All Forum Comments
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Just picked up this Beauty at 28/03/2014 - 08:11
Mannesty wrote:
Regards Steve
That's the main reason I passed on it Steve. The seller looked a bit astounded when I took the lens off to have a look inside the mirror box. I should have bought it anyway, the lens was worth more than he was asking for camera and lens together.[/quote]Hi Peter, I know what you mean, cheap as chips at car boot sales. I purchased a bulk lot of kits several years ago from an eBay trader (no longer trading) worked out at about £3 a kit, unfortunately they are now all gone.stevejcoe wrote:
Just be aware that the seals will likely need replacing. Not too difficult, but you would need to factor in the cost of a seal kit.lxmike wrote:
[quote:3496ace15f="doingthebobs"]My Super-A is still running, bruised and battered from many mountain days.
I had it from new (1986) and the Program-A is very similar apart from the lack of shutter priority, no TTL flash and a top shutter speed of only 1/1000s.
Both are similar in size to the ME,MX etc but they do mostly used lithium versions that would last until I remembered to change them - two years or more.
If you can get a good super or program A I'm sure you will like it.
janybthanks l have spotted one for £18 and was pondering whether to buy it or not[quote:3496ace15f="doingthebobs"]My Super-A is still running, bruised and battered from many mountain days.
I had it from new (1986) and the Program-A is very similar apart from the lack of shutter priority, no TTL flash and a top shutter speed of only 1/1000s.
Both are similar in size to the ME,MX etc but they do mostly used lithium versions that would last until I remembered to change them - two years or more.
If you can get a good super or program A I'm sure you will like it.
Regards Steve
Replacing seals is certainly not difficult, but care needs to be taken to avoid degraded rubber getting onto the focusing screen.
Not a problem with the 'Super/Program A' cameras as the focusing screen
can be removed.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on anyone shooting with a Program A at 27/03/2014 - 11:15
lxmike wrote:
Just be aware that the seals will likely need replacing. Not too difficult, but you would need to factor in the cost of a seal kit.doingthebobs wrote:
My Super-A is still running, bruised and battered from many mountain days.
I had it from new (1986) and the Program-A is very similar apart from the lack of shutter priority, no TTL flash and a top shutter speed of only 1/1000s.
Both are similar in size to the ME,MX etc but they do mostly used lithium versions that would last until I remembered to change them - two years or more.
If you can get a good super or program A I'm sure you will like it.
janybthanks l have spotted one for £18 and was pondering whether to buy it or notMy Super-A is still running, bruised and battered from many mountain days.
I had it from new (1986) and the Program-A is very similar apart from the lack of shutter priority, no TTL flash and a top shutter speed of only 1/1000s.
Both are similar in size to the ME,MX etc but they do mostly used lithium versions that would last until I remembered to change them - two years or more.
If you can get a good super or program A I'm sure you will like it.
Regards Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on anyone shooting with a Program A at 27/03/2014 - 07:06
From Boz, a mine of information for Pentax K mount kit
M28 F2.8 Clip-on hood: PH-S49
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/wide-angle/M28f2.html
Regards - Steve
M28 F2.8 Clip-on hood: PH-S49
http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/lenses/primes/wide-angle/M28f2.html
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on pentax smc m 28mm f2.8 at 24/03/2014 - 14:34
Smeggypants wrote:
I think changing screens *may* affect metering though, as the light meter is the other side of the screen
Totally agree , my error. Actual AF focusing is not affected. What I mean't to say , was the users ability to see the centre point, due to the frequent darkening of part of the centre of a split prism screen when using slower glass.jamieallan wrote:
I'm a bit confused with Steve's last comment. As far as I understood AF in a DSLR it uses a separate path to an AF sensor normally situated at the bottom of the camera under the mirror and is not affected by the focus screen. I thought the focus screen is only required for manual focussing and even then it is only used by the viewfinder/human eye combination. I thought the focus confirm still uses the autofocus AF sensor.
That's correct. The focus screen has nothing to do with the AF which is either calculated via a seperate path to an AF sensor or through the main sensorI'm a bit confused with Steve's last comment. As far as I understood AF in a DSLR it uses a separate path to an AF sensor normally situated at the bottom of the camera under the mirror and is not affected by the focus screen. I thought the focus screen is only required for manual focussing and even then it is only used by the viewfinder/human eye combination. I thought the focus confirm still uses the autofocus AF sensor.
I think changing screens *may* affect metering though, as the light meter is the other side of the screen
Personally I wish that there was a European/UK supplier of the cut down screen. The price range for a 'S' type screen for a K5 from focusingscreen.com is $75-85 plus delivery, plus import charges. The basic Canon screen can be purchased from Amazon in the UK for £30 delivered. If I had the necessary skills I would be inclined to go into production myself.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Manual focus lenses on Pentax K-5 II at 22/03/2014 - 06:49
John, I agree that there are probably large numbers of LX/MX screens gathering dust somewhere, but I am not so sure that there are so many of the SA3/SA23 designed for use with fast glass are still around.
