Pentaxians... Any out there?

I don't remember if I've posted this photo in this thread before, but yesterday I decided to dig out the negative and rescan it. Looking at the negative, it's probably overexposed at least 2-3 stops. The original scan was done with my V500 on full auto scan, and considering the overexposure the results weren't too bad, but using manual setting with my V750 I managed to recover a lot more of the highlights.



Emigrant Hills. by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Asahi Pentax SV
S-M-C Takumar 85/1.9
Expired Arista EDU 200
Epson V750​
 
I've been going through and rescanning most of a roll Agfa APX 100 that I shot all on the same day in Portland in December 2012. I shot most of the roll using a FAJ 18-35mm, which is a surprisingly decent lens.



Untitled by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Pentax MZ-L
SMC Pentax-FAJ 18-35mm f/4-5.6
Agfa APX 100
Epson V750​
 
Swift1 said:
I don't remember if I've posted this photo in this thread before, but yesterday I decided to dig out the negative and rescan it. Looking at the negative, it's probably overexposed at least 2-3 stops. The original scan was done with my V500 on full auto scan, and considering the overexposure the results weren't too bad, but using manual setting with my V750 I managed to recover a lot more of the highlights.



Emigrant Hills. by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Asahi Pentax SV
S-M-C Takumar 85/1.9
Expired Arista EDU 200
Epson V750​
Click to expand...


Brilliant picture - thanks for sharing it.
 
Definitely a Pentax fan here; it's what my dad used, what I learned on, and to this day what I prefer to shoot with in both 35mm and MF. I wound up selling off my Pentax gear a few years ago (along with most of my other photography gear, but that's a story for another time), but I'm feeling the itch to shoot again. At least I still have a K-mount camera that'll let me keep a toe in the Pentax water.
 
I have two Pentax kits up and running these days, both inherited.

Pentax SP1000 with SMC 55/1.8, Super Takumar 35/2 and the truly weird SMC Fisheye 17/4 lenses. The camera and 55mm lens were my father's. I added the 35mm and 17mm lenses to the kit.

Pentax K2 with SMC 55/1.8 and 28/3.5. The camera belonged to my wife's grandfather.

Both are lovely cameras. The SP1000 is a bit beat up, but it still works great. The K2 has black paint and it looks wonderful. The split-image viewfinder in the K2 is almost like focusing a rangefinder!
 
Andy Kibber said:
...Pentax K2 with SMC 55/1.8 and 28/3.5. The camera belonged to my wife's grandfather.

Both are lovely cameras. The SP1000 is a bit beat up, but it still works great. The K2 has black paint and it looks wonderful. The split-image viewfinder in the K2 is almost like focusing a rangefinder!
Click to expand...
I think the K2 is among the best of the best Pentax cameras made. Solid quality. I have a chrome K2 and a black K2DMD... Good shooting!
 
Swift1 said:
I don't remember if I've posted this photo in this thread before, but yesterday I decided to dig out the negative and rescan it. Looking at the negative, it's probably overexposed at least 2-3 stops. The original scan was done with my V500 on full auto scan, and considering the overexposure the results weren't too bad, but using manual setting with my V750 I managed to recover a lot more of the highlights.



Emigrant Hills. by Colton Allen, on Flickr
Asahi Pentax SV
S-M-C Takumar 85/1.9
Expired Arista EDU 200
Epson V750​
Click to expand...

Just beautiful Colton. Amazing. Did you develop it yourself? If so, how? I have always found Foma/Arista EDU 200 a little tricky.

Marty
 
p.giannakis said:
Brilliant picture - thanks for sharing it.
Click to expand...

Thank you Pan 🙂


Freakscene said:
Just beautiful Colton. Amazing. Did you develop it yourself? If so, how? I have always found Foma/Arista EDU 200 a little tricky.

Marty
Click to expand...

