Great lens, even on a K-1 full frame.
Fast AF, in-lens shake reduction (which i keep turned off), bulky, very good image quality for a long zoom.
To be used with the K-1, i recommend to send it to Sigma, to have the bayonet replaced and (more important) the firmware updated.
I also own a Tokina AT-X 80-400mm, that is not at the same level. AF is slower and image quality is good enough only at central diaphragms.

If you decide to buy it, check the objective at different focals and focusing distances. The two rings should be smooth, and you should see no vignetting even at the extremes. Modern Sigma zooms are quite good, sometimes exceptionally good, but they are also very fragile. The plastic "guides" inside the barrel can be bent by a minor knock that leaves no external damage. If the front of the lens hits an hard object, the objective can easily get damaged. Most people never encounter such problems, cause they take good care of their equipments, but some people damage their lenses in a rather subtle way, and then they sell a lens out of whack...

cheers

Paolo

For 20 pounds you can't go wrong!
I don't remember if has the same optical layout of the later version with K mount.
I owned it, it was nicely built and ergonomic (small and with sliding hood).
I sold it many many years ago, to get the SMC Pentax f/2.5 135mm, that i still own.
I tend to use portrait lenses wide open, f/2.5 is not bad for a 135mm... but of course there are f/2 and even f/1.8 lenses available second hand, though they don't come cheap

cheers

Paolo

Yes, the Jupiter 9 is another great portrait lens, as most Sonnar-type objectives.
I don't own one, if i did i would permanently convert it to PK, attaching a non flanged adapter to the lens with a drop of removable cement (like the red one used in mechanic workshops for car engines). The only thing i don't like of M42 lenses is the lengthy mount/dismount process.
I have a russian Biotar copy though
It's the Helios 40 f/1.5 85mm. The original silver version, not the black 40-2 that can be still purchased new.
Probably the latter version has better coating, but the old soviet lenses, especially the more expensive ones, had a better quality control and resist the injuries of time with surprising ease, if well cared for.
Mine was built in 1962, and looks almost new. It seems a great portrait lens, but i didn't use it enough to express any in-depth, meaningful opinion.
Both the Jupiter 9 and the Helios 40 are great portrait lenses, the Web is full of fantastic pictures taken with these two soviet-era optics.

The OP mentioned the K-1, so we're talking full frame... but for those who shoot APS-C your second suggestion is spot on.
The Helios 44 58mm is a great portrait lens for the cropped format.
Th older the better.
Taking for granted that you won't buy the Helios for critical sharpness (even kit zooms, at medium diaphragms and after software correction - either in-camera or using the right lens profile in PP - can give more than adequate sharpness), i think that the more (pleasing) aberrations kick in, the more you get what a modern optic would never give: smooth transition between in-focus and OOF, creamy background... and sometimes swirly bokeh
The older the lens, the more evident the peculiar optical signature.
So the original 44 version (M39 with more or less the register of a M42 lens) is the best, IMHO.
The 44-2 in M42 mount comes second.
The more recent versions, including the very practical 44K-4 in PK mount, are closer to a standard double gauss 50mm.

