|
Forum: Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras
12-28-2019, 02:56 PM
|
| |
Truly splendid!
I have a Super-A basket case I'd like back exposing film. Any advice?
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-28-2019, 02:11 PM
|
| |
The K10D was the camera I did most of my dirt bikes racing journalism with. It took a beating but came out the other end and it earned its way. It is one of the few Pentax items I have bought that I no longer own. I kept my *istD instead for quick shots to go on the internet. The reason? Because I have a nice Pentax AF500FTZ that works with the *istD, but didn't work with the K10D.
Oh, BTW to the OP, the *istDS2 was not the previous flagship to the K10D. That honor goes to the *istD. They were almost identical but the *istD did it 3 years earlier. I know the DS2 was a tad smaller and had a bigger screen, but it also had less exposure compensation, lost TTL flash capability (as opposed to P-TTL), and direct saving of TIFF files. These would all be considered more "pro" features.
|
|
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
12-27-2019, 08:44 PM
|
| |
I have not bought a brand new Pentax lens since 1996. Even then the models I bought (FA* 600/4 & A* 200/4 macro) had been on the market for some years. I have everything I need and much I don't. The only thing I have been thinking about (for some time now) is selling the 600 & the 200 macro and my Tamron 300/2.8 and replacing those 3 lenses with a F* 250-600 (for convenience and versatility in the field) and an FA* 200/4 macro (for AF) - but they are not new lenses. However, they are better than anything that Ricoh currently make in their classes.
If Ricoh were to change the mount and bring out a full line of new lenses to cover the needs of everyone from the casual snap shooter to the pro they would still not sell me a new lens. At my age, I'm not going to build another full set of equipment, and if for some strange reason I did, I'd go with whoever had what I needed ready to go - the name on the equipment in that case would be the least of my worries, but doubt it would be "Pentax".
Since I do own K-mount lenses, I am interested in new bodies I can use with them. Since I shoot mostly wildlife I am mostly interested in APSC format. I'm looking forward to the (hopefully) upcoming APSC flagship - but if it does not improve substantially on the K-3 II Ricoh will have likely lost any opportunity to do business with me again. I'll just dip into the used market until they are shoveling dirt over my coffin.
Pentax are not the only kid in the game as far as lenses go either. While not a full-time pro, I have made a good deal of money with my camera. Most of that was using a Tokina ATX Pro 28-70/2.6-2.8 to shoot motorcycle racing. It has paid for itself 100's of times over. I bought that lens over the FA* 28-80/2.8 because I needed a lens right away and it was both more available and fit my budget at the moment. Sure, the Pentax lens is(was) better, but would I have earned more using it? But let me tell you, the build quality on that Tokina is awe inspiring. The punishment it has endured over the years has been tremendous and it barely shows signs of use. Don't use it much any more as I no longer do that kind of photography, but it has earned my respect and a place in my showcase.
I have pretty much every Pentax item I have ever bought since the mid '70s. I love the stuff, but since THK took over, and then Ricoh, things on the lens side have just not inspired me. Yeah, I know some isolated nice stuff has been produced, but none of it nice enough for me to toss what I have in favor of them.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
12-25-2019, 08:08 AM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-24-2019, 07:52 AM
|
| |
My Super-Tak 50/1.4 has:
IR mark close to the left of the 4
378000 on the back of the switch
White A and red M
The rear element protrudes slightly.
Weighs 233g
Serial number beginning with 228
So it seems to have elements of both.
I think the only way to really decide is to pull it apart.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-23-2019, 11:54 PM
|
| |
There is no way I can comment on all the responses - and i truly appreciate them all.
However, let me elucidate. I'm not conflating commenting on weight with complaining about weight. The instances I take objection to are the reviews that list weight as a con (contrary quality). In other words, weight is one reason this lens should be de-rated, like there are so many similarly specified lenses that are way lighter.
Imagine buying a mirror then saying that the fact it's shiny is a negative. A mirror must be shiny and you buy it because you need it to reflect and it has to be shiny to do that. A 300/2.8 must be heavy. You buy one because you need it's optical qualities and holding it's weight against it by listing weight as a contrary quality is a bit inane as it can't be any thing else but heavy.
Weight is not a drawback to any given 300/2.8, it's a fact of their existence. It's fine to mention in your discussion of such a lens that you find it heavy, but to suggest there is something wrong with it (list it's weight as a "con") because it's heavy is - more than a bit whiny, it's silly,
Maybe for some I'm not getting my point across
In any case, I'm over whelmed with all the responses here.
---------- Post added 12-24-19 at 01:58 AM ----------
Not yet ...
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-21-2019, 06:50 PM
|
| |
I'm getting older (62+) and carting around my 600/4, 300/2.8, 300/4.5, 80-200/2.8, 200/4 macro, etc... is getting harder. However, I knew what I was getting into when I bought these. I knew what they could do for me, and my research told me what they weighed ... and I bought them regardless and have been using them for years. Big, quality glass cannot be made as light as a crappy kit lens, even if you make the barrels out of carbon fiber. That might save a few ounces, but would increase costs dramatically and reduce robustness.
So, given that intro, why do so many folk complain about the weight of their best lenses? Did the weight really come as a surprise to them? I see in many of the reviews that weight is listed as a con. I mean, how can you hold it against a thing just because it has to be a certain way? Do folks really expect a 300/4 to weight 1/2 a pound?
It just seems so silly to me that someone would buy a 600/4 and whine that it weighs a lot. It is what it is, and if that is too much, then pass it on to someone that can appreciate that it's qualities come with a price.
Or am I totally off base here?
