Fixed Prime Lens
Posted 16/04/2017 - 14:52
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Do you want a wide angle, standard or telephoto Tim?
The SMC Pentax-DA lenses 35mm f/2.4 and 50mm f/1.8 are not expensive and are both excellent performers.
The SMC Pentax-DA lenses 35mm f/2.4 and 50mm f/1.8 are not expensive and are both excellent performers.
Best regards, John
Posted 16/04/2017 - 14:59
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Thanks John, mainly portraiture and Pets, although i do like Macro photography i am thinking of photo's of family and friends.
Posted 16/04/2017 - 15:27 - Helpful Comment
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The 50mm will cover portraiture, but if you want to do macro work, how about the SMC Pentax-D FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro lens? Coupled with the 35mm, you've got a useful pair of optics.
Best regards, John
Posted 17/04/2017 - 03:00 - Helpful Comment
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Buy a legacy manual focus prime, Pentax-M 50mm f1.7, brilliant optic, about £20 on ebay or the Pentax-A version for easier exposure for a bit more.
Pentax-FA 28-70mm F4 is a great auto-focus zoom, takes great photos, about £35 on ebay.
Carl Zeiss Jenas are superb on Pentax, about £30 on ebay.
Pentax has the best system for old lenses, you get image stabilisation with any lens you put on it!
Don't buy a macro lens, buy extension tubes and put the 50mm on them, mine cost £12 mint condition Pentax ones at that.
Learn to manual focus, you will be a better photographer.
Message me if you want more legacy advice, I bought another 3 this week.
Pentax-FA 28-70mm F4 is a great auto-focus zoom, takes great photos, about £35 on ebay.
Carl Zeiss Jenas are superb on Pentax, about £30 on ebay.
Pentax has the best system for old lenses, you get image stabilisation with any lens you put on it!
Don't buy a macro lens, buy extension tubes and put the 50mm on them, mine cost £12 mint condition Pentax ones at that.
Learn to manual focus, you will be a better photographer.
Message me if you want more legacy advice, I bought another 3 this week.
"In a photographic context I don't like the use of the word 'shot' as where I live this word refers to an extreme act of violence and not the beautiful craft of photography"
Posted 17/04/2017 - 11:53
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Thanks nocturnal, will all these lenses fit straight onto the K-S2 or will i need some kind of adaptor ?
Tim
Tim
Posted 17/04/2017 - 12:06 - Helpful Comment
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Almost all K mount lenses will fit your camera. If you look for older Takumar or M42 lenses then they will also fit using an adapter (very easy to find).
The manual focus 50mm primes would be great for around £25-30 but since the DA50 is barely twice that amount it would be the best choice. It offers autofocus and modern lens coatings as well as in-camera image adjustments.
In terms of macro lenses, the extension tubes idea would be a great start. For these tubes you will need a lens with an aperture ring so the DA50 loses out on that front.
The cheapest true macro lenses will cost around £100 at the least, with the exception of the older Pentax 50mm f4 Macro lenses. They sell for around £60 and are a bit too slow for portraits. They're still amazingly sharp and provide a good all round image.
The manual focus 50mm primes would be great for around £25-30 but since the DA50 is barely twice that amount it would be the best choice. It offers autofocus and modern lens coatings as well as in-camera image adjustments.
In terms of macro lenses, the extension tubes idea would be a great start. For these tubes you will need a lens with an aperture ring so the DA50 loses out on that front.
The cheapest true macro lenses will cost around £100 at the least, with the exception of the older Pentax 50mm f4 Macro lenses. They sell for around £60 and are a bit too slow for portraits. They're still amazingly sharp and provide a good all round image.
All the gear with no idea
Posted 17/04/2017 - 14:00
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I think the OP is more interested in legacy, hence he mentioned takumars.
SMC coating has always been brilliant, only recently the HD coating was an improvement, however the budget DA50 doesn't have it.
Another advisory is do not buy a cheapo M42-K adapter to mount legacy M42 screw lenses such as Takumars or Zeiss etc, I nearly destroyed a new K30 with one then I bought the genuine Asahi-Pentax adapter which like everything else Pentax is finely engineered. When you have it there are literally 100's of lenses in M42 screw, charity shops etc.
Here is a photograph from a Carl Zeiss Jena which cost me £5 and no extension tubes required...
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8
SMC coating has always been brilliant, only recently the HD coating was an improvement, however the budget DA50 doesn't have it.
Another advisory is do not buy a cheapo M42-K adapter to mount legacy M42 screw lenses such as Takumars or Zeiss etc, I nearly destroyed a new K30 with one then I bought the genuine Asahi-Pentax adapter which like everything else Pentax is finely engineered. When you have it there are literally 100's of lenses in M42 screw, charity shops etc.
