How Fast is your Glass?
Are you one of the Fast and the Photoist? Did you mortgage your house and buy a Leica 50mm F0.95 Noctilux? Did you skip fancy lattes for a month to save up for a TTArtisan 50mm F0.95 Nocti Knock-off? Do you own the SMC Pentax 50mm F1.2 or the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2? Is F1.4 fast enough for you? F1.7? Or does fast glass just not interest you? Vote in this week’s poll, and let us know why you do what you do in the comments!
Elsewhere in this week’s newsletter, Site Supporter richard0170 takes a look at the SMC Pentax-FA 28mm F2.8 AL; Paul the Sunman flexes his muscles with his heaviest glass; and New Member MeatAnimal reviews the Samyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF.
If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, please take a moment to join the more than 1,400 Pentaxians who have subscribed to our free currated compendium of the hundreds of great images and post shared each week in our Pentax community. Please let us know your thoughts here in the comments and on our Pentax Forums, and have a perfect Pentaxian week!
Threads of the Week:
Hubris to the point of madness
February 3, 2025 • Pentax SLR Lens Discussion • 36 replies • 805 views
Paul the Sunman said — I have lost count of the number of times I have read on PF that someone doesn't use a particular lens, or returned it, because it is too heavy. I am well-known to be a bear of very little brain and so took this as a challenge. Read more »
Astrophoto Premium outside Japan
January 30, 2025 • Pentax DSLR Discussion • 8 replies • 706 views
ZeGaby said — So the Premium Astrophoto Assist is available outside Japan, Here is the link for French version (via Pentax.eu) : Fonctionnalité Premium ? Clé d'activation Astrophoto Assist I don't see any post from Pentax or Ricoh but it's here ! Read more »
February 1, 2025 • Lens Sample Photo Archive • 16 replies • 428 views
gatorguy said — I received this a day or two ago, and this morning was my first opportunity to take it out for a drive. It's a dreary day with bad light, but I made the best of it. I felt I needed to keep the shutter speed up, between 640 and 1000... Read more »
Pentaxian User Reviews
Pentax Lenses
SMC Pentax-FA 28mm F2.8 AL
Reviewed by Site Supporter richard0170
Review Date: January 27, 2025 Recommended | Price: $200.00 | Rating: N/A
Pros: Size and weight, IQ Cons:Build, AF, not for low light
Sharpness: 8 Aberrations: 8 Bokeh: 8 Autofocus: 8 Handling: 9 Value: 10 New or Used: Used Camera Used: K1 ii, K5, K30, KS-2, K3 iii Mono.
I bought my copy as although I already had the F28mm f2.8, that lens just looked plain naff on the Monochrome. Vain, I know, but in the end I am pleased I did for other reasons. I am obsessive about true normal FOV lenses (40-45mm equivalent) and have spent years trying to get the perfect carry around version for my APSC cameras. I have tried most of the Pentax offerings, from the large but excellent K 28mm f3.5, K 30mm f2.8 to the small and not so good M 28mm f2.8 and 3.5. Even A 28mm f2.0. The best optically from my trials are definitely the K f3.5 and the F and now FA f2.8. The advantage of the F and FA models is obviously the AF and small size and weight. The FA feels better built than the FA but it is also noisier and I think a tad slower to focus. As you may gather I much prefer the aesthetics of the FA.
IQ is generally very good, especially when stopped down. Wide open sharpness is acceptable in the centre (where it matters) but not stunning, as you would expect, so this lens is best used in at least half decent light. It is swift to focus in anything but poor light on all my cameras. The K1 ii and Monochrome are at least accurate in low light, but my other cameras struggle to find focus and it is unreliable. Nothing new from Pentax vintage screw drive lenses there then. It's what I would expect. Colour rendition is what I have come to expect from Pentax - excellent.
It works very well on my K1 ii, but I have only done random play around shots with it on that camera as I don't use such a wide FOV very often, but it seems to again produce very nice images. Unless Pentax ever release a DA Limited normal standard lens, which is highly unlikely this is IMO the best option for your crop sensor cameras for a true normal FOV. I know some consider the build quality to be not as high as the F model, but the lighter weight and quieter focus more than make up for that for me. I particularly like it on my K30 and KS-2.
Third-Party Pentax Lenses
Samyang 85mm F1.4 Aspherical IF
Reviewed by New Member MeatAnimal
Review Date: February 3, 2025 Recommended | Price: $240.00 | Rating: 9
Pros: Fast, New, Sharp, Comes in K mount
Cons: No stop between 1.4 and 2, focus a little overdamped
Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 9 Value: 9 Camera Used: KX, ZF
Picked this up on amazon to fill the "functional fast 85mm" spot and get right to taking pictures of basketball without wading through the vintage market. To that end it is perfect. Obviously the depth of field at 1.4 is razor thin, but you know that. Obviously it's manual focus, you know that. I have bad eyes, but with online DOF calculators and an understanding of how I want to shoot (action at the basket from 35 feet, from the three point line at 45-50 feet, standing in a fixed location, poorly lit gym) this thing rips. Distance scale is a little off? I think? I would double check before just blasting zone focus and going for it, but it's good as a reference. I also shot this adapted on my digital camera, and with focus peaking this thing rules. I have two notes. One is that there's no half stop between 1.4 and 2. I feel like I saw that, but I'll reiterate here. Also the focus ring is a little overdamped for my taste and application. Following a drive to the basket is a little more difficult than on my old 50/1.7.
