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Forum: General Talk
02-14-2024, 09:00 AM
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I have one. In M42 mount.
Good for its time, like all the other "C/D P" lenses I have tried.
If I remember correctly you also have the 35mm f/2. Isn't it? [EDIT: found it in a later post]
I would be happy to find the 55mm macro, which I believe could be the best of this line of Soligor/Tokina lenses. Unfortunately it seems to be rather uncommon... but you got oner, so there are a few of them out there.
I have recently used the 2.8/200mm with good results, and previously I used the 2/135mm for low light portraits. I found it quite good for this kind of use.
Both are among the best (third party) fast M42 teles of the mid seventies.
I believe I'm not fully objective with all the Soligor C/D P lenses, cause I'm influenced by their very good mechanical quality.
In the period these lenses were built there was a strong competition between Japanese optical brands and the containment of production costs brought many lens makers to introduce plastic parts, reduce cemented optical elements and opt for less than optimal build designs.
These C/D P lenses are almost as good as the Super (and Super-Multi-Coated) Takumars of the time.
My three "red P" lenses are all working as brand new. I'm wondering if your C/D P lenses are still so smooth and precise as mines.
---------- Post added 14-02-24 at 06:23 PM ----------
Once I made a perfectly working, spot-on infinity Sony FE adapter for my M39 Paxette lenses, I got badly tempted to try on digital a few more odd (and in some case rather primitive) lenses made for the same line of Braun Paxette cameras.
Unfortunately I found that the first version of the Super Paxette had a rangefinder coupled lens... but not interchangeable! :( So I have to gut the camera to try the Staeble Kata -E 2.8/45mm on my Sony. I thought the -E in the name meant interchangeable, but I was wrong: it means rangefinder coupled.
Fortunately the Paxette I just bought has interchangeable lenses. It comes with a beautiful Schneider Xenar 2.8/50mm and an Enna Tele-Ennalyt 3.5/135mm with a beautiful silver livery.
Given the focal and the optical design both lenses should work ok on the stacked sensor of the Sony A7II.
Wide angles with the rear element too close to the sensor can be more problematic...
Braun Paxette with Xenar 2.8/50mm & Tele-Ennalyt 3.5/135mm
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Forum: General Talk
01-17-2024, 04:57 AM
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Bought the same camera looong ago for the same reason: use my Pentax TTL flashes.
I should use it more often. The new P-TTL standard sucks compared to the old one. I did great macros with my LX using a set of two flashes. It could even react to illumination changes in real time. It was a first class flash system, as good as the TTL flash found on some Olympus OM cameras...
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Forum: General Talk
01-07-2024, 10:06 AM
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Hi PB Farmer!
Here you got another real jewel!!
I have a few GREAT 80/105mm lenses, but if we're talking about PORTRAIT objectives, well... the Auto Tak is the best (or very very close to it).
Even compared to the likes of an A Star 1.4/85mm, or a CZJ 1.8/80mm Pancolar, or the great grandpa Helios-40 1.5/85mm, or a blue blood Summicron 2/90mm, or a much cheaper Komura 2.5/105mm (or an even cheaper preset lens of the same focal/speed made by Sankor), the old Auto Takumar stands its ground against them all. None of those lenses outshines this Asahi Pentax jewel. It's smooth but sharp enough, has amazing bokeh and works wonderfully for portraits because of its focal. The team that designed this lens gave it the right touch of spherical aberration, which helps to deliver a pleasant rendering of human features (perfect for female portraits!).
I see no reason that could prevent a nice marriage with the sensor of your Fuji cameras.
Have fun
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
01-07-2024, 03:57 AM
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After a few years of restraint, it seems I'm falling prey to GAS once more.
I found a decently priced Super Multi Coated Takumar 2.8/120mm, which is one of the three focals I haven't already covered, among the "weird focal lenghts" ever made by Pentax.
I already had a 15mm, 30mm, 77mm, and 105mm in PK mount, and a beautiful S-M-C Takumar 150mm. Soon the 150mm will be reunited with its smaller 120mm brother.
