Hin's Photo Corner: 35mm

Showing posts with label 35mm. Show all posts

Ricoh xr-p and Pentax K lenses

2010-03-30 Posted by Hin Man

Ricoh xr-p with added hand-grip

I have been using my Ricoh xr-p for few months for my nostalgic path in going back to 35mm film which I started with photography. Though I only have used it for no more than 5 rolls of film, I can say that I like the camera. I actually sold my Pentax SuperProgram and kept the Ricoh as my main manual focus film camera. It is compatible with all the Pentax K mount and I have ordered a copy of Tamron adaptall-2 adapter for Ricoh xr-p. The infamous Ricoh P pin is used in the auto programmed mode in Ricoh xr-p.

So far the Ricoh xr-p has met my interest on b&w film and I hope I can go further into slide films. I don't see myself developing film at home but I hope I manage to cut down the cost with my inexpensive Canon 8000F scanner and my planned purchase of Vuescan software.

I have several gripes against the Ricoh xr-p. It is not built as strong and trouble-free like the Pentax K1000, ME Super and SuperProgram. I have done three separate purchases of used Ricoh xr-p bodies, I got two lemons in getting stuck shutter release and various other problems related to broken shutter and mirror locked up. One frequent complain with the xr-p is about the absence of optical DOF preview. For me I have the most problem on how easy the electronics and mechanical parts can fail on the Ricoh. Though the minus, I love the rich features on the xr-p, especially on the rich array of information display that go with the optical viewfinder. For reference, I have a scanned copy of the user menu on the optical viewfinder display

Optical Viewfinder Indicators

The viewfinder's field of view covers 93% and magnification at .88X. I especially like the diagonal split screen and I find it easier to obtain focus than the horizontal split screen. And there is the auto exposure lock that doubles up with added lighting in viewfinder and I find it valuable in shooting indoor or when the available light is dim.

The ricoh xr-p is compatible with all Pentax K mounts. It is unfortunate that the Pentax A data pin is not the same as the Ricoh P pin. What that means is that the various program modes are not enabled but the metering work the usual way like a Pentax film body in Av mode as long as I select A on the shutter dial and select aperture on aperture ring. If I select a shutter speed instead, the optical viewfinder will indicate overexposure and underexposure with the set aperture. Here are the few lens that I have used with xr-p to great liking

Left: Tamron SP 17mm f/3.5 (51B)

Right: Cosina 55mm f/1.2 in K mount

And I plan to use the following lens with my Ricoh xr-p soon with both slides and films.

Related:

Rikenon P 35mm f/2.8 and Pentax K-x

2010-02-16 Posted by Hin Man

I got this Rikenon lens that came with Ricoh xr-p as a package. I got carried away with my excitement on 35mm film camera with Ricoh xr-p that I bidded up two other similar bodies that I was supposed to gift to friend. Long story short, I have got two dead bodies on Ricoh xr-p film body and both have similar shutter problems.

I tried out the this lens on Pentax K-x White. The lens has Ricoh P pin and the aperture ring has the P selection for programmed mode in Ricoh xr series of cameras. The lens works fine on Pentax digital bodies without any pin stuck issue as I have explained in my earlier post about Rioch P pin

Safe if

P pin tip is found a rounded ball-head type
P pin is small and that when you use your thumb to glide over the pin, you don't feel it sticking out upon pressing it down
P pin is found retractable

When mounted on Pentax K-x, it works as a Pentax K manual lens. I have to use green button for stop-down metering. There is the undocumented observation about K-x in working with green button on K lens, it has an extra mirror slap that goes with stop-down metering operation. So far, I have not found a clue why the mirror slap is required in the metering.

In actual use, the extra noise does bother me a bit as every green button will have the extra noise on the mirror slapping. I ran few test shots on the lens with stop-down metering, they are not too bad. The lens is all plastic but I find it resemble closely the lens from Cosina.

photo taken with Rikenon P 35mm f/2.8 and Pentax K-x white

Pentax MX with a Red Pentax Strap

2009-12-17 Posted by Hin Man

I get inspired by my forum buddy to go off to research in fixing the light seals problems with my Pentax MX . I like the film camera especially when I scourge and get the very red Pentax strap to go with it just for the show. The strap is not comfortable but it adds character to the camera. I love it!