Pentax Cameras
Pentax KP
Reviewed by New Member FredBobJohn
Review Date: January 19, 2025 Recommended | Price: None indicated | Rating: 9
Pros: Design, controls, autofocus, flippy screen, size, grips
Cons: Not as robust as other Pentax cameras, battery life
Years Owned: 1 Ergonomics: 10 Build Quality: 8 User Interface: 10 Autofocus: 9 Features: 9 Value: 8 Image Quality: 9 Noise: 8 New or Used: Used
My favourite Pentax DSLR by a long shot, and I've owned the K-1 Mark ii, K-3, K-5, K-50, K10D, and K200D. It takes everything good about the K-1 ii (except the sensor!) and squeezes it into a small, svelte, and innovative body that is a joy to use. It has all the buttons I want and none that I don't; it has sensible customization options that make it a breeze to use; the buttons and dials feel fantastic; the mechanical shutter sound is crisp and the electronic shutter is silent, unlike every other Pentax body I've used; and the autofocus leaves every Pentax camera except the newer K-3 iii in the dust. Also, despite its similarities to the K-1, this is a far faster, snappier, and more responsive camera. It also just feels fantastic in the hand, and I love the interchangeable grips - when I want to shoot street, I slap on a small prime, the smallest grip, and a neck strap, and when I want to shoot a big telephoto I use the largest grip and a shoulder strap. Unlike the K-3, which tries to hit the middle ground and thus be OK for everything, the KP allows you to change its form so that it truly excels in any situation. Some people dislike the quirky looks of the KP but I think it's Pentax's most attractive and distinctive DSLR by far - I love the boxy body, the flat top, and the prominent dials. It's also quite light and the built-in flash and high-res mode make it easy to travel light without sacrificing options. My only complaints are that the KP isn't as tank-like as other Pentax bodies I've used - I banged mine against a fence and managed to knock something out of whack, which meant I had to send it off for repairs. I'll be more careful with it this time! The battery life also isn't great, which is a shame but easy enough to remedy by bringing out extra batteries with you. I suspect it's not for everyone, but for me, the KP is the pinnacle of Pentax's DSLR line. Highly recommended.
Comment of the Week:
garywakeling on Are you ultra-long? Best of Pentax Forums January 29 Poll: With the adapter K on my Pentax Q camera, every lens becomes long. I even tried my 6x7 600mm f4 via the 67-K and K-Q adapters on the Q......it worked and made me smile.
The Best of Pentax Forums February 5 Poll
Are you one of the Fast and the Photoist? Are you all about the bokeh? Did you mortgage your house and buy a Leica 50mm F0.95 Noctilux? Did you skip fancy lattes for a month to save up for a TTArtisan 50mm F0.95 Nocti Knock-off? Do you own the SMC Pentax 50mm F1.2 or the SMC Pentax-A 50mm F1.2? Is F1.4 fast enough for you? F1.7? Or does fast glass just not interest you? Vote in this week’s poll, and let us know why you do what you do in the comments!
This poll closes February 11
And here are the results of last week’s poll:
From the Pentax Forums YouTube Channel
Enjoy some of the excellent images posted in January on Pentax Forums!
Weekly Photo Challenges
Point and Shoot Competition #203 - Skyscapes
Posted by Loyal Site Supporter Andy58
So, looking for a subject that everyone can access, the theme I've selected for February is Skyscapes. Images which primarily highlight the sky as their subject but can include some horizon or other elements. Any time of day or night. Search for "skyscapes meaning" for a range of definitions. Looking back through my archives I find plenty for each of my P&S cameras, often shot while on a walk and as a result of looking up and thinking "I've gotta capture that!". So ... the sky's the limit! Entries will close at the end of February 28th 2025 at Midnight wherever you are.
And here’s Loyal Site Supporter UncleVanya’s entry, shot with a Panasonic LX7:
PentaxForum Front page stories Jan 22-Feb 4:
Enter to Win a Myriad Film Holder by Cutasunda!
By PF Staff in Giveaways and Events on Jan 31, 2025
Now through February 21, you can enter our giveaway to win a Myriad film holder by Cutasunda.
As noted in the recent official announcement and press release, Myriad is a new and exciting multi-format film holder for photographic digitising of roll and cartridge films, using your DSLR or mirrorless camera. It supports full-width capture of 110, APS, 126, 135, 127 and 120 / 220 films and more, in all image formats up to 6x9, with borders, sprocket holes, and edge markings where present.
Two Easy Steps to Enter
Write an interesting or entertaining paragraph (or more, if you like) covering:
an overview of your film photography activities past and present, or, if you're just starting out with film, what attracts you to it compared to digital
from the product information on CUTASUNDA's website, tell us which of Myriad's features or capabilities interest you most, and why it would suit your film digitising needs
Post both of your answers in a single reply to the giveaway thread (one entry per member)
Announcing "Urban Landscape" - Our February 2025 Photo Contest
Win prizes in our official monthly photo contests
By PF Staff in Photo Contests on Feb 1, 2025
We're herewith announcing our monthly photo contest for February. The theme for this month is Urban Landscape.
Show us an Urban landscape. Urban landscape refers to an outdoor environment that is dominated by and influenced by urban features. This includes both man-made and natural elements found in an urban area such as buildings, roadways, parks, and other elements that are present in a city or town. An urban landscape is made up of a variety of different elements and it is constantly changing to accommodate the needs of the community. Good luck!
First prize is a $50 gift card to B&H Photo, second prize is a one year forum account upgrade, and third prize is a box of photo paper form Red River.
The official contest rules are found here.