Any Pentax users here? (Page 12): My first Pentax camera was the Spotmetric, purchased in Hong Kong 1966, the Mz-7 the point & shoot Optio, the *ist DS, K-x, and many Pentax lens. Have...

canuck Loc: Oakville, on

My first Pentax camera was the Spotmetric, purchased in Hong Kong 1966, the Mz-7 the point & shoot Optio, the *ist DS, K-x, and many Pentax lens. Have to confess, I recently purchased a bridge camera, Panasonic Lumix FZ1000, hated to leave Pentax, yes Pentax had a bridge camera, I was told by the Pentax people at a recent photo show, that it has been discontinued. Thus is my reason, didn't wish to luge all the lens around any more. Thank you Pentax you have given me many, many memorably pictures.

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

canuck wrote:

My first Pentax camera was the Spotmetric, purchas... (show quote)

That Pentax bridge wasn't really a bad dig cam ... but one reviewer panned it for lack of options ... and that - pretty much - killed it ...

The Lumix FZ-1000, I hear - is a pretty good bridge ... as far as bridges go ... hey ... it's 4K !!! ... what's not to like?

John Cline Loc: Elkins Park, PA

I recently picked up a K1000 with a SMC Pentax-A 35-105 1:3.5 zoom at a thrift store for $8; both camera and lens in excellent condition. Used the lens on my K50 and love the result. Great lens!

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

John Cline wrote:

I recently picked up a K1000 with a SMC Pentax-A 35-105 1:3.5 zoom at a thrift store for $8; both camera and lens in excellent condition. Used the lens on my K50 and love the result. Great lens!

Eight bucks, huh?

Boy! ... Was that a steal!!!

I use a Tamron 18-200 XR Macro on my K-50 ... wonderful lens ... good range ... macro at any length ...

Sadly, Tamron no longer makes it ... oh, well ... and I was planning to get another for my Sony alpha a77II ....

How was the K1000? ... Have you tried it, yet?

John Cline Loc: Elkins Park, PA

Chris T wrote:

Eight bucks, huh?

Boy! ... Was that a steal!!!

I use a Tamron 18-200 XR Macro on my K-50 ... wonderful lens ... good range ... macro at any length ...

Sadly, Tamron no longer makes it ... oh, well ... and I was planning to get another for my Sony alpha a77II ....

How was the K1000? ... Have you tried it, yet?

I haven't tried the K1000 yet but it seems to operated w/o any issues; even at the slow shutter speeds. This is the second K1000 that I found in a thrift store. The other one came with a SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1:2 lens for $1.99, again in excellent condition. I attached 2 photos taken with the 35-105 on my K50. I'll have to keep an eye out for the Tamron. John

(Download)

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

John Cline wrote:

I haven't tried the K1000 yet but it seems to operated w/o any issues; even at the slow shutter speeds. This is the second K1000 that I found in a thrift store. The other one came with a SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1:2 lens for $1.99, again in excellent condition. I attached 2 photos taken with the 35-105 on my K50. I'll have to keep an eye out for the Tamron. John

Oh, isn't she cute?

That first one's just a little soft, John ...

But the profile one ... you can count the hairs !!!!

Not bad for eight bucks, huh? ....

John Cline Loc: Elkins Park, PA

Chris T wrote:

Oh, isn't she cute?

That first one's just a little soft, John ...

But the profile one ... you can count the hairs !!!!

Not bad for eight bucks, huh? ....

Thank you, taking photos of a 2 1/2 year old with a manual focus lens does give one a challenge :). John

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

John Cline wrote:

Thank you, taking photos of a 2 1/2 year old with a manual focus lens does give one a challenge :). John

Yes, face on ... you lost out, huh?

But the profile one - when she wasn't looking at you .... you nipped that one, in the bud!!!

Different times, too - she's wearing diff clothes ... so you must have had some time to practice, in-between ....

I don't think I could even DO manual focus, anymore ... at least, not with people ...

But, I have had some luck with stationary objects ... and - using a tripod ... neat, John ... that lens has now been retired ... closest now is 28-105 ...

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Chris T wrote:

Yes, face on ... you lost out, huh? br br But the... (show quote)

Focus Confirmation with my K-30 makes manual focus simple - especially if I use f/8, which I would in photographing a subject like that.

blackest Loc: Ireland

rehess wrote:

Focus Confirmation with my K-30 makes manual focus simple - especially if I use f/8, which I would in photographing a subject like that.

You can use trap focus in one of 2 ways either set the focus to where you want it to be or adjust the focus ring you basically just hold down the shutter button and it will not fire till the focus is in. It's a handy Pentax feature. Adjusting the focus ring takes practice to avoid over shooting

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

blackest wrote:

You can use trap focus in one of 2 ways either set the focus to where you want it to be or adjust the focus ring you basically just hold down the shutter button and it will not fire till the focus is in. It's a handy Pentax feature. Adjusting the focus ring takes practice to avoid over shooting

That's a neat feature in Pentax dig cams, isn't it, Blackest?

I wish they were all made like that ....

Jumping the AF ... seems to be a common problem on my Sony and Nikon DSLRs ....

Hasn't really happened, though - yet - on my Canons ... wonder what they do different ... I guess, just faster AF ....

John Cline Loc: Elkins Park, PA

Sometimes you have comprimise on focus to get the expression. softness on a portrait sometimes adds to it. That's my 2 1/2 year old grand daughter; the only member of the family that lets me photograph them :). Manual focus is always easier in brighter light. I like using a 50mm lens on my Pentax for portraits. John

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

John Cline wrote:

Sometimes you have comprimise on focus to get the expression. softness on a portrait sometimes adds to it. That's my 2 1/2 year old grand daughter; the only member of the family that lets me photograph them :). Manual focus is always easier in brighter light. I like using a 50mm lens on my Pentax for portraits. John

Yes, I know ... softness is nice in a portrait ...

They have some filters now which allow that - creating softness in the face .... not changing the rest, though ....

50s are good for Portraits ... 75 actual on a K-50 at 1.5x ...

85 is a super portrait lens ... comes out to 127.5mm (on a FF DSLR) ... excellent for Portraits ... there's a new Pentax 16-85 now, John ...

John Cline Loc: Elkins Park, PA

I have a Pentax 85mm 1.8 M42 lens that I love. Had it cleaned by Eric Hendrickson and it is like new. Have to shoot it in all manual mode but I love the results I get.

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

John Cline wrote:

I have a Pentax 85mm 1.8 M42 lens that I love. Had it cleaned by Eric Hendrickson and it is like new. Have to shoot it in all manual mode but I love the results I get.

M42?

Good, John ....

Glad you have that one ... any 85 f1.8 is a superb lens ... the one for Canon is said to be the sharpest on the planet ... I guess Nikon users differ ...

It doesn't matter if it's only manual ... as long as you have a steady hand ...