K10D and m42 lenses, etc.

imajypsee

imajypsee

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Is anyone here doing a K to m42 adapter and using your old (m42)screw mount lenses? I bought an adapter B from Pentax online and all I can say is that Pentax is BRILLIANT when it comes to backward compatability. I can meter and get focus confirmation and shake reduction using the adapter. Now I lust for a CZJena Flektogon in 28 or so for the K10D and adapter B.

Here's one with CZ Jena 28 f/2,8 (not a Flektogon)


I have a gallery of some test photos; the Asahi Takumar 35 f/3.5 is by far the sharpest of the lot. However, last summer I bought a cheapy Focal 135 f/2.8 for 8 bucks that does a very nice job.

http://www.pbase.com/jypsee/m42test

I'm also experimenting with the K-A lenses. I used to have a ton of them but gave them away when I went to Canon digital in 2004. The 35-70 f/4 I bought on eBay is a great short zoom with a good close focus.




As for other focal lengths, well... I don't have another K mount body so I'm not sure what I'll buy in K mount lenses. In film slr I use Spotmatic and Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL screw mount lenses or a Leicaflex SL and I just don't see myself buying a film K mount body. I just like messing around with cameras and the K10D is fun to mess around with...

......soooooo......anyone got any favs in the K-A mount? or m42 favs?
 
hmmmm

hmmmm

I see ... you need to focus ....:eek:

Anyhow, I can focus quite well on the K10D with either the m42 or "A" lens(es). Do you not get a focus confirmation on your *istD? (that's one reason I never bought that dang camera; who can say the name!?) I get a red focus "box" with the m42 and a focus "box" and beep with the only A lens I have (at the moment.... ). Who knows, I may have a "beep" with the m42 lenses but I have a short memory....

hey.... hang on a minute.... were you saying I should buy a focusing aid :?)
 
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I like the 58mm/f2 biogon--another CZJ lens!--moderately fast "portrait" length lens on the K10D. Mine is a preset aperture version(maybe they all were? I don't know.) but even that isn't too annoying.
Rob
 
focus...what's that?

focus...what's that?

thanks for the replies, folks....I looked at those Katzye thingys and they are spendy!!

Now I'm gonna hafta look at Biogon lenses....:p don't have any idea what the limiteds have to do with this thread....
 
rbiemer said:
I like the 58mm/f2 biogon--another CZJ lens!--moderately fast "portrait" length lens on the K10D.
Click to expand...

That would be the Carl Zeiss Jena 58/2 Biotar (Biogon type is for wide angle lenses). The Russian Helios 44 is a copy of this lens and sells for much more.

Another vintage lens that I find very interesting is the Pentax Takumar 58/2.4. It's the only normal lens for 35mm SLR based on the famous Heliar formula (5 element 3 group triplet derivative). Just like the renowned Voigtländer Heliar lenses (which were designed for medium or large format), the Takumar 58/2.4 is a bit soft wide open but it sharpens nicely at f/4 and offers the smooth out of focus rendering that has become a trademark of this lens type. The 58mm focal length makes it a perfect portrait lens on a crop camera like the Pentax K10d.

The Takumar 58/2.4 was originally released in 37mm screwmount for the Asahiflex camera (you will need an impossible to find adapter to mount it on a modern Pentax). The later M42 mount version is quite scarce, but not particularly expensive, because this is not a highly sought after lens.

Here are a few shots taken with this lens at f/4 on my K10d:

p908643185.jpg


p673498142.jpg


p680006095.jpg


Cheers!

Abbazz
 
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Pitxu, imajypsy-
I have a *istD-s and just refer to it as my STD.
The focus confirm light works on mine without a beep and doesn't keep me from firing the shutter when it isn't lit. While it is a slightly different model than yours, Pitxu, I'd be surprised if you can't get it to work like that via "custom functions".
Sorry, I only set the thing up a couple of years ago and never looked again.
 
thanks abazz

thanks abazz

I really appreciate the information and that Takumar lens is on my list.
Your photos have beautiful color; that's one of the things about the K10D that I really like. Thanks for posting.
 
I can't even claim a typo for my mistake! Thanks for catching that!
Rob
Abbazz said:
That would be the Carl Zeiss Jena 58/2 Biotar (Biogon type is for wide angle lenses). The Russian Helios 44 is a copy of this lens and sells for much more.
Click to expand...
 
rbiemer said:
I can't even claim a typo for my mistake! Thanks for catching that!
Click to expand...

Rob, it can even happen to the smart guys :D. Check this one:

Abbazz said:
That would be the Carl Zeiss Jena 58/2 Biotar (Biogon type is for wide angle lenses). The Russian Helios 44 is a copy of this lens and sells for much more.
Click to expand...

Of course, the Helios 44 sells for less than the original Biotar.

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
The Limiteds are the 31mm, 43mm and 77mm AF lens by Pentax and are some of the best produced by Pentax. If you are interested in K mount, I still have some "spare" http://www.rangefinderforum.com/photopost-classifieds/showproduct.php?product=8496&cat=2

Also if you need any "samples" from a particular Pentax lens either M42 or K mount, let me know and I should be able to produce it for you. I may also be able to help if you are looking for a particular Pentax M42 lens. ;)

Kim

imajypsee said:
thanks for the replies, folks....I looked at those Katzye thingys and they are spendy!!

Now I'm gonna hafta look at Biogon lenses....:p don't have any idea what the limiteds have to do with this thread....
Click to expand...
 
thanks some more, all youse guys!!

thanks some more, all youse guys!!

