Pentax Digital ist and Pentax manual lenses.

I have a few Pentax 35mm bodies my Pentax lenses
are all K mount totally manual lenses. I am interested
in purchasing a Pentax Digital body the Pentax ist.
I understand that I will have to manually focus and manually set
the f stops.
Will the Pentax ist be able to use all the light meter functions
using the manual lenses?

Thanks in advance
Denny B

"Denny B" wrote:

I have a few Pentax 35mm bodies my Pentax lenses
are all K mount totally manual lenses. I am interested
in purchasing a Pentax Digital body the Pentax ist.
I understand that I will have to manually focus and manually set
the f stops.
Will the Pentax ist be able to use all the light meter functions
using the manual lenses?



KA lenses work with all metering functions fully operational on the
*ist D, DS, DS2 and DL. You get focus confirmation too.

With K and KM lenses, and M42 lenses used with an adapter, you have to
use Hyper Manual mode. With the *ist D, you first have to set a custom
function to allow the camera to work with lenses that are not in the
"A" position. Obviously, K, KM and M42 lenses don't have this
position. You only need to do this once, after which your *ist D will
always work with lenses not set to A. It will still work with A
lenses set to A.

To get the correct exposure, you select M mode on the camera and
choose your aperture using the aperture ring on the lens. Then press
the green button, which stops down the lens to your chosen aperture,
takes a meter reading and sets the correct shutter speed. It's a
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".

It sounds complicated, but it isn't. After you press the green button,
all subsequent shots are taken with the same shutter speed. If
lighting conditions change, you just press the green button again and
get another shutter speed.

With the *ist DS, DS2 and DL, the principle is exactly the same, but
the procedure is slightly different. I have the *ist D so I haven't
had to concern myself with how the other models differ. But I know
they all have a form of Hyper Manual for use with pre-A lenses.

I hope the explanation helped. Actually using it is far more simple
than trying to explain it!

;-)

To get the correct exposure, you select M mode on the camera and
choose your aperture using the aperture ring on the lens. Then press
the green button, which stops down the lens to your chosen aperture,
takes a meter reading and sets the correct shutter speed. It's a
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".

I have DL and have been playing around with an M42 lens. To set it up
to Manual it has been hit and miss. Majority of the time I cannot even
set the aperture ring as it is stuck at full open (wide) position.

Somehow it has a great pay-back. In low light situation, I can focus
and use shutter speed only to shoot. With the dinky built in flash, I
have been overexpose even at 1/180 . I do not even have a meter and
just rely on histogram to figure out the shutter speed. Sort of like
groping but it worked.

In day time, I have no problem as the shutter speed can go up to
1/5000.

It is fun. Denny go for it even you have even lesser problem giving all
yours are K mount.

Daniel

Tony, thank you for your reply. I think I am
beginning to really understand that my lenses will work on
the *ist body.

This is what I have.
Pentax Bodies.........MX........KX.........SuperME

1)Lenses..............Pentax-A 35---105 f3.5 when you
press a small black button near the A which is next to the f22
it clicks into the A mode and stays there, you have to press
the small black button again to unclick it from the A mode.
I believe what I have discovered is this lens has an "A"mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens will operate in ANY
light metering mode on the *Ist body?

2) Other lenses I have, all for the Pentax bodies above are.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 it has an AE--f32 mode , next to
the f22 stop. I take it that this lens too has an AE mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

3) Another lens.....Tamron SP 35--80mm f2.8, f3.8
it too has a AE--f32 mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

4) My other lenses....Pentax 50mm f1.4
5)............................Pentax 28mm 3.5
are manual lenses and do not have the "A" of 'AE" modes

Tony if I understand you correctly these two lenses only work
in the "automatic stop-down method" or
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".


