Pentax ME F

Hello all Pentax users,

I just bought the first analog camera and I have a few questions about lenses for it.
Which Pentax lenses optically are the best, series K, A or M ?
I bought a camera with a SMC Pentax-M 50mm F2, and now I am looking for a wider angle.
I have never photographed before the analog camera so a lot of learning ahead of me.
I will be grateful for any suggestion.

Many thanks.
Irek

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10

You have a blank canvas on lenses, which is a brilliant place to be. So much to discover!

All the Pentax bayonet lenses will be fine, there are differences in characteristics, and we all have our favourites, but it may be a bit too much detail at this point.

For a good basic kit, i eventually settled on 24mm, 50mm and 100mm lenses, but it depends on your photographic tastes. It might be a good starting point though. The primes are probably better than the zooms at this stage of development, although the M series 24-35mm is actually very impressive.

You might consider replacing the 50mm f/2, which was a budget lens, with an f/1.8, f/1.7 or f/1.4 version.

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Best regards, John

Thanks John,
I want to learn on the prime lenses and I forgot to add that I have already Pentax D FA 100mm F2.8 Macro.
I think about SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.7,
SMC Pentax-M 28 F2.8 or SMC Pentax 24mm F2.8 which LennyBloke have for sale.

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10

So it's that wide angle that you need most urgently, and Lennybloke's 24mm looks absolutely ideal.

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Best regards, John

I read a few reviews on Pentax Forum about 24/2.8 soft corners and users said a 28/3.5 and 28/2.8 both these lenses are sharper and more contrasty. Can you confirm this ?

Thanks.

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10

Wide open, the 24mm f/2.8 is relatively soft, especially at the corners. Stopped down, it is razor sharp. This is a common characteristic of lenses of this design, and it's a fault or a benefit, depending on your point of view.

Some might argue that we only use ultra-wides stopped down, for example in landscapes with the maximum depth of field. We might also argue that when used wide open, a sharp centre with slightly softer corners might be a very pleasant effect for closer subjects. Or not, as the case may be.

There is no perfect lens, it depends on what we can make with it as a creative tool. As a 24mm f/2.8 the Pentax K lens is a very attractive lens to me, I enjoyed mine very much.

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Best regards, John

Take a look at the bottom corners of this full size image on Flickr: https://farm1.staticflickr.com/443/20045715178_265be96edd_o.jpg
there is very little difference in sharpness across the whole image
And at a typical size it appears pretty sharp:
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/443/20045715178_7d04504179_h.jpg

The K28/3.5 is probably a tad sharper overall, but it isn't as wide or as fast - lemons and oranges

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LennyBloke

the best think is with that era there is also some great 3rd party lenses out there as well

any suggestion ?

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10

tamron sp 200 is a very nice lens and it is fast at f2.8
and if you find the pentax mount on its own for the tamron lenses you could buy any tamron lens on any mount and just chane it to pentax

Quick question lads, where I can get foam mirror bumper for Me F ? The original is a little bit sticky and see dirt on the mirror frame. I think need to be replaced.

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10

Kits for replacements seals are available. If the mirror damper is sticky then likely all the other seals are also ready for replacement.

I'd look on eBay or Amazon first, or perhaps phone one of the camera repair houses. Maybe somebody has a supplier they have already used?

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Best regards, John

Ok, I found instruction how to replace all seals but I don't know where I can get the foam with one side glue tape.


http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/sealreplacement.html

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Pentax ME-F, MZ-3, K-1
Irix 15mm F2.4, Pentax D-FA 24-70mm F2.8, FA 31mm F1.8 Ltd, FA 43mm F1.9 Ltd, FA 77mm F1.8 Ltd, Sigma 100-300 F4 + TC 1.4x, AF 540 FGZ
Hitech-Formatt 10% off all filters code - CIEJ10