Pentax K 10 D awaited ...

[dee]

I finally bought a Pentax K 10 D .

Not my 1st chioce - that would be a Nikon D 300 / D 200 - but back in the real world , post M 8 , the Pentax at e-bay prices [ £ 430 ] , is a cost dee-fective companion to my M 8 - which is such a mouthfull , it's '' emma '' !

I know that a new model is anticipated , but I guess that it will be more expensive , and the K 10 suits me .

The reason is that it takes all those out dated Pentax lenses and is actually geared to manual focus and aperture priority - most other budget cameras need a contortionist to do manual !

... and it leaves more in the inheritance file to complement '' emma '' with new lenses etc .

First up is a semi - macro for table top photography - something which '' emma '' and me would find impossible .

Any ideas - auto focus or manual . I don't mind .

This is a tricky one - everyone raves about Nikon / Canon optics , but we hear little or nothing about Pentax - I am content with my Summitar and Elmar on emma , so I am not in the Zeiss total sharpness camp - more valve amp than super detailed transistor ... i would , however prefer manual lenses , so that I can use them on my M 8 .

I have most experience of Minolta Rokkors and I love them , to the extent that i wll brave zone focus to adapt then to'' emma '' -.

dee

 

[rbiemer]

Dee,
you could use your LTM mount lenses; you'd need an adaptor or two and you'd need to be cautious about how deep into the mirror box the lenses protruded but it is workable. I have used an LTM to M42 with an M42 to PK and used my screw mount lenses on my dad's K10D. It is a bit fiddly but not horrible.
Rob

 

[Tom Harrell]

Dee,

Keep us posted about how you like that camera! How easy to use and etc! I too am interested in that camera.

Tom

 

[DeeCee3]

Great Choice, Dee!

Great Choice, Dee!

I'm the happy owner of an M2 and a trio of lenses AND I'm also the very pleased shooter of a K10D. Like many, I came into Pentax from the film cameras they built. I didn't amass a large list of Pentax glass, but what I had on hand works beautifully on the K10 (also on the *istDS before it). You really should buy a plain-Jane Pentax f1.4 SMC-FA 50...marvelous portrait/available light piece of glass...to wit:

dc3

 

[rover]

I just bought a K10d a couple weeks ago. So far I am very happy with it. Handling is very easy, well placed controls which beg you to not shoot in auto everything mode. The viewfinder is very bright and manual focusing is excellent. I decided to take the plunge before they are sold out and ordered the CV SL 125/2.5 Macro Lanthar. This gives me a fast tele and 1:1 macro. It is a manual focus "A" lens, very well built. It just arrived yesterday so I have not taken any shots with it yet. I have sold a lot of stuff over the past couple months so I also bought a 50/1.4 and 31/1.8. I am impressed with all things Pentax I have gotten so far.

 

[Mudman]

I love my pentax - a few things to consider however for metering. I would recommend an A lens, as it seems that it doesn't like the SMC M or screw mount lenses as much. However, having said that, its usually off by about a stop or less, and once you get use to your lenses you can use the optical preview mode in manual to use stop down metering, which seems a bit more accurate. The 100 f4 macro would probably be a good choice.
If you do a lot of manual focusing, Katz eye makes focusing screens that are better suited for manual lenses, and from what I've heard, help with metering issues.

 

[veraikon]

Dee,
you could use your LTM mount lenses; you'd need an adaptor or two and you'd need to be cautious about how deep into the mirror box the lenses protruded but it is workable. I have used an LTM to M42 with an M42 to PK and used my screw mount lenses on my dad's K10D. It is a bit fiddly but not horrible.
Rob

INHO it is not possible to adapt LTM (=M39) or M- lenses to a Pentax K or M42 camera and focus it to infinity (look at the list of flanges below). The adapter would need optical elements. For table top it will work.
But you can use your M42 lenses with an adapter on a PK camera

On the other way you can use PK or M42 lenses on your LTM or M-mount camera.
With the last method (M42-> LTM Adapter from Zörk [-> Voigtländer m-mount adapter]) it is a cheap way to use my excellent Carl Zeiss 2.8/20mm lens on my rangefinder. Of course it is not RF -coupled but with a 20mm lens you can estimate.