Thanks kindly.
Denny B


"Tony Polson" wrote in message
...
"Denny B" wrote:

I have a few Pentax 35mm bodies my Pentax lenses
are all K mount totally manual lenses. I am interested
in purchasing a Pentax Digital body the Pentax ist.
I understand that I will have to manually focus and manually set
the f stops.
Will the Pentax ist be able to use all the light meter functions
using the manual lenses?



KA lenses work with all metering functions fully operational on the
*ist D, DS, DS2 and DL. You get focus confirmation too.

With K and KM lenses, and M42 lenses used with an adapter, you have
to
use Hyper Manual mode. With the *ist D, you first have to set a
custom
function to allow the camera to work with lenses that are not in the
"A" position. Obviously, K, KM and M42 lenses don't have this
position. You only need to do this once, after which your *ist D
will
always work with lenses not set to A. It will still work with A
lenses set to A.

To get the correct exposure, you select M mode on the camera and
choose your aperture using the aperture ring on the lens. Then
press
the green button, which stops down the lens to your chosen aperture,
takes a meter reading and sets the correct shutter speed. It's a
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".

It sounds complicated, but it isn't. After you press the green
button,
all subsequent shots are taken with the same shutter speed. If
lighting conditions change, you just press the green button again
and
get another shutter speed.

With the *ist DS, DS2 and DL, the principle is exactly the same, but
the procedure is slightly different. I have the *ist D so I haven't
had to concern myself with how the other models differ. But I know
they all have a form of Hyper Manual for use with pre-A lenses.

I hope the explanation helped. Actually using it is far more simple
than trying to explain it!

;-)

....
1)Lenses..............Pentax-A 35---105 f3.5 when you
press a small black button near the A which is next to the f22
it clicks into the A mode and stays there, you have to press
the small black button again to unclick it from the A mode.
I believe what I have discovered is this lens has an "A"mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens will operate in ANY
light metering mode on the *Ist body?
The lens has A (or AE) setting: yes, it's a very good lens !!
Full automatic, no autofocus, AF work as focus-aid.

2) Other lenses I have, all for the Pentax bodies above are.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 it has an AE--f32 mode , next to
the f22 stop. I take it that this lens too has an AE mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?
Adataptall KA or fix KA mount ?
Yes for both, very good lens.
Same

3) Another lens.....Tamron SP 35--80mm f2.8, f3.8
it too has a AE--f32 mode.
AE: yes, lens unknow.

Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

4) My other lenses....Pentax 50mm f1.4
5)............................Pentax 28mm 3.5
are manual lenses and do not have the "A" of 'AE" modes
Work in manual mode.

Michel

"Denny B" wrote:

Tony, thank you for your reply. I think I am
beginning to really understand that my lenses will work on
the *ist body.

You're welcome. Let us just be clear here that we are discussing
using these lenses on an *ist D Digital SLR body.

The *ist is the latest Pentax 35mm film SLR. The range of lenses it
can accept is much more restricted than the Ist D DSLR.

This is what I have.
Pentax Bodies.........MX........KX.........SuperME

1)Lenses..............Pentax-A 35---105 f3.5 when you
press a small black button near the A which is next to the f22
it clicks into the A mode and stays there, you have to press
the small black button again to unclick it from the A mode.
I believe what I have discovered is this lens has an "A"mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens will operate in ANY
light metering mode on the *Ist body?

You can tell it is an A lens because it says "SMC PENTAX-A" around the
front element. K mount lenses prior to this had "SMC PENTAX" or "SMC
PENTAX-M". Like any A lens, with the aperture ring in the A position,
your 35-105mm will work in all modes on the *ist D.

It is a superb lens with excellent sharpness and a smooth rendition of
out of focus elements of the shot. It is probably my favourite Pentax
lens on 35mm film, but the wide end becomes a less useful equivalent
52.5 mm focal length on the *ist D.

