One delight of having a collection of legacy lenses made for older film cameras (35mm SLRs, Medium or Large Format Cameras) is having fun picking one up to fiddle around or to capture a few endearing moments with. One such lens I have is the compact and handy first-generation K-mount SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 (1975 to 1977) manual focus prime, which is more than often wrongly misrepresented as the later version SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1:1.4 (1977 to 1984). The later Pentax-M version is lighter, more compact, and has almost similar image characteristics.
The lens, introduced by Pentax with the launch of Pentax K-series 35mm SLR film cameras, is an all metal and glass 7 elements in 6 groups (with SMC coating) 35mm full frame lens, has an automatic 8-blade diaphragm, an aperture ring (with no A setting) with an aperture range from f1.4 to f22, a compact dimension of 63mm (diameter) x 43 mm (length), a minimum focusing distance of 45cm, weighs 265 grams, and takes 52mm filters.
The SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 was in production from 1975 to 1977, and enjoys a Sharpness rating of 9.0, Aberrations at 8.6, Bokeh at 9.4, Handling at 9.5, and Value at 9.1 on PentaxForums. The lens series, however, was not officially referred to as a K-series lens by Pentax, the designation was given to later K-mount lenses (such as the M, A, F, FA, and DA series) produced in tandem with later model cameras.
Aside from an image page on Flickr, and another on Lomography, what is equally surprising about the lens is the sparse and limited references to it as available on the Net. This may imply that the lens is hereto unknown, or unrecognized and underrated by reviewers. But believe me, the SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 which I tested, despite it being more than 40+ years old, is still in super excellent condition, solid, with its buttery smooth focus ring, and equally soft indents aperture stops, surely a testament to its superior build quality.
The K-Mount
The mount system, referred to as the PK-mount, was initially started as a joint development between Pentax and Zeiss Ikon from the 1960s until 1972. When Zeiss Ikon withdrew from camera production in 1975, Pentax continued and developed the mount as a feature on their subsequent cameras with the launch of the K2 (1975–1980), KX (1975–1977), KM (1975–1977), K2 DMD (1976–1980), and K1000 (1976–1997).
The mount, which replaces the M42 lens mount system as seen on Pentax Spotmatics, was offered as an open standard for other manufacturers to follow, there were only a few takers, and the development of the mount petered down to be used only by Pentax.
As developed by Pentax, the K-mount has undergone several evolutions with new functionalities added while retaining its core functionality for backward compatibility. The mount is now found even on the latest Pentax digital SLR cameras with developments that include the KF, Pentax's first attempt at an autofocus system; the KA, which allows the lens's aperture to be set by the body; and subsequently the KAF, KAF2, KA2, KAF3, and KAF4.
The CCD Challenge
As I am also an enthusiast of the CCD sensor resurgence, I tested the SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 on the Pentax K-m (K2000 in the US), the last K mount digital SLR camera from Pentax stables that came with a CCD sensor, a 10MP one at that. The camera has a 'crippled' KAF2 mount, a follow-up from the KF, KA, and KAF mounts, which was Pentax's development sequence for adding auto-focus features to its lenses.
Lens Compatibility
Later Pentax K-mount auto-focus cameras are backward compatible with K-mount lenses manufactured as far back as 1975. The lenses can be used without the need for an adapter. Cameras with a 'crippled K-Mount (mounts with missing stop-down coupler and aperture ring)' however, cannot read the set f-stop of K and M series lenses, and must stop down momentarily to meter the scene in case the adjusted aperture is a stopped-down one.
Shake Reduction and Focusing
When used with a legacy manual focus lens, the shake-reduction system of the Pentax K-m needs to be indexed with the focal length of the lens used for the function to be effective. On power-up, the K-m will request that the lens's focal length be indexed from the selection list displayed (from 8 to 800mm). Press the OK button once the selection is done.
