|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-06-2024, 08:34 PM
|
| |
It doesn't end. I started out saying that 50mm was not my preferred view, recalling the ME Super with 24mm, 35mm, 90mm and 200mm in 1980s..
Now I have more than 10, because I started adapting, so I have OM, MD, NEX, Nikkor additional to my K, KA and KA+ Pentax lenses. Add in M42 Takumar, Pancolar, Pentacon, Helios, Fujinon to round out the collection. I will count them all one day.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
02-10-2024, 05:16 PM
|
| |
This week's pickup from Facebook Marketplace (not the Pentaxforums marketplace). Six lenses plus an early K1000 with lens and a bundle of filters, all for just over $100USD.
The macro and the A135 have a bit of fungus, but probably not enough to affect photographs
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
01-05-2024, 11:24 PM
|
| |
I have a M150mm and a SMC Takumar 150mm, both are excellent, and better than the same series 135mm lenses. Too good to miss out if you see one
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
01-04-2024, 03:14 PM
|
| |
Pentax K-m with SMC Pentax 50mm f1.4 lens (I think).
|
|
Forum: General Photography
12-31-2023, 08:04 PM
|
| |
I endorse that idea, Sandy. I carry a camera with me almost every day (even driving to work and home again), but I rarely stop for a few minutes to create photo opportunities. I hope to give myself a few hours a week to take more photos.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-30-2023, 05:29 PM
|
| |
For my K-70, I think the best prime is the 21mm Limited, and best zoom is between Pentax-A 24-50mm and the 16-85mm, depending on size/weight preferences on the day.
For K-01 definitely the 40mm Limited pancake.
For K-1 I would say best normal prime is the Pentax-A 50mm macro (I would add the 100mm macro as a tele lens and SMC Pentax 20mm f4 as a wide) and best zoom is the Pentax-A 70-210.
For my Spotmatic, best would be the SMC Takumar 85mm f1.8, and probably best normal lens would be the Pancolar 50mm f1.8.
|
|
Forum: Lens Clubs
12-22-2023, 07:40 PM
|
| |
My set of M lenses:
28mm f3.5
40mm f2.8
50mm f1.4
50mm f2 (never use it, I seem to prefer the K 55/1.8)
135mm f3.5 (never use it, I prefer the 150 for sharpness and colour)
150mm f4
200mm f4
80-200mm zoom (as sharp at 200mm as the prime)
40-80mm zoom (an oddity rather than an all-purpose zoom, it's not quite wide enough even on full-frame K-1)
I have several K lenses also, favourites are the K 20mm f4 and K 50mm f1.2. That 20mm is magical, and I was lucky to pick it up from a shop that was shutting down its second-hand operation.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
12-22-2023, 06:02 PM
|
| |
Early Takumar 105mm, shown with Olympus, Nikon E and Pentax A equivalents. This lens has been de-clicked and the cocking lever removed, but it is still perfect for manual photography.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
12-22-2023, 06:00 PM
|
| |
Micro Nikkor 105mm f2.8, Ai or modified pre-Ai (I am not a Nikkor specialist). Shown with the modern Pentax equivalent.
I use Nikkor vintage MF lenses on a Full-frame Canon converted IR 590nm camera, since all the lenses I have in that family are free of hotspots and all take 52mm filters
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-08-2023, 06:36 PM
|
| |
My peak-quality prime kit that won't break the bank:
K 20mm f4
K 28mm f3.5 (or if it fits criteria and the budget, the Limited 31mm f1.8)
A 50mm macro or K55 f1.8, unless you really want one of the 50mm f1.2s
Something in the 85-100 range - mine is a SMC Takumar 85mm f1.8 with adapter
M 150mm f4 - or 135 f2.5 which is in the OP kit
Tele-Takumar 200mm f5.6 ( small, sharp and unexpectedly good)
|
|
Forum: General Talk
11-18-2023, 06:34 AM
|
| |
A great win. I have recently come by a SPF with 55/1.8 lens, original leather case and strap, manual, Takumar lens catalogue and the original purchase receipt. A long story: it was passed on to me by the original occupant of my current job in remote Western Australia, so in May I took it back to where it started work in the early 1970s.
Only a minor bummer that you don't have the battery cover. A missing cover is easier to deal with than a cover jammed on by a corroded battery. I would look for a trashed Spotmatic body in junkshops.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
09-25-2023, 07:00 AM
|
| |
Well done, using an internationally recognised unit.
Original flavour? I usually calibrate with alternating Double Coated and White Choc.
