Falling in Love with M-lenses...

[scorpioh]

Voices from a newbie who just got his k10d less than 2 months ago...

The upgrade path:

Zoom -> auto prime -> manual prime.

The excitement intensifies as you get more primitive with the lenses...

Just want to share my initial experience using a M len which I recently acquired from Fengwei. I was thinking of playing with manual focusing when I acquired the M28 and a couple other M lenses. It was a bit of an impulse buy and after buying, I realised M lenses are actually one of the very primitive lenses, even more so compared to the A lenses. Initially I felt a bit doubtful to know that I can't use it with the usual metering modes except M mode. That sounded daunting for a newbie, seriously.

To comment on the built. I thot the DA Limited was good but after handling the M lenses, DA Limited feels like metal from a soft drink can. The construction of the M lenses are so solid I think no normal manufacturer in this era would produce it! Metal body and a nicely damped focusing ring simply oozes quality and elegance. Fully mechanical and built to last several life-times; no funny electronics that are susceptible to failure.

Mounting it on my k10d was very exciting! In fact, it looks very nice when mounted on a modern day DSLR. And I realised it isn't that difficult to use afterall. M mode wasn't as limiting as I thought though it appears primitive in a fun way.

Here's the workflow:
(Enable camera for use without A position in the custom settings)
1. Select Manual mode and MF on the camera.
2. On the camera and you will be prompted to select the focal length of your lens for SR purposes.
3. Turn the aperture ring to the desired f-stop
4. Press the green button to perform stop-down* metering
5. Since it tend to under-expose, up the shutter speed by 2/3 to a full stop (turn the front e-dial a couple of clicks).
6. Turn the focusing ring to focus on the subject (the Focus indicator will light up when focus is achieved, a nice touch on Pentax cameras; you may trust your eyes as well)
7. Snap!

You really feel you are in a much better control and every shot is pre-calculated. It may be a tad slower for events and sports but for stills, it really adds all the fun to photograghy.

*stop-down metering means that the camera sets the aperture to the user-selected aperture size momentarily for a quick metering before returning to wide open state. Modern lenses remains wide at all times when metering and the exposure is calculated in-chip. This is to ensure that the view-finder is bright at all times. The aperture only set to the user-selected f-stop when the shutter-release button is pressed.

[fengwei]

Nice writeup And glad you like those manual lenses already (told you so, didn't I )

I still have a couple MF lenses, and just bought another one back (a lovely K135/2.5). If I go out take photos alone, I prefer using manual lenses. But if I'm going out w/ the kids, better stick w/ auto lenses. I do feel I enjoy using MF lenses alot more than AF lenses since I need to control/adjust everything all by myself (instead of letting the camera do the job).

[flowerpot]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Voices from a newbie who just got his k10d less than 2 months ago... The upgrade path: Zoom -> auto prime -> manual prime. The excitement intensifies as you get more primitive with the lenses... Just want to share my initial experience using a M len which I recently acquired from Fengwei. I was thinking of playing with manual focusing when I acquired the M28 and a couple other M lenses. It was a bit of an impulse buy and after buying, I realised M lenses are actually one of the very primitive lenses, even more so compared to the A lenses. Initially I felt a bit doubtful to know that I can't use it with the usual metering modes except M mode. That sounded daunting for a newbie, seriously. To comment on the built. I thot the DA Limited was good but after handling the M lenses, DA Limited feels like metal from a soft drink can. The construction of the M lenses are so solid I think no normal manufacturer in this era would produce it! Metal body and a nicely damped focusing ring simply oozes quality and elegance. Mounting it on my k10d was very exciting! In fact, it looks very nice when mounted on a modern day DSLR. And I realised it isn't that difficult to use afterall. M mode wasn't as limiting as I thought though it appears primitive in a fun way. Here's the workflow: (Enable camera for use without A position in the custom settings) 1. Select Manual mode and MF on the camera. 1. Turn the aperture ring to the desired f-stop 2. Press the green button to perform stop down metering 3. Since it tend to under-expose up the shutter speed by 2/3 to a full stop. 4. Turn the focusing ring to focus on the subject (the Focus indicator will light up when focus is achieved, a nice touch on Pentax cameras; you may trust tour eyes as well) 5. Snap! You really feel you are in a much better control and every shot is precalculated. It may be a tad slower for events and sports but for stills, it really adds all the fun to photograghy.

sounds like a kid playing his favourite toy... make me wanna go back home now and play mine...

Those lenses are built tougher than a tank...feels like it will out live me before they will ever be worn out...

[creampuff]

Yeah they don't make em like they used to.
As much as the M lenses are good, the furthest I want to go back will be the A series lenses for the convenience of being able to shoot at any exposure mode. Erratic exposure with the K10D is a bugbear and the steps involved to get a meter reading just takes a little too much time for me. I've also noticed the colour rendition of the M lenses is quite a bit cooler than the more modern lenses, possibly due to the progressive changes to the SMC coating over the years.

[hjbyeo]

It's just like my thread about the A series lens.. I enjoy the manual focusing, but would (like Creampuff) prefer the convenience to use it in AV (my most used mode).

My A50mm f2.8 macro is 1 of my main stays in my Domke when I am out shooting by myself...

But I still think it's easier to do manual focusing with OM53 eye cup and with a longer lens. For the shorter wide angle ones, it'll be much tougher.

[fengwei]

Actually I use M mode alot, even when I'm using FA or DA lenses When I'm shooting at the same scene or light condition (like kids indoor, staged performance, sports and etc), M mode will help getting consistant (and accurate) exposure alot easier The only drawback I think M/K lenses have is that we have to turn the aperture ring to change apertures.

[macrob]

Originally Posted by scorpioh Voices from a newbie who just got his k10d less than 2 months ago...

We were all there, bro.

[C.Lai]

Thanks for sharing. Now I know how its done with a manual lens.
Your observations about the K10D underexposing 2/3 to 1 stop is spot on.
I shoot also in M mode using the Green Button.

[scorpioh]

Originally Posted by flowerpot sounds like a kid playing his favourite toy... make me wanna go back home now and play mine... Those lenses are built tougher than a tank...feels like it will out live me before they will ever be worn out...

Yeah. It's addictive and I almost couldn't sleep for an hour due to the excitement last night.