|
Forum: General Talk
09-19-2018, 11:54 AM
|
| |
An auto extension tube set (13/21/31mm) with PK-A/R mount for the equivalent of <$25.
Noname, but marked "Japan".
I own an auto set (also 13/21/31) without the A contacts, and a non-auto set with other lengths.
But I was looking for a PK/A combo since I bought my Super A in 1985.
I just don't use extensions often enough to justify the price tag with which these usually are offered.
.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
09-04-2018, 11:24 AM
|
| |
Today I got a "like fresh from factory" ME Super for the equivalent of USD 23.
My first one (not my first SLR, but my very first Pentax), which I bought used in 1981 now has so many issues it would be crazy to try to fix them.
The replacement I got from eBay a couple of years ago now does not cock anymore (or at least only sometimes) with film transport. 30 (or even 15) years ago I would have tried to repair it, but now my fingers are just not steady enough.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
04-21-2018, 05:35 PM
|
| |
For the older body you will find the original manual with pictures here:
http://www.cameramanuals.org/agfa_ansco/agfa_optima_500.pdf
A picture of the later model (I think it was sold till the mid seventies) you can find here:
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Agfa_Optima_500
When, at the age of 15-16, we stayed in the Netherlands for a fortnight (from school), nearly everyone took a camera with him/her. and there were several cameras with the Apotar, and also with the Agnar. After that journey, we could compare the IQ from slides, as many of us had shot the same subjects.
And more about old cameras:
http://www.ukcamera.com/classic_cameras/
These are mostly germany ones; but that's easy to understand.
Till the rising of japanese manufactured equipment in the mid sixties cameras came from Germany.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
04-21-2018, 02:44 PM
|
| |
Agfa Optima 500:
There was an early model with the body of the original Optima, and a more modern looking and smaller one with a different combined aperture/shutter mechanism.
But both are using the Agfa Color Apotar 2.8/45, which is just a trplet, but one of the best ever made. The difference to the Agfa Color Solinar (4 elements) is marginal. And be aware of Agfas with the cheaper triplet Agfa Color Agnar. They were "good enough" for their time, but with slides you could easily see the difference in resolution and micro contrast.
----
Just got a SMC Pentax-A 2.8/35.
For the last 2 years I had looked for this lens, but on eBay they were all much more expensive than the limit I had set for myself.
Now I finally bought one for €65 from Belgium. It replaces my M 2.8/35, which suffers from lazy aperture. I had tried to fix that problem (even bought a set of JIIS tools), but the screws did not move at all, so I gave up. It was still usable at F2.8-5.6, but for smaller apertures it just closed too late. Obviously it was not too late for getting correct values up to F16 from stop down metering (for the aperture set by me), but for the shoot itself it was just F5.6.
First impressions:
The lens looks used on the outside, but the optics are clear, aperture is fast, and aperture ring does not show any problems.
And first pictures stunned me. It now seems to be my sharpest lens (even borders and corners on APS-C/K-5)! Maybe I got a very good copy, but resolution is equal or better than the same scenary recently shot with my A 1.4/50, M 2.8/35, Agfa Color 2.8/35 (=Chinon, VERY good), and CZJ Flektogon 2.4/35.
And at infinity it even seems to top my M 1.7/50.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
12-30-2017, 04:39 PM
|
| |
@WPRESTO
If you caught LBA, this cannot happen. Except, of course, there is a SWMBO.
@ChrisPlatt
These are occasionally seen on German eBay (I think labeled Prakticar, not Flektogon, but these are the same lenses). You can get them MUCH cheaper than the Flektogons, just as with the Rollei HFT lenses vs. the West German Zeiss (Distagon?) ones. Is it possible to stack a Praktika-M42 with a M42-PK adapter? The Praktika register distance is 1mm less than the K-mount distance, so it seems barely possible.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
12-30-2017, 03:47 PM
|
| |
A CZJ Flektogon 2.4/35mm for only €93 (including an adaptor I don't need).
On german eBay, these usually go for €120-€150, but it seems on the day before Christmas eve only hard core eBayers would bid.
On the outside it looks kind of used, but optics are clear, aperture ok and distance ring turns smoothly. Resolution/sharpness seems to be ok, but I still have to do some more elaborated tests.
I must be crazy, as I already own a bunch of 35mm lenses:
- RMC Tokina 2.8/35mm (aperture stuck at 2.8). Quite soft at 2.8. This and the fact I got it very cheap did not encourage me to try a fix.
- Revuenon special 2.8/35mm (M42). I got it for near to nothing, as the seller had not bothered to clean it on the outside, and it looked terrible not only on the pictures. A good outside cleaning cured this. The IQ was a very positive surprise, but the lens is big and quite heavy. I am not sure about the manufacturer, but it probably was an East German one.
- Agfa Color 2.8/35mm (K bayonet). These were delivered with the last series of Agfa SLRs in the mid eighties, which were made by Chinon (with camera body design of Agfa). IQ seems to be on par with the Pentax-M 2.8/35mm (no tests, just comparing and pixel peeping real pictures). Unfortunately, no clicks from the extremly light going aperture ring; so one of the former owners probably used it for video.
- SMC Pentax-M 2.8/35mm. This was one of my first eBay buys, many years ago. It turned out it suffers from the well known slow aperture syndrom. It reacts fast enough up to F5.6, but for smaller apertures it reacts too slow. Just to fix this lens I ordered a set of JIS screwdrivers from the US (Moody), but the screws turned out to be absolutely stuck, so I gave up.
- Additionally, I own a very big amount of zooms which cover 35mm, but only the Tokina AT-X 2.8/35-70 is fast enough. But it often is too soft at 2.8.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
11-09-2017, 11:57 AM
|
| |
A Meike D-BG4 (Chinese clone of the Pentax battery grip for the K-7/K-5). From eBay, described "as good as new").
€ 5.- (plus € 5.90 for registered shipment).
I was the only bidder.
I am not sure I will ever really need it, but at this price I could not withstand.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-28-2017, 08:07 AM
|
| |
A Pentax K-5 (low S/N, but only 10.400 actuations) for € 199. In seemingly very good condition.
Since several years, I had set myself a limit to buy a used K-5 only if it drops to €200 or less. Now it happened.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
07-07-2017, 11:36 AM
|
| |
@35mmfilmfan
That was my average between the age of 21 (returning from the army) and near to 40.
Then I had a lot of jobs in Mediterranean and South-East Europe (where really good wine in pubs was much cheaper than mineral water) and in South East Asia (terrible taste, mostly). During that time I reverted to wine (my parents just loved good wine, but drank beer maybe twice a year). And since doctors ruled out alcohol as a healthy food replacement, it's just 2-3 bottles of wine (or champagne at celebrations) a year. Honestly, I seldom miss it.
To add to this thread:
Today I received a SMC-DA 4.0/16-45 for € 130. Some quick shots seeem to indicate it is ok, but over the weekend I may do more tests. I wonder whether the Italian seller (eBay) is also a PF member, and reads these lines.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
03-05-2014, 06:33 AM
|
| |
Won on eBay auctions the last 3 days:
Pentax *ist DS body $77.-
Pentax Rear Converter-A 2X-S $60.-
Pentax Refconverter "M" $43.-
The DS will be a backup to my K200D, and the true TTL flash control may come handy.
The Rear Converter will replace my Kenko 2X KAX Teleplus MC7.
The Refconverter will replace my Oly OM one (which is ok and fully metal, but the reversed image is cumbersome at times).
Nothing has arrived yet.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
10-19-2013, 12:08 PM
|
| |
@Jean Poitiers
In case you are uncertain about production date:
I got the Silette II as a Christmas present by my parents in 1962 (I still have it somewhere).
The "new" Silette II (there had a been predecessor with the same name) was exactly the same as your LK, with 3 exceptions:
- The light meter was missing
- The focus ring was black plastic instead of chrome
- It had a delayed-action-timer
As my parents had little knowledge about photographic equipment, I had done a lot of research. I remember the predecessor had a fully metal body, and at that time could still be found on the shelves of many stores. So the triple (Silette I, Silette II, Silette LK) had not been for long in production in late 1962.
During the following years, Agfa also put the cheaper models of the Selecta/Selectronic (coupled light meter) and the Optima (fully automatic) in the same body.
