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Post by doubs43 on Nov 4, 2005 1:22:13 GMT -5
Once in awhile I get lucky and this is one of those times. FedEx delivered a large package to me this afternoon and in it was a fully functional Asahi Pentax Spotmatic in need of an exterior cleaning. Mounted to it is a 50mm f/1.4 Super-Takumar in near mint condition. It includes an original accessory shoe of the clip-on type and an ever-ready case. "Mint" to me means "like new".
Then there's the mint 35mm f/3.5 Super-Takumar lens with case. A very good (perfect glass) Soligor 90~230mm f/4.5 T4 mount lens in case. Original mint Pentax extension tube set with manual in the original box. Original mint Pentax Bellows Unit in the original box. Sun 2x converter in it's case... exc. condition. Minolta Auto25 flash unit & cable in VG condition & finally an Asahi Pentax pig skin carry case.
I need to replace the foam seals on the body but otherwise this is a kit ready to go out of the package. It's one of the best "deals" I've ever gotten.
Walker
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Post by Randy on Nov 4, 2005 7:15:54 GMT -5
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Nov 4, 2005 17:16:38 GMT -5
How come you fellows get all the good deals? Just kidding, congrats both of you on the fine buys. I seem to either buy the camera or the lenses but seldom find both for a deal. I bought a Praktica MTL 5 with 50 f1.8 and a Praktica 135 f2.8 for $25 Can. this afternoon but not as nice a camera as either of your Spotties.
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 5, 2005 0:36:47 GMT -5
Randy, that's a nice set you got as well. The Soligor looks to be the same lens except yours is a fixed mount. I've never been much on zoom lenses. I own several but rarely use them.
Curt, that's a great deal on the Praktica and I'm a Praktica fan. If your 135mm lens is a Pentacon or CZJ, it should take a fine photograph. I have the Pentacon electric MC version and I really like it.
Walker
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Post by Just Plain Curt on Nov 5, 2005 18:38:48 GMT -5
Thanks Walker, it is the Pentacon version. I also have an electric MC version for my B100. Personally I think Prakticas are great cameras, just one step lower on my M42 wish list than my Spotties.
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Post by Randy on Nov 5, 2005 20:55:36 GMT -5
Randy, that's a nice set you got as well. The Soligor looks to be the same lens except yours is a fixed mount. I've never been much on zoom lenses. I own several but rarely use them. Curt, that's a great deal on the Praktica and I'm a Praktica fan. If your 135mm lens is a Pentacon or CZJ, it should take a fine photograph. I have the Pentacon electric MC version and I really like it. Walker Well, believe it or not Walker, this is my first tripod mount lens. I really had a hard time seeing my Spotmatic hanging out there in space like that. |
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 6, 2005 0:32:28 GMT -5
Thanks Walker, it is the Pentacon version. I also have an electric MC version for my B100. Personally I think Prakticas are great cameras, just one step lower on my M42 wish list than my Spotties. I'm a huge Praktica fan and own a bushel basket full of them. In fact, I received a very nice LTL-3 today in the mail. It has a couple of items that need attention (seals and a cleaning mainly) but everything works including the meter. My electric versions include the LLC and an EE-2. I have a VLC but the meter is bad. Having said that, the Spotmatic is in a class above the Praktica. They're smooth and just have a feeling of quality about them that most other cameras don't. That's my opinion, anyway. Walker |
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 6, 2005 0:42:41 GMT -5
Randy, that's a nice set you got as well. The Soligor looks to be the same lens except yours is a fixed mount. I've never been much on zoom lenses. I own several but rarely use them. Curt, that's a great deal on the Praktica and I'm a Praktica fan. If your 135mm lens is a Pentacon or CZJ, it should take a fine photograph. I have the Pentacon electric MC version and I really like it. Walker Well, believe it or not Walker, this is my first tripod mount lens. I really had a hard time seeing my Spotmatic hanging out there in space like that. Randy, lenses with tripod mounts aren't all they're cracked up to be IMO. Even with a heavy tripod, the lens and camera are generally balanced as if they sit on a knife's edge. The slap of the camera's mirror will cause image-degrading vibrations. The longer the focal length, the worse it gets. A sand bag or bean bag to rest the lens on will do much better dampening vibrations. If you can use a self timer, a camera with a mirror lock-up or one that pre-fires the mirror will really help if tripod mounted. This afternoon I took some shots with a Spotmatic II and a 1000mm f/10 MTO mirror lens. I used a heavy tripod (good up to 4x5 view cameras) and laid a sand bag across a plate mounted to the platform. I sat down and used one hand to hold the lens down and the other to trip the shutter. The shutter hand made contact with the sand bag too. That was a lot more stable than mounting the lens & camera to the tripod via the socket on the lens. Walker |
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Post by kamera on Nov 6, 2005 6:20:24 GMT -5
I use a medium weight Manfrotto tripod and even at that you do have to take extra precautions when using a larger lens. Unfortunately, not all cameras have MLU anymore, and even some of the older ones had it dropped in later versions of the same model.
The longest focal length I have is a 500, and I can only imagine what vibration problems there would be with a 1000. I also have an old Minolta MC 200/2.8 that is...well, heavy and does not have a tripod socket for some reason(I understand others do).
If I know ahead of time I will definately be using a long lens, I do take my early version Minolta SRT 101 camera for the MLU function. And make it a practice to also use a cable release and, additionally, press down on the lens to further minimize(I do not think one can actually eliminate it) vibration.
In the way of modern lenses, I have a Nikon VR 80-400 that I will shoot handheld. You have to keep the aperture on a larger opening so as to be able to use a faster shutter speed.
I am sure others would see some unsharpness in some of my pics, but they come out to my satisfaction and have enlarged some to 13"x19".
Ron Head
Kalamazoo, MI
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Post by doubs43 on Nov 6, 2005 12:47:16 GMT -5
I use a medium weight Manfrotto tripod and even at that you do have to take extra precautions when using a larger lens. Unfortunately, not all cameras have MLU anymore, and even some of the older ones had it dropped in later versions of the same model. Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI Hi Ron, My tripod is an old Slik 400-M Pro. The center shaft has a 1/4-20 screw on the under side for mounting accessories low. I went to the hardware store and purchased a hexagonal nut that's several inches long and threaded 1/4-20. I then bought an "eye-bolt" and standard nut in 1/4-20 thread plus a lock washer. The hexagonal nut is screwed to the center shaft bottom and the eye-bolt to it. I opened the loop in the eye-bolt and now a sand bag can be suspended underneath to provide additional stability by pulling down on the legs of the tripod. A plastic tie-wrap around the sand bag and a shorter tie-wrap through the first one slips over the open eye-bolt to hang the bag. Yesterday I had only a single sand bag so I used it on top but next time I'll have two and use them both on top and under too. Walker |
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