Pentax K - Pentax M

[TimHar]

[womble]

The whole thing is made even more complicated by the fact that some K series lenses continued to be made throughout the M series period, for example the K50/1.2 and the K15/3.5, although they use the smc font rather than SMC. Having quite a few K and M series lenses I would say that on the whole the K series lenses are optically better than the equivalent M series ones, but there are exceptions (at least with my copies of the lenses which is, of course, not very scientific). For example, I find my M200/4 somewhat better than my S-M-C Tak or K series 200/4. I would guess the K200/2.5 should out perform all those lenses but I don't have one of those to try! I did an informal comparison between my M28/3.5 and my K28/3.5 and the K does just win, but only with direct comparison and pixel peeping. If I only had the M I'd be very happy with it indeed.

As to build quality, the M85/2 I have is so silky smooth I cannot really imagine how that aspect of the lens could be improved. I do find the A series lenses built to a lower standard, for example in the use of plastic aperture rings. I don't have any A* lenses though.

As it is, I find myself using a mixture of lenses (Taks, Ks, Ms, the odd A and some DAs) and generally being very happy with them. I would like to get a really good quality longer lens (e.g., the A* 300/2. as the Tammy I have sucks, but that'll have to wait until I win the lottery or something.

Cheers Kris.

NB. Based on owning (primes):
S-M-C/SMC Takumar 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8, 135/3.5, 135/2.5 (ver 1), 150/4, 200/4
K15/3.5, 17/4, 24/2.8, 28/3.5, 35/3.5, 50/1.2, 55/1.8, 135/3.5, 135/2.5, 200/4, 300/4
M20/4, 28/3.5, 50/1.7, 50/2, 85/2, 100/2.8, 200/4
A28/2.8, 50/1.4, 50/1.7
_________________
Kris Lockyear

Digital: Pentax K20D
35mm film SLRs: various Pentax bodies from a H2 to a SF7, favourites the MX and LX
Rangefinder: FED2, Zorkii-4, Moscow-5, Industar 26m, Jupiter 8, 11 and 12 lenses
Medium format: Yashica Mat 124 G. Lubitel 2
LF: Horseman LE 5x4 view camera.
MF lenses (favourites) Pentax "K" 200mm f/4; "K" 135mm f/2.5; "K" 50mm f/1.2; "K" 35mm f/3.5; "K" 15mm f/.3.5; M 100mm f/2.8; M 40mm f/2.8; Jupiter-9 85mm

[Tesselator]

Taking it in a slightly different direction; M-42 is a threaded mount (screw mount). K is a bayonet mount.

Many or perhaps almost all M mount Pentax lenses have a metal focus ring and an all metal body. Focus operation across almost all M models is buttery smooth - akin to $2k and $4k Leica lenses or even better. They feel very high quality in the hand and mounted on the camera.

Most or all K mount Pentax lenses use a rubber focus ring. The aperture ring is always stiff and unsmooth unless it's nearly worn out. Focusing operation is not very smooth - nothing at all like the M mount lenses. Pretty much the same as MF Nikkors, non-L canon FD, or Oly lenses. Actually Oly is often a little smoother. They don't feel all that high quality in hand nor on camera - but pretty average.

In terms of IQ most M mount pentax lenses have a very creamy and "painterly" bokeh. There are five general kinds of M mount pentax Takumars: Takumar, Auto-Takumar, Super Takumar, SuperMultiCoated Takumar, and SMC Takumars. Almost without exception the coatings are:

Takumar - Single Coated
Auto-Takumar - Single coated
Super Takumar - 3 coating layers
SuperMultiCoated Takumar - 7 coating layers
SMC Takumars - 7 coating layers.

I think it's 7 anyway but it's been awhile since I read it so it might be 6 or 8 - but I think I'm remembering right that it's 7.

Many, perhaps most Auto-Takumars and Takumars have a noticeable amount of color fringing (LoCA, etc.) tho usually not too much purple fringing (PF) around high contrast edges. IMO the way it's rendered in the image it actually adds to the character of the lens - most are still very sharp and the OOF color gradient fringes make them all the more painterly. Flares are very defined and pronounced - which can be a very nice effect!

Super Takumars are about the same thing but less (almost no) PF and flares are less defined and pronounced.

SuperMultiCoated Takumar are about the same again but much less LoCA and flares are dead and dull like most other multi-coated lenses. Lens reflections are about all that's left for using flares creatively.

