Lens Reccomendations.

[joycegian]

ASAHI PENTAX SUPER TAKUMAR 3.5/135 MM LENS COLLECTABLE
- Used
For $70.
Worth it?

Vivitar Series 1 28-105mm 2.8/3.8 Macro Zoom Pentax
- Used
For $130.
Worth it?

PENTAX SUPER-TAKUMAR f/4 150mm LENS with HARD CASE
- Used
For $110
Worth it?

PENTAX SUPER-TAKUMAR f/1.4 50mm LENS
- Used
For $130
Worth it?

Please advise, seniors.


I'm quite confused with the lenses.
Thought Pentax Lenses only got Pentax, Tamron, Sigma... etc

How come for this Super-Takumar, Asahi, Vivitar.. etc?

 

[ricsal]

These are all Old Manual Lens. If u wanna try in Manual Escapades, then Manual Lens are the way to go. Hehe.

If you want an AF lens, then go for Pentax FA,DA,DA*& Pentax Limited Lens. Also Tamron & Sigma too.

Old MF lens are Cosina,Vivitar,Voiglander,Pentax (M,A), Super Takumar etc...

If newer version of MF lens, its Rokinon,Samyang,Bower etc.

 

[joycegian]

These are all Old Manual Lens. If u wanna try in Manual Escapades, then Manual Lens are the way to go. Hehe.

If you want an AF lens, then go for Pentax FA,DA,DA*& Pentax Limited Lens. Also Tamron & Sigma too.

Old MF lens are Cosina,Vivitar,Voiglander,Pentax (M,A), Super Takumar etc...

If newer version of MF lens, its Rokinon,Samyang,Bower etc.

I see...
I actually prefer AF lenses.

But actually, old & new doesnt matter rights?

I desperately want a good bokeh lens.

 

[eselite]

Those Takumar lenses require m42 to k mount adaptor in order to use them. Old manaul lens are cheap way to start your photography learning curve. Like Fengwei said before, just grab one Pentax SMC M50mm F1.7 lens to try out and learn first.
SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens

PS: M135mm F3.5 is also good for street candid shot if you want 'bokeh'.

 

[joycegian]

Those Takumar lenses require m42 to k mount adaptor in order to use them. Old manaul lens are cheap way to start your photography learning curve. Like Fengwei said before, just grab one Pentax SMC M50mm F1.7 lens to try out and learn first.
SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens

PS: M135mm F3.5 is also good for street candid shot if you want 'bokeh'.

What kind of price should I look at for used :
SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens
SMC-Pentax M135mm F3.5

 

[CorneliusK]

Broadly speaking you need a lens with a large aperture relative to its focal length to get the bokeh effect more easily. Primes are usually better for this, as they typically have larger apertures for the same focal length as a zoom lens, for the same price range.

However primes have the limitation of a fixed focal length, which will in turn limit the shits you can take with it. E.g. the 135mm f3.5 lens will have a thinner depth of field than the other lenses in your list, but the minimum focusing distance will be damn long and you need much more space to work with it.

So think first about which is the most suitable focal length for you (or at least tell us what you are intending to shoot) before coming up with a list of lens to consider.

 

[ranchy]

What kind of price should I look at for used :
SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens
SMC-Pentax M135mm F3.5

SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens.html

SMC-Pentax M135mm F3.5
http://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-M-135mm-F3.5-Lens.html

look at those reviews for details and they have some prices (It's in USD and it's an rough estimate)
Best is to search the CLubsnap forum, advanced search, choose search in forum: BUY/Sell Pentax Equipment .. just briefly type out "example: Pentax m50 f1.7" it's much better gauge for pricing.

 

[eselite]

What kind of price should I look at for used :
SMC-Pentax-M-50mm-F1.7-Lens
SMC-Pentax M135mm F3.5

M50mm should be around $100
M135mm should be around $125?

Yup what cornelius said is true, that's why i said 135mm is good for street candid. Stand at a distance to shoot without people noticing you.
Let us know what is your intended shooting purpose/subject so we can narrow down the choice.

 

[joycegian]

Broadly speaking you need a lens with a large aperture relative to its focal length to get the bokeh effect more easily. Primes are usually better for this, as they typically have larger apertures for the same focal length as a zoom lens, for the same price range.

However primes have the limitation of a fixed focal length, which will in turn limit the shits you can take with it. E.g. the 135mm f3.5 lens will have a thinner depth of field than the other lenses in your list, but the minimum focusing distance will be damn long and you need much more space to work with it.

So think first about which is the most suitable focal length for you (or at least tell us what you are intending to shoot) before coming up with a list of lens to consider.

I intend to shoot more of my son playing at home / void deck / platground etc.
And sometimes on the street of other kids as well...


Just realise..

Pentax SMC M is of Manual focus.
Pentax SMC F then is of Auto & Manual focus correct?

So what price roughly should I look at for a 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm?

 

[eselite]

I intend to shoot more of my son playing at home / void deck / platground etc.
And sometimes on the street of other kids as well...


Just realise..

