Lens suggestion for Pentax K1000?

warden · Apr 6, 2021

Hi all,

My dad gave me his old Pentax a while back and it has a 50mm kit lens with sticky aperture blades. I looked up the lens and it's not worth the cost to fix it so I'm looking to replace it. I normally use Zeiss ZM lenses in 35mm and don't know anything about Pentax K mount lenses.

I plan to use this camera as a fun occasional camera after it gets a CLA and don't need to match the modern ZM lenses in terms of quality or coatings, but something with good or unique rendering would be appreciated. So,

K mount
Focal length from 28mm to 50mm
Interesting rendering, or fast, or something, I don't know
Modern and vintage are both fine
Don't want a zoom lens
$500 or less

What say you?

Thanks!

Edited to add:
I'm looking for a good tech to do a CLA on the camera and lens too.

voceumana · Apr 6, 2021

Any of the SMC Pentax lenses in a focal length that interests you should satisfy your needs. Pentax introduced the SMC (Super Multi Coated) lenses with the introduction of the K mount, so you probably can't find a Pentax lens that doesn't have excellent quality coatings. The lenses are of very high quality.

BrianShaw · Apr 6, 2021

What do you mean by “kit lens”? If it’s the basic Pentax lens that is contemporary with the body it might be worth having it repaired. I recall that the Pentax lenses were rather good lenses. If third-party lenses, maybe not.

cramej · Apr 6, 2021

If it's the 50 or 55mm that came with the camera when new, it would be worth it to send it in along with the body for a cla. Cleaning aperture blades is a simple job for a tech. There were very few "bad" 50mm lenses from any manufacturer. Sure, some are better than others, but it's generally difficult to tell the difference between any of them in a print.

$500 buys a lot of K lenses. Take your pick and buy every focal length from 28 to 50mm.

Paul Howell · Apr 6, 2021

I have many Pentax lens in M42, K and a few KA lens along with a brace of KAF, all are solid performers, even the M42 lens are sharp with good contrast, will out resolve Tmax 100. Question is but how fast is fast. In K mount you can get a really good 50 2.0 for not much money, but a 50 1.4 will cost you, and although a AF lens it will work in MF mode on a K1000 is the 43 MM 1.9 Limited Edition. on the of the sharpest lenes on the market. For quick look at the possibilities check here.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lensreviews/SMC-Pentax-FA-Lenses-c30.html

johnha · Apr 6, 2021

The Pentax K lenses are available in various series, originally 'K' (marked simply as 'SMC Pentax'), then the 'M' series (marked SMC Pentax-M'), then the 'A' series (marked 'SMC Pentax-A'), then various AF types (F, FA, DA, D-FA etc). All lenses physically fit, for a K1000 you need an aperture ring (no DA 'digital - APSC coverage' lenses have one and many D-FA don't), all other lenses will fit and work.

The K's are often seen as the 'original' lenses and some users prefer them, the M's are slightly more compact/lighter but still mostly metal, while the A's offer camera control of the aperture for those cameras with a program/shutter priority (the 'A' position on the aperture ring), but with more plastic. Most of the primes 28 to 50 are reasonably inexpensive, with a few exotic/rare examples (28/2, 30mm) considerably more. Pentax still make 'FA Limited' lenses in 31/1.8, 43/1.9 & 77/1.8 which are mostly metal and beautifully made, but expensive. There is also the 'M' 40/2.8 pancake which is incredibly slim (although still unlikely to make a K1000 pocketable - you need an MX for that).

If you can find them, Zeiss used to make some lenses in K mount 'ZK' but they are hard to find.

Then there's the whole range of M42 Takumars out there, Pentax make their own adapter which maintains infinity focus (many prefer the Pentax adapters over the many 3rd party offerings).

As mentioned above, the SMC coating is one of the best and Pentax have been using it for decades, there are no 'poor' lenses, a few are average but the majority are very good or better.

Updated for tpyos...

runswithsizzers · Apr 6, 2021

Yes, which 50mm do you have? I would certainly consider repairing f/1.7 or f/1.4 versions of that lens. Last time I sent a lens to Eric Hendrickson he charged me $60 to fix the sticky aperture blades on a 50mm f/1.4 Pentax lens. Even if you can find a used one for the same price, it may need attention, too.

If you can find one, I suggest the SMC Pentax 35 mm, f/2.0 as a nice lens in a useful focal length. Mine is the "M" version. I paid $150 + $17 shipping from Japan.

I don't shoot wide open very often, but I do like the bright viewfinder view seen through fast lenses!

Chan Tran · Apr 6, 2021

runswithsizzers said:
Yes, which 50mm do you have? I would certainly consider repairing f/1.7 or f/1.4 versions of that lens. Last time I sent a lens to Eric Hendrickson he charged me $60 to fix the sticky aperture blades on a 50mm f/1.4 Pentax lens. Even if you can find a used one for the same price, it may need attention, too.

If you can find one, I suggest the SMC Pentax 35 mm, f/2.0 as a nice lens in a useful focal length. Mine is the "M" version.

I don't shoot wide open very often, but I do like the bright viewfinder view seen through fast lenses!

When the OP said kit lens I think it is the 50mm f/2 that was normally sold with the K1000 which I don't think is worth repaired.

runswithsizzers · Apr 6, 2021

Chan Tran said:
When the OP said kit lens I think it is the 50mm f/2 that was normally sold with the K1000 which I don't think is worth repaired.

I've never owned the 50mm f/2 - but I agree, the money might be better spent on another lens.

@warden - if you haven't found it already <this website> is a good reference for Pentax lenses.

warden · Apr 6, 2021

BrianShaw said:
What do you mean by “kit lens”? If it’s the basic Pentax lens that is contemporary with the body it might be worth having it repaired. I recall that the Pentax lenses were rather good lenses. If third-party lenses, maybe not.

It's the Pentax 50mm f2.

BrianShaw · Apr 6, 2021

I recall that being a rather decent lens. Old memory. With older lenses I find it much more preferable to spend some money having it overhauled than spending the same money on a similar aged lens that has not been overhauled. Less risk of future failure.

warden · Apr 6, 2021

runswithsizzers said:
Yes, which 50mm do you have? I would certainly consider repairing f/1.7 or f/1.4 versions of that lens. Last time I sent a lens to Eric Hendrickson he charged me $60 to fix the sticky aperture blades on a 50mm f/1.4 Pentax lens. Even if you can find a used one for the same price, it may need attention, too.

If you can find one, I suggest the SMC Pentax 35 mm, f/2.0 as a nice lens in a useful focal length. Mine is the "M" version. I paid $150 + $17 shipping from Japan.

I don't shoot wide open very often, but I do like the bright viewfinder view seen through fast lenses!

Thanks for that name - I forgot to ask for options for the CLA.

Paul Howell · Apr 6, 2021

The K 50 1.8 and F2 are optically the same lens, only difference is the max aperture, and not that much of a difference, like a 1/4 stop faster than a F2. I never figured out why Pentax bothered with a F2.

Pioneer · Apr 6, 2021

I shoot with that old M 50mm f/2 lens all the time and have since the 80s. It is a really good lens, light, handy and very contrasty. Even wide open it is a really good performer. I also have 50 f1.4 and 50 f1.7, both good lenses as well, but that old 50 f2 is the one I keep using. I honestly can't see any difference in the viewfinder brightness while focusing.

It is certainly worth repairing if the aperture blades are sticking but the cost of buying another is almost certainly less than the cost to service it. However, that being said, after service it will perform like a brand new lens. You can't be certain that a newly purchased lens will be as good when it arrives.

It is also worth noting that the SMC Pentax 55mm f2 was also sold as a kit lens for the K1000 in the early days and it was a very good lens as well. In fact some prefer it though I have never warmed to the slightly longer focal length.

The 35mm f2 lens is a good lens but IMHO the 35mm f3.5 lens is even better even though it is a stop and a half slower. It is also much lighter and easier to pack around.

warden · Apr 6, 2021

johnha said:
The Pentax K lenses are available in various series, originally 'K' (marked simply as 'SMC Pentax'), the the 'M' series (marked SMC Pentax-M'), Then 'A' series (marked 'SMC Pentax-A'), then various AF types (F, FA, DA, D-FA etc). All lenses physically fit, for a K1000 you need an aperture ring (no DA 'digital - APSC coverage' lenses have one and many D-FA don't), all other lenses will fit and work.

This is all very helpful, thanks. Lots to choose from it seems. If the 50mm that I have is really that inexpensive to repair I'll probably repair it and just add a wider lens to the kit. Maybe a 35mm or 28mm. I'm surprised at the reasonable prices for these lenses!

Pioneer · Apr 6, 2021

warden said:
I'm surprised at the reasonable prices for these lenses!

