kb244
Well-known
I've used Pentax lens for a while, which are mainly adapted to my Olympus digital now. And I used to have a Pentax K10D Digital along with an MZ-6 film body as a backup when I had more autofocus lens.
Right now I just have manual focus lens, and soon I'll have a fully CLA'd Pentax MX to go with those lens when not adapted to my Olympus.
So by next friday hopefully, Pentax Wise I'll have :
Pentax MX
Pentax SMC 28/3.8
Pentax-M 50/1.4
Rokinon 85/1.4
Tamron Adaptall SP 90/2.8 1:1 Macro
The last three I already had for several years.
Right now I just have manual focus lens, and soon I'll have a fully CLA'd Pentax MX to go with those lens when not adapted to my Olympus.
So by next friday hopefully, Pentax Wise I'll have :
Pentax MX
Pentax SMC 28/3.8
Pentax-M 50/1.4
Rokinon 85/1.4
Tamron Adaptall SP 90/2.8 1:1 Macro
The last three I already had for several years.
PaulDalex
Dilettante artist
I have a Pentax but I confess I am not Pentaxian.
It is my fault, I was not able to get satisfactory results compared to my Leica, Minolta and Nikon gear
I found I black KX. It is a beauty it was cheap and out of curiosity I bought it
I passed a couple rolls. It has a terrific potential but I was not able to exploit it
Now I want to sell it but I can only sell face to face because I am old and hill
So it will stay there in a cabinet under glass as a nice ornament
Cheers
Paul
It is my fault, I was not able to get satisfactory results compared to my Leica, Minolta and Nikon gear
I found I black KX. It is a beauty it was cheap and out of curiosity I bought it
I passed a couple rolls. It has a terrific potential but I was not able to exploit it
Now I want to sell it but I can only sell face to face because I am old and hill
So it will stay there in a cabinet under glass as a nice ornament
Cheers
Paul
Scrambler
Well-known
Well, I guess despite it being the RFF, and me having owned a few rangefinders, I started with Pentax and I seem to be going there again.
My Dad used a Canon FTb in the 70s, but his "old" camera was an Asahi Pentax S1a - so that was the first serious camera I got to use. Total manual, meter not included. Around 10 years ago I bought a Pentax K100D for my wife to use (I was not doing much photography at the time) and I inherited it when we discovered that it was still working after we had bought a new Canon DSLR for her (the Pentax was refusing to see memory cards - but really just needed its software updated).
With the forward and backward lens compatibility (and the kind donation of an ME and lenses from a friend), I find I am using the Pentax as a base for older and newer cameras - a Spotmatic is on its way and I have newer (MZ-60) and slightly older (PZ-1) automated fantastics. I tried to get something manual in the plastic like lynnb has referred to - but all end up having died the mirror cog death. I gather the 60 is immune - but I'm not holding my breath. The PZ-1 was a lucky find, which I thought was dead for a year before discovering the battery I had tested it with was the dead item.
I have prime lenses in the 28 to 135 range and zooms that cover everything from 18mm (alright, at APSC size) to 300mm - but the zooms are all Sigma.
My Dad used a Canon FTb in the 70s, but his "old" camera was an Asahi Pentax S1a - so that was the first serious camera I got to use. Total manual, meter not included. Around 10 years ago I bought a Pentax K100D for my wife to use (I was not doing much photography at the time) and I inherited it when we discovered that it was still working after we had bought a new Canon DSLR for her (the Pentax was refusing to see memory cards - but really just needed its software updated).
With the forward and backward lens compatibility (and the kind donation of an ME and lenses from a friend), I find I am using the Pentax as a base for older and newer cameras - a Spotmatic is on its way and I have newer (MZ-60) and slightly older (PZ-1) automated fantastics. I tried to get something manual in the plastic like lynnb has referred to - but all end up having died the mirror cog death. I gather the 60 is immune - but I'm not holding my breath. The PZ-1 was a lucky find, which I thought was dead for a year before discovering the battery I had tested it with was the dead item.
I have prime lenses in the 28 to 135 range and zooms that cover everything from 18mm (alright, at APSC size) to 300mm - but the zooms are all Sigma.
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
The only Pentax I have now is a black ME Super with 24-35 zoom. I lovely little combo.
The new KP is a handsome DSLR...curious to try one out.
The new KP is a handsome DSLR...curious to try one out.
zuikologist
.........................
I find the MX and ME finders have more snap and easier to focus than the OMs and the P30 finder is fantastic for a budget camera.
It's great to have so many film SLRs to use and compare - all competent picture takers.
It's great to have so many film SLRs to use and compare - all competent picture takers.
I went through a Pentax period in my photographic life. I had a MX, a Spotmatic, two ME, two K1000, a P30 and one Z-1 during different periods.
I quite liked the MX but i sold it after i got an OM-1n - I liked the size and the ergonomics of the Olympus better. The Z-1 was a beautiful camera but rather over-complicated. A short while after I bought it, it developed a fault with the secondary mirror (it would not lift) so i had to let it go.
I was not impressed with the ME or the P30, not bad but nothing great either. Same goes for the K1000 - very reliable but left me rather cold.
I very much enjoyed the Spotmatic. I got it for peanuts with the 50f/1.4 and it was in perfect cosmetic condition. I like the looks and the smoothness of this camera, fit and finish was beautiful - a real child of the 60's. Eventually I ended up selling it - i was offered a significant amount of money for it, money that i re-invested in lenses/films and more cameras.
