What Legendary Pentax lens should get the TTArtisan Treatment? Finals!
Best of Pentax Forums Newsletter May 28, 2026
What Legendary Pentax lens should get the TTArtisan Treatment? Finals!
And then there were 4. We had 18 lenses last week in Round 2 of our little tournament; only 4 attracted votes in the double digits: SMC Pentax 28mm F2 “Hollywood;” SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F4 Macro ED; SMC Pentax-M 35mm F1.4; and the SMC Pentax 20mm F1.4. Frankly, I’d buy any and all of them if they got the TTArtisan treatment. But there can only be one! Vote in this week’s poll, and let us know which one you choose in the comments!
Elsewhere in this week’s newsletter, Site Supporter Seventh Monkey reviews the Pentax K2 he bought new. In 1977. He likes it! And we have another blast from the past with New Member johnhibma’s review of the SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8; and New Member aberratedsoul takes a look at the Fujinon 55mm F2.2.
If you’ve been forwarded this newsletter, please take a moment to join the almost 1,600 Pentaxians who have subscribed to our free curated 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:
I didn’t expect this using APSC versus FF with the slide copier
May 22, 2026 • Film Processing, Scanning, and Darkroom • 9 replies • 714 views
bletso said — I have a Pentax slide copier and have copied nigh on 1000 slides and negatives. Hadn’t really took too much notice. That said with a FF camera the copier uses a 50 or 55mm lens. With APSC it just doesn’t work. Uhm, OK, so everyone uses the 1.5 multiplier Read more »
Pentax-FA* 24mm f/2 repair / cleaning / dissassembly
May 20, 2026 • Pentax SLR Lens Discussion • 7 replies • 322 views
Angus_M89 said — Another contribution, this time the 24mm FA*. I coveted one of these for a while but always felt my 28mm F was good enough for AF film and my K-1. I sold some gear and found one for $180AUD with fungus so thought I would get it and do another cleaning ...Read more »
Pentaxian User Reviews
Pentax Lenses
SMC/S-M-C/Super-/Auto-/Takumar 55mm F1.8
Reviewed by New Member johnhibma
Review Date: May 26, 2026 Recommended | Rating: 10
Pros: well built Cons: nothing
Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 9 Handling: 10 Value: 10 Camera Used: K1
This lens was purchased by my Mother in the late 70s for her Spotmatic F. Her kit had been safely stored away since the 90s and the lens is in perfect condition. I’ve had it in my possession for about a year. I had been reading a little about the M42 lenses but really had no idea what I was getting into with this and had no high expectations. Bought the authentic Pentax Adapter, put it on my K1 and all I can say is “WHAT AN INCREDIBLE LENS.” It’s right there with my 43mm Limited in sharpness, but produces a dreamier look.
I have the SMC version and leave it on Manual and, of course, shoot the K1 on Manual, as well. I’ve read about the Takumar “look” and it’s all true. I’ve traveled with it a couple times and am blown away by the beautiful rendering. Take the time to get the camera set correctly and you don’t have to do much to the image in post.
I was so impressed with it, I soon found a Tak 24mm on eBay. It, too, is a keeper. I’ll make comments on it later.
Thanks, Mom.
Third-Party Pentax Lenses
Fujinon 55mm F2.2
Reviewed by New Member aberratedsoul
Review Date: May 25, 2026 Recommended | Price: $17.35 | Rating: 10
Pros: Bokeh, sharpness, ease of focus, golden color cast @f/2.2, M42 mount
Cons: Bakelite slowly crumbling, long minimum focus distance
Sharpness: 9 Aberrations: 9 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 8 Value: 10 Camera Used: Sony ILCE-7M3, EOS-1Ds Mk 3
This may be my favorite vintage lens. It just seems to work for me without fuss and I nail focus more often than I probably should with it, even on a DSLR without fancy mirrorless focusing aids. I really love using this lens wide open as close to MFD as I can get. When paired with the Techart LM-EA9 autofocus adapter on my Sony ILCE-7M3 it gets even better, due mostly to the little bit of extra magnification I have when it’s fully extended and the lens is at MFD focus. This really lets its super power (i.e. optical flaw) shine - the bubble bokeh. I figured this would just be a niche lens for this one ability, but I found myself loving it for much more of the overall experience. The golden color cast when shot wide open was a fun surprise. The lens glass doesn’t look that yellow to me, and when stopping down it seems to go away, but I guess I may have a Thorium-impregnated version? I have its younger sibling, the X-Fujinon with the Fujica mount, but I haven’t used it as much for comparison purposes. For the stuff I shoot, some kind of (relatively short) macro extension tube is almost mandatory to maximize the out-of-focus highlights. I wish the plastic barrel weren’t crumbling away, but at least it just seems like a cosmetic flaw. I’m in love with the Unar-based optics and I hope this thing stays together for a few more years!
