This comes up so often I wonder if Pentax ought to put a sticker on the camera to warn people!

I subscribe to:
Black and White Photography
Outdoor Photography
Pentax User

I occasionally buy "View Camera Magazine" but it is US only.

With the first two magazines they carry articles relating to film and digital and not that many equipment reviews. I decided to subscribe after a period of trying titles and then discovered they are published by the same company. Although many of their pictures are Canoniky ones, photos taken on Pentax equipment are not unusual, 67 quite common and even a Spotmatic a couple of issues back

Cheers, Kris.

Cannot see anything much wrong with these beyond what has been said. What is the issue?

I use a Pentax O-ICK1. I couldn't resist the product code...

Well that ebay description is as much use as a chocolate teapot. Well less actually. One could at least eat the teapot.

Curious lens. A sort of two setting only zoom. At least the description is accurate this time.


Anyone know if these are any good? I need a spotmeter and the Pentax ones go for serious money.

Cheers, Kris.

You don't really need a petal hood for a prime. I would have thought a cheap rubber screw on type would be fine.

Cheers, Kris.

PS don't forget the K 135mm f/2.5 and check if it is the non-SMC ones (emiliarts is selling a couple if those.)

Rare gear at seriously premium prices

I have just purchased a SMC-K 135mm f/2.5 for use on my K10D and it is really very nice indeed. Some people (Malo for example) extensively use M42 Takumar lenses on digital with very nice results.

The only consideration when using M42/K-series/M-series lenses is they are a little fiddlier to use and therefore not suited to quick moving situations (when you would probably want to use AF anyway). The second consideration is that wide angle lenses on film become more like standard lenses on digital, and medium telephoto are more like longer telephotos. Good if you use long lenses a great deal, less wonderful if you use wide angle a lot.

One thing I am surprised no-one has mentioned is that the in-body shake reduction system means that all lenses benefit from it, from M42 onwards. No need to buy special "VR" etc. lenses.

As to accuracy of exposure, it has always seemed pretty good to me. It has been accused of under-exposing a little but with digital slight under-exposure is much to be preferred to slight over-exposure.

Just my 1/2p worth.

K.

I paid quite a bit more for mine from SRS but then I get the 2 year warranty (and the occasional baseball cap).

It is a lovely lens. Second in my affections to the 50-135mm.

They also look wonky to me. Crop to straighten out the shoreline, perhaps?

Cheers, Kris.