If you browse through my blog, i have reviews for all those cameras.
http://pansfilmcameras.blogspot.co.uk/
shawn
Veteran
I just put a roll of Trix through a new to me MX with the 40mm f2.8. What a fun little camera. Great finder and I like the shutter and F stop display in it. LED display is quick but a little hard to see in bright light. It is a quick shooter (for no automation) and I forgot how much fun it can be to shoot a manual SLR quickly like that. My F3 feels slower in manual as the +/- is a little slower to read than the LEDs.
Shawn
Shawn
narsuitus
Well-known
I love well-built cameras. I shoot Pentax, Nikon, Leica, Fuji, and Contax 35mm cameras.
I love lenses with high image quality. I shoot Takumar, Nikkor, Leitz, Fujinon, and Zeiss lenses for 35mm cameras.
My Takumar lenses include 28, 50, 105, 135, and 200mm. My personal favorite is the 50mm f/1.4 8-element Takumar.
Pentax Spotmatics by Narsuitus, on Flickr
I love lenses with high image quality. I shoot Takumar, Nikkor, Leitz, Fujinon, and Zeiss lenses for 35mm cameras.
My Takumar lenses include 28, 50, 105, 135, and 200mm. My personal favorite is the 50mm f/1.4 8-element Takumar.
Pentax Spotmatics by Narsuitus, on Flickr
narsuitus
Well-known
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
The KX and KM are my favorites.
The KX meter uses SPD cells for center-weighted readings.
Full exposure information is easily visible in viewfinder in normal light.
Shutter speed is displayed via a match-needle arrangement;
aperture via a small window, reflected from lens aperture ring.
Unlike the MX exposure indicators do not crowd the screen.
Shutter speed dial is considerably easier to operate as well.
The KM uses CdS cells for mildly center-weighted readings.
It uses the classic Pentax center-the-needle meter display.
It is simple, not distracting and sublime.
Both models have horizontal-run cloth mechanical shutters.
Both have mechanical self-timer and depth-of-field preview.
The KX has mirror lockup.
Chris
The KX meter uses SPD cells for center-weighted readings.
Full exposure information is easily visible in viewfinder in normal light.
Shutter speed is displayed via a match-needle arrangement;
aperture via a small window, reflected from lens aperture ring.
Unlike the MX exposure indicators do not crowd the screen.
Shutter speed dial is considerably easier to operate as well.
The KM uses CdS cells for mildly center-weighted readings.
It uses the classic Pentax center-the-needle meter display.
It is simple, not distracting and sublime.
Both models have horizontal-run cloth mechanical shutters.
Both have mechanical self-timer and depth-of-field preview.
The KX has mirror lockup.
Chris
cassel
Well-known
Still having fun with my $9 Black SP! More pictures FROM the camera soon
Also a "shout out" to Strapophilia on the craft -selling web-site...My "tattoo-girl" strap is comfy and funky... hand made in Poland.
Gotta a 105mm f2.8 on the way as well-- that should about be it for the Pentax purchasing:angel:
benlees
Well-known
I've used numerous Pentax over the years. Currently just have a beat up MX, M 50mm 1.7, and a Vivitar 28mm 2.8.
I actually forgot that at one time I owned an LX! Obviously didn't leave an impression! Needless to say that cured my GAS for another one...
I actually forgot that at one time I owned an LX! Obviously didn't leave an impression!
Needless to say that cured my GAS for another one...
charjohncarter
Veteran
I have a bunch of SLRS and some Digital Pentax(s). My 1969 Spotmatic which I got in 1969 is still the one that feels right: small, tight, smooth, no plastic, works without a battery, the lens from that era a great, but the big love is the viewfinder. Now that I have trouble focusing it is my go to manual focus camera.
I also love my Pentax 6x7 from the same era, for all the above reasons except SMALL.
I also love my Pentax 6x7 from the same era, for all the above reasons except SMALL.
Swift1
Veteran
Just got this bad boy from Japan.
cassel
Well-known
Still having fun with my $9 Black SP! More pictures FROM the camera soon
My "tattoo-girl" strap is comfy and funky... hand made in Poland.
Gotta a 105mm f2.8 on the way as well-- that should about be it for the Pentax purchasing:angel:
Follow-up with the brassy Spotmatic here. Got the 105mm f2.8 and shot more film! Here's some examples with the 105 first-
Here's a few with the dreamy 50mm f1.4 - my sample has some fungus but I'm not sure it matters especially with these forest shots:
cassel
Well-known
A few more with the brassy SP:
jbielikowski
Jan Bielikowski
cassel, I have a twin brother to your SP, a 12$ one. And I just ordered 105/2.8 for it. I'm in the middle of the roll, gonna post picture of the camera tomorrow.
ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I'm on the lookout for a clean K2DMD or black KM body.
EDIT 8-24-2019: Both acquired.
Chris
EDIT 8-24-2019: Both acquired.
Chris
dmr
Registered Abuser
Latest Pentax acquisition on left. Seems in great shape and even shows a wee bit of brassing. I'm gonna give it (actually both of these) a workout this weekend.
WJJ3
Well-known
Wonderful! Shooting a Spotmatic in the Northwest is like putting butter on bread