cheers

Paolo

I agree, it's the lens that focuses the image on the film/sensor plane.
Back in the film days the quality of the lenses was the main factor, exactly as the speakers quality determines how a Hi-Fi system works.
Now is not the same. The sensor is as important as the optic, and for the first time after many many years the "bottleneck" could be the lens, not the sensor (or the film).
Following this line of thought a great camera like the K-1 should call for top tier lenses... if photography was only about sharpness
I own about 300 lenses that can be readily mounted on my K-1, some are quite sharp, even by today's standards, but at the moment i'm mainly shooting (whatever the subject, not just portraits) with an old Leitz Summicron M (Canada) f/2 90mm, an SMC Pentax f/1.2 50mm and a Meyer Trioplan N f/2.8 100mm.
Two out of three are adapted, and the most recent one was released on 1980 (the black Trioplan is the oldest: 1962!).
Albeit quite different one from the other, all of them have a very nice optical signature, with a great overall rendition and a wonderful bokeh.
I'd suggest the OP to consider the immense choice of nice portrait lenses available on the second hand market, learn to focus manually, and either go for a super sharp recent lens (like the Samyang f/1.4 85mm, either first or second generation, or the great Samyang f/2 135mm), or experiment with a "old school" portrait lens, with some undercorrected spherical aberration, and a great transition between in-focus and out-of-focus areas.
M42 lenses are a little slower (and clunkier) to mount, but the choice (and in some cases the quality) is great.
For example, i just got a nice screw-mount Auto Takumar f/1.8 85mm. My wife bought it for me in the States.
Despite predating even the Super Takumar's, and despite its single layer coating, it's a great portrait lens at f/1.8, and is sharp enough for any use (at least for me) at f/5.6.
Wider than f/2, enlarged Live View (with focus peaking active) is recommended.
If you don't like Live View, and prefer to focus through the viewfinder (as i do), some focus bracketing is advisable.

All in all, i agree that a camera like the K-1 should be better mated with great glasses... but i don't think that "great" necessarily means "super-sharp" or "horribly expensive". Definitely not

And... yes, yes. The A Star f/1.4 85mm is a great portrait lens, but if i had to buy it at current prices i'd think twice before buying one.
Fortunately i got it when the price was more reasonable.
Same for the FA Limited 77mm. I didn't buy it when the price brand new was lower than the current second-hand average price.
The many holes in the current Pentax lenses line-up contribute to inflate the prices of the best second-hand options. There still is ample choice, though. Especially considering portrait primes.

cheers

Paolo

I don't usually check this forum, I found this post by chance, but when I see a “family portrait“ like this, I feel... better
I love lenses, and I am a Pentaxian since long, long time, so as soon as I see these photos, immediately my mind goes to the 50mm macro, one of my most favorite lenses and one of the best macros ever.
Then I think: see... this one and that one are the lenses I don't have, and that I have unsuccessfully tried to buy a few times (short time I go I lost an auction for the 100mm macro), and immediately after that I try to realize which components of the family are missing from the picture
I love the 1.7x AF converter, such a little useful accessory. I don't use it that much these days, but i found that it works well even with a f/5.6 lens (like an old Sigma 180mm Macro from the eighties).
I'd really like to own two primes that are part of this "F family". The 100mm Macro with AF limiter and the 135mm with IF are two very good lenses, that would be very much welcomed by all their brothers, cousins and other more distant relatives i have at home... but i never found them at the right price and/or time. My compliments to the OP for owning such fine objectives, and also for the 28mm and the F* 300mm - which would be cherished as well, but would not be used that much because of my photographic habits, and because i have 28mm "A" with identical optics, and a few 300mm alternatives - though i know that the 300mm F* is a small, super sharp jewel.
Unfortunately my choice of Pentax-F lenses is not as good, most are zooms (five of them)... though i own a nice 85mm Soft Focus About zooms, i think two of them are still quite good, even by today's standards: no surprise the OP owns the 70-210mm, i'd add to the family the 35-70mm. I sold it, my bad, i guess mostly because t was just a "kit zoom" (it came with a Sfx-n a friend bought for me in the USA), but after many years i changed my mind and found another one for cheap. It's often called a stack of primes (actually, not so many, let's say two and a half).
Concerning the last post, yes Pentax-F lenses are so nice. Though i think that the nicest are the Pentax-A (including some really beautiful A*), and the FA Limited's. And those with the best build are the first generation of Pentax K. Ho ho, i think i've taken side

cheers
Paolo

I have a Pentacon (previously Meyer) 500mm f/5.6 in "user" condition, with clear glasses.
There is the rotating tripod ring, and is provided with front cap and original case.
The lens was adapted for Pentax 6x7 bayonet, by a very good photo mechanic.
The new bayonet was made at the lathe from high grade solid aluminium, and perfectly adjusted for infinity focusing.
The optical quality is very good, and the elements are practically like new, though there are some sign of use on the barrel.
Last time i have used it was during the last moon eclipse: the lens was fitted to my K200D with an original Pentax adapter (P67 to P-K), and the image quality proved to be quite good, even after some serious magnification on my computer monitor.
Unfortunately there was some fog, and the tripod was not the right choice, so many shots were not technically perfect, but the few good good ones proved that the optic was good enough, even with an APS-C sensor.
My request is 300 euros plus shipment.
Considering the cost of the modification, it's quite cheap.
The lens is BIG, so i prefer to ship within the EU.
If interested, send me a PM. I'll give you my personal email for contacts.