I still remember the price at the time I got the camera: DM 108, the Silette LK was (so I think) DM 138 or 148. Prices at that time were still fixed. Like most companies, Agfa would stop selling to any shop which tried to sell it cheaper.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
10-18-2013, 09:30 AM
|
| |
An universal viewfinder for my Russian/Ukrainian Leica clones (true zooming from 35-210mm FF; parallax compensation down to 1m).
Built by the German company TEWE, most likely before or during WWII (S/N 3253).
Tewe Polyfocus Viewfinder
In their time they were sold for premium prices.
And on eBay auctions they still go for €30-€90, the direct buy offers are mostly much higher than €100.
The seller had offered it for auction and direct buy (€15). He either did not know the market value, or accidently typed in a low price. I happened to see it just after the offer had emerged, and bought immediately.
It looks heavily used (no surprise after 70+ years), but optics and mechanics are ok.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
08-25-2013, 05:29 PM
|
| |
Just won a SMC Pentax-M 2.8/35 at eBay.
I still have a Tokina RMC 2.8/35 (K) and a Revuenon Special 2.8/35 (M42).
They both aren't crap, but also not far above average.
I recently haven't used 35mm as often as I used to, so I didn't really NEED this Pentax.
But I got it for Ł25.60, and at the currently cheap British Pound it didn't seem a bad deal.
If it is a good copy, I will sell the Tokina.
The Revuenon may find its place for macro experiments, as it may not sell easily (I had to remove some of the paint at the mount to make it work on my K200D).
|
|
Forum: General Talk
08-03-2013, 08:52 AM
|
| |
I just got a Gossen Profisix lightmeter (in the US named Luna-Pro sbc) for EUR 40.50.
Gossen Profisix / Lunasix F - Camera-wiki.org - The free camera encyclopedia
I had looked for this light meter for some time, but the usual price they went on eBay was in the range of EUR 65 to EUR 100. As I have a Gossen Sixtar, which is very reliable and much smaller (about 1/3 of the volume of the Profisix), it wasn't urgent and I could wait for a good bargain. And that's what I got - when I opened the small package, it turned out the device was in mint condition (looked unused)!
Well, there are 4 disadvantages of the Sixtar which made me want to get additionally the Profisix:
- Reliable and repeatable measurements are only possible down to LV -1 to LV -2; so it offers only limited use at night. The Profisix is absolutely reliable down to at least LV -5.
- Mercury cells are obsolete. I already had to switch to cinc-air batteries, which are very cheap, but must be replaced about every 3-4 months to get reliable results. If you don't need a lightmeter very often, you may forget about this.
- As a dial has to be turned to initially read the LV, and with then continued measurement the needle is not calibrated in LVs, the Sixtar is not well prepared for contrast measurement or basic use of a zone system. Later models of the Profisix even had scale markings for the zone system. Mine has not got these, but this doesn't matter, as it would not add new functionality. Just measure the most important part, then switch from storage to continuous mode. Now point the device to where ever you want - the needle shows directly and continuously the deviation from zone 5 in calibrated LV values.
- The Sixtar cannot use extensions. The Profisix can use many different extensions (including flash meter), and can even use the ones designed for the older Gossen Lunasix.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-08-2013, 05:41 PM
|
| |
@grhazelton
As a student in the seventies with a very limited budget, I used Exa and Exacta bodies (Igahee made, the cheaper brothers of the Prakticas, which were the cheaper brothers of the CZJ brand), which in West Germany were ridiculously cheap when East Germany needed foreign money.
I got (all of it new!) an Exa 500, a VX1000 with look through and waist level finder, a Meyer Domiplan 2.8/50, a West German (Isco) Wide Angle and Tele, leather case for the Exa, and extension tubes altogether for about what I would have payed for just a Spotmatic body.
However, I would have preferred the Spotmatic, and 1981 I finally switched over to Pentax with my first (used) ME Super and a (new) SMC-M 2/50.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-08-2013, 05:21 PM
|
| |
@grhazelton
That's what I read in German forums (bridge circuit design). But I believe it only when I can see and try.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-08-2013, 04:36 PM
|
| |
A Praktica VLC 3 with a Zeiss Pancolar 1.8/50 (the MC/electric version) for roughly $115, This was the ultimate prof system in East Germany at the turn from sixties to seventies.
