Share your photos with legacy lenses

[Travis Butler]

So when I was in Detroit last week, I took the chance to swing by a local photo shop in Dearborn. Didn't find any of the fancier vintage lenses I was looking for, but they did have a Tamron 70-210 58A in the $5 bargain bin; it's remarkably small/light for a 70-210, so I thought I'd give it a try for use on the fp.

The first test shots had some surprisingly good images, despite what appears to be coating damage in the center of the front element:


20250604-SDIM6988 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, Tamron 70-210 (58A)
See the fabric texture on the artificial flowers!


20250604-SDIM7006 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Or the bug crawling on the real flower! (The antennae are clearly visible at 100%, which ain't too shabby.)


20250604-SDIM7001 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Bokeh is decent but not spectacular; I like its big brother the Tamron 80-210 (103A) better there.


20250604-SDIM6994 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Contrast is often low but is easily boosted.

On the whole, I'm pleased with the first outing. Not my top zoom in this range - I still prefer either the 103A or the Kiron 80-200/4.5 Macro for IQ - but for the size/weight and especially the price, I'm happy and will probably be using it more.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

How good would an Asahi Pentax SMC 50/1.4 k-mount be? and for what price?

 

[Travis Butler]

How good would an Asahi Pentax SMC 50/1.4 k-mount be? and for what price?

I assume you mean the first-generation K-Mount 50/1.4, the one labeled 'SMC PENTAX' on the front ring?

If so, unfortunately, that's one out of the batch that I don't have. But my experience with the others has been positive, and the reviews I've read of it are also good, so I'm confident a good copy of it will be very good to excellent.

Its successor, the Pentax-M 50/1.4, is superb:


20221218-SDIM2462 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, Pentax-M 50/1.4
If you view the original on Flickr and zoom in, the signage on the buildings in the far skyline is sharp and clearly legible; see One Light, The Grand, even the Marriott at left.


20221218-SDIM2484 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
I like the OOF rendering here.


20240510-SDIM0033 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, Super-Takumar 50/1.4 (8 Element)
The 8-element version of the 50/1.4 is a cult classic; I don't think it's quite as sharp as the Pentax-M version, but it's still extremely good.


Did Not Kill the Salamander by Travis Butler, on Flickr
And also has nice OOF rendering.


20240510-SDIM0049 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

The 7-element version of the Super-Tak and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar (the direct predecessor of the SMC PENTAX version) are also good, but I just never used them much, so I don't have samples for you.

Finally, the SMC PENTAX 55/1.8 sibling of the 50/1.4 is also good, but hasn't grabbed me the way the Pentax-M or 8-element Super-Tak have:


20230629-SDIM6087 by Travis Butler, on Flickr
Sigma fp, SMC PENTAX (aka Pentax-K) 55/1.8


20230320-SDIM4945 by Travis Butler, on Flickr

Dunno if this helps any, but at least there's some related stuff. ^^;;

As far as the price goes... what I'd suggest is checking eBay listings for the lens, tagging for Sold items only. I just did a quick glance and saw several copies of the Pentax-M for around $35-50 US; the SMC PENTAX seems to vary more.

 

[RuleOfThirds]

I assume you mean the first-generation K-Mount 50/1.4, the one labeled 'SMC PENTAX' on the front ring?


As far as the price goes... what I'd suggest is checking eBay listings for the lens, tagging for Sold items only. I just did a quick glance and saw several copies of the Pentax-M for around $35-50 US; the SMC PENTAX seems to vary more.

It says: smc pentax-M 1:1.4 50mm 2154351 Asahi opt. cop Japan (all in capitals), Asking is 100€, no scratches, focus and aperture are nice and smooth. Pictures of the glass look nice and clean. although it says Pentax-M in the front, the ad says k-bayonet.