unca mikey Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 I have the Pentax *ist, and love it. After I saw the posts from Mark Lindamood and others that the DA 40mm will work on 35mm (despite what Pentax says), I knew I had to get one. My Flickr photostream shows how this body/lens can fit into my pocket, and a couple of test shots that clearly show no vignetting. 40mm is a lovely focal length -- I can understand why it was so popular on some rangefinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 <p>Funny you should say that -- just the other day I bought a Konica TC-X and Hexanon 40/1.8, which I suppose is rather similar (but probably very much cheaper: body was ¥2700 with zoom lens, 40mm lens was ¥4200). The Konica body, said to have been made by Cosina, is plastic ("polycarbonate" for the squeamish) and looks and feels like complete trash; but if you can get over this feeling of repulsion, it's handily small, light, and well designed. The lens is highly regarded and seems to be fine.</p><p>I think you'll find that lenses of about this length have been more popular among SLRs than RF cameras, though Olympus kicked it off with a Leica-thread-mount 40mm over half a century ago, and there have recently been lenses in this area from Pentax and Cosina.</p> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_evans4 Posted February 19, 2006 Share Posted February 19, 2006 Oops, I was too sleepy and thus forgot about leaf-shutter RF cameras: many do indeed have lenses of around this length. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemked Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Unca, Not being an expert on this but I *don't* believe a 40mm focal length on the *ist is the same as a rangefiner (or any other 35mm camera) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kai_griffin Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 The physical <i>focal length</i> of the lens would be the same: 40mm is 40mm no matter what camera you put it on... but the <i>field of view</i> on an *ist will be smaller [than 35mm/"full frame"], because the sensor is smaller; it'll give you roughly the field of view of a 64mm lens mounted on a 35mm camera, which is probably a little longer than you're after. On the other hand, for sheer pocketability, it's a nice combo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_gage Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Unca is using the *ist 35mm film camera. They made it both in digital (*ist D) and film. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kai_griffin Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Oh! I had no idea about that - I thought all the "*ist" cameras were digital. I've learnt something! Sorry for any confusion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unca mikey Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 Yes, my *ist is the 35mm version, quite a bit smaller and lighter than the digitals. The big question, which has been asked before, is why does Pentax say this lens cannot be used on 35mm? The small size and nice focal length make it a great carry around for street shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stemked Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 I believe the issue has something to do with light fall-off on the edges of the field. It will 'work' however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unca mikey Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 I know that vignetting, light fall off, is supposed to be the issue, but every practical test I've seen, and the ones I've done, show no vignetting at all. None, zero, zip, nada. I did some close comparisons to my FA 28-105 f3.2/4.5 and FA 50mm f1.7, and there is no discernible difference -- the DA 40mm covers the full frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan_gage Posted February 20, 2006 Share Posted February 20, 2006 Did you check for vignetting with the lens wide open? That's where it should be most noticeable. Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unca mikey Posted February 20, 2006 Author Share Posted February 20, 2006 Yes, I checked wide open and several other f stops, nothing. I am shooting more tests, just to make assure myself. Here's one shot I made of the side of my house, at f8. http://www.flickr.com/photos/uncamikey/101750742/ If you search the archives of this group, Mark Lindamood did much more thorough tests, using slide film, and could find no fall off. I relied on those tests when I bought the lens, which ain't cheap! LOL. I admit, I was a little anxious at first, because there is some slight vignetting in the viewfinder, but the film images appear 100% fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_m Posted February 23, 2006 Share Posted February 23, 2006 The Continental TXL is the smallest 35mm SLR I have ever seen.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vincenzo_maielli Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 The smallest SLR 35 mm combination ever saw is the Pentax MX with SMC 40 mm f/ 2,8. Ciao Vincenzo Maielli Bari Italy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Pentax ME and ME Super are even smaller and lighter than the MX. They are rugged and reliable. I can't say as much for the wonderful little 40mm lens, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatrickMP Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 <P>The SMC-M 40/2.8 is one of my favorite lenses. Quality is top notch for me, and mounted on a Super-Program it is the smallest camera that offers Tv, Av and full manual modes for 35mm. I don't hink the ME/ME Super offer Av. (Of course, with the 40/2.8 this isn't an issue since it can't due Av anyways (no "A" setting on lens)). <P>The SMC-M 40/2.8 and SMC-K 135/2.5 now make up my regular "travel" outfit when I don't want to lug around my EOS gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_shriver Posted March 4, 2006 Share Posted March 4, 2006 I think Olympus Pen SLRs (F, FT, FV) are the smallest, but that's cheating, since they are half-frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim_drake Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I was looking for a small film camera to put in a small opening I had in my Ebony 4x5 camera bag and in searching discovered the Pentax ist. I mounted the 40mm DA limited pancake lens on it and was so wowed by the results and combo that I am now looking for another ist body. Outstanding image quality from a really fun to shoot camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now