Both the 31mm and the 43mm are missing, .. and will most likely stay that way. I use manual focus 95% of the times, and all the limiteds cost plenty of money. If I had that money I would probably go first for a couple of much older bokeh monsters.
I don't have many Takumars, because screw mount lenses are not very ergonomic on the K-1, but now I own a Sony Alpha, so I can leave the adapter on and exchange the lenses with ease... at least when I want to go out with the lighter camera.
Though I have one thing to say about the Super Multi Coated line of lenses: the build is unsurpassed!! I love the all metal rings and the quality of the assembly.
With this line of lenses Pentax made manual focus objectives at the best level of workmanship. Maybe THE best. Do you agree?
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Forum: General Talk
01-04-2024, 01:16 PM
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After seeing the spectacular pictures I am getting from my Isco Ultra-Star 80mm cinema projection lens, I'm all-in with adapting alt lenses :)
So I bought a new clamp for the Isco. This way it will be firmly attached to the front of the helicoid.
In reality it was secured well enough using the very rough anti-slip adhesive tape that is often found on the slippery steps of some stairs.
I also bought a new M65 helicoid, complete of the M65 to M42 adapter ring.
I could have gone for a Sony FE conversion, but I went for the M42 mount because this way it will be possible to use the same lens on Pentax PK, Sony FE and m4/3 mount cameras.
The Isco worked ok also on the M58 helicoid, however the new M65 helicoid would allow to use the same hardware also with the Visionar 1.9/141mm that waits since very long to be converted.
I have seen the bokeh of the Visionar: it seems it can compete with the bokeh of the Isco/Schneider cinema lenses. I really can't wait.... the Visionars are spectacular lenses, if you can live with no diaphragm and very thin DOF.
While waiting to try the huge number of manual focus lenses I still haven't had the time/chance to test on the Sony A7II, I decided that at least I should try to have a single lens usable in AF, if the need arises... or until I can find a second-hand Monster Adapter to use my supported Pentax PKAF lenses on the Sony.
I found a like-new Sony FE 1.8/50 at half the price and I bought it. I had the time to shoot a few test pictures and the performance is not bad at all. A pity that the AF hunts a lot with close subjects.
I have a large plastic box at home, filled with projection lenses.
Should be enough of adaptations for this life and the next, but I couldn't resist: I bought a set of very dirty projection lenses for 1 euro plus shipment. I offered the seller to pay 20 euros shipped, so she could at least recover the gas to go to the post office :)
The parcel arrived, was picked up by a friend, but for a few months I will not find out what can be cleaned up and what's damaged beyond recovery, until I'm back home.
A couple of them seem to be just dusty. From the pics its' difficult to tell...
The set is made of four standard projection lenses plus an anamorphic, advertised in the original auction as:
- Rodenstock - Splendon f = 450 mm A
- ohne Beschriftung
- ISCO - Göttingen Anamorphotic - Kiptar 2x 953991
- ohne Beschriftung
- ISCO - Göttingen Projar 1:4,3 / 250 315391
The two optics inside the tube, with non readable inscriptions, might be shorter in focal and thus more usable than the 450mm and 250mm (which could be too long to be cinema lenses, maybe it's overhead projector or magic lantern objectives).
Whoever has a clue or sees something familiar is invited to provide some info.
Here is the set:
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Forum: General Talk
01-04-2024, 10:54 AM
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The two lines I just quoted were the written comment of a couple of pics portraying the best Pentax lens ever...well, the best I ever owned, al least:
the Pentax-A Star 1:1.4 f=85mm
I had kept my A Star lenses like delicate pets, pampered and protected, always away from possible theft or damage.
Recently I decided that those lenses had to be put to good use more often: I brought the 1.4/85mm with me in a journey to the USA and the 2.8/200mm onboard a tall ship. The K-1 felt honored and responded giving me beautiful pictures!
I am sure you will enjoy your 85mm a lot. Having this lens is a privilege.