I hope I will get it end of next week.
The gem would have been the Zeiss Pancolar (which fan boys state to be the best 50mm ever built, and sells on German eBay auctions averagely for $80-$100), but I don't neglect the Praktica VLC3. At its introduction in the late sixties it was the lower cost answer to the professional Nikon bodies, but was not sold a lot outside the Eastern part of the world. It's M42, has exchangable view finder systems like the Pentax LX (but no WR, of course), and what I bought comes with the look through as well as the waist level finder (I am not sure whether the magnifier is included, it was a last minute decision to bid).
I found it also offers TTL exposure measurement independent from the VF system used (semi transparent mirror to split light for measurement purposes), which unfortunately does make the VF darker than the Praktica PLC3 (which is the same as the VLC3, but missing the exchangeable VF system).
I just hope everything is ok. And forums in my country claim replacement of the (nowadays) dreaded Mercury cells is much easier with the VLC/PLC Prakticas than with most other bodies and lightmeters of this time.
EDIT:
I found there is some diverging information in the internet about the relation between the CZ Pancolar 1.8/50 and the Pentacon 1.8/50. In this case I rather trust information found on German photo forums. According to these, the Pentacon is not a cheaper version of the Pancolar (despite the fact some of the copies may have been manufactured in the same factories). The Pentacon is a relabeled Meyer-Görlitz Oreston 1.8/50, the Pancolar is a true Zeiss design. In pre-communist times, Meyer and Zeiss had been competitors for a long time.
I also found (can't verfy it myself), that the main difference in real life shots seems to be the much better border resolution of the Pancolar when used fully open. And, of course, the well known fact that QC of Pentacon was much worse than it had been at times of Meyer/Görlitz, and of items labeled CZJ. So, with the Pentacon 1.8/50 it can more often be a bit of a hit and miss (however, not as bad as with sovjet lenses).
|
|
Forum: General Talk
06-07-2013, 06:23 AM
|
| |
A SMC Pentax-F 3.5-4.5/35-70 for $28, looking and feeling like fresh from factory.
And a Zorki 5 with the collapsible 3.5/50 Industar-50 (from outside the clone of the Leitz Elmar 3.5/50, but inside a Zeiss Tessar clone), with only a few signs of usage, for $27.
These first signs of LBA will force me to do some extended pixel peeping to decide which to sell, as I also own
SMC Pentax-A 3.5-4.5/35-70
SMC Pentax-A 4/35-70
Tokina AT-X 2.8/35-70
SMC-Pentax-F 4-5.6/35-80
SMC Pentax-A 3.5-4.5/28-80
SMC Pentax-FA 3.5-5.6 28-80
The Zorki I bought just for the lens, I don't like film loading through the body plate. But until now I had only the Industar-22 non collapsible, and the Jupiter-8 (2/50). I may resell the body, as I already own two Zorki 6 (one of them with slow second curtain at 1/30 sec for spares only).
|
|
Forum: General Talk
05-19-2013, 01:56 AM
|
| |
The SMC Pentax-A 3.5-4.5/28-80 for $50 from eBay (actual conversion rate, without shipping).
Hope I will get it within a week.
I had looked for this lens for a long time.
I hope it will be as good as its fantastic reputation it had in the eighties.
Most offers on eBay are of the non-SMC, which is of a much simpler optical design. This is so common because it was sold in Europe as a cheap bundle together with the Program A, A-3, and the P series bodies. Names of the identical lenses were Pentax-A, Takumar-A, and Profile-A, the latter produced by the then Taiwanese Pentax subsidiary Cosmicar.
Until now, I used the SMC Pentax-FA 3.5-5.6/28-80, which is usable, but too far from prime quality (for me).
For a while, I had also the SMC Pentax-FA 3.5-4.7/28-80 (the power zoom), but sold it because IQ was worse than of the non-powerzoom.
The SMC-A is a much more sophisticated optical design than all of the non-SMCs and FAs, which were from the time when Pentax tried to be competitive at the lower end of the market.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
05-17-2013, 02:16 PM
|
| |
My latest aquisition:
A SMC-A 4/35-70 for $50 and a SMC-A 4/70-210 for $44 (prices without shipment converted from Ł to $).
Both through eBay from the UK.