Pentax SMC M is of Manual focus.
Pentax SMC F then is of Auto & Manual focus correct?

So what price roughly should I look at for a 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm?

That lens is hard to come by...and it's a discontinued lens.

 

[CorneliusK]

You will have trouble shooting kids at play with a manual focus lens, unless your technique is damn good.

Then again the old manual lens are fairly cheap so its no harm picking one up to just try.

 

[ranchy]

I intend to shoot more of my son playing at home / void deck / platground etc.
And sometimes on the street of other kids as well...


Just realise..

Pentax SMC M is of Manual focus.
Pentax SMC F then is of Auto & Manual focus correct?

So what price roughly should I look at for a 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm?

You will have trouble shooting kids at play with a manual focus lens, unless your technique is damn good.

Then again the old manual lens are fairly cheap so its no harm picking one up to just try.

Yup, shooting kids with manual lens is troublesome, running around and you have to manually focus. Anyway, you can use Multiple shots and hope that you get a good one :bsmilie:

 

[joycegian]

HAHAS.
Yaes, thats why I prefer Auto Focus lenses.

I see some old lenses like SMC Pentax F.
This is an Auto Focus lens as well right.

There's one 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm selling now at ebay for around S$300 with shipping.
Is it worth it?

 

[Fireemblem]

HAHAS.
Yaes, thats why I prefer Auto Focus lenses.

I see some old lenses like SMC Pentax F.
This is an Auto Focus lens as well right.

There's one 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm selling now at ebay for around S$300 with shipping.
Is it worth it?

if you can up your budget abit, getting a second hard autofocus FA 50/1.4 for about 400+ is a much better choice

 

[pinholecam]

All Takumar lenses need an adapter. So in your case, can drop those for the moment.

Pentax manual focus lenses (MF) - K, M, A series
Pentax auto focus (AF) - F, FA, DA

Cheapest bang for buck fast lens is a Tamron 17-50/2.8 or 28-75/2.8. These should give you enough OOF (out of focus) blur at the long end. ~$700 new

Your only and best choice for the 50mm is the FA50/1.4.


You can join us for the outings, even if that means a just 1-2hr in the morning kopi session. Its probably easier to see all the lenses that are available and what is what. You may be able to pickup some practical on shooting as well.

 

[speedfactory]

Your only and best choice for the 50mm is the FA50/1.4.

The other option is the DA*55mm f1.4 Around S$1000++.:devil: I also donno why it's so expansive.

 

[ricsal]

All Takumar lenses need an adapter. So in your case, can drop those for the moment.

Pentax manual focus lenses (MF) - K, M, A series
Pentax auto focus (AF) - F, FA, DA

Cheapest bang for buck fast lens is a Tamron 17-50/2.8 or 28-75/2.8. These should give you enough OOF (out of focus) blur at the long end. ~$700 new

Your only and best choice for the 50mm is the FA50/1.4.


You can join us for the outings, even if that means a just 1-2hr in the morning kopi session. Its probably easier to see all the lenses that are available and what is what. You may be able to pickup some practical on shooting as well.

Tamron 17-50 2.8 Price last I bought is $620 which is Last month

FA50mm 1.4 is around 499 for Manly or Cathay Photo $530

 

[detritus]

I intend to shoot more of my son playing at home / void deck / platground etc.
And sometimes on the street of other kids as well...

Just realise..

Pentax SMC M is of Manual focus.
Pentax SMC F then is of Auto & Manual focus correct?

So what price roughly should I look at for a 2nd hand Pentax SMC F1.7 50mm?

if you can up your budget abit, getting a second hard autofocus FA 50/1.4 for about 400+ is a much better choice

Agree that the FA 50/1.4 is a good lens for bokeh and its fast so can use it under low light conditions with a higher shutter speed.

But its not a "silver bullet" either... other forumers often cite the shallow DOF as a problem... focus accuracy is important or u will get a lot of blur around your subject at F1.4... i tried it for myself over the weekend... its challenging when u try to shoot 3 or 4 person sitting in a row at F1.4 :sweat: u may blur out the person at the side.

as a newbie myself, i recommend the FA50, whether brand new or second. its much easier to use and u will appreciate the AF.

its a worthwhile investment even at the current price of $500+ brand new simply because the alternative is also more expensive. the DA*55 costs $1000+ because it is a much newer model and because of the SDM lens motor which makes it very quiet to focus. the sigma 30mm f1.4 is also $600+ last i checked so imo, the choice is obvious.

if i must compromise, i will consider the SMC A 50mm f1.4 so that I can use AV, TV, SV or P mode and do manual focusing. i won't consider the SMC M or the M42 mount lenses at this time as i'm not confident enough to shoot on full manual mode.

 

[detritus]

Tamron 17-50 2.8 Price last I bought is $620 which is Last month

FA50mm 1.4 is around 499 for Manly or Cathay Photo $530

Emjay increased the price already. latest stock is going for $500+ at Manly. :sweat:

 

[ricsal]

Emjay increased the price already. latest stock is going for $500+ at Manly. :sweat:

$1 extra should be ok la. Unlike Cathay Photo price.