Manual Primes Thoughts
Posted 24/08/2024 - 10:02
Link
Welcome back. Looking forward to seeing a photo or two from your new-found enthusiasm for older lenses .
Just a couple of thoughts before you decide whether to sell your AF lenses. First, if any of them is a macro lens, keep it - if manual everything takes you towards macro (which is mainly a MF activity), you can simply ignore its AF capability like most macro photographers do . Second, beware the curse of declining eyesight - I'm increasingly dependent on AF as an antidote to cataracts (one eye still good enough for MF, but for how long...??).
Steve
Just a couple of thoughts before you decide whether to sell your AF lenses. First, if any of them is a macro lens, keep it - if manual everything takes you towards macro (which is mainly a MF activity), you can simply ignore its AF capability like most macro photographers do . Second, beware the curse of declining eyesight - I'm increasingly dependent on AF as an antidote to cataracts (one eye still good enough for MF, but for how long...??).
Steve
Posted 04/09/2024 - 10:51
Link
Always glad to hear of people enjoying fine manual focus lenses.
I'll add a comment on the AF lenses - maybe you just don't have the right AF lenses for you. It sounds like you want a 50mm and little else but have been drawn into buying some lenses you don't need. I'd recommend a 35mm lens for the DSLRs and leave it at that - there are a few to choose from, my favourite being the 35mm f/2.8 DA Limited but have a look and don't be hasty.
I'll add a comment on the AF lenses - maybe you just don't have the right AF lenses for you. It sounds like you want a 50mm and little else but have been drawn into buying some lenses you don't need. I'd recommend a 35mm lens for the DSLRs and leave it at that - there are a few to choose from, my favourite being the 35mm f/2.8 DA Limited but have a look and don't be hasty.
Pentax hybrid user - Digital K3, film 645 and 35mm SLR and Pentax (&other) lenses adapted to Fuji X and Panasonic L digital
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Fan of DA limited and old manual lenses
Posted 24/10/2024 - 18:30
Link
I love using my manual lenses although of late I've been a bit lazy and the 31mm seems to b glued to the front of my K-3iii (apart from some macro work).
Have fun, as that is the point.
K.
Have fun, as that is the point.
K.
Kris Lockyear
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
It is an illusion that photos are made with the camera… they are made with the eye, heart and head. Henri Cartier-Bresson
Lots of film bodies, a couple of digital ones, too many lenses (mainly older glass) and a Horseman LE 5x4.
Add Comment
To leave a comment - Log in to Pentax User or create a new account.
438 posts
15 years
Budapest
Feeling I have barely done anything of worth with the bunch of dust collectors on the shelf (been far too hot this summer in Hungary to actually do much more then the office job) I think I realised I was jaded.
To combat this ennui I pulled out some old primes I accumulated way back when film era manual lenses were not cool and therefore still reasonably priced and put them on the K3ii and K200. Not easy, no zoom, full manual mode and I always forget about the green button but the old Sunny 16 rule has worked a charm shooting in RAW.
The list:
Pentax M 28mm 3.5 - Easiest to use for focusing as you're close to infinity most of the time, results are rather nice however.
Pentax M 50mm 1.8 - This was the standard kit lens for the early to mid 80s i believe? (Well before my time!). Needs some care with focusing but I get it on the nose most of the time. More about practice than anything else.
Pentax K 55mm 1.8 - No idea when I got this or why. It is on the K200 and will be tested this weekend I think.
Cameras are set to manual focusing and the "beep" is the guide for being in focus. I have set for spot metering and central focus point.
So far putting this extra challenge has helped make things more interesting again as well as made the cameras themselves more portable. To the point I am considering selling off all the autofocus lenses. I have a M4/3 system for family stuff and when I am feeling lazy for AF and auto modes.
In the early 2000s pre kids I was using a lot of film and thinking back I only ever used a 50mm on film, never changed lenses when out, and much of that output was the best I have ever done. With the DSLRs I also seem to have an aversion to carrying a lot of stuff and rarely if ever change lenses.
Ramble over.