M42 to K-mount translations needed

[zenrhino]

Morning, all.

I recently got a Pentax MX and the pancake lens to use for street. I'd like to get a full 3-lens combo for this body.

On my Spotmatic, Along with the SMC 50mm f1.4 (which is currently in the window de-yellowing), I have a lovely Mamiya-Sekor 28mm f2.8 and a surprisingly sharp 120mm f2.8 Vivitar.

Can anyone recommend a particularly good 28mm and portrait length lens in K-mount so I can have the same 3-lens combo for my MX as I do for my Spotty?

I've seen the specs, etc on the Pentax review forums, but am more concerned about bokeh, usability, durability, etc.

Much obliged,

Clint

 

[Ian Grant]

Tamron adaptal II 28mm f2.5, and 135mm f2.5 with K mounts.

Ian

 

[David Lyga]

Perhaps the best cost/value here is a Vivitar. I do not think that they know how to make an unsharp lens and many were made, hence, less cost. But, really, zenrhino, even the cheap brands will perform excellently (corner to corner) stopped down to 5.6 or more. I have never found excessive stopping down, like to f22, to have bothersome refraction and I am fussy. - David Lyga

 

[Felinik]

M42 -> K-Mount adapter ring?

 

[PentaxBronica]

SMC Pentax-M 28mm f3.5 and 120mm f2.8

The latter is likely to be hard to find and expensive. Consider the 135mm f3.5 (extremely common and therefore cheap, but get a good one and it's a sharp little lens) or the 100mm f2.8 (rarer but not that hard to find, will usually be more expensive).

The 28mm f3.5 is much sharper than the f2.8 version and takes up very little space. You could fit it in a coat pocket with whichever of the three telephotos you pick in another one.

Also worth looking at the M 75-150mm f4, it's not much bigger or slower and is reckoned to be very close to prime quality.

 

[LarryP]

Agree with felinix the m42 to k adapter. I bought a k mount body just so I could use any lens made for any pentax just need one of 3 adapters.

 

[Felinik]

I have one adapter for each m42 lens I have (currently three lenses), only the real deal, the Pentax ones (that are the most reliable) can be had for $20-25 on theBay. The adapter can of course be mounted in the K-mount body "permanently" and then you can simply screw/unscrew the lenses as you like, though I don't use any m42 body so I prefer "making" the lenses K-mount instead.

 

[zenrhino]

Gah, I hadn't even thought of an adapter. As always, you all rock. Thanks!

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

The 100mm f/2.8 is a really great portrait lens, if you can find one. Here is one example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMC-Pentax-M-100mm-f-2-8-/180961095300?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item2a221f2e84
The 28mm f/3.5 is a stunning lens in all respects, and very inexpensive to boot.

 

[Felinik]

Gah, I hadn't even thought of an adapter. As always, you all rock. Thanks!

Make sure you get one without a rim, so you'll get infinite focus, preferably the original Pentax one.

 

[dynachrome]

When did Vivitar sell a 120/2.8 lens?

 

[BradS]

The K mount version of the SMC Pentax 135mm f/2.5 is a lovely portrait lens. I've never really found short focal length K mount lens that i liked....but I've not really tried to hard.