MF lenses on AF bodies

Does anyone have experience with using MF lenses on Pentax ZX-5?
I want to buy a 50mm prime -- the 50/1.7 M version seems to be the
cheapest option. But, the focusing screen does not seems to be
very MF friendly. Will the "in focus" LED work with MF lenses? Also,
what about metering? The M version does not support auto-exposure.
Does that simply mean that I won't be able to use the auto modes,
but everything (read exposure confirmation) will behave normally in
the manual mode?
Or should I stop being a cheapo and buy the FA 50/1.4 instead?
TIA,
Pinaki.

Pinaki

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

My experience is totally with Nikon and I'm not sure how much is applicable
to Pentax, but things to consider_
I have 3 different AF bodies, 2 fast AF zooms and got knows how many manual
focus lenses. From 16mm to 300mm. Very exceptional lenses and very pricey.
I shoot in either manual or aperture preferred. The manual lenses work just
fine in those two modes and 99% of the time those are the only modes I use
with the AF lenses.
The focusing screen in one of my bodies makes it tough to focus using the
screen. However all 3 bodies give a metered indication that the subject is
in focus, with both manual or AF lenses. Therefore there is never a problem
with accurate focusing.
My favorite lens, probably use it at least 50% of the time is the 50F1.4,
followed by either the 16 or 18 mm. Action shots (like basketball or
baseball) I tend to use my 80-200 AF lens - PRE-FOCUSED in Manual mode.
The AF bodies offer big advantages over the older generation manual bodies
in terms of motor drive, film DX, metering, flash automation, etc. However
AF is sorta of a mixed blessing and I find that manual focusing is quicker
and more convienet 80% of the time. I think the biggest exception is
shooting small children with a lens in the range of 80 to 135 mm, AF
clearly wins.
...


BMW Rider

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

No problem. I should have figured that - just that it is _way_ beyond
my
league, both pricewise as well as cappability-wise :-( I am a complete
novice. I bought the camera mainly to take snapshots of my 3yr old
daughter. Hence the preference for built-in flash, and AF (although
tracking her drives the AF nuts). Why not a digital P&S? Um, well,
you know, an SLR looks better! (sheepish grin)
The discussions have been very informative. BTW, doesn't f1.9
autimatically
mean less smooth bokeh than, say, f1.4?
Best,
Pinaki.


Pinaki

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

at
Try one anyway ;-)
I prefer manual focus for almost everything, but the three Limiteds have a
really nice manual focus feel. It's not the same as the feel of a manual
Pentax lens, but it's different rather than worse - it's much nicer than any
other AF lenses I've used used in manual focus (except the F* and FA* ones
with the focus clutch), and, come to that, nicer than many other
manufacturer's manual focus lenses. The build quality of these lenses is
simply outstanding.
Yes, the image is very bright, and with the shallow depth of field, things
really 'snap' in and out of focus. It's only half a stop faster than an
f1.4, and a lot heavier, but the reduction in DoF wide open is noticeable.
I think it is less sharp than the f1.4 at apertures wider than f5.6 or f8,
but after that it is a very useable 'sharp' lens. Wider, its advantages are
all about bokeh, speed, and ease of focusing.
I like it most with B&W, and it is a very nice lens for semi-candid
portraits (I also like the 85mm f1.8 K and 135mm f1.8 A* for this, and no
doubt the 85mm f1.4 would be nice too, if I could afford one). Someone
asked about 50mm as a portrait lens here a while ago, and I put up a picture
taken with the f1.2 as an example:
http://www.bard-hill.co.uk/temp/Corinna_50mm_f1-2.jpg
This one was taken during the interval of a rock concert, in a bar lit only
by flourescent tubes, with the Pentax SMCPA 50mm f1.2 wide open on TMax3200
rated at 1600. You can see in the eyes how shallow the DoF is, and how fast
it falls off in the background: those blurry shapes are people probably no
more than twice as far from me as the model is.
I recently did a portrait lens and where the model's father said it reminded
him of the movie star portraits of the '40s. I think this was partly due to
my lighting, but also to the very shallow DoF, which would have reminded him
(subconsciously, I expect) of the effect of those LF Hollywood portraits -
not that I'm saying the lens is like LF in any other respects, of course!
Peter


Bandicoot

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

I'd have tried one, but I am averse to autofocus. I have my eye on the 50mm
f/1.2 SMCPA. That would make for a bright viewfinder, and I can only
imagine what the bokeh is like . . .


Jeremy

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

Sorry. I forgot to turn on my brain when I wrote that response. I mentally
associate 50mm with "Normal Lenses." Should have been paying attention.


Jeremy

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

He meant the 43mm f/1.9.
http://www.robertstech.com/graphics/pages/43-limit.htm
One of Pentax's remarkable "Limited" series of lenses. Expensive but
worth the price :)
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-02-05-02.shtml
--
Mark Roberts Photography & Multimedia
www.robertstech.com
412-687-2835


Mark Roberts

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

Look here for FA Limited 50mm f/1.9:
http://www.cameraquest.com/pen4319.htm


Jeremy

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

Dear Jeremy and Mark,
Thanks for your responses. The reason for buying an AF body was
mainly the built-in flash. Plus, the "whole" kit (body+28-80) came to
$120,
so I caved in.
The reason for looking for a MF lens is only the price
difference
($170 for the FA 50/1.4 vs. ~$50 for the M 50/1.7). Jeremy, I was not
aware
of the FA 50/1.9, or did you mean the 50/1.4? If it is that good, I'll
probably
save up for that.
Thanks again,
Pinaki.


Pinaki

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

...
The "A" lenses will better exploit your body.
But this begs the question, why did you buy an autofocus body if you are
going to mount manual lenses on it? Sure, you can use MF lenses. But are
you going to enjoy using a kit that has lenses with different capabilities?
The FA 50mm f/1.9 is the optimum choice. I have heard it described as "the
lens that Leica SHOULD have made, but didn't." And it's autofocus, too.


Jeremy

Re: MF lenses on AF bodies

Yes, it will.
It doesn't support *shutter preferred* autoexposure (or program). It
will work in aperture-preferred autoexposure.
You can use manual mode, too.
Well there *is* always that possibility!
Manual focusing will be easier with any f/1.4 lens, too :)
--
Mark Roberts Photography & Multimedia
www.robertstech.com
412-687-2835


Mark Roberts

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