Until you start looking for the A* 135mm f1.8!

Disappointed_Horse · Apr 6, 2021

All of the Pentax lenses I have used have been very good to excellent, and I would say amazingly good considering the price. The more common ones are very inexpensive. I particularly like the 28mm f/3.5s and the 50 f/1.4s, which were made in the same optical formulas from the M42 Super Takumar, Super Multi Coated Takumar, and SMC Takumar lenses through the K-mount SMC Pentax and SMC Pentax M lenses. To this day, the quality and performance of these lenses puts many newer and more expensive lenses to shame.

The OP also mentioned using the K1000 as a complimentary system to the Zeiss ZM lenses. You might want to think about lenses that do things the ZM system can't do or can't do as well as an SLR: super wide angles without an external finder, macro lenses, and telephotos. I haven't used any of these lenses, but in those categories, Pentax made a 20mm f/4 M-series lens that looks very interesting. The 50mm f/4 and 100mm f/4 macro lenses (all of them) have excellent reputations. Among Pentax telephotos, I have a 105mm f/2.8 Super Takumar that I really like, but I think it would be hard to go wrong with any of the telephoto primes.

Huss · Apr 6, 2021

Just get another Pentax 50 f2. It is a super lens that is super cheap, and the K1000 feels perfect in hand with it.

Shot with a Pentax SMC 50 f2 on TriX

MattKing · Apr 6, 2021

A cleaned and adjusted 50mm f/2 Pentax K mount lens in good shape is a very nice lens to work with ...

warden · Apr 6, 2021

Pioneer said:
The 35mm f2 lens is a good lens but IMHO the 35mm f3.5 lens is even better even though it is a stop and a half slower. It is also much lighter and easier to pack around.

That slower 35mm is an interesting lens. Small and sharp.

Andrew O'Neill · Apr 6, 2021

Nothing wrong with the optics of that lens. You can always find one going pretty cheap. Or you could look for a third party lens that zooms from 28mm to 70mm. I used to have a Sigma many moons ago.

Pioneer · Apr 6, 2021

warden said:
That slower 35mm is an interesting lens. Small and sharp.

I own both and use the 35/3.5 far more often. But then I use a Leica Elmar 50/3.5 lens all the time on my little screwmount Leica so the slower aperture doesn't worry me too much.

The only downside is that the filter size is 52mm, not 49mm like the majority of Pentax lenses. But, since I only use a UV filter on my wide angles, it really has not been an issue for me. Just make sure you have a 52mm lens cap or you will eventually drain the batteries in the K1000.

Chan Tran · Apr 6, 2021

I think the built quality of the 50mm f/2 is quite poor compared to that of the 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.7 or 50mm f/1.4.

Paul Howell · Apr 6, 2021

Chan Tran said:
I think the built quality of the 50mm f/2 is quite poor compared to that of the 50mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.7 or 50mm f/1.4.

Might depend on the generation, my 2.0 and 1.9 seem to have the build quality, my 1.4 is M42 so different breed altogether. The best build quality is the pancake 43mm limited edition, I've yearned for one for years, but for the price got a used Sigma 50 1.4 arts lens, too bad it is not offered in any Pentax mount. For overall sharpness and a real sleeper is the 50mm F4 macro. I'll put it on my bucket list.

Chan Tran · Apr 6, 2021

Paul Howell said:
Might depend on the generation, my 2.0 and 1.9 seem to have the build quality, my 1.4 is M42 so different breed altogether. The best build quality is the pancake 43mm limited edition, I've yearned for one for years, but for the price got a used Sigma 50 1.4 arts lens, too bad it is not offered in any Pentax mount. For overall sharpness and a real sleeper is the 50mm F4 macro. I'll put it on my bucket list.

I meant the 50mm f/2 K mount not the screw mount. The screw mount are good. I believe they made the 50mm f/2 K mount just for the K1000. (by the way I think the K1000 is not of good quality either)

Lens suggestion for Pentax K1000?

warden

voceumana

BrianShaw

cramej

Paul Howell

johnha

runswithsizzers

Chan Tran

runswithsizzers

warden

BrianShaw

warden

Paul Howell

Pioneer

warden

Pioneer

Disappointed_Horse

Huss

MattKing

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warden

Andrew O'Neill

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Pioneer

Chan Tran

Paul Howell

Chan Tran

Lens suggestion for Pentax K1000?

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