Flanges: [in mm]
M42 (M42x1mm) 45,500
Pentax K 45,500

LTM (M39) 28,800
Leica M 27,800

 

[bluelight]

I am also interesed in getting a Pentax DSLR for my M42's. However, K10D seems to be too expensive/big for my street work.

Does the K100D Super has similar VF as K10D or it is just too small for manual focusing?

Thanks

 

[tedwhite]

If you want to do macro with your K10D, buy a Super Macro Takumar 50/4 in M42 mount. It's an excellent lens and priced reasonably. I think I paid fifty bucks for mine.

I have many Takumar lenses in M42 and they all work just fine on my istDS Pentax, so I don't see why they would not work as well on a K10D. You buy the screwmount to K mount adapter from Pentax, and that's it.

After mounting the lens, I set the camera on manual and aperture preferred. I focus wide open, then stop down to the f stop of my choice, and take the picture.

The images come out sharp and properly exposed.

For bird photography or other long lens work I use the Super Takumar 300/4 which becomes a 450mm equivalent on a Pentax DSLR. Another excellent lens that can usually be had for about $150. Make sure you get the one with a tripod mount.

Ted

 

[charjohncarter]

Dee, you will like it. All DSLRs are pretty much the same. You can nit pick the differences but those differences you will never learn to use anyway. I have the K10d and have used possibly twenty lenses that I own on it. The fun one was the 100mm Canon Serenar LTM which I used for macro. But now as I don't use digital all that much my two Pentax DSLRs have just one lens on them: No Sensor Dust.

 

[niblue]

I'm using a couple of cheap macro's with my K10D - one is a manual focus 55mm F2.8 Vivitar that goes to 1:1 without adaptor and was about £20 or so on Ebay. The other is a 100mm F3.5 AF Cosina which goes to 1:2 or 1:1 with an adaptor. Build quality isn't great and AF is noisy but optically it's pretty good and only cost £35 or so used.

Cosina 100mm F3.5 Macro at F3.5 & K10D

100% crop of above

Vivitar 55mm F2.8, Pentax *istDS

 

[niblue]

I love my pentax - a few things to consider however for metering. I would recommend an A lens, as it seems that it doesn't like the SMC M or screw mount lenses as much.

With PK and M42 lenses I meter wide open and then set the exposure manually based on that - it slows me down slightly compared to using KA lenses (or the *istDS which doesn't have the same issue) but not much.

 

[niblue]

I am also interesed in getting a Pentax DSLR for my M42's. However, K10D seems to be too expensive/big for my street work.

Does the K100D Super has similar VF as K10D or it is just too small for manual focusing?

Don't know about the K100D but I use my *istDS with manual focus lenses and the viewfinder is fine for that.

 

[Bryce]

I use a Pentax STDs, with manual lenses and assorted others.
Firstly, Pentax's manual focus era lenses were for the most part as good as any other company's. Don't shy away from them if you're worried about optical quality. Among Pentax's better points were excellent coatings before Nikon and Canon had them.
Which ones are not so good? Wider than 28mm aren't great and are hard to find for sale. This is where slr's don't work all that well anyway, right?
For macro work, I have a 100/4 M series macro lens and it is absolutely excellent. For closer work, I bought an ancient bellows unit and use enlarger lenses via some adapters. This is the ONLY way I'd use lenses with m39 mounts, since rangefinder lenses aren't designed for macro and cannot be made to focus anywhere near infinity on an slr.

 

[niblue]

Wider than 28mm aren't great and are hard to find for sale. This is where slr's don't work all that well anyway, right?

The Pentax 24mm lenses are very good - I had an FA* 24mm F2 that was a match for anything equivalent I'd used in a rangefinder. I've not used a Pentax lens wider than that but I have used 3rd party lenses, such as the Tokina ATX-Pro 20-35mm F2.8, that are very good.

There is a manual focus 15mm Pentax lens that's supposed to be excellent but it's expensive 2nd hand and fairly rare.