Kim: I saw your ad a while back and thought REE-LEE hard on m42 28 f/2 A, but ....and here's where the limiteds come in.... I think I'd just do the AF 31 f/1.8 Limited, though I'm still pondering....

cjm: my goodness that photo of the beach and blowing sand is spectacular!! thanks for the look-see.

shadowfox: I have my eye on the Flektogon 35 f/2.4

and, I'm sorta coming to the conclusion that getting "A" lenses is going to be a real decision since there are plenty of autofocus lenses available from Pentax that would do the job. I guess I'm wanting some really spectacular glass...anyone going for the Voightlanders? Anyone tried the Zeiss Planar (hope that's the right one) for K mount?

and, any pictures would be most appreciated, from all of y'all!

Mary in Florida
 
I too am wondering about the new Voigtlanders.

In particular, deciding between the Voigtlander SL II 40/2, the
Pentax SMCP-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited, and earlier m42 or A lenses. I'm new to the Pentax line and choosing primes is a daunting task.

Sorry for the slight topic drift ... Anyone care to weigh in on prime lenses with a high quality to value proposition for a K10D or similar digital body? My first buy will be somewhere around 50mm (effective length), give or take, and I'm leaning towards that new CV 40/2 over both the Pentax limiteds (40 and 43). And this will put me a little long but doable at 60mm.
 
Hi Mary,
There is also a 31 ltd on that list ;)

I haven't tried any of the Zeiss glass yet but I am tempted by the 85/1.4 and the 100/2 Macro when it comes out in K mount. I do have the CV 125/2.8 Macro and that is a fantastic lens. If you want one they are discontinued but you may need to act quickly.

Kim

imajypsee said:
Kim: I saw your ad a while back and thought REE-LEE hard on m42 28 f/2 A, but ....and here's where the limiteds come in.... I think I'd just do the AF 31 f/1.8 Limited, though I'm still pondering....

and, I'm sorta coming to the conclusion that getting "A" lenses is going to be a real decision since there are plenty of autofocus lenses available from Pentax that would do the job. I guess I'm wanting some really spectacular glass...anyone going for the Voightlanders?
Mary in Florida
Click to expand...
 
The advantage of the CV lenses is that they are Manual Focus if you prefer that. For a "standard" lens on the K10, I would go for the Pentax 31 Ltd. If that is outside the budget, the 35/2 FA is also very good. If you prefer manual focus, look at the 28/2A, the 35/2A and the offerings from Zeiss. (At the moment only the 35/2 is available in K mount but the 28/" should be available soon.)

Kim

mackigator said:
I too am wondering about the new Voigtlanders.

In particular, deciding between the Voigtlander SL II 40/2, the
Pentax SMCP-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited, and earlier m42 or A lenses. I'm new to the Pentax line and choosing primes is a daunting task.

Sorry for the slight topic drift ... Anyone care to weigh in on prime lenses with a high quality to value proposition for a K10D or similar digital body? My first buy will be somewhere around 50mm (effective length), give or take, and I'm leaning towards that new CV 40/2 over both the Pentax limiteds (40 and 43). And this will put me a little long but doable at 60mm.
Click to expand...
 
I don't see any topic drift

I don't see any topic drift

I'm interested in any and all information regarding lenses on the Pentax (and, at the moment, I'm not considering and upgrade to the K20D; I like the body I have...:rolleyes:)

If I were deciding between the Voightlander and the DA, I think I'd go for the Voightlander. Only because the DA is supposedly specific to a digital camera. I think I read somewhere about somebody is using the Pentax DA 40 on a film body, but I have an old brain and I may not have that right.

If you want a great "effective" 50mm lens, get the Pentax adapter B from Pentax imaging and buy the Asahi Takumar 35/3.5 m42. VERY sharp and pretty reasonably priced. Other wise, I'd go for the 31 f/1.8 ltd. If there are "A" mount lenses in the 35 length (not sure about primes, since Pentax seemed to want to do zooms so much back in the day) that would be a good option. I think the only prime I ever owned was a 50 f/1.7. I have the 50 f/1.4 AF that is a spectacular performer. I like it for portraits. And, I recently bought that 35-70 f/4 A mount lens and it's a great close macro lens. Pentax glass seems so much better than most of the Canon lenses I own.

Anyhow, back to the 40: if you want autofocus then the Pentax DA 40 f/2.8. I'll probably go with the 43 LTD at some point for the autofocus.

HTH
Mary in Florida

mackigator said:
I too am wondering about the new Voigtlanders.

In particular, deciding between the Voigtlander SL II 40/2, the
Pentax SMCP-DA 40mm f/2.8 Limited, and earlier m42 or A lenses. I'm new to the Pentax line and choosing primes is a daunting task.

Sorry for the slight topic drift ... Anyone care to weigh in on prime lenses with a high quality to value proposition for a K10D or similar digital body? My first buy will be somewhere around 50mm (effective length), give or take, and I'm leaning towards that new CV 40/2 over both the Pentax limiteds (40 and 43). And this will put me a little long but doable at 60mm.
Click to expand...
 
Why.... thank you, Richard

Why.... thank you, Richard

I have the film gallery, and another 3800 mostly digital photos on that site...obsessed is my middle name.
Yes, the viewfinder is dinky on the Mamiya; and the reason I chose the Mamiya was the coupled rangefinder. I do, however, have a Weltax that is zone focusing and I use it as well. I don't know if I've posted any photos I've made with it, though. Ever since I got that Pentax m42 adapter I've been neglecting my film work.
My other medium format is an RB67 that I bought on a whim from a fellow photographer and I like the photos it makes, but it's a beast to lift.

What did you do with your Isolette?



Pitxu said:
Seriously, I liked your site.
I used to have a folder, Agfa Isolette II, apart from the dinky viewfinder I really liked it a lot. I have no idea of the age of your Mamiya, is the rangefinder coupled?
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