Sorry. I missed your reply, but i have found it now, just by chance.
I have already a beautiful Super Technika III (fifth and last model, with graflock back and with many similarities with the IV - just the front standard is less robust)... but i am going to sell it!
I have to do it because i have too many large format cameras, and my current interest is more towards larger wooden cameras, namely ultra large format (bigger than 8x10 inches) or large "studio portrait" models, those with large adjustable wood stands.
I have too many cameras and lenses that i am not going to use very often, so i am concentrating on Pentax DRSLs, Pentax 6x7, and large format.
I need to sell most of the rest, because my budget is very limited at the moment, so i'd like to invest the value of rarely used equipments in very expensive dream lenses, like Veritar, Verito, Velostigmat Series II, giant Petzvals, and the like...
I am not against digital photography. I almost quit taking pictures some time ago: i loved travel photography, and when i could no longer afford to travel, for a number of reasons, i found that i was not so interested in photography anymore; digital photography meant a new refreshing approach, a new lease of life for my Pentax lenses. I found two bodies on Ebay for a very affordable price (a K10D and a K200D), so i could use again all the wonderful Pentax lenses i ammassed over the course of the years, without any expense for films and laboratories! I work with computers, so i didn't need to purchase anything more.
It's a very strange thing, but the re-start with DSRLs cameras revived my interest in analog photography! I brought home again all my pro stuff that was stored in my girlfriend's basement since nearly 15 years: Pentax 6x7 and Mamiya Press outfits, plus two Linhofs 4x5" (Technika III and Bi-System) and a 13x18cm Fatif. That's the stuff i used for some time, many years ago, when i did some commercial photography.
It all started with the purchase of the digital bodies The main reason for purchasing them was that i got sick to wait for a full frame digital body, and that some of them best MF lenses made by Pentax, payed with months of savings, and collected over the years, were left unused since too long time. What i didn't know, was that all the new stuff prompted a renewed interest in old photographic techniques. Digital is much fun, easy and cheap, but if money and time is no object, there is nothing like a pro camera. It doesn't need to be a monorail with extreme movements, a technical or a field camera are more than enough. It's not just big film area. Even with basic movements, a camera like that offers a degree of flexibility that can be as good for a photographer interested in serious learning, as for expressing the creativity of an experienced artist.

To cut a long story short, old analog equipments can be worth any cent you could pay for them. Large formats can be expensive, the larger they are the more you'll spend in film and laboratory charges... nevertheless, if you choose a camera with graflock back, you could resort to magazines for (cheap) 120 film (4.5x6; 6x6; 6x7; 6x9; 6x12). Older models can be quite cheap, and 120 developing tanks, to do B&W films on your own, are dirty cheap.
A cheap 4x5 press camera, like a Crown Graphic, can be very affordable, even for those on a tight budget. Normally they come with a nice original lens, with a matching cam that couples the lens with the rangefinder. So you can either shoot on a tripod, the large format way, or handheld.
A Linhof Technika III in good conditions, like mine, allows to do all that stuff, and more (ample movements, including tilt/swing back; big bellows extension, to use long focals; use of extreme wide angles, with recessed lensboards or special focusing devices; dedicated cams from extreme wides to long telephotos; an impressive range of accessories).
When i'll sell mine, i expect to get about 350 euros, maybe little more, for the camera with a couple of accessories, but without lenses.
My Pentax manual focus 2.8/300mm lens, in like new conditions, with dedicated duplicator and an Heliopan polarizer on the front, could sell for about ten times more Even some of those fast zooms, with that nice "plasticky" feeling, could cost quite a bit of money these days.
Enough to meditate a little, before going to bed...

