Help please with M42 Question

Guys

Ive been shooting the 28mm 2.8 and the 50mm 1.7 on my Pentax ME Super and MZ-6 and really enjoying them.

But...

I want something in between so thought of the 35mm Takumar M42 lens

Do you need an adaptor to use that lens on your pentax film cameras? And if you do where are they, how much and whats the alternative K mount lens in and around this length?

Cheers!

Go for the K Series 35mm f/3.5.... Sharp wide open... You only need to stop down for DOF. Better than the Takumars.

The M 35mm f/2.8 is also a good lens, but prone to sticky aperture blades probably due to Pentax using a weak spring. Hard to take apart, because the screws are held in with a Loctite type product.

There's also an A series 2.8 but I've never used one.

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Thanks!

Finding one isnt going to be easy it seems

One of the nicest MF lenses I've ever used is the SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f/4 Hard to tell the difference between it and primes. Very nice zoom and focus action. Sometimes has cement separation, but it doesn't seem to effect the performance. Quite small and blows the F version away.

One on Ebay right now for £38 + £6 BIN Looks a bit dusty, but it might be external and there isn't any misty cement separation. link

Just looked on Flickriver. Excellent portrait lens with a K10D.
http://www.flickriver.com/search/pentax+A+35-70mm+f4/

I seem to remember that photographer wining a big prize.
Some of his 35-70mm shots.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bongmanayon/sets/72157625192851889

The K 35mm f/3.5 pops up about once a fortnight on ebay.


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Very impressive photos

Thanks for that Algi

There's a K 35mm f/3.5 for sale here on the forum:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/pentax-lenses--da-21-ltd--fa-50-1-4--k-35...

I have one, and also the Takumar. They're very nice lenses, although difficult to focus on digital due to being so slow, not so bad on film due to the better viewfinders. Optically they're exceptionally good, of course the K-mount one is easier to use. The K-mounts are much rarer and hence more expensive than the Takumars.

My default 35mm lens for film is the M series 35mm f/2, a very useful lens indeed. I was lucky and paid less for it than a typical K 35/3.5, but normally they be a bit more expensive. I also have an M42 mount Vivitar 35/2.8 which is very good indeed but I'm not sure if it was ever made in a K mount.

Film Tests on Pentax 35mm lenses...

http://www.takinami.com/yoshihiko/photo/lens_test/pentax_35.html

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Thanks for that. The K 35/3.5 is one sharp lens. I'm surprised to see such a difference wide open between the FA 35/2 and the older versions.

Another one appeared for sale:

https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/f-s-pentax-k-35mm-f3-5-52418/p-0#comm

Are you sure you need something in between My whole film life, my kit was 28/50/70-210

Yes, you need an adapter. No idea of prices, just make sure that you get one without a flange (with it, you can't focus to infinity). And read up on the horror stories about stuck 3rd party adapters. To play it safe, try to find a genuine Pentax one (I think they're now out of production) and you will not have issues.

http://www.srsmicrosystems.co.uk/accessories/pentax-accessories/pentax-general-a...

Hope that helps!

The genuine M42 to K adapters go for around 30 quid used, I've bought two from these forums and that's about what I paid. However, if all your other lenses are K-mount then it's better to stick with that for ease of switching lenses.