Any Pentax users (Page 3): I loved the Spotmatic. I bought my first one in the Navy Exchange at Sasebo Japan in 1967 along with a bag full of lenses that I still have and use. Three...

dick ranez

I loved the Spotmatic. I bought my first one in the Navy Exchange at Sasebo Japan in 1967 along with a bag full of lenses that I still have and use. Three Spotmatics later I switched to Canon A series but continued to use the Takumar lenses on the adapter. Several years ago I bought a Pentax K series digital camera just to use those lenses. It had none of the charm of the Spotmatics and died in the middle of a trip. The handfull of K mount lenses are nowhere near as sharp as the old M42 Takumars and I only occasionally use one on a adapted Olympus. (good for video particularly) I'm concerned that between being off loaded to Hoya and then fires saled to Ricoh, the Pentax brand is floundering and has questionable viability. It's a shame to watch, but then it may join the ranks of Contax, Voitlander, Exacta, Minolta and other wonderful cameras as a "used to be".

nitehntr Loc: rivesville west virginia

i am a Pentax user since the 60's my first camera was a spotmatic with a 50mm f1.4 lens i learned how to zoom with my feet i progressed to the K1 and also use a K3 for wildlife for the crop factor. you get way more for your money with pentax and the DSLR's are built like tanks to boot. i compete in contests various places in west virginia and more then hold my own again canon and nikon shooters. the only problem i see with pentax is their marketing. they make an excellent product. here is a green heron shot with the K1 and the 560mm

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Very nice.
--Bob

nitehntr wrote:

i am a Pentax user since the 60's my first camera ... (show quote)

joelbolden

I've been a Pentax/Ricoh user since the 70's. My first good film camera was a Ricoh. When I started using DSLR's I started with Canon's, but really disliked the pic quality. Switched to Pentax's; started with the K-X, then K-10, K-20D, K-30(which I still have) and currently use a K-70, plus I have 3 film Pentax(MX, PZ-1, PZ-1P). I have a bunch of different lenses, going back to the old Ricoh days, but since I shoot mainly outdoors I use a Tamron 75-300 and when the weather gets nasty, a Pentax 5-200 WR.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

joelbolden wrote:

I've been a Pentax/Ricoh user since the 70's. My ... (show quote)

Ooops! ... left out a zero there, Joe ... on that last lens (I have that one, too - really nice lens!!!)

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

leicajah wrote:

I am. I collect Pentax 110 Spy Cameras, an also Minox

I have one and also most of the lenses. Ironically enough, that's what led me away from Pentax and to micro four thirds. The 110 was the four thirds film camera of 1979. I do have a Q10 though.

I also have a Spotmatic, a K1000, and a ZX-M in my collection along with several lenses including some radioactive Takumars - and of course micro four thirds adapters.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

n3eg wrote:

I have one and also most of the lenses. Ironically enough, that's what led me away from Pentax and to micro four thirds. The 110 was the four thirds film camera of 1979. I do have a Q10 though.

I also have a Spotmatic, a K1000, and a ZX-M in my collection along with several lenses including some radioactive Takumars - and of course micro four thirds adapters.

How ON EARTH does a Takumar get to be radioactive, n3eg?

Oh, btw ... did I tell you this before? ... My avatar ate my dog!!!!!

Was soooo sad when that happened ... poor Fido!!!!!!

joelbolden

Chris T wrote:

Ooops! ... left out a zero there, Joe ... on that last lens (I have that one, too - really nice lens!!!)

Yeah I noticed just now! Saving up for the 55-300 PLM WRE.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

joelbolden wrote:

Yeah I noticed just now! Saving up for the 55-300 PLM WRE.

Really, Joe? ... I hear that's a pretty good lens ... expensive, though ...

Think I'll stick with the older version ... noisy as hell, but, hey - the splash of red at the end's a killer!!!'

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

From https://camerapedia.fandom.com,
"Radioactivity in lanthanum containing lenses is due to the intentional inclusion of thorium in the optical glass mix. The presence of thorium can sometimes, depending on the mixture of other elements in the lens, cause moderate to severe browning of the lens elements."

The browning can happen but can be cleared by exposing the lens to sunlight.
--Bob

Chris T wrote:

How ON EARTH does a Takumar get to be radioactive, n3eg?

Oh, btw ... did I tell you this before? ... My avatar ate my dog!!!!!

Was soooo sad when that happened ... poor Fido!!!!!!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

rmalarz wrote:

From https://camerapedia.fandom.com,
"Radioactivity in lanthanum containing lenses is due to the intentional inclusion of thorium in the optical glass mix. The presence of thorium can sometimes, depending on the mixture of other elements in the lens, cause moderate to severe browning of the lens elements."

The browning can happen but can be cleared by exposing the lens to sunlight.
--Bob

Thanks for that explanation, there, Bob ....

So, constant use, therefore - will eliminate this phenomenon, then?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I should think so. At least carrying the camera outdoors without a lens cap would seem to work.
--Bob

Chris T wrote:

Thanks for that explanation, there, Bob ....

So, constant use, therefore - will eliminate this phenomenon, then?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

rmalarz wrote:

I should think so. At least carrying the camera outdoors without a lens cap would seem to work.
--Bob

Ah, well ... there you are, then, Bob - I didn't really NEED that cap for the a77, I broke, yesterday - after all!

Wanderer2 Loc: Colorado Rocky Mountains

Chris T wrote:

Ah, well ... there you are, then, Bob - I didn't really NEED that cap for the a77, I broke, yesterday - after all!

Your also broke your FA 77??? Me too, recently, my favorite K-1 lens (actually drowned it and later broke it). Have it for sale for parts on ebay! ARRGH!

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Wanderer2 wrote:

Your also broke your FA 77??? Me too, recently, my favorite K-1 lens (actually drowned it and later broke it). Have it for sale for parts on ebay! ARRGH!

No, Wanderer - that was a ref. to the lens-cap for the 18-250 DT lens, for my alpha a77 - I broke, yesterday.

The full story - is at the post headed - Losing It! - a story of irony ...

Here's the link, if you'd like to read it ...

https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-621546-1.html

BTW - my Pentax DSLR is the K-50 ... I also have a Pentax 6x7 MF Film Camera (eye-level) ....