Mine came without a hood. I bough it in the eighties after selling the Pentax-M 2/85mm. I think it came with box and original caps, but the shade was extra, IIRC.
I see you got the hood. That's great. To find the right kind of hood, after all these years, I recently decided to buy a Chinese hood with the right length and width... but I still have a saved search on Ebay for a Pentax MH-RA 67 second hand :)
This is the one I bought, tired of waiting for the original one sold at acceptable price, Seems a bit too short to me:
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Forum: General Talk
01-02-2024, 08:19 AM
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It's an early version (because of the "silver" diaphragm ring) of the 3.2/135mm in Konica AR mount. I'd say it's from the late seventies.
Which camera? I'm not a Konica expert. Not at all. But I have recently discovered that some not so common (and not so famous) Konica Hexanon and Fujica X-Fujinon lenses are actually very good, and well worth trying.
Before I had no interest because I almost exclusively used my Pentax K-1. The only lens I had tried (on m4/3) was the famous Konica/Tokina pancake 1.8/40mm , with surprisingly good results.
Now I also have a Sony A7II, so I have practically no brand limitations... so I decided to get the Hexanon 3.2/135mm, which is believed to be one of the best medium speed 135mm lenses of its age. I don't have the right adapter at hand, so I will try this lens in a while. Same for the X-Fujinon 1.2/50mm (actually its Porst copy): the adapter arrived two days after I had to leave for abroad. I will try it extensively after I go back.
The K-1 is still my favorite camera, by a lot actually, but it's a real liberation to be able to try lenses I couldn't use on PK mount.
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Forum: General Talk
12-17-2023, 04:59 PM
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I have very few lenses that don't have either PK or M42 mounts, cause I almost always used Pentax DSLR cameras. My two m4/3 bodies were rarely used, and only when I really needed a pocketable camera.
Now the situation has changed. I finally decided to buy an old (but well preserved) Sony A7 II, which has an almost limitless adaptability.
There were two "families" of lenses I always found intriguing: Fujica Fujinon AX and Konica Hexanon AR. A pity I couldn't use any of them... but now I do! :)
After finding a Fujinon 1.2/50mm for a rather decent price a couple months ago, I just got a beautiful Konica Hexanon 3.2/135mm (early version with "silver" diaphragm ring). Both lenses were an old desire, because they are well regarded by many.
Paid 30.99 USD for this beauty:
Konica Hexanon AR F3.2 135mm
Other small photographic toys I recently bought are the parts that I needed to assemble a working adaptation (that can reach infinity!) for a beautiful Isco Ultra-Star 80mm projection lens that had sat for too long in a drawer.
The last missing bit was a M58x0.75 to M42x1 adapter ring that finally allows to focus further away than about 7/8 meters. The ring I used before had a different pitch (58mmx1), so that it coudn't be screwed all the way down into the helicoid.
The Isco "Blue Star" looks gorgeous, and is really a bokeh monster. I'm glad I finally decided to adapt it
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Forum: General Talk
11-30-2023, 03:34 AM
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I have been looking for a 58mm hood for tele lenses since quite a long time. I wanted an original one, preferably the one with the clips. Unfortunately the price (shipment included!) has always been too high to make for an interesting purchase.
In the end I found a beautiful Super-Takumar 4/200mm with original caps and quiver, in exceptional conservation state, that has cost me roughly double than the average cost of the hood alone. The hood I got doesn't have the clips, but it's reversible, which means that it can be stored on the lens, taking no extra space.
I already have the 2.8/200mm A Star, 4/200mm A, Takumar 5.6/200mm, SMC Takumar 6x7 4/200mm, so the purchase in itself doesn't make much sense... but I like Asahi Pentax lenses, and if the price is right I find it difficult to say no :)
BTW, none of the lenses I already had has the same optical scheme, so at least I can say that I went for a slightly different optical signature :)
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Forum: General Talk
11-26-2023, 12:00 PM
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Second time I buy a lens by mistake!
I thought I was bidding for another Jupiter, but I ended up winning the wrong one :(
It wasn't even a new acquisition, cause what I got is a less desirable version of a lens I bought long long time ago.