Here is a photograph from a Carl Zeiss Jena which cost me £5 and no extension tubes required...
Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 50mm f2.8
"In a photographic context I don't like the use of the word 'shot' as where I live this word refers to an extreme act of violence and not the beautiful craft of photography"
Posted 17/04/2017 - 14:17
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I'll probably be listing some of my bits and bobs on here soon, including a couple of genuine M42 to P/K adapters (and extension tubes!).
Extension tubes usually don't need to be as finely machined as the adapters do they?
Extension tubes usually don't need to be as finely machined as the adapters do they?
All the gear with no idea
Posted 17/04/2017 - 15:53
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HarisF1 wrote:
I'll probably be listing some of my bits and bobs on here soon, including a couple of genuine M42 to P/K adapters (and extension tubes!).
Extension tubes usually don't need to be as finely machined as the adapters do they?
I'll probably be listing some of my bits and bobs on here soon, including a couple of genuine M42 to P/K adapters (and extension tubes!).
Extension tubes usually don't need to be as finely machined as the adapters do they?
As long as they are not removing aluminium shards from themselves of the camera mount it will be OK. That is what my cheap adapter did before I just saved my K30!!!!!!!!
I have lenses to sell including a Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 in minter condition with the genuine Tak metal hood and case. You will easily sell genuine adapter rings as they are a bit rare, I have a boxed one
"In a photographic context I don't like the use of the word 'shot' as where I live this word refers to an extreme act of violence and not the beautiful craft of photography"
Posted 17/04/2017 - 19:32
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Will keep the tubes and M42 adaptor in mind Haris . I am a tad short buying the K-S2 this week, really went over my budget. Let me know when and how much and i will give you a shout Haris.
Posted 17/04/2017 - 21:02 - Helpful Comment
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Wizhunter wrote:
Will keep the tubes and M42 adaptor in mind Haris . I am a tad short buying the K-S2 this week, really went over my budget. Let me know when and how much and i will give you a shout Haris.
Will keep the tubes and M42 adaptor in mind Haris . I am a tad short buying the K-S2 this week, really went over my budget. Let me know when and how much and i will give you a shout Haris.
That reminds me, I've got your 55-300 to post tomorrow!
All the gear with no idea
Posted 18/04/2017 - 03:33
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Haris, you have very nice stuff on ebay, one being the Vivitar close focus 28mm f2.0
I bought the same lens yesterday and just wondering what you thought of it? I have the same on in f2.8 M42 and it is great for close focus but will sell it if the f2 is better. They are specialist lenses, I've bought it for close ups but maybe pub/band photography and interiors. I'll not be using it for mountain scapes!
I got the f2 for the brighter viewfinder and the PK mount advantage over M42, I'm an MX user you see (film camera as you might not know)... Only joking 😁
Cheers
I bought the same lens yesterday and just wondering what you thought of it? I have the same on in f2.8 M42 and it is great for close focus but will sell it if the f2 is better. They are specialist lenses, I've bought it for close ups but maybe pub/band photography and interiors. I'll not be using it for mountain scapes!
I got the f2 for the brighter viewfinder and the PK mount advantage over M42, I'm an MX user you see (film camera as you might not know)... Only joking 😁
Cheers
"In a photographic context I don't like the use of the word 'shot' as where I live this word refers to an extreme act of violence and not the beautiful craft of photography"
Posted 19/04/2017 - 00:23 - Helpful Comment
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If you are doing portraits then an old Russian 135mm will be relatively cheap and will give amazing results. In particular, the Jupiter 11A, which is a superb lens. The A suffix on Russian lenses means it has a T mount (usually M42) so that can be changed for a Pentax K if you like. If you like bokeh you'll get it in spades with a Meyer Optik/ Pentacon f2.8 135mm. Best thing is to buy them and try them. 9 out of 10 can be resold for what you paid for them.
Posted 19/04/2017 - 13:57 - Helpful Comment
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Good advice from David.
Another is the Helios 44/2 which is a Zeiss Biotar 58/2 with a Soviet uniform, the early versions do the swirly bokeh and are razor sharp in the centre.
Meanwhile I must try the red coated Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 I just got in the post
Another is the Helios 44/2 which is a Zeiss Biotar 58/2 with a Soviet uniform, the early versions do the swirly bokeh and are razor sharp in the centre.
Meanwhile I must try the red coated Zeiss Jena 135/3.5 I just got in the post
"In a photographic context I don't like the use of the word 'shot' as where I live this word refers to an extreme act of violence and not the beautiful craft of photography"
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29 posts
8 years
Waiting on my K-S2 to be delivered and while i wait like to look at lenses that are good with the K-S2, am looking for a fixed prime lens that's not to expensive. I have heard some of the older lenses are pretty good such as the Takamur 135, just looking for advice really.
Thanks In Advance
Tim