As for Olympus screens I picked up type 13 OM system screen (in box, with fitting tool)for 25p at a car boot , with the intention of cutting it down, but a quick check revealed it to be thicker than a K5 screen.
Personally I don't think the best solution lies with cutting down old split prism screens. As I understand it screens designed for large max aperture lenses have 'higher peaks and lower troughs' to emphasize contrast and so aid focusing, with slower glass this results in a slightly darker screen so it would not be suitable for typical consumer zooms. What I would like to see is essentially the current K5/K3 standard screen with the 'higher peaks and troughs' optimised for ease of use and accurate metering with fast Pentax DA* and Ltd lenses. Such a design should not interfere with AF centre point focusing, which is a problem often levelled at split prism screens.
Regards - Steve
As for Olympus screens I picked up type 13 OM system screen (in box, with fitting tool)for 25p at a car boot , with the intention of cutting it down, but a quick check revealed it to be thicker than a K5 screen.
Personally I don't think the best solution lies with cutting down old split prism screens. As I understand it screens designed for large max aperture lenses have 'higher peaks and lower troughs' to emphasize contrast and so aid focusing, with slower glass this results in a slightly darker screen so it would not be suitable for typical consumer zooms. What I would like to see is essentially the current K5/K3 standard screen with the 'higher peaks and troughs' optimised for ease of use and accurate metering with fast Pentax DA* and Ltd lenses. Such a design should not interfere with AF centre point focusing, which is a problem often levelled at split prism screens.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Manual focus lenses on Pentax K-5 II at 21/03/2014 - 11:26
johnriley wrote:
There are currently a few screens available for the DSLR range.
The difference is that these days most users no doubt use AF and AF systems may have different requirements to the human eye. They can certainly focus more accurately in lower light.
But none of those available from Pentax are optimised for fast lenses. Pentax have always been keen to push the backwards compatibility of old MF lenses, but I have always found it contradictory that they have never seem fit to offer a focusing screen optimised for those lenses.There are currently a few screens available for the DSLR range.
The difference is that these days most users no doubt use AF and AF systems may have different requirements to the human eye. They can certainly focus more accurately in lower light.
Clearly there is a demand and from accounts I have read elsewhere the cut down Canon screen works very well with fast glass on a Pentax DSLR. It is not a panacea, but then all screens are compromises. I would like to see Pentax offer an equivalent and also possibly a screen optimised for the new AF adapter.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Manual focus lenses on Pentax K-5 II at 21/03/2014 - 09:19
lxmike wrote:
You could always remove the fixing attachment of a plastic grip and ask your friend to fashion one for you to the shape, size and wood of your choosing.johnha wrote:
Never seen one but they are carvable - un-carved ones pop up on ebay from time to time with high prices. The plastic ones are really useful and probably better (depending on how skilled you are at carving).
Thanks I thought they were carvable, if I get one I will hand it over to a friend of mine who is a craftsman/cabinet maker and a very good wood turnerNever seen one but they are carvable - un-carved ones pop up on ebay from time to time with high prices. The plastic ones are really useful and probably better (depending on how skilled you are at carving).
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on wood grip Lx at 21/03/2014 - 08:33
johnriley wrote:
There are special screens for some lenses, such as the f/1.2 ones and also the ultra-wides. Equally, long telephotos also have different screens ideally.
The first 18mm lens, from Zeiss, had a special pink tinged screen supplied for the Contarex that the lens fitted.
Indeed Pentax made a whole range of screens for the LX. Maybe it time to reintroduce a few?There are special screens for some lenses, such as the f/1.2 ones and also the ultra-wides. Equally, long telephotos also have different screens ideally.
The first 18mm lens, from Zeiss, had a special pink tinged screen supplied for the Contarex that the lens fitted.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on Manual focus lenses on Pentax K-5 II at 21/03/2014 - 08:18
There is a very easy fix for this, which can just as easily be reversed if required.
Remove the three screw securing the backplate of the lens and carefully remove the backplate
Place a spacer over the manual/auto pin. (I used a small piece of hard plastic tubing , about 4 mm long.)
Refit the backplate and the pin is held in its depressed state by the plastic spacer.
Regards - Steve
Remove the three screw securing the backplate of the lens and carefully remove the backplate
Place a spacer over the manual/auto pin. (I used a small piece of hard plastic tubing , about 4 mm long.)
Refit the backplate and the pin is held in its depressed state by the plastic spacer.
Regards - Steve
Comment by stevejcoe posted on A-M Switch on Helios and other lenses at 18/03/2014 - 14:41
Does it have the zoom and wide angle adapters?
The two automatic settings make it a very useful gun to use on current Pentax DSLRs.
Regards - Steve