Thanks for sharing your first studio shots with the *istDS. Nice shots, although I find the halo effect a little heavy.

Being able to immediately see the results is fantastic!

You can do most things in post-processing, and that's what I do.

The exceptions are the use of polarizers (which you have already mentioned), the use maybe of an IR filter and perhaps any filter intended to reduce haze and light scatter.

Filters do sell quite well on eBay, so that's not a bad idea for any surplus to requirements. It might be just what someone else is looking for.

I would use an extension tube myself. The bellows will produce a massive amount of extension, and the lens is probably not that well corrected for ultra-close shots.

The bellows you gave the link for are Pentax, which is nice, but be prepared to be caught for VAT and import duty. The VAT will be on the total price, including the shipping charge...

If it doesn't fit, don't try to force anything or you might damage your camera.

You could try a thin extension tube, but then you would indeed be limited to macro work with this lens.

If it's a K mount lens, it should fit, so if there is a problem I would retire it and use a more appropriate optic. Perhaps you could continue to use your Soligor on other bodies?

Oh dear. I wish I'd known that before I read it twice. There's loads of interesting info in the manuals, including a lot of answers to FAQ...

Kim

I tried to win a K series zoom on eBay, but failed dismally because I didn't think it was worth a hige amount of money. It was basically a 80-200mm but the size was just phenomenal.

When you compare it to a modern zoom, it is in such a different world...

Do you actually use the M42 zooms or are they more collector's items?

The Takumar screw thread zooms were very, very heavy....

However, I understand that they are commendable performers. I think the downside is the size and weight. I personally wouldn't use them because of that.

Yes, they do appear on eBay from time to time.

I agree with Kim that the A lens can be difficult to find in good condition. It is possible, however, and I have owned three of them recently. One had an accident with some water....One was kept.....the other was bought with a camera body I wanted and as it was superfluous it went to eBay....

But whichever lens you choose, eBay might well be the first place to look.

It's capable of fine results, but has a couple of drawbacks.

1) It's a variable aperture zoom, so after zooming you will need to re-meter. Not very convenient if in a hurry.

2) The macro facility is a separate operation so a relatively fiddly feature.

3) The front element rotates when focusing, so difficult to use a polariser.

Otherwise, it is compact, sharp and takes modestly sized 49mm filters.

I would suggest instead the SMC Pentax-A 35-70mm f4.

1) Constant aperture, so consistent metering.

2) Continuous focusing, down to 1:4 magnification at 70mm.

3) The front element still rotates...

It's very sharp, still quite compact and takes 58mm filters.

I have used both these lenses, and definitely prefer the A lens.

This camera is a product of Foto-Quelle, a subsidiary of the german mail order house Quelle. As a consequence, all sorts of manufacturers products were sold under the Revue name, I suppose a bit like the Honeywell name in the USA. In 1970 Foto-Quelle was the world's largest photographic retailer.

The camera you show I don't have specific info on, but it looks like a Praktika variant from the Bayonet series, maybe a BCM. If it has a bayonet mount that would seem to confirm this. The other thing it might be is a Chinon CM4. These are cameras I'm not too familiar with, so please bear this in mind.

Without handling the camera, I wouldn't like to guess at what all the levers do, but try maybe stop down for DOF assessment.

I'm not always right, but please tell Sue that I am!