Pentax K1000 w/ Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4

[Khunyapan]

Hello all,

While I am also a Leica owner, the bulk of my photographs have come from my K1000 with a Super-Takumar 50mm f/1.4 using a genuine Pentax M42 to K-mount adapter.

I always have tried to show people that it truly is not the tools that count, but the photographers eye that make the photographs. Many people will look down at the K1000, but it is a powerful and simple camera. And the Super-Takumar is an extremely powerful lens that I would rate up there with the Summilux's and Noctilux's (both of which I've used). I actually did a little story on Steve Huff's site a few years back with this combo:

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2013/...-k1000-super-takumar-50mm-f1-4-by-khunya-pan/


Anyway, I wanted to share some more recent photos that I've taken with that setup. If anyone else wants to share their Pentax pictures, please do!



Palms by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Ring by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Draught by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


57600018 by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Eternity by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Makeup by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Serene by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Boat by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Bulbs by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr


Old Android by Khunya Lamat Pan, on Flickr

 

[kuuan]

Very impressive photos, also at your very enjoyable write up at Steve Huffs site, congrats and thank you!

A beaten up S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 I had bought for some 20 usd had made me hooked on using manual lenses, I love everything about it, for me it's 'the epitome' of a lens. It used to be my most used lens but that was on Pentax dSLR, I only could share these photos and they are not as artful as yours. Since I started using mirrorless cams I have been using RF and Pen-F lenses for their smaller size but often I am missing the 1.4/50 Takumar and a few earlier Takumars that I love. I should follow your example and use it on film.

sure you will know Mike Johnstons article called 'my favorite lens', for anyone who doesn't: https://luminous-landscape.com/my-favorite-lens/

 

[Khunyapan]

Thanks! When I first bought the Takumar I used it primarily on my digital at the time, the K20D. I eventually sold all my digital cameras and now shoot film exclusively. While the Takumar was very fun to use on digital (and also a lot of fun to make movies as well), it really comes into it's own on film. Maybe it's just because it's an older lens and probably has some limitations that come out more on digital, but on film it really shines.

I do remember reading that article before I ever got a Takumar. It's one of the few write ups on it, but a very good one at that.

Very impressive photos, also at your very enjoyable write up at Steve Huffs site, congrats and thank you!

A beaten up S-M-C Takumar 1.4/50 I had bought for some 20 usd had made me hooked on using manual lenses, I love everything about it, for me it's 'the epitome' of a lens. It used to be my most used lens but that was on Pentax dSLR, I only could share these photos and they are not as artful as yours. Since I started using mirrorless cams I have been using RF and Pen-F lenses for their smaller size but often I am missing the 1.4/50 Takumar and a few earlier Takumars that I love. I should follow your example and use it on film.

sure you will know Mike Johnstons article called 'my favorite lens', for anyone who doesn't: https://luminous-landscape.com/my-favorite-lens/

 

[kuuan]

certainly I believe you, used on film should be best. I am not so sure if the S-M-C version, with somewhat better coatings, has any limitations that makes it less able on a FF digital though.
Is your's the 'common' Super Takumar or the rare, early 8 element version? The 8 element is amazing, but a bit more prone to loose contrast when used against light and to flare again.

..It is said that the production of the 8 element, because of a cemented triplet, was very costly. This was the time when Japanese camera manufacturers started to rival the then leading German producers, and imo Pentax, from the middle of the 50s onwrds, played a crucial role. E.g in 57 Pentax experimented which lens is suited best as a normal lens for the newly emerging SLRs and introduced 3 normal lenses with 3 different lens schemes: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Takumar_Collection.html
This little video about "Japanese and cameras', though not done by a photography site but by NHK world in a series called 'Japanology', gives interesting accounts incl. the focus of Japanese producers on the development of SLRs which soon became dominant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2zYGbscts4

 

[Jerevan]

While I am not so fond of the K1000 (prefer the Spotmatic or the earlier S1a etc) I do adore the 50/1.4 - wonderful build quality and it was the only lens I used for a few years.

The 55/1.8 is also very good - that's what I have at the moment for my S1a. But I'd love another 50/1.4 again ...

Your photographs is a testament to what one can do with simple equipment that does not need to cost a ton of money.

 

[Jerevan]

Here is one from the former combo (Spotmatic + 50/1.4):

Just outside by Jerevan, on Flickr

 

[littleearth]

I'm also not a fan of the K1000, I much prefer the Pentax SV and Spottie, but I think your pictures show really well the character of this lens.
I'm only shooting Medium Format these days, but if I go back to 35mm, Takumars will be my choice.

 

[Khunyapan]

Thanks for the links, interesting stuff!

