Getting a first Pentax camera

Hi

I have been using Canon for years but as the number of my M42 lenses is growing I am planning to purchase a Pentax camera.

The reason is fairly simple, I heard that Pentax offer better support for older manual lens expecially when it come to view finder. I have no experience with Pentax view finder before except the fact that it is considerably brighter. Does the Pentax cameras support focus confirmation for manual lenses?

I have been considering the K10D for a while but heard that some copies have problem with manual metering especially at larger aperture. These reports of the problem were mostly found in 2006 archieves so I wonder does Pentax fix the problem already?

I wouldn't mind considering older Pentax DSLR so long as I can get the most out of my beloved M42 lens collection. Please leave your recommendations!
Thanks

Yes you get focus confirmation with manual lenses. It is a good idea to invest in a split focusing screen though if you are going to be using manual focus.

Metering issues tend to be because the wrong metering type is selected. I don't swap this often and find that I get a consistent 1 stop overexposure. When I do remember to adjust it things are spot on.

No problem with a manual F1.7 lens, in fact it is the best lens I have and gives fantastic results.

I dont have any screw mount lenses so will leave most of your questions to someone who does.

However the focus confirmation ( green hexagon) will give you a confirmation of focus with manual focus lenses. I use this method sometimes with my K10D (and DS before that) and my K and M series lenses. Most of the time i prefer to eyeball the focus as the viewfinder confirmation seems to have a slightly wider lattitude for sharp focus than reality.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply, so far based on my knowledge the Pentax ist D is probably the best DSLR to use with M42 lens as I don't find any reported issue with manual metering.
I personally have no idea regarding the ist D view finder for manual focusing. Also it seems to be disappeared from the market.

I have *ist D and having used it with a Takumar (BAYONET) K lens (beat you there George ), I have no problems with, nor with the K10D it seems.

*ist D is a good sturdy camera, underrated

In the interests of truth and accuracy, when using 42mm lenses specifically, there is nothing that a Pentax will give you that a Canon won't. With both, it's manual all the way.

However, when using ANY lens (42mm or bayonet), by buying a Pentax you will benefit from having a camera that is (pound for pound) in general better made, with better ergonomics, and with a better viewfinder.

The most flexible digital SLR by Pentax is the *ist D, and, apart from its slow speed (when writing to the card), it is the best Pentax DSLR after the K10D. However, it's no longer made, so if you want one, you'll need to buy second-hand. Expect to pay around £200 or so.

But for £450.00 you can get a K10D, and that's really the best choice.

G

Curious as to what makes the *ist D more so than the K100D.

But presumably for slightly different reasons, given its metering limitations with pre-A lenses.

Obviously there are all kinds of reasons that the K10D is a great choice - 10 rather than 6; SR, DR, SDM, ergonomics (I've played with my brother's *ist D and in every sense I could see, Pentax have improved the feel of the controls with the '10). With A-lenses and beyond, compatibility is complete.

But if you're specifically looking at compatibility with old lenses, sadly the metering issue is a minus.

Of course, it's looking more and more like simply replacing the screen with a DS one solves this too without introducing metering errors, according to Pschlute, so factor this into the equation and the concerns are moot, it would seem.

On this note, what is the actual difference between the DS screen and the K10D's?

It has both TTL as well as P-TTL flash. Useful if you have an older flash unit and don't want to spend money to buy a 360/540.

There may be other things, too, but I forget. Ergonomically, it's very similar to the K10D, but simpler.

G

This was discussed at length on another forum. Having handled them both I cannot tell them apart. All speculation but the following were suggested as reasons for the different material of the K10D screen:

1. To make the viewfinder brighter.
2. To reduce manufacturing costs.

As far as 1. is concerned I notice no difference between the two screens when looking through the viewfinder, and have no facts to form an opinion on 2.

I do find it odd that something so simple as switching screens cures the problem, but it does.

It is worth noting that other pentax replacement screens (gridlines etc.) seem to have the same effect of curing the problem as well. This is annecdotal evidence as I have no knowlege myself. I suppose this might lead one to speculate that the material used for the standard screen came about about as a result of marketing pressure (1.) , or financial pressure (2.).

Thanks a lot for your comments, basically I'm cosidering the K10D mainly because of it focus confirmation...but I'm not sure if it is comparable to split image focusing screen. View finder is also brighter and helps manual focus greatly. However as some users have reported under-exposure at large aperture and over-exposure at smaller aperture, I would try to be sure before I make my purchase.

Yes, I also find the Pentax side offers more bangs than the Canon side. It's true that Canon zoom and tele lenses are very attractive but for now, I need none of them.
Cheers

Just to demonstrate my point regarding manual metering issue, an older thread was found here:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3867&highlight=k10d+stop+me...

All of the Pentax models have this, as far as I'm aware.

Dan

All Pentax auto-focus models, certainly.

G

Ah yes, I should have said all of the Pentax DSLRs...

Dan