Pentax question

[KAT4DISNEY]

I have a question before I provide some info to someone.....well, actually it will be while I still have a chance to modify my info!

I believe that I've read a few times that all pentax mount lenses (both manual and auto) will still work on current Pentax DSLR's. Is that correct? A co-worker of mine is thinking about a DSLR and had a Pentax SLR and a few manual focus lenses that they liked. I actually think they will want auto focus lenses but it's something for them to consider in their purchase if I've understood correctly.

 

[SendLessRain]

Pentax has been very good about making sure that their cameras can use any Pentax lens. Some may need an adapter. Groucho uses a wide array of old lenses with wonderful results.

 

[ukcatfan]

Pentax made it a point that all old Pentax mount lenses will work. The IS will also work with them. The screw mount lenses are the ones that need an adapter, but those go way back and are not likely what your co-worker has.

 

[Groucho]

Thanks, SendLessRain!

One thing to note is if the lenses don't have an "A" on them, you'll have to manually stop down the lens in order to meter. All that means is that you shoot in Manual mode and when you're ready to take a photo, you'll press the AE/L or the Green button (depending on the DSLR) and it will quickly stop down the lens and meter, and you should get a proper exposure. It's not a big deal but it is an extra step. The other downside is that the camera will not record the aperture in the exif data (since it doesn't know it), and using flash is a little trickier as again, the camera doesn't know the aperture of the lens so it doesn't know how much flash to use.

IS is potentially going to be a little less effective for older zoom lenses, too, as the camera doesn't know the focal length. It prompts you to enter it when you turn the camera on, but if you're using, say, a 70-210mm lens, you have to pick a single focal length. You can change it at any time but obviously a prime lens is ideal as you can enter the correct focal length. (You choose from presets but most common sizes are in there. The only one that I miss is 105mm as I have a couple of those lenses, but 100mm is "close enough" and the IS works quite well.)

 

[Aardvarks]

Pentax now has a joint development with Samsung and so Samsung lenses and the Schneider Kreutsnach lenses for Samsung are Pka mount.

I use a Samsung GX20 which is a re badged Pentax K20D.

In the UK, the Samsung is easier to find than the Pentax as Pentax as a brand is being wound down over here.

I can vouch for the K20D/GX20 as being a great camera for the money, with stacks of features, 14.6mp cmos sensor and also dust proof and splashproof.

I got the hang of most of the functions inside a week and rarely use mine in full auto programm mode anymore.

 

[WVDisGeek]

I too use several old Pentax lenses. The only issues are the ones already mentioned in previous posts. I also use two old Super Albinar lenses with Pentax mounts. I have read on other boards that some 3rd party (non-Pentax branded) lenses have issues and can't be used without some modifications. However, the availability of so much glass, old and new, is what ultimately pushed me to my Pentax K200. I have no regrets!

 

[iggbees]

i also have a few old pentax lenses that i inherited. they are all manual, but they all still work and they still take gorgeous pictures.

 

[RBennett]

i also have a few old pentax lenses that i inherited. they are all manual, but they all still work and they still take gorgeous pictures.

Those are two words that do not go with me: "manual" and "gorgeous". I'm learning that with my Pentax, I REALLY need autofocus otherwise I can't tell what's in focus and what's not. (My eyes stink. Not the best quality with this hobby!

 

[gokenin]

Those are two words that do not go with me: "manual" and "gorgeous". I'm learning that with my Pentax, I REALLY need autofocus otherwise I can't tell what's in focus and what's not. (My eyes stink. Not the best quality with this hobby!

have you looked into changing the viewscreen on your camera to one of the Katz-eye or similiar and have you looked at getting one of the magnifying eyepieces that pentax offers?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Thanks everyone! I'll pass on the additional information about the lenses and I'm glad I wasn't off base in what I told them.

 

[iggbees]

Those are two words that do not go with me: "manual" and "gorgeous". I'm learning that with my Pentax, I REALLY need autofocus otherwise I can't tell what's in focus and what's not. (My eyes stink. Not the best quality with this hobby!

haha. i had the same problem when i started using the manual focus lenses and occasionally i still have issues with figuring out the correct focus, but my eyes are good, so i'm still ok at it. i actually got an autofocus 50-200 mm lens for my birthday because i wanted to take photos at my boyfriend's hockey games and i hated the manual focus 125 mm lens for that purpose. i would hardly get a good shot at the games with that lens.

 

[Groucho]

I have read on other boards that some 3rd party (non-Pentax branded) lenses have issues and can't be used without some modifications.

What they're talking about are Ricoh-mount lenses. Ricoh sold DSLRs with a variation of the Pentax K-mount (called, unsurprisingly, the R-mount.) Many lenses could work on either camera - I happen to have one from my K1000 days (a cheapie Craig 35-70mm). It's marked as a "PK/R" mount. There's a metal flange on the back that sticks out a bit. You can usually remove it and grind it down pretty easily. I did it with my Craig but it's not a great lens so I really just did it to see if I could.

Pentax now has a joint development with Samsung and so Samsung lenses and the Schneider Kreutsnach lenses for Samsung are Pka mount.

To the best of my knowledge, the Samsung lenses are Pentax lenses, just rebadged. It would be neat to see them come up with some new home-built lenses but I have not heard of any plans to do so. There are some new manual lenses coming out of S Korea, no reason why Samsung couldn't make a few modern AF ones...