SMC Takumars begin to use rubber focus rings and inferior dampening grease - very near to K mount pentax models. IQ is very slightly different than SuperMultiCoated Takumars.

With K-mount lenses they started dropping the Takumar insignia. "Takumar" was the name of Asahi's Founder's brother: Takuma Kajiwara. He was a little famous for his oil and acrylic portraits (paintings). And since the early Takumars uniquely rendered a "painterly" bokeh the name seemed to apply very well. By the time SMC and K-Mount lenses were being made this painterly rendering was gone and so it seems fitting that the painter's name was dropped as well. Later in some Ka-mount lenses the Takumar name was used again as the lenses they applied the name to were designed to recapture that painterly look. Whether they actually do recapture that look or not you'll have to buy one and find our for yourself.

If I wanna be creative Takumar and Super-Takumar are preferred. Very much preferred! They look pretty awesome mounted on the camera too! If I want good, standard or typical looking, vanilla photographs then I use one of my SMC Takumars or one of my SMC Pentax K-mount lenses. I have a few Ka-mount Takumars too but haven't used them enough to really comment intelligently.

If you wanna know about the various series of lenses they made from about 1975 or 1980 (after K) then wiki is a good source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_cameras#K_Series IMHO, there's nothing significant between them - various qualities and many attempts at AF and then on to Digital. Not of much interest for me. I like MF lenses.



.

[womble]

[tromboads]

And again, we are splitting hair's here, not to mention that lube dries out over time, not to mention how little or how much either example of lens has been used.

So in summary,

Don't worry, And just take pictures god darn it.

[Tesselator]

Hehehe, I have to agree with that!

Even if only cuz the Fonz approved it!

[womble]

Seems like the best plan. I had a lovely walk yesterday swapping MF lenses between my Pentax LX and my K20D. And I've just had the quote back for turning my bargain bin SV back into a working piece of beauty. So all's well with the world.

K.
_________________
Kris Lockyear

Digital: Pentax K20D
35mm film SLRs: various Pentax bodies from a H2 to a SF7, favourites the MX and LX
Rangefinder: FED2, Zorkii-4, Moscow-5, Industar 26m, Jupiter 8, 11 and 12 lenses
Medium format: Yashica Mat 124 G. Lubitel 2
LF: Horseman LE 5x4 view camera.
MF lenses (favourites) Pentax "K" 200mm f/4; "K" 135mm f/2.5; "K" 50mm f/1.2; "K" 35mm f/3.5; "K" 15mm f/.3.5; M 100mm f/2.8; M 40mm f/2.8; Jupiter-9 85mm

[tromboads]

old cameras are the fun cameras. *nods*

[peterqd]

[womble]

I bought the SV for £3 as it wasn't working hoping that it would just need a CLA. I sent it to Eric Hendrickson and he has quoted me $92 to restore it and post it back to me. Seems like a good deal for a classic camera. I only have one Auto Takumar to go with it though...

I'm looking forward to having a play with this one as some of the guys on pentaxforums rave about it being the best of the Pentax M42 cameras. I doubt I can be entirely tempted away from my lovely ES/ESII but it will be nice to play with.

Cheers, Kris.
_________________
Kris Lockyear

Digital: Pentax K20D
35mm film SLRs: various Pentax bodies from a H2 to a SF7, favourites the MX and LX
Rangefinder: FED2, Zorkii-4, Moscow-5, Industar 26m, Jupiter 8, 11 and 12 lenses
Medium format: Yashica Mat 124 G. Lubitel 2
LF: Horseman LE 5x4 view camera.
MF lenses (favourites) Pentax "K" 200mm f/4; "K" 135mm f/2.5; "K" 50mm f/1.2; "K" 35mm f/3.5; "K" 15mm f/.3.5; M 100mm f/2.8; M 40mm f/2.8; Jupiter-9 85mm

[tromboads]

Does your sv have a light meter? You are going from a automatic es, to a boy scout sv

I'm not sure what just about it makes it "the best" but man. its a sexy piece of metal alright

[womble]

[tromboads]

oh mate your already a pro then

[peterqd]

[Lightshow]

I have an 8 & 7 element Super-Tak 50/1.4, the S-M-C, and also the SMC M & A 50/1.4's
I'm only missing the rubber grip SMC & the K, of the 5 versions I have I like the S-M-C the most followed by the Super-Tak's 7 then 8(if it handled flare better it would be 1st as I prefer it's rendering). It's my understanding that my S-M-C is the same optically as the SMC & K.
For build quality I prefer the M42 Taks.
_________________
My lens list