Sorry for the long post, but i hope somebody would enjoy the reading

have fun


CJ

Bump.
Anamorphic lens is sold.
I still have the 500mm f/5.6 in Pentax 6x7 mount.
It's used, but in perfect optical conditions. It comes with lens hood, tripod attachment, and original case. I think that the Pentacon is the multicoated version of the Meyer Orestegon 5.6/500mm.
I never used an original Pentax 6x7 longer than 200mm, but i was told that the performance of the Pentacon is on par with the original (and very expensive) 500mm made by Pentax.

Of the Pentacon Six lenses i originally purchased to be converted for Pentax 6x7 mount, another one is left: it's a Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 4/300mm, NEW OLD STOCK. Multicoated, with shade, case and original M42 adapter. It's of great optical quality, and with the right adapter it can be used with most small and medium format reflexes (analog or digital). For example there is an adapter for Pentax 645.

For the owners of Pentacon Six lenses, i have a new old stock Kiev 60, with Volna 80mm lens, pentaprism, waist level finder, filter, case.
Tested with one roll: perfect spacing and no flaws at all.

contact via PM or email me at:
nis0338 AT iperbole DOT bologna DOT it

cheers

CJ

Hi!

I am looking for a wooden field camera, with 8x10" back, or even larger.
I'd like to buy from within EU, to save on shipment charge, but if the shipment doesn't come too expensive, i am open to offers made from the other continents
I'd prefer to buy the camera alone, cause i already have plenty of large format lenses. I am just looking after soft/portrait lenses (with 8x10 coverage). I already have all the other 8x10 lenses i could ever need, as well as a couple of Packard and Thornton Pickard shutters.

Unfortunately a Deardorff is too much for my slim budget, but i would be content with a Deardorff copy (like the indian Rajah or Prinzdorff), or a Kodak 2D, Agfa Ansco, Burke & James, Korona, Improved Empire State, Thornton Pickard, etcetera).
The camera must be foldable, with extension rail (if originally sold with one), and made, in toto or in part, of wood. The back must be a standard 8x10 back, for standard cut film holders. I don't care very much if the ground glass is missing, but the bellows must be light-tight and supple (bellows are too expensive!).

I am open to any offer, but remember to be realistic!
If 10x12", 11x14" or "banquet" cameras are offered, the sale must include a couple of film holders

If you don't live too far, i can give you some Pentax 35mm and 6x7 stuff.

cheers

CJ

I have a very nice long tele adapted by a very competent professional to Pentax 6x7 bajonet.
It's a Pentacon 500mm f/5.6, in nice conditions, with case, filter, rotating tripod attachment.
The price of the lens is cheaper than an original Pentax 500mm, while the quality, for a good example like this one, is at least on par with the Pentax one. Somebody could even say that the long teles by Pentacon (ex Hugo Meyer/Meyer Optik), at least at the same level of the best long focals available for medium format in the same years.

I originally purchased three different lenses for the Pentacon Six: the Pentacon 5.6/500, a Zeiss Jena Sonnar 4/300, a 30mm Arsat fish-eye.
The former lens was quite difficult to convert, the back filter (neutral) must be kept in place, and the barrel must be deeply modified, so i gave it a pass. Nevertheless, i have seen examples of the same lens converted for Pentax 67 or other medium format cameras, both online and pictured in a photo magazine.
The Sonnar is retrofitted with an adapter for either M42 thread-mount or for Pentacon Six, so the modification for whatever mount can be dobe very easily. I left it as the last project to be carried out, and in the end i never did it!
Only the 500mm was done...

If you want to do the work yourself, or you have a Liev 60, Pentacon Six, or Exakta 66, in need of some new lenses, the Sonnar and the fisheye can be sold as well.
While the 500mm is used (but in nice condition), the other two lenses were purchased as new old stock, and AFAIK have never shot a single picture!

Make your offers via PM.
If you want, i can provide some picture. I still have to take the pictures, so ask for them only if you are really interested

cheers

CJ