Gone all Pentax

[Nando]

I have a nice Pentax K-mount kit built around two MX bodies. Much of the kit was passed down to me by a good friend who went digital. I always prefered RF's and there was just something about SLR's, that I've never really liked. I've used Canon, Nikon and Pentax and they always seemed clunky and unrefined like a Jeep... its hard to explain. They got the job done however, and I used them when I had to.

Then enter the Spotmatic II with a 50mm f/1.4 S-M-C Takumar. It was love! The camera and lenses are so smooth and so nicely built. The lenses are relatively small and light in weight. I was able to build a very extensive kit for relatively little money.

The camera is such a joy to use and the lenses are top-notch! The viewfinder is not the biggest nor the brightest but I find it very nice and easy to focus. I prefer the Spotmatic's microprism centre as it doesn't black-out when I use wide angles or telephotos. The meter on my example is also very accurate. The shutter is a bit loud but it has a nice sound. Dirk from JapanExposures arranged for Hirano-san to build me a beautiful half-case for the Spotmatic that silences the shutter a little bit.


Spotty with Hirano Case by ~ Nando ~, on Flickr


Spotty and the Takumars™ by ~ Nando ~, on Flickr

I still use my Leicas and Bessas for the majority of my photography but I love the Spotmatic just as much.

I'll likely be selling off my K-mount kit sometime in the new year.

 

[NickTrop]

I just love the lenses - from M42 to K-mount. Taks have some of the best bokeh and color rendition. I think I paid all of 10 bucks for a yellowed 8 element 50 1.4 non-super multicoated M42 Tak with a radioactive element that was as yellow as as a sunflower. A few weeks tanning on a windowsill and it's good as new. The focusing ring is a thing of beauty. I filed a little ridge in it and did some surgery on an M-42 K-mount adapter to make it a K-mount lens... I got a Nikon adapter (with glass, and contrary to popular opinion, they work fine on Nikons) and it's a wonderful portrait lens on my DSLR (guess metering, generally accurate...) Got a dandilion chip on its way, and I might just make this a permanent f1.4 portrait lens. Or, I might spring for another $10-20 bucks and get a SMC 55/f1.8, as I prefer the portrait lens to be a little longer focal length than a 50, and that gets you to around 85mm on APSC. Just loves me the old Taks... Beautifully made, the focusing just gluides - and thankfully they're totally undervalued unlike Zeiss and Leica lenses... and you're not losing out in terms of IQ. They're right up there with the best of them at a fraction of the price of a name lens. That's the value of Pentax - it's not the camera bodies, it's the ample supply of high-quality lenses, beautifully crafted, with stunning IQ (esp. bokeh and color rendition), that are practically free.

 

[shadowfox]

Not a Pentax devotee, but I'll probably never get rid of my 200/4 SMC Takumar:

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I don't have any film Pentax gear anymore, but recently returned to the brand by getting the K-5 and a couple of FA Limiteds. The K-5 is freaking perfect--I love it. I also used to have, and really liked, the LX and Spotmatic F. I've been lusting after an SV for a while, though.

 

[DNG]

I use Pentax Film now, sold the K20d and all the AF lenses...
I used the $$ to buy a lens for my Leica, and also a Pentax Super Program with a Pentax M 40mm f/2.8 pancake, with a Vivatar 28/2 (Kino) and a G1 with a 20mm f/1.7..

The S-Program is a great camera. The same size as the MX.
I also have a K1000 my sister sent me. another great K mount manual SLR.

Some really nice PK glass is out there, and my buy will be a Pentax 135 f/2.5 and a Pentax 50 f/4 macro. + a m4/3 > PK adapter.

 

[unixrevolution]

As you can probably tell by the link to pentaxforums in my signature, I am a Pentaxian as well. It all started with my Dad, who had an ME super while I was growing up. To me, the Pentax was a "real camera", everything else was not.

When I decided to get into photography I got a Pentax K1000 with the attitude that a manual camera would force me to "sink or swim." It taught me, along with some books, a lot of useful things about taking photographs, and got me off to a bigger jump-start than any auto-everything DSLR ever could have.

Now I shoot Pentax digital as well, and not having to ditch all my old lenses when making the transition was a good thing. My original K1000 died, but I currently have a K10D DSLR, as well as an MX, My dad's original ME super, A Super Program, an LX, as well as an SV, and a Spotmatic, and an arrangement of Takumar screwmount lenses and a combinaton of Pentax, Sigma, and Tamron K-mount lenses.

I adore my Pentax cameras. I've held SLRs both new and old from most other brands and none of them feel or seem to work quite as well. The old slogan is true.