I remember I had just bought second hand a Leica M5 and CL, not so long after the two cameras were released. I wanted to buy a faster, longer "normal" for those cameras.
I chose a beautiful Jupiter-3 1.5/50mm, silver version. After some time I found another Sonnar copy: an even older Jupiter-8, sporting the same kind of rounded tab on the focusing ring that can be found on Leitz Elmars.
Both lenses are beautiful, and both work great on digital cameras with short register. I love the Sonnar bokeh.This is why I recently decided to look for another Sonnar copy made by the Soviet optical industry: the Jupiter-9 2/85mm.
Long long time ago, when I owned a Fed 5 "Olympic" outfit, for a short time I also owned the Jupiter-9.I liked it, and recently I decided to look for an M42 version.
I got so happy when I thought I had won one for a very reasonable price... until I realized that what I won was the Jupiter-8 instead. And of all version I got the more recent, less desirable all-black version!
KMZ Jupiter-8 2/50
Black version, early nineties, made in Krasnogorsk
I might have found the Jupiter-9. Fingers crossed... maybe will never leave Ukraine
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Forum: General Talk
11-23-2023, 02:23 AM
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I'm usually at a loss trying to compensate my friend/repairman for his work on some lens/camera that needs repairs.
He always refuses money... which by the way makes it difficult to complain when after a year or more he hasn't done even half of what he had to do :)
He collects old stereo cameras, but finding something he didn't already own is an almost impossible (or hugely expensive) job.
Last time I gave him a couple of like new, identical repro lenses that could be useful if he ever attempts to build a stereo camera for large format cut film.
This time I found an interesting item that he might like. I bought it for myself, in case I ever decide to shoot video with an anamorphic.
Unfortunately there is some fungus, so I decided that he might clean it and keep it for himself (for actual use or for sale).
The lens is an historical piece. Like the original Chretien anamorphic (later sold to Twentieth Century Fox as Cinemascope), it's a french design. Must have been a competitor of the Cinemascope.
It's called Satec Dyaliscope-Color, probably late fifties or early sixties.
It's an impressive in size and weight, much more than what you'd think from the pics.
It was originally used for cinema halls projections, in front of the standard projector's lens (when the movie was shot in Cinemascope).
Nowadays it can be used in front of a taking lens, but the weight and size call for a strong support rail, not just a clamp.
I believe the contrast would be low, even after it's cleaned, but I believe it could have a distinct "cinematic" optical signature.
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Forum: General Talk
11-13-2023, 03:13 PM
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Regarding the matter of adapting old lenses on tiny, cheap m4/3 cameras, from my understanding the old range of Olympus 4/3 lenses should work fine on both Oly and Pana bodies even using a super cheap chinese knock-off of the original converter made by Olympus (which is not so difficult to find second hand, BTW).
I have stuck to Pentax bodies for looong time, until very recently - just acquired a Sony A7II - and my only option to use vintage short register optics was an m4/3 body.
I originally purchased a small, very nice Olympus E-PL3 with that in mind, but with very little knowledge about that range of cameras. It happened to be a lucky choice, cause shortly afterward I realized that some later models weren't as desirable.
IIRC, in some successive models the manual controls were reduced, and the sensor stayed the same. I'm not sure if the statement also applies to E-P* cameras, but I'm pretty sure that when I checked the functions of E-PL* cameras, I found that some of the newer models were clearly aimed at the kind of user that would just point and shoot, not much thinking attached :)
After a few years I decided to go for a better sensor and a better, stronger build. I went for one of the few Panasonic cameras that had shake reduction and was aimed primarily at still photography: the DMC-GX8.
I had found a second-hand GX8 camera for a decent price and decided to buy it. Not as dirty cheap as the E-PL3 but very much worth its money.
The build is exceptional, the viewfinder can be oriented 45 degrees or vertically, and the sensor is very good (though the E-PL3's sensor isn't bad at all!).
