No love for Pentax?!

About 10 years ago I inherited a black Pentax SV with 55/1.8 and 105/2.8 Takumar lenses from my (deceased) father-in-law. Being a rangefinder shooter, they sat in a drawer unused, unloved, and totally neglegted until about 1 month ago.

For some reason I took the SV out and started playing with, testing the shutter times, etc. It seemed to work perfectly! So last week I took it and the two lenses on vacation in Southern Sweden.

The SV was the only camera with me on this recent vacation. It was a pleasure to shoot with it. My 13 year old daughter took a few photos and remarked that she found the camera quite easy to focus. I look forwards to developing the Ilford HP5+ films.
 
I have gone Pentax crazy. I stumbled across a P30 at the thrift store with a 50 f/1.7 for $15 a few weeks back. Shot two rolls with it and began lusting after an ME and MX. I scored both off the big site for pocket change. Last weekend found a K1000 with a couple lenses and close up filters for $30. I went from owning no Pentax cameras (I've shot Nikon for 20 years) to owning four in the span of a month.

The ME, MX, and K1000 are jewel-like. They are smoother to operate than any of my Nikons (FM2, F3, N90, Nikkormat). The viewfinders are out of this world. I had forgotten how wonderful Pentax cameras are. And the size! Both the ME and MX are smaller than a Leica (and almost as smooth in operation).

I started with a Pentax ME back in high school before switching to Nikon in PJ school. I'm now thinking of selling off most of the Nikon stuff as I can't see myself using the larger, heavier, dimmer Nikons. I have become a Pentaxian!
 
My daughter recently returned my old (1979) Pentax gear that I gave her when she was in high school. Two K1000, 28, 40, 50, 85, 200mm lenses. Great kit! It all works!
 
long time Pentaxian

long time Pentaxian

I have to admit I fell in love with pentaxs 35 years ago Currently own 2 km's,think k-mount spotmatic f, 2 k1000 hong kong era and 1 early spotmatic with 28/3.5 super tak the 8 element 50/1.4 super tak 55/1.8 super tak 50/1.7 m k mount 55/ 2 in k mount and 135/3.5 k mount . also have a 645 with 45, 75 and 150 . If i fail to make a good photograph I can't blame the quality of my gear:D
 
My first SLR was a Praktica Nova (meterless) bought in the early 70's, followed after a summer job with a Praktica LTL (closed aperture metering) and finally I misspent my student grant on a K1000 in 1977. I still have it and it still works. In the early 80's I bought an ME Super, and in the early 90's an SF10. I still use an SF1 and a 645N. Lovely cameras and lovely results.

C.
 
My Pentax 645 (original manual-focus version), which I've had since 2008, is a fine camera with great lenses.
 

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I have so many Pentax bodies and lenses that I can't even count them, here there is the latest arrival:

2m5m993.jpg


It's my third SPF.
 
Oh, I have always liked Pentax a lot. But for some reason it has never become my "first" system (apart from the Ricoh KR-10x - if that counts - which was my first own SLR).

I now have a silver Spotmatic SPII, a black ME Super (both are gorgeous!) and a K100D (which I inherited from my dad). And a SF7 which I never really use, though.
 
SSSHHHHHHHH DON'T TELL EVERYBODY !!!

I want to be able to continue buying old Pentax MEs, Spotmatics etc for next to nothing while the other people on RFF pay though the nose for their old Leicas.
 
I love Pentax!
have highest esteem for what Pentax did in the 50s, leading and pushing the development of SLRs through the 70s.


early Pentax SLRs
by Andreas, on Flickr


Asahiflex IIa with Takumar 2.4/58
by Andreas, on Flickr


Pentax AP with Takumar f2 58mm
by Andreas, on Flickr

also have special liking to Pentax dSLRs for offering small size and great handling


Pentax *istDs with CZ Ultron f1.8/50mm
by Andreas, on Flickr

and I love how Japanese pronounce Penta.k(u)ssu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzKut15_0uQ ;)
 
Andreas, which adapter have you got on that lens. Was looking for a real good one for my Voightlander lenses to use on my Pentax's
 
Andreas, which adapter have you got on that lens. Was looking for a real good one for my Voightlander lenses to use on my Pentax's

Hi 'Oldtimer', you must refer to the Ultron on the last pic, right? Well, it comes in M42 mount and is mounted with a genuine Pentax M42>K mount adapter, but I am afraid this is not what are are looking for..
which Voigtlaender lenses do you want to adapt to Pentax K, which mount do they come in?
 
I love Pentax!
have highest esteem for what Pentax did in the 50s, leading and pushing the development of SLRs through the 70s.


early Pentax SLRs
by Andreas, on Flickr


Asahiflex IIa with Takumar 2.4/58
by Andreas, on Flickr


Pentax AP with Takumar f2 58mm
by Andreas, on Flickr

also have special liking to Pentax dSLRs for offering small size and great handling


Pentax *istDs with CZ Ultron f1.8/50mm
by Andreas, on Flickr

and I love how Japanese pronounce Penta.k(u)ssu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzKut15_0uQ ;)

I have not managed to acquire an Asahi flex but the slightly later Pentaxes in M42 mount (pre-Spotmatics, I call them) are a delight to use and to gaze upon. I always feel that in the hand they very much remind me of Leica thread mount cameras, with of course, the addition of a penta prism. And their lenses are exceedingly nice too. Early on I especially fell in love with the semi automatic lenses which have to have their aperture mechanism manually opened for through-the-lens viewing. So exotic! But also capable of lovely images. I still often use such lenses on M4/3 cameras as well simply because they are nice to use. This thread reminds me, I must get my cameras of this marque and era out once more and enjoy them too.
 
Andreas, which adapter have you got on that lens. Was looking for a real good one for my Voightlander lenses to use on my Pentax's

Hi! if your lenses have Rollei / Voigtlaender QBM mount then I am afraid that there isn't any adapter for them to use them on Pentax K mount. However they can be converted to Pentax K mount, the only documentation on the net I know of is in Chinese, see: http://www.bigeye.url.tw/big5/d_cz35_14_2.htm

cheers, andreas
 
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