 

[dee]

Thank you all - I understand your advise , which seems to be - Auto lenses easier - old screw lenses need some thought - maybe stopped down metering and watch the exposure - awkward but possible !

I do not expect to use M lenses on a DSR .

I have just learned that , conversely , my Rokors WILL work on my M 8

I used Super Takumar lenses , and several Vivitar etc lenses back in the 70s with perfectly acceptable slides ,

niblue , I love your shots - perfect for me .

I used stop down metering and will probably find a pre-set Helios , and use my 50mm 1.8 S Takumar and my Chinon / Auto Reflecta 50mm F 1.7 to start , I also have a 28mm Chinon to try out .... but I can't wait to compare a I 50 from a Zenit with that on my M 8 !

It's odd , if I were to buy an expensive Canon or Nikon , I would be loathe to use old budget optics on it [ shades of 50s Elmar / Summitar - and Russian I 50 / I 22 / J8 / Fed collapsibles on the M 8 ] ... but a Pentax somehow seems right for this lack of snob value , or whatever - or is that just the Autism talking !!

I will look out for the lenses which you all mention , and maybe a couple of autofocus prime lenses for lazy days !24mm , 35mm and 50mm perhaps.

This is great - I can actually afford to add to my K 10 - whereas I doubt that I will ever have more than the 3 essential lenses for the M8 - 21 [ 32 ] / 35 [47] / 75 [ 100 ] - but that's all I will ever use anyway .. I was kinda worried about withdrawal symptoms from '' camera aquisition syndrome '' when the money runs out - but I can extend my Pentax craszy indefinitely !

dee

 

[charjohncarter]

Jpegs, handheld, you will be very ;happy with the K10d

 

[rbiemer]

You are correct about infinity focus but for macro use it is a workable solution. I suggested this as Dee has one or two ltm lenses already and the adaptor and/or extension tubes aren't much money.
Rob

INHO it is not possible to adapt LTM (=M39) or M- lenses to a Pentax K or M42 camera and focus it to infinity (look at the list of flanges below). The adapter would need optical elements. For table top it will work.
But you can use your M42 lenses with an adapter on a PK camera

On the other way you can use PK or M42 lenses on your LTM or M-mount camera.
With the last method (M42-> LTM Adapter from Zörk [-> Voigtländer m-mount adapter]) it is a cheap way to use my excellent Carl Zeiss 2.8/20mm lens on my rangefinder. Of course it is not RF -coupled but with a 20mm lens you can estimate.



Flanges: [in mm]
M42 (M42x1mm) 45,500
Pentax K 45,500

LTM (M39) 28,800
Leica M 27,800

 

[Kim Coxon]

Both the D and the DS have a Pentaprism as does the K10. The K100 has the same Pentamirror finder as the DLs. It is not as bright.

Kim

With PK and M42 lenses I meter wide open and then set the exposure manually based on that - it slows me down slightly compared to using KA lenses (or the *istDS which doesn't have the same issue) but not much.

 

[Kim Coxon]

Some of the very early Pentax ultra wides were not "great" but still quite good. The 20/4 in both M and K don't have that good a reputation. The 24's are good. I have used the original K series, the A series and the 24/2 FA. The 18 K lens has a good reputation but is very difficult to finf. The 15/3.5 is a fantastic lens and one of the best corrected ultra wides going.

Kim

I use a Pentax STDs, with manual lenses and assorted others.
Firstly, Pentax's manual focus era lenses were for the most part as good as any other company's. Don't shy away from them if you're worried about optical quality. Among Pentax's better points were excellent coatings before Nikon and Canon had them.
Which ones are not so good? Wider than 28mm aren't great and are hard to find for sale. This is where slr's don't work all that well anyway, right?
For macro work, I have a 100/4 M series macro lens and it is absolutely excellent. For closer work, I bought an ancient bellows unit and use enlarger lenses via some adapters. This is the ONLY way I'd use lenses with m39 mounts, since rangefinder lenses aren't designed for macro and cannot be made to focus anywhere near infinity on an slr.