Elegance in Design

I have just bought a "job lot" of old cameras that includes offerings from Olympus, Minolta, Yashica and others, all dating from the 1970s and 1980s.

The one thing that is very striking is how crude the design of these is compared to the Pentax cameras of the period. There are exposed workings on lenses, little levers and catches everywhere, buttons galore on some of them. Really, very 1950s design work and wihtout any of the simplicity and elegance of the Pentax designs. They are also far too bulky and heavy.

One curiosity is a Sigma autofocus zoom (50-200mm) that takes 3 AAA batteries. Very curious.

I think I shall be happy to stick with Pentax - far superior in design.

nothings changed....hold an ist/k series dslr side by side with a cannon rebel, and see which one feels llike a cheap disposable.....

Hi John,

Many Pentax cameras are indeed very nice to use, however I do not think anyone has bettered the SLR designs of Contax. The ST and RX are sublime to use...better than anything else I have tried (and I have tried everything!)

cheers Steve.

This would probably be sacriledge elsewhere, but I have examined the Contax Zeiss lenses very closely and I found the focusing very stiff, with none of the silky smoothness of Pentax. I didn't think the finish was up to Pentax standards either.

The Contax bodies are one of the few I have never used, so I can't offer any comment on those.

Hi John,

Very few Zeiss lenses have stiff focus rings, although some do. If the only ones you have examined did have, then you have been unlucky. You must bear in mind when comparing that very few Pentax lenses see pro use, but many of the Zeiss Contax ones do and without regular service, they do stiffen..

I have used/owned and sold over 200 Zeiss lenses and can say with confidence they (when in decent condition) have superbly smooth focus action..certainly the ones I still use do. We will have to disagree about the standards of finishing...many Pentax ones seem poorer to me, the only ones I thought up to Zeiss/ Nikkor quality were the older SMC 'K' lenses. (I have used/owned many K, M and A lenses)

cheers Steve.

The best Pentax lenses were the screw Takumars. I still have a couple of 55mm 1.8s, and the finish and smoothness of action are still wonderful after all these years.

G

George,

I'm with you.

I have 7 prime Super Taks and Super Multi-Coated Taks in various lengths. Every one of them is a jewel to use and handle.

While the SMC A and M K mount zooms take fine pictures, they just don't feel the same at all.

Fortunately, with the proper adapters, the M42s will fit the K mount bodies and hopefully, the digital ones as well with obvious loss of features but the good old quality glass carried forward.

I'm glad I got hold of these old Pentax gems.

If you're used to stopping down the lens (most of us have forgotten all that), then it's pretty easy to use the screw-mount lenses on digital, and they work in AE modes, too. You just have to remember to stop down the lens before pressing the shutter.

Quite so, Mac.

One word of warning. You are used to Spotmatics, the finest SLR bodies ever made, and wonderfully simple. The degree of (optional) automation and the number of available choices offered by the K10D will be quite a shock.

So I suggest buying a PZ1-P first, to wean yourself gently onto electronic camera control. This body has the advantage of offering the best compatibilty with various lenses of any Pentax ever made.

And they're now quite cheap.

With the money you will save by deferring the purchase of a PZ1-P until now, you can invest wisely in some 30 year-old malts.

So it's an irresistible proposition, ce n'est pas?

G

George,

Thanks as always for your wise counsil.

I have two Bowmore Dusks on hand, and that's about as good as it gets pour moi.

Now it's time for me to hunt down a PZ1-P in preparation for my quantum technology leap from the 60's.

I'll let you know how I make out.

'Til Then, Be well!