One small word of advice. The very small Olympus silver zoom that sits on the Panasonic in the posted picture is a great lens for its price, but I believe that it heavily relies on in-camera corrections, so the raw files aren't fully "raw". Unfortunately Panasonic cameras don't have the embedded info needed for those corrections, so I think the lens would perform slightly worse. For this reason I bought a tiny Panasonic zoom that also works great on its system because it gets all the needed adjustments.
Though I've used PK, M42 and Konica AR lenses with satisfaction, the best experience I got came from short register lenses. First in line LTM and LM mount lenses.
I also had great fun with C-mount objectives for 16mm cine cameras, and the line of Pentax-110 optics for the tiny reflex of the same name.
One caveat: not all 16mm lenses fully cover the format. The one I just tried did. From personal experience, all the Pentax-110 lenses seem to cover without problems, I have all of them (but the rare pancake with no focusing).
In the following pictures:
Panasonic DMC-GX8 with Som Berthiot 1.9/25mm
Olympus E-PL3 with Pentax-110 zoom 2.8/20-40mm - the lens is fitted via a rare 3D-printed adapter that incorporates a conventional multi-leaf iris, that sits precisely in the same place as the iris of the original Pentax 110
For some strange reason the adapter doesn't fit the Panasonic, maybe a tolerance problem, maybe a slight difference in mount design... so I decided not to try to force it and use the adapter on the Olympus exclusively (which in the meantime has acquired a nice accessory viewfinder).
To give an idea of the physical proportions of the different cameras, here is family portrait with a Sony A7II - which is fitted with a Techart LM-EA7 AF adapter, a Leica M to M42 ring, and a CZJ Biotar 2/58mm
I think I have Flickr examples of the mentioned lenses (and some others) adapted to my two m4/3 cameras.
Ask if interested
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Forum: General Talk
11-12-2023, 05:18 PM
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I always had a special liking for very fast vintage primes, particular f/1.2 fifties.
Given my single minded attachment to Pentax cameras I couldn't stray too far: the choice was limited to M42 or PK lenses.
I find screw mount lenses more difficult to use, so I decided to stick to three objectives: Pentax K (a pity it's not the A), Revuenon/Tomioka (my favorite) and Porst/Cosina.
I might have used them on m4/3, but it never happened, cause I kind of prefer to use optics on the format they were designed for.
Now the situation has changed. I own a Sony A7II. I find the image quality not as good as the Pentax K-1, but I gained a lot on flexibility. From now on, I will use the K-1 only when the photographic opportunities call for it.
It's a pity that the new horizon of possible choices finds my wallet totally unprepared :)
Though there are times I really can't pass. I always desired an X-Fujinon EBC 1.2/50mm (in old Fujica X mount).
From the pictures I have seen and the reviews I've read it might well be the best vintage non-aspheric f/1.2 fiftie.
There was no reason to pursue one, cause I had no way to actually take pictures with it.
Not anymore... so when I saw a Porst CR-7 (same as Fujica AX-5) on auction, I went for it.
The camera had the exact, identical copy of the coveted X-Fujinon. Only the beauty ring is changed.
t's called (what a silly long name!) Porst Color Reflex 1:1.2/50mm UMC X-M G
It seems that this lens is a kind of collector's item nowadays.
On eBay I found the Porst for around €850, and the X-Fujinon for €1600 (sic).
Of course I paid much much less, s'en va a dir :)
Here is the picture of the camera from the auction page.
The lens arrived just before I had to leave for a few months, though the adapter missed the deadline... which means that I will play with my new toy only in due time, unfortunately.
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Forum: General Talk
09-18-2023, 05:48 PM
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New Apple silicon computers are fast, I can't deny it. And Rosetta 2 is impressively fast too.
I bought the first Mini (M1) shortly after it came out, in basic config, and I have no reasons to complain.
They are not good for everything, though.
Short time ago I saw the graphic benchmarks of an old Mac Pro 5,1 (2010) that a friend of mine pushed quite far, both hardware and sofware (but not to its extreme limits).