Focusing is done manually by using the matt field of the viewfinder area for general shots or with the aid of the 'focus confirm' indicator located in the middle of the LCD display below the viewfinder window for more precise distances. To activate the rangefinder mode, tap the shutter button and maintain the finger touch of the shutter button while focusing. The focus confirmation indicator will blip, and the camera will beep (if activated) when the focus is achieved.
Metered Manual Exposures
On the Pentax K-m (K2000 in the US), metering with the fully manual SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 is stop-down, not fully manual like the way you would have done on other DSLR cameras, but with an intermediate stop-down metering sequence.
First, with the lens mounted, the camera powered up, and the focal length of the lens indicated, set the camera up for fully manual exposures. Turn the exposure mode dial to 'M', set the ISO speed to, say initially, 200, and the shutter speed to 180 (as per Sunny 16 Rule or based on your own knowledge and experience). Do not worry about the shutter speed setting though, as it will be adjusted automatically when the scene is metered.
Next, set the lens opening to the aperture you want to shoot with, frame and focus the scene, and before releasing the shutter, press the 'Av' button (circled in Red in the image above) located just aft of the shutter release button to momentarily stop down the lens to measure the lighting ambiance of the scene. Release the shutter and you've completed the cycle.
To re-shoot the scene with different aperture openings (as seen with the images above), repeat the process by first re-setting the lens aperture, and pressing the Av button again before releasing the shutter. To shoot a different scene altogether, repeat the sequential five-step process. Using a tripod as part of the camera setup is recommended here.
Early Images
Despite its age, the SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4 is still a joy to handle and use. The lens is a nice and compact fit on the Pentax K-m which, in turn, makes for a nice snug fit in the hand. At wider apertures, the lens is definitely not a contender for a sharp lens award. Though images are soft wide open, bokeh is interesting and colors are bright (typical of Pentax glass). Stopping down improves image sharpness significantly.
For the CCD enthusiast, combining a 40+ years old glass on an equally vintage sensor technology may surprise you with characteristic image renders. CCDs, as we know them, were the standard for digital cameras from the early 80s till the late 2000s, acknowledged for their high-quality and low-noise images. On the technology genre front, CCDs are also making a comeback similar to the resurgence of film photography.
A bright and early morning trip to the city, just past the golden hour, did not disappoint either. It was a nice morning stroll from Pasar Seni LRT towards Pasar Seni itself and a right turn down Jalan Hang Lekir before ending in the vicinity of Petaling Street itself.
The camera and lens were impeccable and easy to handle, with the lens aperture set to either f/4 or f/5.6, a short tele focal length of 82mm equivalent, and a mental reminder to always press the Av button to measure the lighting ambiance just before releasing the shutter, images of the street shoot were sharp, color rendition pleasant, vibrant, and true without being oversaturated.
Fully Manual Exposures
For enthusiasts who prefer fully manual exposures, staying true to the Sunny 16 Rule exposure guide is equally applicable here. On looking back at the images on the desktop image editor, shutter speeds recorded for the city street walk range from 1/750 to 1/2000 second. This means that the basic ISO and shutter speed setting can be higher than the base ISO 200 and 1/180 shutter speed recommendation for Sunny 16 exposures, while the lens aperture can vary from f/8 to f/22 for individual shots.
The Economics of Cost and Time
My move to the CCD sensor genre from film photography is also a move to manage the recurring cost of acquiring film rolls (which are ever-increasing in price) and its associated process cycle time. I spent less than US $200 for both the Pentax K-m and the SMC Pentax 50mm 1:1.4, and the simplicity of operating it just like the older 35mm SLR film cameras (though the camera has its own menu of setting up features and functions) outweighs the cost of acquiring and using more advanced and technically sophisticated digital camera models.
The only drawback I have with the camera, so it seems, is the 10-hour cycle needed to get the 4x AA Ni-MH batteries fully charged, but again the batteries and charger are easily replaced with off-the-shelf items if lost or broken.
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