Pentax Manual Focus Primes (K mount)

[danofmk]

I've been looking forward to posting this for a while!

I am now the proud owner of:

1. SMC M 28mm 2.8
2. SMC M 135mm 3.5
3. SMC K 55mm 1.8



I know that puts me a long way behind most but I'm delighted with my purchases none the less.

135 quid for the lot. About the same price as the current AF entry level 35mm and 50mm primes. A more brainer as they say.

I thought initially I'd get the Ms just to get me started as they are cheaper. But to be honest, I quite like having the aperture ring as my only way of controlling that, so I'm quite happy that the Ms are considerably cheaper than the As

[McGregNi]

It's an interesting question as to whether the "A" types are worth it financially for the extra utility they provide in terms of easier control ...... My vote is for YES , well worth any price premium for an A version (assuming optics are the same).

I enjoy the extra physicality of the work involved in controlling my M 75-150 F4.0 .... I know it's a zoom, but there's already a hell of a lot of pushing, pulling, twisting and turning going on, and then you add the stop down metering process on top! For dynamic situations it becomes too much, and shots will be missed or exposures will be off.

[K30]

Hey Dan, very nice purchase, sure these will give you hours of pleasure.

I've had some great results from an M 50mm, reasonable from the 135 but always been disappointed with my 28mm which is a 3.5. In fact I went to Wrest Park today to give it another go and I'd be embarrased to post anything here from it; so interested how you get on with your 28, maybe the 2.8 is better, maybe I just have a poor copy.

Show us your pics!

[K30]

Well maybe this wide open might squeeze past embarrasing but its the exception rather than the norm from my 28 and its an easy shot with great light.

IMGP7431.jpg (2.02 MiB) Viewed 784 times

[danofmk]

I think if I was using these in the "dynamic" situations you mention I'd want the A series too. But I'm very much a hobbyist when it comes to photography, and even more so if I'm taking the MFs out.

Horses for courses though and all that!

[aliengrove]

Hey Dan, very nice purchase, sure these will give you hours of pleasure.

I've had some great results from an M 50mm, reasonable from the 135 but always been disappointed with my 28mm which is a 3.5. In fact I went to Wrest Park today to give it another go and I'd be embarrased to post anything here from it; so interested how you get on with your 28, maybe the 2.8 is better, maybe I just have a poor copy.

Show us your pics!

The K 28mm f3.5 is superb, one of my favourite lenses. I wonder why they changed the lens (6 as opposed to 8 elements) when they brought out the M series?

[danofmk]

Coming back to this particular conversation, now that i've had some time to play with it I haven't been blown away by the M 28mm 3.5.

I have also laid hands on the Takumar equivalent in that time and it seems just as good to me (and in a few instances, even better). I've also had (and parted with) the Sigma Miniwide 28mm. That was just as good, and the colours had something different about them too.

I suspect I will upgrade from the 28mm in time.

But in the meantime, it does the job and is still a pleasure to play with. For the money I can't really complain!

[danofmk]

Sorry, I wrote 28mm 3.5, but meant 2.8

[K30]

Hey Dan, very nice purchase, sure these will give you hours of pleasure.

I've had some great results from an M 50mm, reasonable from the 135 but always been disappointed with my 28mm which is a 3.5. In fact I went to Wrest Park today to give it another go and I'd be embarrased to post anything here from it; so interested how you get on with your 28, maybe the 2.8 is better, maybe I just have a poor copy.

Show us your pics!

The K 28mm f3.5 is superb, one of my favourite lenses. I wonder why they changed the lens (6 as opposed to 8 elements) when they brought out the M series?

I really don't know Jon, and why the 28M gives me slightly better results on the K30 than the KS2 is another mystery....