The graphic performance trashes the poor Mini, and for some kind of uses is at the level of a Studio (or maybe even beats it).
Impressive, isn' it?
After a few days I got a phone call and was offered a Mac Pro 3,1 for free.
I decided to get it. I upgraded it with a few parts I had at home, and spent around 100 euros for a couple more.
Waiting for a new GPU I am running High Sierra and Windows 11, but after I'm done it will triple boot Mojave, Monterey and Windows 11.
Playing with this upgrade I got so excited that on a whim I decided to buy another Intel-based Mac Pro. It's the trashcan 6,1 late 2013 ( in 32GB RAM, 1TB NVME, dual D300 GPU configuration). Not much to upgrade, but I just got for free from another friend a more powerful 8-cores Xeon processor that will take the place of the original one.
Paid the trashcan around 400 euros plus shipment. In a month or so it will go into my suitcase and will find a new home in south east Asia, where I live part of the year.
This way, wherever I go, I will find a computer tha runs a modern Mac OS version and also runs Windows 11.
I have my Lightroom library in an external enclosure that follows me wherever I go, and either runs at 10Mb/sec or 5Mb/sec, depending on the machine. Enough for Lightroom.
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Forum: General Talk
09-11-2023, 04:23 AM
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After a long stasis, this summer I restarted acquiring new toys.
Here is a new (to me) Sony A7II, attached to its strap using a set of cheap chinese connectors that allow to quickly attach/detach either a shoulder strap or wrist safety holder to/from the camera. After the first purchase I bought three more to be also used on other cameras.
A beautifully looking Edixar 1.8/55mm sits on top of a M42>LM adapter, that in turn is attached to a Techart PRO LM-EA7.
I found the Techart new old stock at half the price and couldn't pass. After reprogramming the EXIF passed to the camera at the various f/stops, it works fine with small LM/LTM/adapted optics. Knowing that it easily gets wobbly in a rather short time, if stressed, I will limit its use to smallish wide/standard lenses. I bought two adapters (PK and M42 to Leica M), but I realised that it is best used with Leica M and LTM lenses, including some soviet ones. I tried Paxette lenses too, but even among Paxette lenses there are a few that are too heavy/bulky, and I felt the strain on the badly designed internal mechanics. I will fix the front plate screws with a minimal amount of nail polish or Loctite and avoid any heavy lens. It should last a good amoun of time this way...
The Edixar lens came attached to a rather uncommon Edixa Universa Edixamat Cd. A few days before I had bought a nice Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85mm in M42 mount, complete with its own original (battered) case.
No, the Edixar has nothing to do with Rodenstock :)
It is one of the best looking 55mm Tomiokas, though. I find it a beauty of a lens!
The following pics show details of a Steinheil Culminar 2.8/85mm, together with the latest addition to my growing collection of Sankor-made early preset objectives. It's a U.G.L Condoron 4.5/200mm. As soon as it came in the mail, I attached to the lens a PK T-mount ring and a 55mm cap. Now it will be perfectly usable on both my trusted K-1 and my new A7II.
I have no great expectations. If it ever proves to be worth just one third of the Sankors 2.5/105mm, I would still call it a good find. Those 105mm's are terrific.
Already tried the Edixar and the Culminar. They proved satisfactory, especially for their out of focus rendition.
Not included in the pictures are around seven adapters for Sony E mount, plus a couple more adapters for Leica M, to be used on the Techart AF converter.
I guess a few more will come...
From now on, I will use the K-1 only when it's required. I still consider it my No.1 camera.
I tried with all my best to like the APS-C format, to no avail. As a huge fan of vintage glasses, especially fast/super fast primes, the APS-C format always seemed kind of wrong to me... until the K-1 came out, and it was love at first sight.
While I still love optical viewfinders, the weight of the camera is not always welcomed anymore. If I have to carry the camera for a long walk the Sony is much, much easier to hold. I guess that in the future I will dedicate the K-1 to some "serious stuff", and opt for the A7II if I get out for a walk and bring a camera just in case.
