Pentax and M42 mount lenses on FF (on A7)

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

This is a similar post to the one I have over at Pentax Forums.

Since I do have a few lenses in Pentax K mount and M42 mount, I might as well share the info/shots here too, in the hopes that it can provide reference to what Pentax legacy lenses work on FF.

Lets start with........

Kiron/Vivitar 28/2 (55mm filter thread; K-mount)
I've not found a hood for this lens that I can directly cap on while not vignetting the corners, so no hood used for the shots.

#1

f2; showing the FOV of 28mm at about 1.5-2m working distance.

#2

f2; 30-50cm away

#3

f2; for small objects

#4

f4;

#5

f5.6

#6

f8

Overall, pretty busy bokeh to me.
No glaringly bad edges or corners.
Sides may be a bit softer, but really slight.
Flare control is not too good imho. (almost a given for non-SMC legacy 3rd party stuff)

Pls review 100% from my flickr.
I really don't have the time to do 100% crops (apologies in advance)

Edit :
I later found that the flare in #6 was from the shiny adapter surface.
Patched that up with gaffer tape and seems like the issue is resolved.

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

M50/2

DSC00409 M50 f2 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2

DSC00429 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2.8

DSC00439 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f4 (sharpness is good, but the hexagonal oof highlights is obvious)

DSC00450 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f5.6

DSC00458 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8

IMO, the lowly 50mm f2, does well enough and not much issues on FF at all.

For full sized samples, just click on the links and get to the original image

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

a50/1.4

DSC00541 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f1.4 (note that the POF is on the stop button)

DSC00529 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2

DSC00467 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2.8

DSC00517 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f4

DSC00502 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f5.6

DSC00495 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8

Overall, a bit expected from 50mm lenses which are pretty reliable in performance.
No issues seen (at least to me)

Full sized samples are on my Flickr (go via the links)

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

Not really a legacy lens, since its available new.

FA31ltd

DSC00553 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f1.8

DSC00561 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2
Sharp (check it out yourselves via the link)

DSC00556 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f2.8

DSC00555 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f5.6
Do I see barrel distortion?? (or is it just perspective distortion.... hmm... I need to check again on a later time.

DSC00560 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8
IMHO, this is as sharp as it gets and casts no doubt on how the lens performs for overall sharpness stopped down.

Overall, the FA31ltd seems pretty fine (was a bit worried that it may have poorer corners, but it does not seem so)
A small, wide 31mm, plus a fast f1.8 aperture, smooth bokeh and sharp (if I focused it right)
Certainly more worth its price on FF than on crop.

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

Testing out an old dog of a lens.

Soligor 17/4 (M42 mount)

DSC0075620140110ILCE-7-1 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f11

The lens is uncommon with very little info on the internet.
I suspect its a version of the Vivitar 17/3.5 which is more common.

I'm a bit surprised that this old 3rd party lens manages to cling on to digital 24mp.
Edges are not that great, but I guess it will have to do as my widest lens until I get/find something else.
Keystone distortion is the photographer's fault Smile

It does have a mustache distortion profile that is be harder to correct.
The thing is that on aps-c, the 'mustache' is cropped off, so the distortion is more like a standard barrel distortion.
But on FF, the full extent of the len's distortion characteristic is shown.

I left the full size image on my flickr for those who want a reference.

Edit :
Hey! The LR4.0 distortion profile for the Zeiss 18/3.5 seems to fit pretty well.

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

SMC K24/2.8

DSC0080120140110ILCE-7-11-1 by jenkwang, on Flickr
@f8

As usual, I left a full sized sample on flickr.

Not much to complain about this lens for me, one of the smaller slr 24/2.8 out there typical of Pentax, flare resistant smc coating, wide enough for quite a bit of things on FF.
Sharp (very) in the center wide open and overall sharp stopped down to f5.6 and above.

This lens can do much more of course.
I will update with f2.8 and other f-stops when the pictures at those settings come about.

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

FA77 Limited

I don't run thru all my lenses at once, shooting stuff in the house, which is too small and will run out of things to photograph anyway. Very Happy

So each time I put up a post here for the lens, its the first time I'm using it on FF.
I am equally prepared to be awed and disappointed upon that first press of the 'review' button to check the lens o/p on the camera once the first few shots are taken.

DSC0170120140114ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr

DSC0107120140112ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr

DSC0108320140112ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr

DSC0103620140112ILCE-7 by jenkwang, on Flickr

As can be seen, there are several problems with this lens.

One, it is so darn good at f1.8 to f2 that all I've shot over the week has been at these settings.
So, YES, all the above are at f1.8 to f2
Sorry, I forgot which is which, since there is no EXIF data input on-camera.

Two, the image just 'poped' in my EVF.
That was even before I took the picture.
So my hopes were really raised.

Three, its so damn sharp! at f1.8 and f2
I could not believe it when I pressed that 'review+magnify' button.
Literally, my jaw dropped and I said 'OMG!'

Four, the CA is gone??
I half expected CA in the sunny conditions, but No...
24mp FF has been far more kind with its lower pixel density (there is sanity here with 24mp FF over a chest thumping 36mp)

Check out the full sized samples yourselves.
See to believe!
I have not done any more post processing over the RAW conversion, so it can be even better.

The 77ltd is the long end of the limited series, and each person who has the series, will tend to like one more than the others (some like them all).
On aps-c, the 77ltd served as a rather long 115mm, in terms of framing and working distance.
But for me, its even better now.
A more personal working distance like what used to be served by a 50mm on aps-c.
The wider FOV for the same working distance gives a bigger spatial relation to the subject, accentuated by it being low in DOF and high in contrast and sharpness at the POF.

To me, this lens is quintessentially Pentax.
So small, and all metal fine construction, with superb output (such a fine balance)
The reason I stay with Pentax, its for lenses such as this one.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

very impressive, the more I see the A7 with good glass, the more I want one.

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223

tromboads · Expire: 2015-10-01

Don't get me wrong.. I'm enjoying the Pentax glass I have, but with such a small body (the A7 that is) Well I'd be going nuts with the smaller ranger finder glass honestly Razz

hoanpham · Expire: 2015-01-18

pinholecam · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 223