Here are Jon Goodman's instructions for sealing multiple kinds of cameras:
Favorite Classics / Jon Goodman's Seal Replacement Instructions
Here is the link to Goodman's eBay store where he sells seal kits:
eBay Seller: interslice: Cameras Photo items on eBay.com
Contact him directly via eBay for kits not listed.
Steve

(In case you are wondering...Mr. Goodman is sort of a legend in regards to seal replacement on old cameras.)

Much thanks to Steve and many others for the link. What concerns me most is the mirror box bumper as I don't want to get any glue and deposit to ruin the MX focusing screen.

Light Seal loss in the back

Mirror bumper almost gone

I am fortunate that the focusing screen is removable, I will go two routes for the fixing:

I will contact a local repair shop and ask for the pricing of a CLA with light seal.
Do It myself as an alternative if pricing is over the cost of the camera.

And I will hopefully have a workable MX in the new year. I will report back

Related:

Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 macro limited -- documentary lens

2009-09-04 Posted by Hin Man

Please don't tell anyone: I actually replaced my Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited with this wonderful Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited. After owning this DA 35mm limited for months, I can attest that this is my go-to lens for product shots as well as documentary. I bring it along when I can think of photo-journal opportunity. Its macro 1:1 ability makes it a wonderful to use for product shots. I used it mostly for my product shots on lens and camera gear. If you ever see a product shot of a lens or camera in my blog pages, you are more than likely to see the focal length 35mm from this limited lens. Though it is not a pancake, it is still relatively small like the Pentax FA 77mm f/1.8 limited that are easier to bring along.

My recent documentary on my first Medium Format camera with Pentax 645N were all shot with this lens. I also tried it out on macro with flowers and results are quite satisfactory. The quick shift built in with the lens will make it a powerful macro lens to use where manual focusing is key such as that getting close to 1:2 to 1:1 on flowers. I have not disabled AF on half-press, it would have been even more suited had I turned off AF on my shutter release and use AF key to engage in auto focusing. With the extra setup, I can by-pass the AF in macro shooting with the DA 35mm limited which has the wonderful quick shift between MF and AF on turning the focusing ring.

pentax 645n product shots with pentax da 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited

product shot with pentax da 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited and pentax k20d

Impressions & Notes

A great alternative to Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 as I found its macro capability as well as size and price more appealing to me than the 31mm.
Well suited for documentary purpose such as product shots
Great for flowers, minimal focusing distance is relatively small making it a bit too scary to try it out on poisonous bugs such as black widows
Color and bokeh very decent but they can't match up with the FA 31mm especially on color and detail.
Quick Shift in this lens is wonderful with manual focusing especially if you use AF button for auto-focusing
The macro IQ beats the short term experience that I had with Carl Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 in M42 mount
Just wish it has better speed as in f/1.8 or f/2.0

Pentax 645N Product Shots with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 macro limited

2009-09-03 Posted by Hin Man

I don't think I can justify in buying this used camera. I thought for a long time about going back to film on b&w. I got myself interested with that nostalgic feeling on film where I started with a 35mm with Praktica MTL5 roaming around the streets of Macau and had my first roll of film on a 35mm SLR camera. I am always fascinated with b&w film. Though it is much easier and perhaps economical to shoot digital, the b&w is never the same in digital as in film. And what troubles have I got myself into: another gear that may turn out to be infrequently used. That is not my first time. It happened before and it will happen again. I buy, try it, feel guilty and sell the film camera and go back to digital. I am hopeful that the experience will get me into learning mood once again. I consider the money well spent if I manage to reinvent my interest into b&w instead of doing the digital conversion in software.

Have I learned a thing or two about myself? I am always silly. Sometime I enjoy the past as much as I enjoy the present. I don't necessary go for the latest and I treasure some oddies that work charmingly. This is a medium format camera and I know very little about.

I feel more adventurous in buying the Pentax 645N than getting the Pentax K-7. Is this a logical and rational step? Hell no!