Step 1 - place lenses
Step 2 stack TimTams
Step 3 take the photo
Step 4 Coffee ready, consume the calibrator, so I need a new calibration stack every time I buy a lens
.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-30-2023, 05:29 AM
|
| |
I went the other way, now have eight Nikon primes and one zoom. The Nikkors from Ai days are very good for IR, no hotspots or strange colour effects
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
07-12-2023, 06:47 AM
|
| |
Just to mess you up, here is my situation, having too much stuff: I have a full-frame IR camera 590nm and I love the way I can use vintage lenses with it - it's a Canon, but all my Pentax lenses (including Takumars) work great at the view they were designed for. That's one benefit of you converting the K-1, you can use any wide or ultra wide without any drama. Also, all the M series or older lenses are free of hotspots. My Pentax K 20mm f4 is just great on the Canon with any of the longer-wavelength filters. IR photography is more purposeful than general photography, so I am more likely to plan an excursion with equipment selected for the day
I have a K-70 for travelling, and I love the APSC format for all-day walking and carrying - my back is same age as yours. In your case, the temptation would be to keep the KP with its normal sensor for any day anywhere, since it is such a quality camera and so convenient to travel with, and in almost perfect condition.
I have a full-spectrum APSC camera - a Kolari-converted Fuji X-A3 so I know that the smaller sensor has less colour problems than the FF. I bought the Canon later because I wanted to work with IR in full frame.
Not sure if this helps at all. My K-1 is dedicated to Pentax A lenses, and not converted. It is a magic camera as it is sold, for my uses.
If I had my time over again, then in place of the Canon and the Fuji, I would buy a Sony A7ii and get the full spectrum conversion, so I can adapt my vintage Nikkor lenses that all have 52mm filter threads. I have observed that lower-resolution shots in APSC mode with an IR camera don't seem much different from a full-frame shot, looking at sharpness. That's the optics of the IR wavelengths, I suppose, so I could change formats in-camera to give me two focal lengths for each lens.
In summary, I would suggest that you convert the K-1 and keep the KP as a brilliant all-purpose camera, especially with those special lenses you have mentioned here.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-10-2023, 03:31 PM
|
| |
Another recent purchase is an Aerochrome filter for my full-spectrum Fujifilm X-A3, using an old pre-Ai Nikkor 35mm f3.5
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
07-10-2023, 03:23 PM
|
| |
I have been experimenting with IR photography for the last year or so. I have never seen hotspot on any of my Takumar or Pentax K lenses between 24mm and 100mm. These are cheap to buy to test out for yourself, if you don't like the images then you can sell the lens for what you paid. I would suggest that your first try could be a Pentax K 55mm f2 of a 35mm f3.5 - I don't need very large apertures as the DoF gives you some latitude with focusing.
I have occasionally seen the magenta-blue effect, but normally on wide angle lenses at apertures smaller than f8. I generally shoot IR at f5.6.
Consistently best performers have been old Nikkors, with the benefit of all needing same filter diameter of 52mm, so I have filters for 600, 680, 720 and 850nm.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-09-2023, 01:53 AM
|
| |
Here is the opposition in short teles, from my shelves:
S-M-C Takumar 85mm f1.8 (star of the show)
Jupiter -9 85mm f2
Tamron Adaptall 2 90mm f2.5 52B
Tamron 52BB, optically same but updated body
Olympus 100mm f2.8
Nikon E 100mm f2.8
Pentax-A 100mm f2.8
Pentax 70mm f2.4 Limited
Pentax DFA Macro 100mm f2.8
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-09-2023, 01:46 AM
|
| |
Tak 85mm can do close-up still-life as well
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-08-2023, 05:49 PM
|
| |
How many cubits to a furlong, Tim60?
My uni lecturer had his own measure of distance - told me that the bookshop was "about three fowl's clucks" from the Physics building
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-07-2023, 05:56 PM
|
| |
And my first shot with the new Tak 85mm on a Sony A7ii.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-07-2023, 05:47 PM
|
| |
Here is the newly acquired lens with a Pentax-A 100mm f2.8 and a stack of AusMU Tim Tams
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-01-2023, 05:47 PM
|
| |
I also have the Pentax-M 150mm and that is terrific, on both formats. A great light tele with the K-01 body.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-30-2023, 06:00 PM
|
| |
I wonder if I would use a 120mm, since both the S-M-C 85 and the 150 are so good, both seem sharper than the Super-Tak 135/3.5.
I straddle the gap between collector and photographer.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-29-2023, 03:18 PM
|
| |
Or the 17mm, Tim, at the wide end.
And one could argue I must have a macro as well.
Both of these tend to be quite pricey, and not likely to get much use.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-29-2023, 05:26 AM
|
| |
My eleventh Takumar in M42 mount, S-M-C 85mm f1.8. I now have a very good range: 24mm, 28mm/3.5, 35mm/3.5, 50mm f1.4, 55mm (f2.2, f2 and f1.8), 85mm/1.8, 135mm/3.5, 150mm/4 and 200mm/5.6.
All are delightful, adapted to my Sony A7ii. I am now experimenting with my newly-acquired Spotmatic F.
A pic of the new one when I buy a pack of AusMU in the next day or two.
|