At times I will still use m4/3 cameras, either if I need something pocket-able (using a very old Oly E-PL3 wih accessory viewfinder), or for the rare occurrences I need to take videos (my not_so_new GX8 is quite good at it). The E-PL3 and the GX8 are also great for adapted lenses, like old 16mm cine objectives, or using Pentax-110 optics on a custom made adapter with iris.
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Forum: General Talk
07-07-2023, 07:03 PM
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I had the old (red band) APO version. Well.I still have it somewhere, but is literally infested by fungi.
I don't really know if the gold band is better, mechanically could be even worse, but AFAIK there isn't a big difference.
I'm more sure about the optical quality versus some consumer FA zooms, like the 100-300mm Powerzoom, or the 80-320mm. the Sigma APO is better. Especially at close range.
I don't know which is the FA 100-300mm you mentioned. I have both. The dark grey Powerzoom version (optically identical to the Pentax-F, if I remember correctly) is definitely inferior to the Sigma. The later silver version is probably more or less at the same level, but I would still choose the Sigma APO, because it's more versatile.
For example the macro range, unlike most zooms, is definitely usable.
Here is an example:
 K5II8094 by spaulein, on Flickr
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Forum: General Talk
01-30-2023, 04:29 AM
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Will try.
I am in another country now, with another computer, so I don't have traces of the purchase... but I believe that in some way I might be able to connect you with the right person.
I need little time. If you don't hear from me, feel free to message me around mid April. By that time I should be back in Italy.
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
01-26-2023, 09:06 AM
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It was made by a german guy. Bought it on Ebay if I'm not mistaken.
He made a few in Sony E mount and a few in m4/3 mount.
The adapters are made from a 3D printed part plus an iris assembly.
The diaphragm sits in the same place as the original one (behind the lens, in the original 110 camera it was inside the camera body).
Not sure they are still available though.
Regarding my previous message, I made a mistake. I have FIVE out of six of the original Pentax-110 lenses.
I had the 18mm, 24mm and 50mm with the camera. After some time I found the 70mm, together with the 20-40mm zoom. Never seen in real life the 18mm pan-focus, that I believe was sold in very small quantity.
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
01-26-2023, 06:11 AM
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Well done!
I have the same set of lenses, including the hard-to-find zoom.
Here is the 50 on top of a little Olympus E-PL3. The german made adapter WITH IRIS works great!!
No coverage problems at all on m4/3.
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
01-10-2023, 02:38 PM
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I haven't checked the forum for quite long, probably just a couple of times in the last three years.
Since then, having almost no chances to take the kind of pics I like, I ended up not using my K-1 that much, and also managed to keep my appetite for new old lenses under check.
During my hiatus I just bought five lenses.
At first I purchased these four lenses (around two and a half years ago):
Saiga (Sankor) 2.8/135mm M42
Komuranon 2.8/135mm PK
Helios 44-2 2/58mm M42 (another version)
aus Jena 2.8/135mm (export version, older than the Zeiss Jena Sonnar 135mm MC version I already had)
The pictures are available here:
Almost three yers ago
Around one and a half years ago I finally found the Vivitar/Kiron 2.8/100mm Macro 1:1 for a decent price and even if I wasn't taking pictures I decided to buy it.
Fortunately I just had the chance to use it a lot on a sail ship journey, and the results have been really satisfying.
It's the same lens as the Vivitar Series 1 2.5/100mm Macro, with the same optics. It just looks different.
I have read that somebody compared the two lenses and found that the f/2.8 version was slightly better, but I believe that it's just due to sample variance.
Lenses that old can perform quite differently one example from the other.
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
08-29-2021, 06:05 PM
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After a long pause I just bought a new (to me) lens I've always wanted to try. It's the famous Kiron 100/105mm macro. I found the Vivitar 100mm f/2.8 version in PKA mount, which is exactly the same lens as the Vivitar Series 1 2.5/105mm, Lester E Dine, Kiron... just with a slightly different build.