I have a few of the 50mm Super's, and one of them is a very early 7 element, I think right before they switched from the 8 element. The other one is a little later model, probably before it went over to the SMC. Pentax serial numbers are notoriously hard to date though. :\

certainly I believe you, used on film should be best. I am not so sure if the S-M-C version, with somewhat better coatings, has any limitations that makes it less able on a FF digital though.
Is your's the 'common' Super Takumar or the rare, early 8 element version? The 8 element is amazing, but a bit more prone to loose contrast when used against light and to flare again.

..It is said that the production of the 8 element, because of a cemented triplet, was very costly. This was the time when Japanese camera manufacturers started to rival the then leading German producers, and imo Pentax, from the middle of the 50s onwrds, played a crucial role. E.g in 57 Pentax experimented which lens is suited best as a normal lens for the newly emerging SLRs and introduced 3 normal lenses with 3 different lens schemes: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Takumar_Collection.html
This little video about "Japanese and cameras', though not done by a photography site but by NHK world in a series called 'Japanology', gives interesting accounts incl. the focus of Japanese producers on the development of SLRs which soon became dominant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2zYGbscts4

 

[Khunyapan]

Thanks all for the responses. I am curious why not many are fond of the K1000? I have a first-gen Spotmatic and love them both.

 

[littleearth]

Thanks all for the responses. I am curious why not many are fond of the K1000? I have a first-gen Spotmatic and love them both.

There's nothing wrong with the K1000, but it just doesn't feel as nice and smooth as the Spotmatic.
The Pentax MX is still my favourite K series camera.

 

[oltimer]

I have 2 K1000's; but with those 50/1.4 lenses in the 42 size, I use and like my SP1000.

 

[Jerevan]

As for the K1000 - I think it is the build secondarily for me - that it does not feel as smooth, but primarily that you can't shut off the meter (unless you keep a cap on the lens all the time).

I wish there was a split screen option for the m42 cameras - it's one of the things that keep me from using them more often.

 

[Doug]

The K1000 is a solid inexpensive starter camera that has been hugely popular in photo education and newspaper journalism. It was intended to be a reliable bottom-of-the-market model, a lesser sibling to the KM, KX, and K2. One example of the cost-cutting is that there's no on-off switch (as Jerevan said above), so you just put on the lens cap to save the battery. It's ironic that as the least of this group it is the best known... Likely because it was so affordable.

I think the K bodies derived closely from the Spotmatic group, and subsequently Pentax put their cameras (and lenses) on a diet, as the M group was smaller. Even the pro model LX was smaller than these K bodies.

Now Pentax has returned to using the K model naming for current dSLRs, while there was a previous Pentax K in 1958 as the immediate predecessor of the S (H in the US) group. So I find myself with a K lineup including that old Pentax K, a K2, a K2 DMD, a K100D, and a K-3. 🙂 And yet I've never had a K1000.

 

[Khunyapan]

The absence of the on-off switch can be a little annoying, I agree there. I do believe it is a very powerful tool that too many people overlook because of it's reputation as a "student" camera. In a way I kind of like how extremely stripped down it is, with no on-off switch or self timer, less stuff to break on it. 😉

I actually need to get my Spotmatic in for repair, the light meter is pretty inaccurate and the film back takes a lot of pressure to get it closed and locked properly.

Glad to see many more Pentaxian's though. 🙂

 

[Austintatious]

I wish there was a split screen option for the m42 cameras - it's one of the things that keep me from using them more often.

I found a Chinon Memotron CE3 that works for me. M42, Split screen focus, 1/1000 of a second, and AE setting that works pretty well. Very reasonable.

 

[Ranchu]

Good pictures! I have a K1000 and 2 SP1000's, as far as I can tell they are the same camera with some minor differences. And an S1a that tapers. I like the K1000 better though. I like Pentax the best for slrs.

🙂

 

[Pioneer]

The K1000 is a terrific camera. It is nice to see someone who isn't afraid to show what he can do with it using a decent lens. Nice shots, thanks for posting.

But it seems that everyone is more concerned about the fact that you need to use a lens cap to shut off the K1000 meter. Everyone agrees that a lens cap is of great use in protecting the front objective of your lenses from all sorts of things that cause damage. But a camera that encourages you to keep your lens cap in place is not a good camera.

BTW, the battery in the K1000 will outlast the battery in an M6 under the same circumstances. And though you can shut the meter off on an M6, how many actually do it?

 

[kuuan]

Thanks for the links, interesting stuff!...

welcome. I hope you also saw, from the same site, the main page on Takumars: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Takumar_e.html
resp. the one on early Pentax cameras with links to individual pages: http://www.klassik-cameras.de/Pentax_Main.html

 

[David Murphy]

I love the K1000 - solid as a rock, simple, easy to handle, not too heavy, bright viewfinder, not too expensive, reliable meter, and no battery issues. Not many frills, but it has so many amazing lenses to use with it.

 

[David Murphy]

Oh yes the winding mechanism of the K1000 is not that smooth - probably some economy measures inside there, but I had one of the first ones and used it for about 25 years and never had a frame spacing issue.