Lenses for Pentax K1000

[Mike Kennedy]

I just traded an old accordion for a Pentax K1000 and I,m sure the music world is a "kinder,gentler place".
There seems to be two schools of thought regarding lenses for this camera.One says to stick with Pentax and other high end K-mounts. The other maintains that you should use good quality M42 screw mount lenses and a K-mount adaptor.
Opinions anyone?
Mike

 

[David H. Bebbington]

The Pentax M42 lens to K body adapter does not offer any auto diaphragm linkage. Original Pentax K lenses are not expensive, for K1000 they can be SMC (so-called Pentax M) and do not need to be SMC-A.

 

[titrisol]

M42 lenses are good, and only received a mount change for the Takumar SMC

The A-series is supposed to be a load better though.

The other good thing is that in Kmount you have access to off-brand glass, such as Tamron, Tokina, Vivitar, etc. some are really good.,

 

[gr82bart]

My first camera ever was a Pentax. I still have all my SMC-M lenses - 24, 28, 50, 85, 105, and 200. I'd recommend them over the screw mount. For one thing, the SMC lenses have the "Super Multi Coating" on them that I don't believe the older screw mounts have.

Regards, Art.

 

[John Koehrer]

Nice thing is thatt K mount lenses are around in such abundance it's a false economy to bother buying anything but the taks. I use a K to screw adapter only for the 85/1.8 which is a kind of oddball lens. If I needed anything in the 400-500 focal length I would also consider screw mt. for price & availability.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

The A-series is supposed to be a load better though.
QUOTE]
Just to be clear - SMC means Super Multi Coated. SMC lenses were available in screw mount and in the first bayonet mount (K mount, Pentax M lenses). The only difference in bayonet lenses between SMC and SMC-A is that the mount (KA mount) has extra contacts and works in program mode - the glass is the same! The big quality difference is with autofocus lenses - some are great, some are hopelessly sloppy!

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

There are Super Multicoated Takumars in M42 mount, as well as some Super Takumars that are multicoated just the same as SMC Takumars. My K-mount Pentax 50/2 SMC lens is fantastic!

In M42 mount, I like The Tomioka-made Rikenon 55/1.4 and Pentax 55/1.8
The Yashinon 135/2.8 is nice but mine isn't as contrasty as i'd like.
The Fujinon M42 lenses are superb! There is a russian-made Helios 40 85/1.5 which i'd love to have..

 

[josephaustin]

The first Pentax K-mount are the "k" lenses they are by far the best, having been built like the old screwmount all metal construction. They were designed for the K1000,KX,andK2. The next set were the"m" series the same thing as the "k" scaled down a little in build quality, and size for the MX, ME, ME SUPER, MG, and LX. The "a" series were made for the PRogram Plus and Super program and can have the Apreture set on the body to work in program modes. Really the best way to go is K-mount lenses and I would not worry with the M,K,or A model just get what is cheapest,and works for you. The exception is for a few certain lenses, I suggest you visit Boz's sight on K-mount pentaxs as he has the best information around. One thing I have found from various peoples lens tests on the net is that the older K 3.5 135, and 28, 35 out perform the more modern A series f 2.8.
Boz's sight : http://www.bdimitrov.de/kmp/

 

[Bruce Appel]

The pentax m series and a series are good.I have a 28mm a series, a 50mm m seires, and a 135 m that are all very good. Small ,compact, well built, good images. All take the same size filters.
I have a screw mount adapter for a few really long lenses, but I think it is more trouble than it is worth. I think I paid about twenty bucks for it, and for that or not much more you can find complete screw mount bodies.
I think any of the older k, m or a series lenses would be worth using.