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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
03-10-2015, 04:01 PM
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Some say the Cyrillic lettered lenses are not as good (not intended for export). But I don't know. If you didn't get the actual lens pictured in the listing, you have grounds to be upset. But what can you do? Send it back? Not likely to happen.
I have the 44m-4 and am very happy with it. It does not flare like your 44m. You might also check out the Zenitar M2s 50mm f/2. It comes in K mount. I have mine on my camera right now. Lovely rendering. Most other Russian lenses that I've tried left me underimpressed--Tair 11a, Mir 1v, Industar 50-2.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
01-06-2015, 04:18 PM
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Just wanted to post a follow-up. Per the advice I received here, I tracked down a Zeiss. I'm trying to limit photography purchases right now, so I opted for the Pancolar 50 f/1.8 Zebra, which I was able to find on ebay for a decent price. It arrived today from Ukraine (only took 10 days??!!). And I am happy to report that it has focus pop just like my Helios 44M-4. Also, I am getting some lovely images from it already. My Helios is definitely built better, but I can already tell that the Zeiss's shorter focal length (by 8mms) will prove more versatile.
I also wanted to mention that I dug into my collection and did some mf experimentation. I figured out that the FA 43 has focus pop (but I use it in af 98% of the time) and so does the Tamron-f 28 f/2.8 BBAR M42.
Thanks everyone for the priceless advice. Pentax Forums is amazing.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-26-2014, 04:33 PM
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I'm looking for a manual focus lens that focuses easily. You know, just pops into focus. That is, goes from clearly not focused to clearly focused in a one millimeter twist of the focus ring.
I have a Helios 44M-4 that has this quality. It is a joy to use because most of my photos end up in focus. My Mir-1V is almost the exact opposite. It has degrees of focus. Each millimeter twist gives you a little more focus. And before you know it, you're on the other side of the focus peak. Not great if you are photographing people.
I would love to hear from anyone who has a mf lens that has this focus pop characteristic. Thanks in advance.
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Forum: Lens Clubs
12-08-2014, 11:58 AM
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-07-2014, 09:37 AM
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Welcome! I am in Atlanta. So we are nearly neighbors. I have a K-01. And my 3 favorite lenses are the FA 43, Helios 44m-4, and Tamron 17-50. I'm all over the City--Atlanta Zoo, Stone Mountain, CNN Center--with my camera. See you around!
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Forum: Welcomes and Introductions
12-04-2014, 06:20 PM
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Welcome! I spent a summer studying at Laval Univ. Quebec is a beautiful place. You will have no shortage of places to photograph.y
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
12-02-2014, 11:39 AM
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The 40 Limited is worth consideration. It is far better than the DA 35 I found.
If you are open to manual focus lenses, the Helios 44m is worth your consideration as well.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-22-2014, 05:10 PM
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Super Takumar 50mm f\1.4 (early 8 element variant)
Helios 44m-4 58mm f\2
Chinon\Revuenon\Hexanon 55mm f\1.7
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-11-2014, 04:49 AM
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Tamron 17-50
Pentax DA 40 Limited
Pentax FA 43 Limited
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-04-2014, 01:30 PM
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Yes-the Sigma 17-50 should serve you well. Many also hold the Tamron 17-50 in high regard. The DA 40 Limited is also a great first lens in my opinion.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
11-04-2014, 01:23 PM
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I didn't like the da 35 2.4. My copy was flat and artless. I think the best so-called "pub lens" that won't drain your bank account is the DA 40 Limited. Indoor photos turn out nice--sharp, dimensional, & contrasty. Its performance at infinity, though, can be poor (or at least for my copy), which is mostly a problem for outdoor shooting. And the FL can be tight in some rooms. The Tamron 17-50 is also a good choice. The zoom is really handy indoors and its rendering is excellent (but still a half notch below the 40 Limited in my experience).
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-31-2014, 01:24 AM
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All I know is that my AIV FA 43 is the best lens I have ever owned.
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Forum: Photographic Technique
10-31-2014, 01:20 AM
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I will even white balance off of my son's (barely) white t shirt sometimes, and it works surprisingly well.☺
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-31-2014, 01:13 AM
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Yes the Meyer Optik Lydith 30 3.5 is identical to the Pentacon 30 3.5. Name was changed when the E. German government rolled up the private companies like Meyer-Optik and Zeiss into one conglomerate. Some say the Lydith is better some say the Pentacon and others say no difference. I just bought the Pentacon about two weeks ago. It compares quite well with my Helios 44m4 though it probably is not as sharp and 3D as the legendary Russian lens. But I still really like the Pentacon and the focal length suits my style better than the tighter Helios.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-30-2014, 05:38 PM
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Forum: Photographic Technique
10-26-2014, 06:05 AM
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When I started photography, I was told that morning or late afternoon light was the best for photographs. I was told it was because of the angle of the Sun (light photons had to travel through more of Earth's atmosphere and thus were more diffuse). That makes sense to me, but I have noticed that my afternoon photos are generally better than my morning ones. Has anyone else noticed this? Is there a reason for this? Higher humidity levels in the morning? More pollutants in the air in the afternoon?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
10-24-2014, 05:12 AM
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I owned the DA 35 for 6 months. I do not recommend it. Rendering was mostly artless. As for focal length, I would say that wider is better for an everyday lens. Other lenses to consider: 40 Limited, 35 Limited Macro, Sigma or Tamron 17-50, FA 35.
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Forum: Digital Processing, Software, and Printing
10-22-2014, 12:28 PM
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I love this story. It feels good to when your work resonates with a fellow human being.
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Forum: General Photography
10-03-2014, 09:50 PM
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The things that photography can achieve. Just amazing.
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Forum: General Talk
10-01-2014, 06:01 PM
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Larry Mcmurty / Lonesome Dove
VS Naipaul / A House for Mr Biswas or The Mystic Masseur
Cormac McCarthy / The Road or Blood Meridian or No Country for Old Men
David Mitchell / Cloud Atlas
JM Coetzee / Disgrace
Jim Harrison / Legends of the Fall
Salman Rushdie / Midnight's Children
Annie Proulx / Close Range
J.R.R. Tolkien / The Hobbit
I like fiction. Each of these books spoke to me and enlarged my perception of the world. High definition writing on every page. Almost photographic in fact.
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Forum: Pentax Medium Format
09-29-2014, 05:16 AM
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Don't use anything metal--will just bung up the threads. Instead use a wooden dowel and a mallet. If you cannot find the right size dowell at your hardware store, you can just make your own.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-20-2014, 06:30 AM
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All these issues with phase detect make me really appreciate my K01s contrast AF system. Can you switch to cdaf on the k3 or k5?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-20-2014, 06:21 AM
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FA 43 will serve you well. I have the AIV version and it is my main lens. It can sometimes be too narrow indoors though, so I want to get the tamron 17-50. You have that lens right? What do you think about it?
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-18-2014, 04:15 PM
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The 50 1.4 is a great example of Pentax's unreasonable prices. Hasn't this lens been in production for 20+ years and didn't it used to sell new for under $250? And today Pentax is asking $450? Doesn't pass the smell test as far as I am concerned.
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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
09-15-2014, 05:07 AM
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I think you and I have almost the same issue. I have and love the FA 43 but find it too tight for indoor use sometimes. And I also thought the DA 35 "plastic fantastic" was too big a drop in performance.
The 35 macro is a lens I am considering but so is the fast zoom 17-50 (either the Sigma or Tamron). The FA 31 and the Sigma 35 art lenses are just too expensive for me.
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