Thank you Marty. No, I didn't develop it. I sent it to a lab. I think I only ever shot 2 rolls of Arista 200, both were expired so really can't say. Like I said though, this one was very overexposed.
 
Doug said:
I think the K2 is among the best of the best Pentax cameras made. Solid quality. I have a chrome K2 and a black K2DMD... Good shooting!
Click to expand...

I agree, the K2 is a wonderful camera. The finder is fabulous and the automatic exposure still works perfectly 40+ years on.

But for emotional reasons I tend to reach for the SP1000.
 
Pentaxians... Any out there?

Never owning a Pentax SLR (I have a Nikon FM2) I just picked up a working Pentax ME (not the super) with a 50mm SMC Pentax-M f/1.7, Polarizer, and Pentax lens-cap for $10 at a collectables/antique co-op.

I really love the diminutive size of the body. Smaller than my Leica Ms, and like the semi-carefree approach of aperture-priority only. This is a fun shooter and has a high-precision/quality feel to it. Ergonomically feels great in the hands.

I am almost finished with a roll of Tri-X and will send it off soon for processing/scan. Only concern is if it needs light baffle refoaming. I will find out soon.

Curious about the performance of the 1.7 lens?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
raydm6 said:
Never owning a Pentax SLR (I have a Nikon FM2) I just picked up a working Pentax ME (not the super) with a 50mm SMC Pentax-M f/1.7, Polarizer, and Pentax lens-cap for $10 at a collectables/antique co-op.

I really love the diminutive size of the body. Smaller than my Leica Ms, and like the semi-carefree approach of aperture-priority only. This is a fun shooter and has a high-precision/quality feel to it. Ergonomically feels great in the hands.

I am almost finished with a roll of Tri-X and will send it off soon for processing/scan. Only concern is if it needs light baffle reforming. I will find out soon.

Curious about the performance of the 1.7 lens?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If the camera is working properly, I think you'll be very pleased with the performance of the 50mm ƒ1.7 lens. I have the Pentax MX and several lenses. All of my Pentax K-Mount lenses are excellent performers.
 
This thread has me missing my Pentax MG with the SMC Pentax-M 50/2.0, which allowed macro focusing. Aperture-priority only and the shutter only went from 1 second to 1/1000 second, but it was simple to use and oh, that glass...
 
charjohncarter said:
Classy! I have one of these (even the same lens) what a tank; I like it because of the AF and it feels like it will never break (but I know it will someday). What is the gadget near the viewfinder?
Click to expand...

They are pretty cool cameras IMO, with some interesting features. I especially like the sparkle in the finish of the SF1N.
Gadget near the viewfinder? Might just be the original, rather large rubber eyecup that you're seeing...
 
My first 35mm camera was bought in 1981 when the ship I was working on arrived in St Maarten. It was a Pentax ME Super with the 50mm F/1.7 lens and I later went on to buy a 135mm telephoto though I couldn't tell you who made it. I kept it till I needed to sell it to feed myself (along with almost all my record collection); sometimes needs must.

I'm seriously looking to get another, in part because it will make a lovely lightweight addition but also for sentimental reasons. I haven't scanned many of the pictures I took with it (don't think I have the negatives either but I have boxes of photo's so maybe I do) but here's the ship I worked on shot with the ME Super in Curaçao 1981. Not a good example of what the camera could do; I'll see if I can find the negatives and post a couple of scans if I do.

The-Sun-Princess-in-Curacao-1981.jpg
 
Hello! I write from the pampas of Argentina. I have a Pentax Spotmatic with a Super Takumar 1:1.4 f: 50mm and an MX with a Pentax M 1:2.8 f: 2,8mm. Both black bodies. Since their time they have been excellent cameras with matching lenses. Currently I use the MX with T Max 400 but without being able to give a valid reason because as I have already said they are both very good. The MX is lighter than the Spotmatic but more uncomfortable to turn the gear wheel. I wish you enjoy it. Greetings to all the forum.
 
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