With non constant aperture zooms, if you set the aperture mechanically using the aperture ring the actual aperture varies with zoom length, and the camera 'knows' this (from the lens electronics) and tells you what the real aperture is. If you set the aperture electronically (as you have to do on the most recent cameras including the digital bodies, and can do on the MZ6 and MZ7) then there is no problem.

The mechanical aperture ring on non constant aperture lenses indicates the aperture at the widest angle.

There is no problem with shutter priority because then the aperture is under electronic control.

Probably the 35-70 4.0 A - constant aperture, good reputation, and has the 'A' setting so you can use program and shutter priority modes. It also has a good close focus ability (25cm). It is not all that common on the SH market. The 35-105 3.5 A also has a good reputation but is rarer still and rather a heavy beast. There is also a 35-70 3.5-4.5 A which is compact, reasonably common, and fairly well regarded. There are any amount of 28-80 3.5-4.5 A lenses out there but this was not one of Pentax's greatest lenses - though it is no 'dog'. There was also a Takumar 28-80 A lens which is not SMC - Pentax at that stage used Takumar to indicate budget lenses. Best avoided.

A good way of getting hold of these lenses is to look for P30s on Ebay - they go for a song and usualy have a standard zoom attached!

I guess you already know about
http://stans-photography.info/

First check that they are Pentax mount - the Yashica almost certainly is not (I don't think Yashica ever made PK mount lenses)

Secondly as 'thrid party' manual lenses they are not worth much. The Sigma would be lucky to fetch a tenner on ebay. The Vivitar 200mm might do a bit better.

3xconverters are not a great idea - they amplify any shortcomings in the lens to much and mean you lose 3 stops of light (so the 200/3.5 would be come a rather poor 600/10.5)

I had one of these for a couple of years. It was well reviewed and my expereince was that it produced very good results. It also has a very useful close focus. - good enough to fill the frame with larger flowers. But it is quite a heavy and bulky lens, and in the end I changed to the slightly less versatile but much lighter and also very good Pentax FA 28-105 3.2-4.5. which balances much better on my MZ6. I kind of wish I'd kept it as it would have been equivalent to 36-200 on the DS

It is indeed - and it is more interesting inside than out. This is the Facade. It does have quite an interesting main door as you see.

Thought I would share something from the first roll of film with this lens. This is Guildford Cathedral. Quite fun realy!




Illford FP4 - I think it was 1/8 at f5.6. Handheld (braced against the right wall). Scanned with a Minolta Dimage Scan Dual III. A bit of flare from the bright windows but not bad!

180 degrees corner to corner according to the literature. Looking through the viewfinder that seems to be the case. I've got some FP4 in my MX so might go looking for a couple of interesting churches.

Just got one of these of Ebay for a shade under £200. I've been looking for one for ages. It is in lovely condition and is complete with its case.

Feild tests will be a bit slower than usual as I have to use that funny plastic stuff - I think they call it film - to get the most out of it.

Any bright ideas for good subjects?

It wouldn't be the first time Pentax had multiple versions of essentially the same camera - MV MG ME MES MEF anybody??!!

Thought this curiosity might interest people!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PROFAN-PENTAX-KLUB-12-WOLFGANG-VOIGT-GAS_W0QQitemZ4827162348QQcategoryZ58639QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem