All Forum Comments
Comment by hefty1 posted on SMC-FA 200mm f2.8 at Ffordes at 28/03/2009 - 23:53
I don't use a filter on mine (except the odd ND grad for which I have a special wide angle holder) but it never goes anywhere without the hood. With such a prominent front element I hink a hood is needed with this lens more than any other I own.
Comment by hefty1 posted on For sale Pentax DA * 12-24 mm at 28/03/2009 - 23:51
I've got an older model Manfrotto 055 and it's been with me through several cameras - it still looks new and I'm pretty confident it'll outlive me!
Whichever tripod you buy get a good one; you're unlikely to chop and change it like you will other equipment and a good tripod will last a lifetime.
Whichever tripod you buy get a good one; you're unlikely to chop and change it like you will other equipment and a good tripod will last a lifetime.
Comment by hefty1 posted on Manfrotto tripod - which one? at 28/03/2009 - 23:43
womble wrote:
Resistance is futile! Anvh wrote:
The DA15 comes very close to the price of the 12-24, I don't know if it's worth it or not. It's of course nice to have the whole Limited serie
As I only have the 43mm, and I already have the 12-24mm which is the same speed as the 15mm, other lenses are much higher up my list of wants. I think the FA77 may well be next...The DA15 comes very close to the price of the 12-24, I don't know if it's worth it or not. It's of course nice to have the whole Limited serie
Comment by hefty1 posted on DA 15mm F4 Limited at 28/03/2009 - 01:04
Fair enough - if you change your mind I've got three spares and as far as I can tell (I looked earlier) none of them have any blemishes - sod's law huh?
Comment by hefty1 posted on A praise for the MX at 28/03/2009 - 00:59
Possibly - as I said they're not very well protected just there.
The offer of a new prism is still there if you want it.
The offer of a new prism is still there if you want it.
Comment by hefty1 posted on A praise for the MX at 27/03/2009 - 22:21
Daniel Bridge wrote:
The Song Thrush will repeat phrases three or four times, the Blackbird has a lovely, flute-like song which will make you think of an english summer evening , the Starling makes a variety of odd noises, and mimics other birds and any noises it hears.
There's one round here that mimics a car alarm - and it really is spookily accurate! The Song Thrush will repeat phrases three or four times, the Blackbird has a lovely, flute-like song which will make you think of an english summer evening , the Starling makes a variety of odd noises, and mimics other birds and any noises it hears.
The other difference between all the birds mentioned is that blackbirds and starlings will chatter away all day long whereas thrushes only tend to be heard at dawn and dusk - very pretty song though.
Comment by hefty1 posted on My first goldfinches with the DA*300 plus pentax 1.7TC at 27/03/2009 - 17:01
aminstar wrote:
I also tend to confuse between the songthrush and these birds, because of the spots
Blackbirds (and robins, and dunnocks) are all part of the thrush family so many folk confuse female blackbirds with thrushes, they are a similar size and move in a similar manner. Blackbirds won't rid your garden of snails as efficiently as thrushes though! Mike-P wrote:
Female blackbird Amin.
Thanks MikeFemale blackbird Amin.
I also tend to confuse between the songthrush and these birds, because of the spots
Comment by hefty1 posted on My first goldfinches with the DA*300 plus pentax 1.7TC at 27/03/2009 - 14:47
On an M42 lens the internal spring mechanism holds the iris open, to close it down you must pull against the spring in some way.
On a K-mount lens the internal spring mechanism holds the iris shut, to open it up you must pull against the spring in some way.
An M42 lens (in auto mode) remains open until the camera places pressure on the internal spring to close it. Modern cameras do not have the flip-up plate to operate the auto "pin" and hence they must be used in manual mode on a DSLR (where the Auto/Manual switch places the pressure instead of the camera). A cam system linked to the aperture ring determines how far the lens will close. After capture the lens will again tension the spring to keep the iris open.
A K-mount lens is opened up by the act of putting it on a camera; a lever is engaged by the camera mount which acts *against* the spring. In order to close the lens down (for metering and shooting) the pressure on the spring is relaxed. A cam system linked to the aperture ring determines how far the lens will close. After capture the camera will again tension the spring to keep the iris open.
So in answer to your original question, yes they are almost complete opposites. Conversion between one method of working and the other would be possible, but neither easy nor economical as it would require bespoke fabrication of almost the entire inner workings of the lens (minus the glass). If you possess a watchmaker's lathe, the patience of a saint and a hundred or so spare hours you could give it a go - but I don't think the results would justify the trouble.
M42 lenses are easy to use on a K-mount camera so I'd advise leaving them as they are and enjoying them the way they were intended.
On a K-mount lens the internal spring mechanism holds the iris shut, to open it up you must pull against the spring in some way.
An M42 lens (in auto mode) remains open until the camera places pressure on the internal spring to close it. Modern cameras do not have the flip-up plate to operate the auto "pin" and hence they must be used in manual mode on a DSLR (where the Auto/Manual switch places the pressure instead of the camera). A cam system linked to the aperture ring determines how far the lens will close. After capture the lens will again tension the spring to keep the iris open.
A K-mount lens is opened up by the act of putting it on a camera; a lever is engaged by the camera mount which acts *against* the spring. In order to close the lens down (for metering and shooting) the pressure on the spring is relaxed. A cam system linked to the aperture ring determines how far the lens will close. After capture the camera will again tension the spring to keep the iris open.
So in answer to your original question, yes they are almost complete opposites. Conversion between one method of working and the other would be possible, but neither easy nor economical as it would require bespoke fabrication of almost the entire inner workings of the lens (minus the glass). If you possess a watchmaker's lathe, the patience of a saint and a hundred or so spare hours you could give it a go - but I don't think the results would justify the trouble.
M42 lenses are easy to use on a K-mount camera so I'd advise leaving them as they are and enjoying them the way they were intended.
Comment by hefty1 posted on A little help understanding k mount lenses. at 27/03/2009 - 14:17
I've got the Seagull and agree with with other comments. It works well but is let down slightly by the rather wobbly viewfinder attachment. The optics are suprisingly good though!
I paid around £30 (including shipping) from a Chinese eBay shop and I'd happily buy one again; it's not perfect but it's more than good enough.
I paid around £30 (including shipping) from a Chinese eBay shop and I'd happily buy one again; it's not perfect but it's more than good enough.
Comment by hefty1 posted on Right angle finder for K20d at 27/03/2009 - 11:29
This is off topic but a Pentax FA* 200mm f/4.0 Macro IF ED Lens sold for US $3499 recently
link.