Pentax DSLR + DA limited primes.... opinions?

[FA Limited]

Pentax lenses can be mounted on Canon bodies via adapter, but mounting on a full-frame body requires physically modifying the lens, or keeping the mirror locked up at all times. (Not sure if that is even possible on the 5d Mark II... I guess with live view enabled?)

http://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/29917-pentax-fa-limited-canon-5d.html

 

[jpfisher]

Thanks for the link FA... Steven Lin's blog is blocked for me at the office, but I'll check it out when I get home.... and I have this feeling that I'll be running a roll of film through my ME with the FA 31mm this weekend.. 😉

 

[gavinlg]

Awesome Response - just what I was looking for!

I'm basically trying very hard to figure out what *small* system to take with me to Japan at the end of this year. My 5d with L zooms, although excellent, is too big and clunky, as are the L primes. The canon normal (cheaper) primes are optically average and plastic fantastic.

I don't mind so much about the k20d body size, as it's still quite a bit smaller than the 5d I usually use. That paired with that new 15mm f4 da (which looks tiny... and is made of metal!), the 21mm f3.1da, and the 70mm f2.4da would make a very cool travel pack if what I'm seeing is correct. The boss of pentax US has a blog on which he posts up samples etc and the samples from that 15mm look very good so far - very low distortion etc.

It's almost like being able to use a DSLR with voigtlander M mount lenses, but with AF!

 

[gavinlg]

For anyone who wants to know, Pres of Pentax USA's blog with 15mm f4 DA samples:

http://nedbunnell.blogspot.com/2009/02/harry-pelican.html

Check out how straight the horizon lines stay!

 

[ChrisN]

.... and I have this feeling that I'll be running a roll of film through my ME with the FA 31mm this weekend.. 😉

... Apparently the 21 has major vignetting on film, and the 43 of course is made for film bodies. ...

21 on film: (DA means designed for the cropped sensor = smaller image circle)

31 with film - one of the best.

 

[zuikologist]

Chris N - I like the last photo. Very film like.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

It's almost like being able to use a DSLR with voigtlander M mount lenses, but with AF!

Yep, it's very much like that! The lenses, sitting next to their M counterparts in my drawer, fit right in.

You could, by the way, buy a K2000; it is evidently extremely small. dpreview didn't much like it but everyone else seems to think it's ace. Here's a size comparison...it actually looks smaller than the Olympus.

 

[Obrecht]

Pentax 200d, 35mm DA macro (5 frames stitched together in PS)

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[Obrecht]

Pentax k200d, 50mm 1.4 Super Takumar (7 elements version), @1.4

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[Obrecht]

Last one: K200d, 35mm DA Macro

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[squirrel$$$bandit]

That DA35 Macro is really like a magical lens. Its resolving power is tremendous...it's a superb walk-around...Plus you can focus on stuff that is ONE INCH AWAY.

 

[patrickhh]

a few random sample pics from me (all shot on digital, only little postprocessing)

FA 31/1.8

FA 43/1.9

FA 77/1.8

 

[Bassism]

Obrecht indirectly brings up another good point.
With an adaptor, M42 lenses work perfectly on the Pentax digital bodies. Focus confirmation, proper exposure, and everything. This opens up a whole world of nice lenses. My Takumar SMC 50/1.4 is my favourite lens. Despite being a bit long on APS, that lens turns the K100D into an available darkness machine.

 

[FA Limited]

Obrecht indirectly brings up another good point.
With an adaptor, M42 lenses work perfectly on the Pentax digital bodies. Focus confirmation, proper exposure, and everything. This opens up a whole world of nice lenses. My Takumar SMC 50/1.4 is my favourite lens. Despite being a bit long on APS, that lens turns the K100D into an available darkness machine.

for me, proper exposure would always require excessive EV comp
and i have a K100D which is supposed to not have these problems. on the K10D and K20D, using the older focusing screen is supposed to improve metering with older lenses

 

[sepiareverb]

I had a student who shot with the 77 an awful lot and got some very nice things with it- I quite liked the bokeh of distant things when she worked up close with it- especially in B&W. We can;t do very big prints in that darkroom, so I've not seen prints at anything bigger than 1114- but she got beautiful results.

 

[Bassism]

for me, proper exposure would always require excessive EV comp
and i have a K100D which is supposed to not have these problems. on the K10D and K20D, using the older focusing screen is supposed to improve metering with older lenses

I remember finding a list of customs functions that had to be set to use them correctly. I also get more accurate exposures using M with the AE-L button. But I usually always use M with older lenses anyway, so I never notice any wonkiness.

 

[FA Limited]

I remember finding a list of customs functions that had to be set to use them correctly. I also get more accurate exposures using M with the AE-L button. But I usually always use M with older lenses anyway, so I never notice any wonkiness.

i know what you mean, i use it the same way, just the metering is off.

 

[ChrisN]

Chris N - I like the last photo. Very film like.

Thank you! That was HP5+ souped in ID-11, made with the 31 mounted on the Pentax LX.

 

[cmedin]

Nothing but love for the Pentax line here. The Limited primes are flat out fantastic (with the DA ones they are VERY compact though you give up some speed), and the bodies are well built and well thought out.

I'd still be shooting Pentax had I not gotten my hands on a Canon pro body. But I did, and now I am ruined for life. Carrying around 5-6 lbs of gear everywhere doesn't even bother me anymore, because the results are worth it.

 

[Mudman]

I too love the Pentax line, the K10d has been a bread and butter camear for me for the last year and a half.