Lenses for the frugal photographer
- Thread starter pinholecam
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Agree with you.
I have the following lens groups which I find them great.
1. Sigma 24mm 2.8 MF macro (need the 52mm petal lens hood) Pentax 24mm as already shown
This is a cheap lens but performs wonderfully on film or DSLR.
2. Sigma 28mm 2.8 MF mini macro / Pentax 28mm F2.8 (MF or A) (both need the short wide metal hood)
These are cheap but great lenses. The Pentax 28mm I had been using over 20 years.
3. Ricoh 50mm F1.7 / Ricoh 50mm F2 / Pentax 50mm 1.4 A or Rikenon XR 50mm 1.4
The Rikenon 50mm is great for B&W photo shoots. The F1.7 is nice from F4 onwards, and F2 has a better feel than then Nikkor 1.8.
The 50mm 1.4 are great value for money.
4. Vivitar 100mm F3.5 macro AF
This is a cheap lens but can give some really great pictures. The price is low.
If you see one, don't let it go.
5. Rikenon XR 135mm F2.8
A wonderful lens that many Japanese use to do flower shots on DSLR. The color is very pleasant.
I admit I do not have a lot of pictures to substantiate my claim, but i do have many family photos shot with these lenses.
Some of which showing me as a kid.
I have 5 Ricoh XR - one body to match with these lenses, and sometimes match them with the Pentax DSLR.
On top of these 5 primes, I also these thru the years:
Kiron/Vivitar 70-210 Series 1 F3.5 macro zoom (zoom lock)
Great macro lens for close up. I really need to shoot more with this lens.
There are a lot of discussions on the Pentax MF forum. The great joy of Pentax system is backward compatibility.
Great list. I've heard so much about most of them, esp, the Vivitar 70-210.
Too bad I focused in getting mostly Pentax lenses, so accumulated very few 3rd party ones.
I have a Cosina 24/2.8 which is nice lens for $60, almost the match of the K24/2.8 mentioned above except for the cooler colors and poorer flare resistance.
The M50 f1.7 for just $100 or thereabouts is a contender, for general shots and portraits. A bit long, but usable.
If not for the FA43, I'll have hung onto it!
If not for the FA43, I'll have hung onto it!
Still on wide prime
SMC K28/3.5
Same design as SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5, which's regarded by many as best 28mm in m42 mount. Probably only the K28/2 with floating element design could beat this lens. Resolution is at least as sharp as M 50mm f1.7. Color is great.
On APS-C 28mm translates to about 42mm equivalent, which's very close to field-of-view of the human eye. The only draw back is this lens a little bit heavy (261g).
SMC K28/3.5
Same design as SMC Takumar 28mm f3.5, which's regarded by many as best 28mm in m42 mount. Probably only the K28/2 with floating element design could beat this lens. Resolution is at least as sharp as M 50mm f1.7. Color is great.
On APS-C 28mm translates to about 42mm equivalent, which's very close to field-of-view of the human eye. The only draw back is this lens a little bit heavy (261g).
Come on leh!
Do us a mini review here then
Much appreciated (will same me the work as well)
Still on wide prime
SMC K28/3.5
Nice set.
I'm sure you have plenty of MF lens info to share
I've heard a lot about the K28/3.5 as well, esp the sharpness.
Do you find it significantly dimmer to focus compared the faster lenses?
Nice set.
I'm sure you have plenty of MF lens info to share
I've heard a lot about the K28/3.5 as well, esp the sharpness.
Do you find it significantly dimmer to focus compared the faster lenses?
3.5 isn't too dim, it's as if I'm using a kit lens.
uh oh.. don't forget all those nifty fifty, like the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7 or the f/2.. those are really cheap but produce great images!
taken with the 50mm f/1.7 with Nikon D70:
and one more is the Makinon 28mm f/2.8 (i got this one with slight fungus in it for $20) but still gave me great images!):
sadly, i parted with my digital cameras and now i don't have any of them anymore.. but i still swear by their performance! really underpriced lenses IMO!
taken with the 50mm f/1.7 with Nikon D70:
and one more is the Makinon 28mm f/2.8 (i got this one with slight fungus in it for $20) but still gave me great images!):
sadly, i parted with my digital cameras and now i don't have any of them anymore.. but i still swear by their performance! really underpriced lenses IMO!
