Pentax M K-Fit 50mm F1.7 Standard Lens

I would appreciate if you could confirm to my how this lens would work on my ISDs - what are the restrictions. Any idea what one should pay for a good condition used job.
Many thanks in advance.

i'm not sure about the M - but I know the A works perfectly well in Tv and Av (as well as manual) modes on my *Ist D - only difference is that you can only use the centre AF point

M series lenses have no electrics, and *ist series bodys have no mechanical meter coupling.

this means that M series lenses can only be used in stop down metering mode.

There are two ways in which they may be used

1. Set the camera to M, and set shutter speed using the E-dial and aperture using the aperture ring. If you hit the AE-Lock button, the camera will briefly stop down the lens, take a meter reading, set a suitable shutter speed and open up again.

2. Set the camera to anything other than M. This will give you Av mode, except that the camera will not stop down the lens. No matter where the aperture ring is, the camera will meter and shoot at wide open.


With a little bit of getting used to, method 1 is very useable and really doesn't cause a problem. If you are shooting RAW you have some latitude to recover from slightly imperfect exposure. Method 2 is really only useful shooting fast action in lowish light when you would have been wide open anyway, but in those situations it comes in very handy.


hope this helps

Many thanks Mongoose and Dexter.
As a bit of a novice on this stuff could I ask please as to what would be the most compatible standard lens. I would be entirely happy with manual focus. I would like to have a fast standard lens; there seems to be a good few on Ebay but not too sure which would be the most suitable and easiest to use.
Thanks again.

look out for a Pentax-F 50mm 1.7, works perfectly and auto focus too. This is a cracking 'portrait' lens on a dslr and has beautiful bokeh too

As Gartmore says, if you can afford it, probably in the £80-£100 area, definitely go for the F series 1.7, or if you have more money (IIRC £150ish), apparently the f 1.4 is even better, although I haven't used one. I have an M f2, and although it is a good lens, the AF 1.7 is far easier to use and produces really good photos. Since getting it, the f2 hasn't been near the camera.

HTH

Cheers

Liam

or, if you're feeling poor and don't mind manual focus, the SMC-A 1.7 can be picked up for ~£30 on ebay. I have one and it works beautifully with my *istDL2 and K10D, all functions available except autofocus.

I believe Chris at SRS microsystems has SMC FA 50mm 1.4's for £160 brand new. IMHO the prices for AF standards on ebay are over-inflated.

You have old information. I just come back for that bay and its cost ~50. And you have to double it if you want f1.4 (not FA). It's crazy!

guess thats the price we pay for Pentax gaining popularity


good heavens you're quite right, almost tempting to flog my 1.7 A series and buy a brand new 1.4 FA!

Perfect. Thanks for all that information, exactly what I needed.
Tom

i think my SMC-A F1.7 will be up for sale soon - i love the lens but am very tempted by the new 1.4...

It has already happened. But I don't think the cost will rise again because of k100 and k10. I see the people bid the same price for M and A lenses so I suppose they don't know the difference hence the lenses are gonna be on ebay again a little later.