Q lenses

I've finally succumbed and bought a Pentax Q (the original one, in the cream colour) with a nice leather case and the standard zoom. I got it because although my Huawei phone camera has amazing image quality (its night mode is great), it is very wide with minimal zoom, and I wanted something light to carry on the bicycle (I have taken-up cycling again after 30 years!).

Of course, before I have even got the camera, I'm looking at lenses. The 06 zoom is the top of my wish list. I'm wondering, however, about the toy lenses 04 (wide) and 05 (telephoto). They seem, err, well, a bit pointless. I know they are as cheap as chips (especially when compared to the 08 wide zoom which seems to be buttock-clenchingly expensive), but are they going to end-up as curiosities never to be used? How have people found them?

Whilst on the topic, have people had much success with the pinhole 07? I'm less interested in that as I have an Ondu medium format pinhole camera coming sometime soonish which I am looking forward to playing with, but I am curious about it.

Thanks, Kris.

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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.
My website

Had fun with the QS1 + 06 Zoom at sports events. It's small enough to pocket so won't raise any eyebrows. I've also managed to find friends and colleagues in the crowd from around 160 metres away on the opposite side so it can be a cool conversation starter.

Finally it's an awesome kit for walking around in the street, paired with the 01 lens. Put it in monochrome mode and ISO settings really don't matter.

I did a review for EPZ on the pinhole lens: https://www.ephotozine.com/article/pentax-07-mount-shield-lens-for-q-review-2326...

I also bought one and I quite like it. It is of limited general use, but has possibilities.

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Best regards, John

You didn't mention the 01 standard prime. It's a good lens and f1.9 can be very useful at lower light levels, (particularly with the original Q which appreciates getting a decent number of photons on the sensor). I've got an 01 (as well as the 02 and 06 zooms) and wouldn't swap it for any number of toy lenses.

I didn't bother with the 04 and 05 toy lenses. As far as I could make out, they are for lo-fi photography. If you're into that sort of thing, they'll be what you need. But if not, it's as you say - they seem, err, well, a bit pointless. On the other hand, if you have the 02 and 06 zooms then the 03 fisheye would be worth considering if you think fisheye might be fun (which I did, so got one and do use it occasionally).

Enjoy your Q. It's a camera for having fun.

Steve

Thanks all. John, the review is very helpful. Steve, I hadn't forgotten the 01, I just assumed, rightly I think, it's a high quality standard prime. I was more curious about the oddball lenses.

I think the 06 is my next purchase...

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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.
My website

The 06 is a fine optic Kris and worth purchase. Ours has seen a lot of use.

Best regards

You could always buy a Q-K mount adapter, then all your K mount lenses become oddball lenses on the Q.

But a pocketable 80-240mm f2.8 zoom (OK, OK, equivalent FL) is definitely a good thing to get next. Then comes the 01 ...

Slightly off-topic, but might be useful, it's worth noting that buying a used Q lens isn't quite the same as a used K-mount lens. The Q doesn't have a mechanical shutter so nothing to wear out. However, there is a leaf shutter in the 06 and other non-toy lenses so that's where shutter lifetime will hit. I've never heard of how many activations it should be good for, or even whether there's a way to check shutter count, but might be worth asking about usage (and hoping for an honest answer).

Steve

There are leaf shutters on most vintage film cameras. They seem to go on and on!

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John K

I use my Q for street, portraiture and even a recent wedding
it's my favourite camera...ever

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Learn how to live and you'll know how to die; learn how to die, and you'll know how to live.

Check out ones photographs on Flickr!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/awprentice/

I bet they don't make 'em like they used to!

Steve