50mm MF short lists
Pentax 50mm F2 M great for portrait at F2.8-4 on DSLR
Pentax 50mm F1.7 M great for walk about
Pentax 50mm F1.4 slightly expensive
Rikenon XR 50mm F2 raved but very similar to Pentax M
Rikenon 50mm F1.7 very sharp lens stopped down, maybe better than Nikkor
Rikenon 50mm F1.4 cheaper than Pentax 50mm 1.4 but no less in picture quality
(in US, Ricoh lens also was sold under the Sears brand. So newer Rikenon were also Sears).
I would highly recommend the Rikenon 50mm F1.7. Those of you still shoot B&W, try the Rikenon/Pentax 50mm F2.
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Nice stuff coming out of those niffy fifties
Certainly too many to really point a finger at the best one.
Certainly too many to really point a finger at the best one.
Any K-mount MF lens will doare we just talking abt pentax lenses or are 3rd party ones up for discussion as well?
2. The short telephoto (Portrait lens)
M85/2
Rated as the worst Pentax 85mm prime in most old reviews, this one is a real gem to me.
Yes, the SMC Super Takumar 85mm f1.8 and f1.9 are generally rated higher, but not only are the hard to find, but their prices have been pushed up by their higher rating and rarity. One has to note that the Takumars have apertures that stop down at other apertures which can make focusing harder.
For me the M85/2 is a good performer on APS-C, sharp enough wide open and having a characteristic of its own to give some 'pop' to many pictures taken by it. Very handy as its small in size compare to f1.4 type 85mm lenses. To me this is the poor man's 77ltd.
It is not much bigger than a 50/1.4
Nice subject isolation from this lens. Very often this lens does the job w/o need to reach for a larger/heavier f1.4 version
Unobtrusive , small, lightweight, plus very suitable range and subject isolation for candid people shots
M85/2
Rated as the worst Pentax 85mm prime in most old reviews, this one is a real gem to me.
Yes, the SMC Super Takumar 85mm f1.8 and f1.9 are generally rated higher, but not only are the hard to find, but their prices have been pushed up by their higher rating and rarity. One has to note that the Takumars have apertures that stop down at other apertures which can make focusing harder.
For me the M85/2 is a good performer on APS-C, sharp enough wide open and having a characteristic of its own to give some 'pop' to many pictures taken by it. Very handy as its small in size compare to f1.4 type 85mm lenses. To me this is the poor man's 77ltd.
It is not much bigger than a 50/1.4
Nice subject isolation from this lens. Very often this lens does the job w/o need to reach for a larger/heavier f1.4 version
Unobtrusive , small, lightweight, plus very suitable range and subject isolation for candid people shots
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Again, very suitable for portraits that want less emphasis on the bkgnd.
Another shot demonstrating subject isolation
One more shallow depth of field shot
Another shot demonstrating subject isolation
One more shallow depth of field shot
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Landscapes anyone?
While a short telephoto will not always be used for landscapes, it can be used when the reach or compression of perspective is needed.
Very sharp stopped down to f8.
Compression of perspective (if you've been to this place, you will know what I mean; the distance between the foreground boat and jetty is quite a bit of a distance)
Another sample
There is only two weakness of this lens. It can suffer from hazing and CA in very bright or contrasty conditions. But these situations are not that often and some of them can be corrected in PP. IMHO, a very small price to pay for the price and performance.
While a short telephoto will not always be used for landscapes, it can be used when the reach or compression of perspective is needed.
Very sharp stopped down to f8.
Compression of perspective (if you've been to this place, you will know what I mean; the distance between the foreground boat and jetty is quite a bit of a distance)
Another sample
There is only two weakness of this lens. It can suffer from hazing and CA in very bright or contrasty conditions. But these situations are not that often and some of them can be corrected in PP. IMHO, a very small price to pay for the price and performance.
Nice pictures. Reminds me of the Nikon 85mm F2 which I lost some 12 years ago (car theft in UK).
Here is a Japanese site that shares some nice flower pictures. Mainly 50mm F2 Rikenon, Pentax 50mm F1.7.
http://cloud.s1.xrea.com/blosxom/2006/03/index.html
Reminds me of the Nikon 85mm F2 which I lost some 12 years ago (car theft in UK).Here is a Japanese site that shares some nice flower pictures. Mainly 50mm F2 Rikenon, Pentax 50mm F1.7.
http://cloud.s1.xrea.com/blosxom/2006/03/index.html
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Nice.. Curious, did you shot it Wide open? Or stopped down??
"One has to note that the Takumars have apertures that stop down at other apertures which can make focusing harder." Hmm i thought The M series also behave in the same way?? When you stopped down, the VF also look darker??? :dunno:
Lenses after the M42 mounts have an aperture lever, so lenses remain wide open until shutter button is pressed.
That is why, I still prefer K-mount lenses over Takumars.
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