I found online suggestions that the former non-series 1 version could have been better, even a photo magazine comparative that tested the two lenses at the same time. I wouldn't be so sure about that, I tend to believe that it could have been due to sample variation, not a real optical difference.
Had little time to test it properly, but I already found that the sharpness is very good even wide open. With the diaphragm ring on A position it's a pleasure to use on my K-1.
I promised myself that this is the last 100mm macro I buy. This is the fifth, I already had way more than enough, but I have always wanted this one, so I made an exception :-)
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Forum: General Talk
07-30-2021, 09:36 PM
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After wholeheartedly concurring with your appreciation for the A Star 1.4/85mm... here I am supporting your little pearl of wisdom regarding PK/A Adaptall-2 adapters :-)
I love/hate these thingies. Most of my most loved Adaptall lenses were either purchased with the "A" adapter, or found one along the way, cause I find much easier to use a lens with camera-controlled diaphragm than to always remember to go green button, not to mention support for ttl-flash and such. Unfortunately these adapters are moody, and not always easy to be swapped from lens to lens according to the need. Personally I found that some adapters that don't work well (or at all!) with one objective can be matched to another lens more easily, or that the same adapter/lens combo can work, as by magic, only after a number of tentatives.
To all those who love their SP lenses, please consider Pepperberry Farm's suggestion: if a PK/A adapter works well, consider leaving it on. If you need another one, take the time to find a decently priced one or (could be cheaper) buy a dirty cheap lens with the adapter attached.
The only lenses that don't benefit from the presence of the electric contact are the catadioptrics, and the only lens that has a small functional problem is the SP 5.6/300mm (but with an easy hack the max aperture can be read correctly).
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Forum: General Talk
07-30-2021, 05:36 PM
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Oh yes, she's the queen of MF 85mm's, not just among Pentax lenses, some believe it dominates even across brands! For sure very few Pentax lenses enjoy the same consideration.
Given the cult status (and value) I'm a bit hesitant to carry it with me if I'm a little afraid of theft or damage.
Fortunately for exclusive portrait use I have another favorite that might even be preferable if sharpness is not an issue: the old Auto Takumar 1.8/85mm. Unfortunately I don't find the use of M42 objectives very practical. I would feel better if I had a second K-1 body always fitted with the screw mount adapter...
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Forum: General Talk
07-15-2021, 09:37 PM
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I hope you already started to enjoy this beautiful lens.
I have the non-Anniversary version, like yours. Makes zero practical difference.
About a year ago I did an impromptu comparative test of my best 180/200mm lenses in PK and M42 mounts. The Tamron SP came out second, clearly beating very good optics like the MC Sonnar 2.8/200mm M42. Only the Pentax-A Star 2.8/200mm did better.
For portrait use on full frame the Tamron is preferable, though.
I see that most of these lenses (including mine and, from what I see, yours) are sold without hood. The original Tamron hood is difficult to come by and usually very expensive.
Personally I gave up trying to find one and will probably try to adapt a cheap second hand substitute. It has taken ages to find the original hood for the Tamron SP 17mm. I recently found one for cheap in a set of worthless accessories, that included in the description only another remotely desirable item: a Takumar hood. The picture wasn't clear at all, I bid anyway, won the auction, and finally found that the mysterious hood branded "Tamron" was in fact the rare one specifically made for the 17mm! For a few years I had tried my best to come up with other creative solutions, adapting other hoods, but all of them produced vignetting on FF.
The 180mm needs a hood cause the front element is exposed, but I'm not willing to spend a few more years to find the original one. I believe a Chinese metal/plastic hood would do, cause there is no risk of vignetting this time...
Cheers
Paolo
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Forum: General Talk
06-30-2021, 04:49 PM
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Great group shot of some of the best "K" (SMC Pentax) lenses. I have all of them but the 1.4/50mm (I have the same lens in M and FA incarnations).
The 2.5/135mm, 1.2/50mm, 3.5/28mm, 3.5/35mm and 3.5/24mm are all very, very good. IMHO the 24mm is better than the successive f/2.8 version, also sold as Pentax-A with electric contacts. Great choice!
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