Happy Holidays!!!!
|
|
Forum: Pentax Price Watch
12-19-2019, 03:21 PM
|
| |
| |
|
Forum: Pentax K-01
12-17-2019, 11:20 AM
|
| |
I think if I can find one at reasonable price (and they do seem to be getting more reasonable) I'll buy one and use it with a small good quality and versatile zoom lens. The SMC Pentax-F 35-70mm F3.5-4.5 comes to mind. That would make a great little kit for keeping in the car.
|
|
Forum: Pentax K-01
12-16-2019, 03:22 PM
|
| |
Why did the K-01 not succeed? I like some of the features coming out in mirrorless cameras, but I have no desire to start a new collection of lenses, or give up things like auto focus and exposure or open aperture metering. It would have been swell if the K-01 started a series that carried on with newer models.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-16-2019, 01:11 PM
|
| |
My bad. Yes, the one I used to have was the M42 with a k mount adapter.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-16-2019, 09:02 AM
|
| |
The color filters actually remove the CA making the image sharper. While you can remove the color later, you can't remove the artifacting caused by the CA.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-16-2019, 06:56 AM
|
| |
Also see if you can get a set of color filters for it. It takes 49mm, so they won't be too expensive but I would get as good as you can. Red and green were always most useful for me.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 08:13 PM
|
| |
The A* 200/4, or the FA* 200/4 for you AF fanboys.
---------- Post added 12-10-19 at 10:16 PM ----------
4 different optical designs. The F4 and F2.8 are different in both series and the FA* are internal focus while the A* are not.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 08:09 PM
|
| |
Nice idea, and execution is excellent.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 07:57 PM
|
| |
Looks like something worth considering. Would it work with the A 1.4XL TC?
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 07:45 PM
|
| |
The very simple answer - my A* 200/4 macro.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 07:04 PM
|
| |
Do 55's count? If they do I have 8:
- FA 50/1,4 (K-3 ii, K-3, K-7)
- K 50/1.4 (LX)
- FA 50/2.8 Macro (*istD)
- M 50/4 Macro (LX, Super A)
- A 50/1.7 (Super A)
- SMC Tak 55/1.8 (ES II, Spotmatic-F)
- Super-Tak 50/1.4 (SP 1000)
- A 50/2 (PZ-20)
They are listed in my order of preference with the cameras they most often reside on (yes, I still like to shoot film)
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 06:46 PM
|
| |
Sure you can. It's a standard thread 6mm screw. The depth of the thread in the collar is not that deep, so you want to make sure the screw thread is long enough to make full use of available collar depth without hitting bottom. Also, the stock screw is held captive with a circlip. Be careful removing it and don't loose it!
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 06:30 PM
|
| |
I had one of these back in the day. It is quite sharp - given a couple of caveats. First, like a 600/4, it's a long heavy lens and needs to be used with a very sturdy tripod and some effort needs to be exerted to reduce vibration. Long lens use is a fairly steep and surprisingly long learning curve. You can't expect to buy a long lens, mount it up, and shoot like Art Wolfe or Franz Lanting right off the bat. Second, this lens uses a rather simple 4 element optical design that is not anywhere near apochromatic. It is barely anchromatic which tells you it was designed for B&W use. In color, areas just off it's razor thin depth of focus are subject to CA which will give the effect of softness before you can see color separation. You'll get best performance using it to shoot in B&W with good quality mono-chromatic filters. Heed both these and you will get great images with it.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 06:09 PM
|
| |
the 500/4.5 does focus past infinity so will probably work on your Nikon equipment. In fact, I've seen many Nikon conversions of it. However the optical formula comes from a time where B&W was prominent. It suffers from a bad case of CA. If you're going to use it for B&W though, especially if you use mono-chromatic filters, you can get pretty great results. The right tool for the right job...
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 05:49 PM
|
| |
Back to the original question ... I find the 50mm to be the most versatile prime there is for "all subject" photography. A K 50/1.4 on a KX (old school KX) was the only lens I had during my college photography diploma and it did not let me down. Today though, since I do about 85% of my shooting on wildlife subjects if I had to own only one lens it would be my F* 300/4.5. So, I too feel your photography style is important.
All that said, I have an FA 50/1.4 and have used the FA 77/1.8 and can't see you going far wrong either way.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-10-2019, 04:33 PM
|
| |
Yeah, its amazing how things just drift in and out of vogue. On the whole though, I'd say Pentax stuff is holding it's value better than Nikon or Canon. The mirrorless crowd seem to have a bit of a love relationship with older Pentax glass. Also, kinda see why some folk would like the 1.7 as it does support AF. And even though it does not make a great TC, it is cheaper than Pentax's latest TC and still supports AF.
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-09-2019, 04:26 PM
|
| |
It's strange how the prices of lenses fluctuate over time. I used to have (talking maybe 27 years ago - maybe more) a Pentax-F 1.7 AF adapter that I picked up in near mint condition at a hock shop for something like $30. I used it for it's intended purpose with my spankin' new PZ-1, but did not like the magnification. Also, it had the habit of softening longer lenses a bit too much for my purposes. In any case, back then I guess others had had similar experiences. It was manufactured to grease the way into autofocus - so that existing Pentax users could be tempted to get into the new technology. It was such a flop that it went for chump change after only a few years. I eventually did a direct trade for a Pentax-A 1.4X-L, which at the time went for over $250 new. I thought it was one of the best deals I ever made. Roll ahead to today's market when a 1.4X-L can be had for under $150 however, the one time junk item, the 1.7x AF adapter can fetch more than $250 well used.
Any ideas on the AF adapter's recent rise from rags to riches?
|
|
Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-09-2019, 05:49 AM
|
| |
The lens hood is builtin the Samyang and there are no threads for a filter. A solution like this would be great, but it can't be.
---------- Post added 10-09-19 at 08:55 AM ----------
No, it is used on a K3 or K3-II so effectively its about 22mm.
|
