Best $30 I ever spent (on a lens!)

[MarkR]

I just picked up a Pentax smc-m 50mm f/1.7 lens for my K100d. :clap:clap:clap
http://hobbyist.smugmug.com/photos/472856243_JpdUX-S-1.jpg
(That's not a spot or fungus on the lens, it's just weird lighting reflections.)

This thing is amazingly amazingly sharp. Unfortunately, a 30-year old manual-everything lens doesn't properly record aperture information, but ~f/2.0 - f/2.8 for the pictures below. (ISO 200, flash in "A" mode.)
http://hobbyist.smugmug.com/photos/472640222_5rfBT-L.jpg

http://hobbyist.smugmug.com/photos/472639452_pyw9X-L.jpg

http://hobbyist.smugmug.com/photos/472638816_one5o-L.jpg

So, how hard is it to shoot with a lens that doesn't auto-focus or auto-meter? NOT HARD AT ALL!

Auto-metering is the easiest part. Set the camera on "M", pick an ISO, stop down the lens with the aperture ring, and use the AEL button to take a (spot) meter. Take picture and adjust if needed. The spot metering appears to be pretty accurate, IMO.

Focusing is a little trickier, but the focus confirmation light/chirp keeps me from going too far astray. While probably not useful for most action shots, manual focusing is quick and easy.

To sum up: if your camera supports 30 year old lenses (:D) it's worth picking up a few of the older ones to see what they're capable of.

[ziggy53]

Congratulations on the "new" (to you) lens. :clap

Best focus results from using the focus confirmation with the lens wide open and then moving the aperture to the appropriate setting and then taking the shot. If you practice you can count the number of aperture "clicks" by feel and not even take the camera away from your face.

[poker]

Nice samples. Very very clear and sharp.

[MarkR]

Congratulations on the "new" (to you) lens. :clap

Best focus results from using the focus confirmation with the lens wide open and then moving the aperture to the appropriate setting and then taking the shot. If you practice you can count the number of aperture "clicks" by feel and not even take the camera away from your face.

Ziggy, you the man!:clap :clap :clap

Will try that technique tonight.

[scottcolbath]

Your cat looks pissed.

Very nice pics. :thumb

S.C.

[dogbert]

Awesome pics! :D

[Miguel Delinquento]

That's a great lens. I used one for several years until I replaced it with an FA 50mm f1.4. Any of those classic Pentax 50s are very usable on Pentax DSLRs. I would also recomend the Super-Tak 50mm M42 1.4 as its color rendition is special. I kinda regret selling one a while back, but I know that they are around in droves.
If you want to continue in the realm of fine "M" lenses, be sure to obtain a SMC 135mm f.3.5. Very compact and very good optics and available for < $60. Most anyone who shot a Pentax SLR in the 70s used one.

M

[MarkR]

That's a great lens. I used one for several years until I replaced it with an FA 50mm f1.4. Any of those classic Pentax 50s are very usable on Pentax DSLRs. I would also recomend the Super-Tak 50mm M42 1.4 as its color rendition is special. I kinda regret selling one a while back, but I know that they are around in droves.
If you want to continue in the realm of fine "M" lenses, be sure to obtain a SMC 135mm f.3.5. Very compact and very good optics and available for < $60. Most anyone who shot a Pentax SLR in the 70s used one.

M

I'll keep my eye out in the various flea markets for one. I took the 50 out for a spin today and did some landscape shots. Colors were fantastic and the detail was impossibly good. I think I'm in love! :lust:lust