Bison Bud

I really feel stupid asking this, but I'm working on a deal to purchase a used K3 body and I'm hoping to be able to use my older, fully manual, K-1000 lenses on it at least for awhile. I have a Pentax 50mm, f-1.8 and an old Tokina 35 to 115 zoom which are of course fully manual and have no problem with shooting that way. However, I'm not real sure how the camera body would work with a fully manual lens. I assume that I need to set it in manual mode and adjust the focus and F-stop on the lens, but will still need to adjust the shutter speed on the camera body. Is this assumption correct and could it be an issue since even in manual mode the body expects to have an f-stop setting? If any of you Pentax followers out there might be able to explain how this would actually work, I'd really appreciate your time and trouble. Good luck and good shooting to all.

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

I have quite a few of the old Takumar lenses for my K50. They all work just fine. Don't bypass the older screw thread mount lenses either. A $15 adapter to K mount and they'll work, too. Good luck and have fun.

Rick

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Check out the “PENTAX FORUM”, lots of info there about COMPATABLE LENSES, even 3rd party lenses. I’m sure you can use ANY pentax lenses(even M mounts with an adapter) on the k-3. Lenses are WHY I’m almost exclusively a Pentax fan. I have a K-01, A K-5, A KS-2, and a K-1 (my favorite camera ever). Pentax lenses are “Very GOOD” mostly. The other Two cameras that I have, don’t have detachable lenses (Nikon P-900 and canon digital elph). Canon & Nikon make good stuff, But their lenses don’t impress me, for the money==OVERPRICED=. RJM

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

When I bought my K3-II I was disappointed to find out that my old Pentax (screw mounts) would not fit without an adapter. I assumed that they would work fine- you know just screw them on and go. The adapter to use them was close to 50.00 (Pentax brand). The K-3 II has focus peaking but it only works in Live View and it's hard to see. So I tried to use them with the adapter once but it was a disappointment. However I used all those old lenses with the Sony a6000 and now I use them with Fuji and it'a a breeze. The old lenses are fine lenses. Rather ironical it's easier to use them on other than Pentax.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

The older M-series lenses are very old, and I wouldn’t recommend planning your future photography endeavors, based around them(m-series) I do know that “suntouched” is quite the Fuji Fan, and I concur. Fuji is the only OTHER brand I would like to own. BUT!! I’m happy with pentax glass, And my K-1 still impresses me as MARVELOUS.. If all you have vested in pentax lenses is a couple of older ones, consider the Fuji mirrorless. Hot-stuff!! RJM

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

:)

I have no complaints about the Pentax K3-II camera- gotten some fine images with it!

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

I believe that YOU have quite a STALL of varied cameras & lenses, I am interested in WHAT you have & WHY. And what constitutes the majority of your “shooting”. Favorite lens? I ask, because I would see your ANSWERS as Valid, & from experience. RJM

blackest Loc: Ireland

Km lenses are easy you do use them in manual and press the green button and the lens stops down and meters to give you shutter speed, now press the shutter done. You can still set exposure compensation if needed.

With m42 lens you do use an adapter that converts the bayonet to a screw mount. The adapter is a little fiddly to remove and some lenses with very narrow mounts can have light leaks if the bayonet is still exposed, i use a rubber ring from a sink fitting with lenses like this a hairband or elastic band can do the job too.

For focusing manual lens a half press on the shutter or backbutton focus works fine, centre focus point lights up, beeps, and the hexagon in the view finder turns solid green. just adjust the focus ring till you get a solid green hexagon. For an m42 lens use aperture priority mode focus wide open and stop down as needed. Just watch your shutter speed and iso numbers. (iso stays set at what you set it).


All lenses get IBIS just set the focal length if there isn't a matching focal length go shorter rather than longer e.g 85mm for a 90mm.

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

Well I'm not so sure of knowledgeable but I do the research before I buy and still sometimes find it is not a good fit- hence more than one system. I buy on sale or used when I can.
I find myself currently with the following equipment;

Fuji X-T2 (yes I admit- impulse buy and not necessary) with the 14, 23, 35 and 50 mm lenses, f2. With the exception of the 14 mm lens, they were all very reasonably priced, all excellent IQ, all user friendly with consistent, excellent output, all small and easily portable and I believe all weather resistant as is the camera. This is my very portable do most everything camera. It does not disappoint.

Pentax K3-II- my son talked me into this camera 2+ years ago and I really like it for landscapes. I have only two lenses for it (not counting the old Takumar lenses) which are the 50 mm micro and 12-24 mm lens. I really like the 12-24 mm lens and it's my go to for landscapes. I am in Oregon for half the year and need the weather resistance.

I have the Panasonic Gx8 (bought for birding) - great camera with all the bells and whistles and wonderful for video- bought it 2 years ago. I have only 2 lenses for that camera and both are video friendly. I bought the Panasonic/Leica for birding and the slow 35-100 mm lens. Then I had shoulder surgery and although the 100-400 mm lens is relatively light weight I have not been able to hand hold that lens effectively with consistent results since. I plan to sell the long lens for the Nikon 300 mm AF-P lens below but keep the camera and small lens for video. And:

Nikon D7500- actually this was not an impulse buy. Nikon makes a 300 mm AF-P lens that is very light weight and with the 1.4 teleconverter I would have what I can effectively use for birding. It's a pricey lens and I will have to sell other equipment to get it so in the meantime I am using the excellent Full Frame 70-300 mm AF-P lens. I also have the older 50 mm lens that I bought used.

I try not to duplicate lenses on different systems and each camera has a primary purpose. If I had to pick two cameras out of the bunch to keep it would be the Fuji and Nikon. The video on the Fuji isn't as good as the Panasonic but still ok and I don't do that much landscape anymore. And I can use my very old Pentax lenses on the Fuji.

digit-up Loc: Flushing, Michigan

Thanks for your reply. I would like to have The Fuji and lenses that you listed. In fact, I recommended Fuji to my son, when he asked me to pick a camera for him. He hasn’t gotten anything yet, & may not. He shoots with his apple phone. Some day, I might get a Fuji, but I have amassed a big go cashe of Pentax. I, too, have the pentax 12-24, a swell landscape lens. But I shan’t get started, listing lenses. Pentax glass, particularly the PRIMES and Macros, are my reason-to-shoot. Bob

suntouched Loc: Sierra Vista AZ

I have the old 28, 50,135 and 200 Pentax screw mount lenses and the Russian Helios, Minolta MD and Vivitar- all screw mounts that fit the M42 adapter. The Helios is a bit funky to get working right but when it does its bokeh is spectacular - same for the MD. Fun to play with the old lenses. Great for taking pictures of flowers.

krmitchell55 Loc: Springdale, Arkansas

Here's a link to a post on pentax forums that might help.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/54-pentax-lens-articles/110657-how-use-meter-manual-m42-lenses-all-pentax-dslrs-k-1-k-3-k-5-k-30-etc.html

rscott1015

All, great information, I am also a Pentaxian, I love my K3ii, and the Kx before it, i have lots of other film cameras, but my only non Pentax is a Fuji DSLR

Currently my favorite lens is my Sigma 50mm - 500mm but I also love the older lens

Bison Bud

That's what I'm looking for, thank you very much!

harderja

I have put a Pentax k mount 50mm 1.4 on a Nikon D5500 yes it all operates only in manual. The DOF is so shallow at 1.4 and 2.8 I can only focus on a Tripod. I usually start at 4.0.