Presently it seems Pentax lenses from the eighties are cheaper in the UK than in Germany, wheras East German lenses (Pentacon, CZJ) are more expensive than here.
The standard one should arrive tomorrow or on Monday, the tele one mid of next week.
They both were described as to be in very good condition, I just hope that is true. Just today I got a Paypal refund for a Pentacon MC 4/200 electric with an aperture stuck in fully open position. The seller had not mentioned this (probably doesn't know anything about photographic equipment). It was a bit sad, because the Pentacon was otherwise in near mint condition, looking unused.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
09-07-2012, 07:56 AM
|
| |
A Pentax-dedicated new Soligor DG-340DZ flash for (probably sell-out price) of € 19.90.
Bought through the internet site of a well reputated German Photo equipment shop (Foto Palme), transaction through Amazon.
It adapts automatically to TTL and pTTL starting with the MZ series up to the K20/200D.
Bounce, but no swivel.
No manual or auto modes, just TTL/pTTL.
Automatic AF (red) help light.
Works with all exposure modes of my K200D.
Manual zoom adaption (roughly working from 35-100mm for FF, even if the specs tell it different).
GN depending on zoom; not very clear how much that means in reality. First tests implicate its maximum is GN34 (metric, ASA100, tele setting), with standard (metric, 100ASA, 33mm) at about GN28.
At least with the K200D, it supports flash power adjustment and red eye reduction from camera settings as well as flashing on second curtain.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
02-26-2012, 11:26 AM
|
| |
A SMC Pentax-A 28-80mm F3.5-4.5 for €30.42 shipped. Just won it at an eBay auction. I should get it in a week or so.
There are now redundancies of which I will sell some, not decided yet which of these:
SMC Pentax-F 35-80mm F4-5.6 - came bundled with a selection of broken MZ-5n bodies I may try to repair. I have only tested whether it works - it is OK. Reviews in our lens section are not impressing. But AF is fast.
SMC Pentax-FA 28-80mm F3.5-5.6 - came bundled with a Z-20 which I also may sell soon. A couple of shots seem to indicate it is much better than its reputation. Extremely fast AF, specially with the MZ-5n. However, it seems to be the same optical design as the Pentax-A 28-80mm F3.5-4.5 and Takumar-A 28-80mm F3.5-4.5 (both budget lenses, non-SMC and 8 elements in 8 groups), whereas my new lens is SMC, 12 elements in 9 groups and is said to be prime-sharp even fully open. We will see.
Tokina AT-X 35-70mm F2.8 (PK/A) - I bought it new when it was introduced back in the eighties. I used it quite a lot at parties, mostly with flash. It is a mixed bag - constant aperture of 2.8 allows to take pictures which are not possible with many other zooms, but fully open contrast is low and sharpness not the best. However, F2.8 helps a lot with manual focus.
EDIT: After everything seemed to be fixed, I urged the seller to make sure it really is a "SMC Pentax-A", not the "Pentax-A". He opened the package, which had been ready to be sent, and had to admit he made an error. We tried to cancel the transaction with eBay, but it seems in such a case this is not possible, at least not for private sellers. So, for eBay, we completed the transaction, and he has to pay the provision. Just a pity, I was looking for a possibility to get this lens (cheap) for quite a while.
|
|
Forum: General Talk
11-05-2011, 12:29 PM
|
| |
During the last 2 weeks I purchased (everything used and cheap at eBay):
- Zenith MC Helios 44K-4 (2.0/58, K-mount)
- Flash Metz Mecablitz MZ40-2
- Tokína RMC 2.8/35 (K-mount)
The Helios 44K (near mint condition!) I got for nearly nothing as it came with a broken Zenith K-Bajonet camera. It has got only 6 blades, but seems to be well coated. Wanted to test for resolution, but with a K200D, at F4 it is in any case much better than the sensor!
The MZ40-2 is fantastic! As I don't like p-TTL anyway (and in the film era used TTL only in special cases, the built-in automatic proved to be MUCH more consistent), this is all I need. Found that the SCA3401 adapter does exactly the same as the SCA3402M3, which goes at eBay Germany for 3x the price (so the newer ones are needed for P-TTL only, and not with this flash).
Until now, I could use the Tokina just for an indoor test; it works!
|
