBay.