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Forum: Pentax SLR Lens Discussion
04-22-2022, 01:53 PM
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Heuou, I got a surprisingly cheap Takumar 200mm f 4 off evilBay and besides the slow-moving aperture mechanism, the only issue (that was not reported) is the lens will not focus to infinity. The adapter is fine because I have multiple M42 lenses and they all work well in all their focus ranges. I'm quite bummed because the lens is in great condition and is one of the cleanest lenses I have.
I try to focus to infinity but the actual focus ends up about 7-10 meters away. The lens is an adapter to my Sony a7R II with a K&F Concept M42 adapter. So far I have tried to reposition the focus ring by unscrewing the 3 screws on the manual focus ring but that had no effect because the lens's focus mechanism has already hit the end of its helicoid. I tried to screw the front end of the lens but there are no screws under the front element.
Is there any other way to fix the lens, else I am stuck with a 200mm lens cap for my Pentax ME (decoration) or a 200mm close focus only lens?
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-30-2014, 03:13 PM
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Thanks so much for reply. I do use Lenstip.com for all information about lenses and Photozone.de to. I do look for lenses with as much coma correction as possible (that's why I like Samyang's lenses ... and there price's). Would you recommend Samyang's 10mm f 2.8 over 14mm f 2.8, or even 16mm f 2 ? I've seen a lot of 10-20 stacked images at 200-300mm f 2.8-3.5 of deep space objects with good IQ (not Hubble-like quality but I'm not complaining), would Tamron 70-200mm f 2.8 suffice (or Sigma version might be better ?), "As you see from the crops below, presenting the diode picture in the frame centre and in the corner, the coma level in the Tamron is low. The distortions, connected with that aberration were a bit bigger for the Sigma, tested not so long ago. Once again, the Tamron is able to reach the level of the good L lenses and the Nikkor 70-200 mm VR." and Sigma's version appears to have about the same performance.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-30-2014, 02:21 PM
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I currently live in Italy but I have a few job opportunity in UK and Germany next year (depends on which one comes first but I do hope is the UK one). Thanks for the link and I did looked at it at it still looks very steep prices to me (because it's equivalent in numbers to the Euro prices here but not equivalent in value, meaning 1 Pound equals to 1 Euro by those prices).
I do root for Samy's 10mm and 16mm (or maybe 14mm) and that would be about 900 Euro's out of the budget thus far.
... a bit of off-topic, one o the things that I don't like about Pentax's prices is that for example they ask about 500-600 Euros for each Limited lens (15mm f 4, 21mm f 3.2, 35mm f 2.8 for this scope of discussion) when we have Samsung 10mm f 3.5, Olympus 12mm f 2, Samsung 16mm f 2.4, Sony 16mm f 2.4, Panasonic 14mm f 2.5, Fujifilm 18mm f 2, Sigma 19mm f 2.8, Panasonic 15mm f 1.8, Samsung 20mm f 2.8, Sony 20mm f 2.8, Olympus 17mm f 1.8, Fujifilm 27mm f 2.8, Panasonic 20mm f 1.7, Olymous 25mm f 1.8, Panasonic 25mm f 1.4, Fujifilm 35mm f 1.4, Sigma 30mm f 2.8, Sigma 60mm f 2.8, Fujifilm 60mm f 2.4 Macro that are similar in size or smaller, they are similar in weight or less, they are similar in speed or faster, they are similar in price or cheaper, they are similar in performance or better or worse (the last one is very dependent on the lens), I don't want to bash Pentax when they have awesome cameras and awesome lenses but just piss poor prices (even for there IQ) compared to the competition and I find very hard to justify ( FOR ME ) the prices of the Limited lenses (be it FA, DA or HD).
---------- Post added 09-30-14 at 11:23 PM ----------
But what about Samyang 8mm f 3.5, a bit slower and manual focus but who needs it with 99% of everything in focus. And a fisheye would give me not only most of the sky and Milky Way in the field of view but also 60 sec unguided shutter speed for no star trails.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-30-2014, 01:24 PM
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The FA 31mm isn't very fast and I don' think it's very optimized for point light sources (have to check that one) but the price is very high for limited speed and versatility (1300 Euros where I love), and for DA 20-40mm isn't very fast to and high priced again (850 Euros, where Sigma 18-35mm f 1.8 is 700 Euros). If I could, if I had the money I would own only Pentax lenses and all Pentax lenses. But they got very expensive over the years (only third party ones can be found cheaper) and the Limited lenses got very expensive compared to there Mirroless counterparts (where they are faster, smaller, lighter, faster focusing, silent focusing) and if it wheren't for there excellent IQ I would have found little place for them in this world.
... I was afraid that if I would go back to Pentax system I would have to resort to more third party lenses (for the lack of fast lenses and there high prices). But the combo of 18-135mm and 55-300mm still haunts me for there WR and usefulness when hiking.
---------- Post added 09-30-14 at 10:30 PM ----------
Yes ... I'm very aware and afraid of that characteristic in lenses (specially when it effects so strongly with point light sources like stars). Samyang lenses have a very good performance in coma correction, like there wide angle lenses (8mm f 3.5, 10mm f 2.8, 14mm f 2.8, 16mm f 2, 24mm f 1.4). And also in this is my thinking that the smaller the object the more magnification thus longer focal length thus longer tracking thus faster lens to help coupe with that. I think 200mm f 2.8 would me the maximum of my budget. Of course there are 300mm f 2.8, 400mm f 4, 600mm f 5.6 but that would so expensive and so big that it might just be as buying a telescope. It's not that I don't like the idea of telescope but I'm not yet convinced that I CAN handle it. Maybe when I get a more taste of what can be achieved then maybe.
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Forum: Pentax K-5 & K-5 II
09-30-2014, 12:18 PM
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... finally went through and bought a Pentax K-5 II with a kit lens (the lens was for free actually). After almost 4 years of mingling with Micro Four Thirds I decided that I need to get back to my love of Pentax and Astrophotography. I was so tempted to go for Fujifilm for there unbeatable High ISO Performance but even with the sensor advancements of Micro Four Thirds and Samsung (NX1 is so good specked) and Sony's low pricing of A7 (even 1000 Euros in some places) they still lack one thing: Pentax O-GPS1. And how many small, portable, lightweight, good IQ, and under 300 Euros tracking telescopes do you know?
Now before I get the O-GPS1 I have to decide on a few lenses to use for astrophotography, and the general rule would be to go as fast as possible but that is one of the problems of Pentax K mount, there aren't many such lenses unfortunately.
At wide angle you only have the Samyang very good prices and IQ lenses (like the 10mm f 2.8, 14mm f 2.8, 16mm f 2) and one very expensive Pentax DA 14mm f 2.8. I would like to sacrifice 3 thirds if a stop of light for the Tamron 10-24mm f 3.5-4.5 / Sigma 10-20mm f 3.5 / Pentax 10-17mm f 3.5-4.5 or even more then one stop for the marvelous IQ Sigma 8-16mm f 4.5-5.6 (in thinking that sensors get better performance, lenses you own don't get change often enough to get wider or faster). Can't find a solution for the wide angle problem yet.
Now to a fast normal (for more panoramic shots deep space objects) I was thinking that 50mm f 1.4 would be enough but I do love the idea and the IQ of Sigma 18-35mm f 1.8 not only for speed but also I DO use the camera and lenses for OTHER stuff, like daylight shooting ? So maybe I will reserv that spot of an legacy lens (but I fear of bad coma optimization for there are not many legacy lenses with Aspherical elements to correct it, and it it where they are to close to modern and corrected lenses, like Sigma 50mm f 1.4).
... and to the biggest question so far. Deep space objects need FL ... and lot's of it (M33, M42, M43, Orion's Sword, Flame Nebula, Horsehead Nebula. etc). But speed would be needed to, to help to get longer shutter speeds or lower ISO usage. For cheap solution I was thinking of Tamron SP 70-200mm f 2.8, maybe use a teleconverter to get a bit more reach but not lose to much speed. I do find Sigma 70-200mm f 2.8 very well corrected for coma and not bad performance but a bit more heavy and more expensive. Pentax DA* 200mm f 2.8 is not very lightweight nor is it cheaper then Tamron to get a better solution, plus I would lose the 70 to 199mm part to. Would a standard zoom like the Pentax DA 55-300mm f 4-5.8 WR or Tamron / Sigma 70-300mm f 4-5.6 handle at there speed deep space objects (with the always recommended and needed image stacking).
I might try some "unorthodox" lenses, mostly for lunar imaging or even photographing some sun spots, like the Samyang (or equivelent on the market) 500mm f 8, 500mm f 6.3 Mirror, 800mm f 8 Mirror, 600-1300mm f 11 for there dirt cheap price and, possible, fun element.
I'm looking for some help some ideas, opinions. recommendation to get a few lenses for Wide Field Astrophotography and Deep Space Astrophotography within a 2500 Euro's budget (I will spend almost two year's worth of saving). I do feel a little concerned about the weight of the lenses (the reason I used Micro Four Thirds before) but if I have to sacrifice that to get from this:
... to this:
... then I will take it. Maybe one day I can afford two systems (still dreaming at Panasonic GX7 + Panasonic 12-35mm f 2.8 + Panasonic 35-100mm f 2.8 = 1KG of goodness).
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
04-30-2014, 03:59 AM
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How well does the Pentax O-GPS1 handle with longer lenses for tracking stars, like 200/300mm for 5 to 10 seconds tracking stars, witch it would be the cheapest way stack nebulae images without a telescope.
A Pentax K-30/50/-01 with the GPS module would be the best way to start astrophotography.
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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion
11-11-2013, 04:12 AM
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As I did own a Pentax K200D a looooong time ago (and broke) I found myself in need of a camera with looong battery life and weather sealing so I can use it for time lapse photography over long periods of time (24h for example). And since only Pentax K200D had weather sealing AND battery grip AND takes AA batteries I was wondering can you change batteries in battery grip and get more images, for example:
*K200D with grip on a tripod, the camera first depletes the batteries in the grip and then it uses the ones in body, and then change those in the grip with new ones so the camera gets more juice before it's done.
I would prefer K200D because there good bank for the buck and not a huge loss if it brokes or gets stolen (preferably to not happen) but if I can't find one I might try for Pentax K10D or K20D (Samsung GX-20 seems to be cheaper so why not that one),
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-13-2013, 03:34 PM
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I did, and more then a couple of times but the lack of lenses can't make me use it as main/only system. But I might buy it (after the price lowers) for extreme telephoto abilities from the crop factor for macro at a large distance and astrophotography :)
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-13-2013, 03:32 PM
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I think it's a really nice camera, specialy for street photography, and that tilting EVF is just a marvel. But I do have a few issue with it: Panasonic's sensor can't seem to be as good as Sony's (like the ones in Olympus OM-D E-M1/5 and E-P5), IBIS is 2 axes so not really a performer like Pentax's or Olympus's (the true masters of IBIS) and the lack of splash and dust proof protection :(
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-13-2013, 04:48 AM
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The reason I mentioned Pentax D-FA 100mm f 2.8 Macro WR is because of the weather sealing (I love to take macro shots of water drops on things) and of the extra 15mm equivalent reach compared to Tamron SP 90mm f 2.8 Macro, and it's 100 Euro more expensive then the competition. And still 25 Euro cheaper then Olympus 60mm f 2.8 Macro ... and 300 Euro cheaper then Panasonic Leica 45mm f 2.8 Macro.
The reason I chose the Pentax 35mm f 2.8 Macro Limited is because I like the 50mm equivalent perspective, and the nice price and the small size of that thing I would say is a must have for anyone (or go for Pentax 35mm f 2.4 if you don't want the macro capabilities). For portrait I prefer 75-135mm quivalent and since I don't to that much portraits the 50mm f 1.8 legacy would do just fine. Now if I would have money to invest in a fast(ish) lens it would be a Sigma 20mm f 1.8 for Astrophotography and Night/Landscape use ... plus a very wonderful close focus capability that no other lenses have (other then Sigmas 24 and 28mm f 1.8).
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-13-2013, 04:28 AM
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I got to hold both cameras a few months back (Olympus OM-D E-M5 and Pentax K-5) and although E-M5 is a little smaller (about the same in all dimensions except depth) only the, almost, half weight of K-5's feels different but K-5 was more comfortable to hold, more so with a heavier lens.
I like to travel a lot and on foot, that being the reason why size and weight is important to me. I broke my right arm a few years back and it hasn't been so good ever since and my back problems are getting worse and worse. It's not a life style choice to go for a smaller/compact system. But the biggest issue that I have is the uncertain launch of lenses that might make it better, for me, in the Micro Four Thirds system (like a general weather proof zoom and wide(ish) angle close focus/macro capabilities) compared to Pentax's 7 standard to cheap to premium to all-around weather sealed zooms. Getting into a system and hoping that they might release lenses that you like or need is not that of a good idea.
If Pentax would make a more "standard" or "closer like to the competition" mirrorless K-Mount camera (I don't know why I fell so dirty saying this) with things like built in EVF or add-on EVF and articulated screen (it can be weather proofed, just look at Panasonic GH3, Olympus E-3/5, Olympus OM-D E-M1/5, Sony A77/99) the choice would me much easier ... but then again so would for Micro Four Thirds if Olympus OM-D E-M1 would be more cheaper and had a lens option like 12-120mm f 3.5-5.6 dust and splash proof ... but this is just useless rumbling so I might just as was stop there.
So back to our ducks, I know that I will get biased opinions to Pentax here but I heard that pentaxforums members are the loveliest photography group on the internet so why the hell not.
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Forum: Pentax K-30 & K-50
10-12-2013, 02:21 PM
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The first serious camera (bigger then a coin sized sensor) that I experienced and grown into photography was a Pentax K200D and I loved it ... to death ... literately unfortunately. I bought it used and after about a year of use it started giving me dead pixels in images, white spots, to the point that I couldn't ignored it anymore and I have to assume the it will die soon enough (by being useless). But I loved the IQ and the build quality and those logical menus but I did wanted to try the, newly by then, Micro Four Thirds so I got a Panasonic G1 that I still use it today after 3 years.
Now I do love the G1 for its size and weight (never had any wrists pain even after a hole day of holding it in hand, which couldn't be said the same for K200D) and the buttons count and layout (I never have to enter in Menu except for formatting the memory card). And having an tilt and swivel screen has made macro shots so much fun and painless. Some people can't get used to EVF but I loved it from the start and the "what you see is what you get" is very nice and useful and the only downside is the slowness in low light situation and that using in 3.5 FPS burst mode doesn't keep a live feed, but the size of that thing is huge (compared to entry level DSLR's). Now the only issue that I have, and it's the biggest one, is that of IQ (I do know it's the first generation of Panasonic's Micro Four Thirds sensor) where DR isn't that good, noise level are under control only up to ISO 400-800 but the worst of it is that shadow recovery is poor, barely get 1 EV before noise creeps in and that is an issue for me because I love doing night photography and sometimes I have to underexpose 0.3-0.5 EV to get a more shutter speed and/or keep ISO under 1600. And even a modest +50 sharpness in Lightroom brings a lot of noise even at ISO 100 in bright daylight.
Now K-5 / K-30 / K-5 II / K-5 IIs / K-50 / K-500 have the same sensor (more or less for the tiny improvements of each generation) and give about the same +4 EV DR and 3 to 4 extra stops High ISO performance compared to G1 so that would be a huge jump in IQ if I get any of these DSLR's.
But the reason I originally went for Pentax K200D and I would go back to Pentax is weather sealing (dust and splash proof) because where I, currently, live in the summer I go a lot on the beach and sand and sea water are in my thoughts all the time and the rest of the year I get torrential rain, specially in the winter about 5 days per week. So Pentax DA 18-135mm f 3.5-5.6 ED AL IF DC WR and Pentax DA 55-300mm f 4-5.8 ED WR is a must for me.
Now the dilemma that I have is keeping on the Micro Four Thirds path and upgrade to Olympus OM-D E-M5 or get the Pentax K-30. While I do love the size and weight of the Micro Four Thirds the cheapest weather proof camera is E-M5 and it's still more expensive (withe the kit lens) then half the Pentax DSLR's AND there are only a few and expensive weather proof lenses for Micro Four Thirds (and from what the Four Thirds system thought us it won't be a cheap to get a 28-300/400mm weather sealed system). I do find the Olympus 12-50mm f 3.5-6.3 a disappointment by design (not IQ) because of the shorter 50mm (compared to Pentax 18-135mm), the slow 6.3 aperture, more so coupled with the smaller Four Thirds sensor, forcing you to higher ISO, while the Olympus 12-40mm f 2.8 and Panasonic 12-35mm f 2.8 / 35-100mm f 2.8 very expensive (for my hobbyist needs). I wish Pentax/Panasonic/Olympus would come up with a 24/28-300/450mm equivalent weather proof lens like Nikon.
My first priorities are as fallows:
1) Weather proof (camera and lens)
2) Price (under 1K with weather proof lens)
3) IQ (good DR and at least usable ISO 6400)
As fallows the only two (viable options) are:
Olympus OM-D E-M5 with Olympus 12-50mm f 3.5-5.6, Panasonic 100-300mm f 4-5.6, Panasonic 25mm f 1.7 and Olympus 60mm f 2.8 Macro = 2.5K Euros and 1.5 Kg weight in total.
Pentax K-30 with Pentax DA 18-135mm f 3.5-5.6, Pentax DA 55-300mm f 4-5.8, Pentax DA 35mm f 2.8 Macro, Pentax DA 100mm f 2.8 Macro = 2.2K Euros and 2 Kg weight in total.
So for less 300 euros I get 3 weather sealed lenses and 2 of them dedicated macro instead of just 2 lenses. I have an issue with the lack of macro lenses option on Micro Four Thirds (90mm and 120mm is not a lot of choices there is it ?) and even Four Thirds had only 2 lenses, 70mm and 100mm, so I won't be raising my hopes for an 50mm equivelent 1:1 macro lens or 200-300mm one either.
They (the all mighty blinking Internet) say that Olympus OM-D E-M5 is very close in IQ to that of Pentax K-5 and the technology might be advance to give Micro Four Third's lack of size sensor a close performance to APS-C a run for the money that maybe one day it could just drop APS-C out of existence (just useless speculation here). And some of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 features are really awesome, like Live Bulb (for Night and Astrophotography), Live View Exposure Simulation (the nature of mirrorless design), semi-useful improvised Focus Peaking, Tilt Touch Screen, best in existence IBIS EVER ... but Pentax also has some really impressive features like: Astrotracking with GPS, almost 3 EV shadow recovery, usable (in my opinion) 12800 ISO, AA batteries option, build in time lapse ability, fully featured Focus Peaking, -2 EV focusing ability.
I even thought about Nikon D7000 with 18-300mm f 3.5-5.6 but only those two weight 1.5 Kg but adding Nikon 40mm f 2.8 Macro and Tamron 90mm f 2.8 Macro totals at 2K Euros but with a total of 2.5 Kg. And Nikon's splash proofing doesn't even come close to that of "Sand eating Pentax"
You Tube
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or "Water Dunking Olympus"
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Should I start investing fully into Micro Four Third lenses and wait for Olympus OM-D E-M5 to get cheaper? Or should I jump back to DSLR with either Pentax K-30 / K-50?
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