Pentax Cameras
Pentax K2
Reviewed by Site Supporter Seventh Monkey
Review Date: May 24, 2026 Recommended | Price: $270.00 | Rating: 9
Pros: Solid build, ergonomics, depth of field preview. best lens mount at the time
Cons: Left side smallish due to shutter, no aperture display in viewfinder
I bought this camera new in 1977 along with the 50mm f/1.2 lens, I paid $470 total mail order from B&H as they weren’t available locally. One of the main reasons I went with Pentax was the exceptional K mount along with the value.
K Mount: At the time Nikon was still using an external aperture link that invited water and debris and the aperture of the lens needed to be set to f/5.6 to put a lens on or take it off. Substandard for such an otherwise fine camera that demanded a premium price. Canon was using a friction ring on their bayonet mount that in my experience would constantly loosen which I had to constantly check and tighten, The K Mount was strong being held on place by six screws and changing lenses was a snap. The cool white half moon on each lens made it possible to change lenses much quicker and was more positive.
Value: I did my homework in those pre Internet days and was aware of the involvement of Zeiss in the K Munt, SMC Coatings, and lens designs. Optics and performance were on par with the prestige “pro” cameras. My take has always been that the man digs the hole not the shovel, so all the tool has to be is adequate for the job at hand. I was a high school student saving everything I could on after school jobs.
The K2 had all the features I needed sans an in viewfinder aperture display. I was aiming to be a photojournalist and valued the auto exposure over the better display of the KX. The camera is rugged, reliable, has never let me down and still works.
Comment of the Week:
Site Supporter .a.t. on What Legendary Pentax lenses should get the TTArtisan Treatment? Round 2-May 21 poll: TTartisan has become known for recreating "classic" lens designs known for character / bokeh. TTartisan's recreations produce comparable rendering to the originals with good build quality at a lower price than the originals are typically available for.
A recreated Auto Takumar 35mm f/2.3 (with a shorter minimum focus distance than the original !) would be an ideal match for my TTartisan 75mm f/1.5 [nee Carl Zeiss Jena Biotar 75mm f/1.5] and TTartisan 100mm f/2.8 triplet [nee Meyer-Optik Görlitz Trioplan 100mm f/2.8].
What Legendary Pentax lens should get the TTArtisan Treatment? Finals!
The Best of Pentax Forums May 28 Poll
And then there were 4. We had 18 lenses last week in Round 2 of our little tournament; only 4 attracted votes in the double digits:
SMC Pentax 28mm F2 “Hollywood” - 17
SMC Pentax-A* 200mm F4 Macro ED - 12
SMC Pentax-M 35mm F1.4 - 11
SMC Pentax 20mm F1.4 - 10
Interestingly, this final four includes both unicorns: the almost mythical SMC Pentax 20mm F1.4, of which only seven prototypes were ever made. And the SMC Pentax-M 35mm F1.4, a prototype-turned-unicorn briefly manufactured in 1980 but never officially released to the public; it’s possible fewer than five copies were made.
Frankly, I’d buy any and all of them if they got the TTArtisan treatment. But there can only be one! Vote in this week’s poll, and let us know which one you choose in the comments!
This poll closes June 3.
And here are the results of last week’s poll:
Weekly Photo Challenges
Project 52-14-21: Stones & Rocks, until 5-31 (Sunday)
A photo challenge centered on "Stones & Rocks" sharpens your eye for details, textures, and epic landscapes. Whether* a small Stone or a big Rock, this seemingly rigid subject offers endless creative possibilities. I'm looking forward to seeing many old and new participants in Project 52 and to see your Stones from around the world. Take your best shot, but most of all, have fun!
And here’s the entry from Site Supporter MiguelATF: Pompadour Bluff, a dramatic and rocky landform, just east of Ashland, Oregon, in the foothills of the Cascades volcanic mountain chain. Cropped to the 65:25 ('XPan) format, which seems a much better semi-panoramic format for this landscape shot. KP + DA L 50-200mm
1/160 second / f/8 / ISO 100
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Pentaxian Profile: Thomas Ohlsson
Portrait Photographer, Pentaxian
By DonThomaso in Pentaxian Profiles on May 11, 2015
I am a photographer specializing in portraiture or model shots. I have a master’s degree in economics and am currently studying in the field of informatics, when I am not taking photos that is.
PentaxForum Front page stories May 21-27:
April 2026 “Street” Photo Contest Winners
Announcing the winners of our monthly contest
By PF Staff in Photo Contests on May 23, 2026
It is our pleasure to announce the winners of our April, 2026 “Street” photo contest! In first place was forum member JoelA from USA who captured “Chefchaouen Football Chase” (pictured above). This photo was shot with a Pentax K-1 II and an HD Pentax-D FA 28-105mm F3.5-5.6 lens.
Our runners-up were forum member kmarceau from USA in second place with “Life on the Grid” and cobbu2 from USA in third place with “Pigeon Scattering”.