As for my individual impressions of the cameras, the SV is godlike mechanical SLR bliss. The Spotmatic is nearly as good and the addition of a meter helps immensely with its actual usefulness, especially with things like macro bellows.

The MX is an amazingly tiny little camera. Fully mechanical and metered, gorgeous to hold, and light. I take it out often.

The LX is constructed of Magic. It's low-light metering is almost never wrong. Gotta love Off-the-film metering. Interchangeable finders and mirror-lock-up rock too.

Super Program is all about convenience and features, though I don't like using it in low light because the LCD displays are hard to read. Still, in daylight it's just about my favorite film body, with the LX starting to nudge it off the podium.

And my K10D of course is excellent too. Weather-sealed and intuitive with a ton of features, and most of the controls physical and easily accessed without menu diving.

 

[Arlen]

I am a heavy Pentax user as well. I love puttiing the old lenses on my Pentax K20D. Stunning results with the SMC M 50/1.4.

I have many film bodies including the MX, MV, Spotmatic, K1000, ME Super, Superprogram, P3. I am a collector.

As far as the lenses go, I have too many to mention here.

My favourite setup is the MX with the 50/1.4. They were made for each other.

Enjoy shooting your Pentax. If you have any spacific needs like lenses or filters, PM me and I'll see what I can do at a reasonable price.

 

[charjohncarter]

I only use two lenses on my K10d; the 35mm f 2.0 (the last one), and a 20mm f 2.8 (Ithink). No zooms for me these also add to the compactness of the camera.

 

[chrism]

I just developed a film today from an ME Super SE. I have a K1000, another ME Super, an MX, and, more embarrassingly an SF-1a and an SF-10. Fortunately I kept my 1970's and 1980's lenses. Very comfortable to use, perhaps more so than the OMs and Nikon Fs that compete for attention during my limited evil SLR time.

Chris

 

[Ranchu]

I'm curious about people's opinions of the S1a/H1a? I'm considerind it as my first Pentax but I have never handled one?

Very much appreciated!!
🙂

 

[Turves]

Wow

Wow

I did not think this post would generate so much affection for the Pentax.But it is a good camera.MT

 

[raid]

I have several Pentax cameras, with some lenses. The 50/1.4 SMC and the 85mm/1.8 SMC are first quality lenses by any standards. I also use a 17mm/4 in K mount.

 

[ChrisPlatt]

I started with Canon SLRs then used Nikons for nearly 20 years.
I switched to Pentax about ten years ago. I am finally "home".

There are many good reasons to choose Pentax, including the fact
that one of the best repairmen in the business specializes in Pentax.
His name is Eric Hendrickson.
For anyone interested here is his website: http://www.pentaxs.com

Chris

 

[Charlie]

The KX was my first real camera and it was built like a tank. Bought an LX in 1981 and it was, unfortunately, a piece of junk with nothing but electrical problems. Pentax "fixed" it three times under warranty, but wouldn't stand behind it once it went out of warranty.

 

[Arlen]

The KX was my first real camera and it was built like a tank. Bought an LX in 1981 and it was, unfortunately, a piece of junk with nothing but electrical problems. Pentax "fixed" it three times under warranty, but wouldn't stand behind it once it went out of warranty.

Which is why I love me MX so much. 100% mechanical with the exception of the light meter. Very reliable.

 

[charjohncarter]

I like all mechanical cameras, maybe a light meter added. It seems to me that any electronic camera will fail and it will be impossible (or impractical) to fix.

 

[Keith]

I never really wanted a Pentax of any description until I saw the 67ii ... that was a must have for some reason. 😀

The 35mm SLRs have never appealed to me, though I do have an old SP500 in the cupboard that I've owned since the mid seventies ... it was given to me at the time.

 

[ChrisN]

the lx is very well made, has superb metering, (off the film plane), its quite heavy, but if you are used to lugging the F2 arround then the Lx will not be a problem

And the viewfinder is big and bright. I can more easily focus the LX in low light than I can the M4. The LX with the K50/1.2 is a heavy but wonderful outfit. 🙂

What's a reasonable price? They can be had from $25-$50 on ebay depending on your timing. In good condition.

It varies with the market. While they are available in the US for these prices, US sellers often want $25 to $40 to post to Australia, so it adds up. I'm still hoping to find a good one locally.

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'm curious about people's opinions of the S1a/H1a? I'm considerind it as my first Pentax but I have never handled one?

Very much appreciated!!
🙂

The microprism focusing aid is different from (and in my experience, nothing like as good as) the SV. Go for an SV if you possibly can.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Wahoo]

I still have some Pentax cameras but all older 42mm screw fit.

I always thought the lens were of very high quality and here's
and early eighties photo taken with an SPF - f1.8 85mm smc - TechPan.

Tuned epson 3170 (I think !)