When I first met this macho medium format camera, I go wow and that hunk of boxy body appeals to me in a unique way though it is not much bigger and heavier than the Pentax K20D. I would not go into detail measuring the weight and size for comparison as I find it very reasonable to handle. Why look at the figures that scare myself to enjoy the ride. The shutter noise is a bit of disappointment when I first tried it. I first thought of something similar to Pentax Pz-1 where the noise is loud but sweet in a sense of well dampened mechanically.

This baby takes 6 AA batteries and the cartridge is at least 2 to 3 times of a roll of 35mm film. It looks like a big part of the body once I place the cartridge into the 645N body from the back.

Hin's Big Camera

I hope that I will document my path with this medium format camera.

If you have interest, I find the article in Ken Rockwell on Pentax 645N a good overall review into this medium format camera.

Relates:

Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Limited On Flowers

2009-06-08 Posted by Hin Man

I have been using my 35mm limited mostly for product shots. It is smaller than any other of my macro lens and it is easy to carry it along with other lens, hence It has become my go-to macro lens for product shot.

Last week, I came to try it on flower going from 1:2 to 1:1 close up distance. I am very happy with the performance. It is quite easy to use. When it got close to 1:1 scale, I have to use manual focus. I did the test shots not in the best lighting and I expect the lens to perform better when I manage to shoot again with better lighting. It missed the quick shift focus as in the DA* lens but manual focusing is very capable with this lens

pentax da 35mm f/2.8 1:1 macro limited test shot on flower

Impressions & Notes:

Lens has beautiful color and contrast
I see better sharpness with 77mm limited but I have no complaint for the 35mm.
Close up from 1:2 to 1:1 is quite easy to make on this lens
Manual focus missed AF/MF switch as in DA* lens but manual focusing is found pleasant in the 35mm. It is about half turn in the focusing ring.
Quick shift focus is allowed in overriding the AF when manual focus ring is turned
One big gripe that I have on 35mm limited is the lens cap. When I have a filter mounted, the lens cap no longer fit tightly with the lens
I was initially not aware of the presence of a lens hood. One has to pull the lens hood from the side.
This is a great lens to be used for product shots, close up and perhaps street shooting
I see a great number of samples using it for documentary work and black and white photos. I will use this lens for street shooting and hopefully find the time to use it for b&w pictures.

Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Limited

2009-01-08 Posted by Hin Man

It is my first day with Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Limited and I really like the handling and ease of focusing. Yes, the wider view may get you into some empty space around your shooting objects but I try to find location with interesting color as in purple, green and highlight to enhance the look of the product. I used my red notebook to raise my Praktica MTL5 film camera for product shots

All pictures shot with Pentax K20D and
Pentax DA 35mm f/2.8 1:1 Macro Limited

wrong exposure, forget that I am in M mode

Like the space given with 35mm so that I
can steal the background purple color

Hin's First Camera

Now I need detail on the strangely looking
auto <--> M switching nob
with Super-Lentar 28mm f/2.8 (m42)

I should have got a better view
along with A <--> M switching letter

I was born Pentaxian
I couldn't believe that my
1st SLR camera Praktica MTL5
has a Pentax neck strap

Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 (m42)

2008-12-15 Posted by Hin Man

I bought this lens from a friend of mine as an alternative to try out as an interim replacement for Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 limited. While it is not as fast as my Lady Queen, or Pentax FA 35mm f/2.0, its close focus capability on this lens is quite outstanding. I test it out today preparing it for trading up to Pentax FA 35mm f/2.0. Here are my initial impressions:

Lens is well built like other Czj lens, likely made in Germany like other DDR lenses
Its close focus is quite outstanding when I try it. It should be very close to 1:2
minimum focusing distance is shorter than 0.2 meter
In M42 mount with a large lens base, can be easily converted to K mount if needed
MF on this lens is outstanding with a large focus throw
Bokeh seems decent in the few test shots that I have done
Filter size is 49mm and it makes it ideal to share in filter and close up diopter
Though lens barrel is metal, there is bigger amount of plastic in the front element

Lens Product Shot

Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.4 (m42)

MFD is shorter than 0.2 meters

The lens is not big, quite compact, but nothing can beat the size of
my recent purchase of M pancake in 40mm
Pentax M 40mm f/2.8
in the right hand side