2) Other lenses I have, all for the Pentax bodies above are.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 it has an AE--f32 mode , next to
the f22 stop. I take it that this lens too has an AE mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

Whether this lens will work in all modes on the *ist D depends on
which Tamron adapter is fitted. Look at the lens mounting flange. If
it has PK/A engraved on the face it will work in all modes. If it says
PK or PK/M it will only work in Hyper Manual.

Once again, please be sure we are talking about the digital *ist D and
not the 35mm film *ist, which I repeat is more restrictive.
Basically, pre-A lenses won't work with the film *ist.

The fact that a Tamron lens has A on its aperture ring does not make
it a Pentax-A compatible lens - that compatibility only comes from
using the correct Tamron Adaptall adapter for Pentax KA.

My experience with the Tamron 90mm f/2.5 was mixed. It produced
erratic exposures when used with the Tamron PK/M adapter in Hyper
Manual mode but worked faultlessly in all modes with the PKA adapter.

3) Another lens.....Tamron SP 35--80mm f2.8, f3.8
it too has a AE--f32 mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

The same comments apply as for the 90mm f/2.5. All depends on which
Tamron Adaptall adapter is fitted.

4) My other lenses....Pentax 50mm f1.4
5)............................Pentax 28mm 3.5
are manual lenses and do not have the "A" of 'AE" modes

Tony if I understand you correctly these two lenses only work
in the "automatic stop-down method" or
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".

That's correct. Don't forget that you first have to set a custom
function that allows you to use lenses at any aperture setting other
than "A". You only need to do this once.

Tony, thank you for your reply. I will study the info
and try to digest as much as I can.

Thanks
Denny B

"Tony Polson" wrote in message
...
"Denny B" wrote:

Tony, thank you for your reply. I think I am
beginning to really understand that my lenses will work on
the *ist body.

You're welcome. Let us just be clear here that we are discussing
using these lenses on an *ist D Digital SLR body.

The *ist is the latest Pentax 35mm film SLR. The range of lenses it
can accept is much more restricted than the Ist D DSLR.

This is what I have.
Pentax Bodies.........MX........KX.........SuperME

1)Lenses..............Pentax-A 35---105 f3.5 when you
press a small black button near the A which is next to the f22
it clicks into the A mode and stays there, you have to press
the small black button again to unclick it from the A mode.
I believe what I have discovered is this lens has an "A"mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens will operate in ANY
light metering mode on the *Ist body?

You can tell it is an A lens because it says "SMC PENTAX-A" around
the
front element. K mount lenses prior to this had "SMC PENTAX" or "SMC
PENTAX-M". Like any A lens, with the aperture ring in the A
position,
your 35-105mm will work in all modes on the *ist D.

It is a superb lens with excellent sharpness and a smooth rendition
of
out of focus elements of the shot. It is probably my favourite
Pentax
lens on 35mm film, but the wide end becomes a less useful equivalent
52.5 mm focal length on the *ist D.

2) Other lenses I have, all for the Pentax bodies above are.
Tamron SP 90mm f2.5 it has an AE--f32 mode , next to
the f22 stop. I take it that this lens too has an AE mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

Whether this lens will work in all modes on the *ist D depends on
which Tamron adapter is fitted. Look at the lens mounting flange.
If
it has PK/A engraved on the face it will work in all modes. If it
says
PK or PK/M it will only work in Hyper Manual.

Once again, please be sure we are talking about the digital *ist D
and
not the 35mm film *ist, which I repeat is more restrictive.
Basically, pre-A lenses won't work with the film *ist.

The fact that a Tamron lens has A on its aperture ring does not make
it a Pentax-A compatible lens - that compatibility only comes from
using the correct Tamron Adaptall adapter for Pentax KA.

My experience with the Tamron 90mm f/2.5 was mixed. It produced
erratic exposures when used with the Tamron PK/M adapter in Hyper
Manual mode but worked faultlessly in all modes with the PKA
adapter.

3) Another lens.....Tamron SP 35--80mm f2.8, f3.8
it too has a AE--f32 mode.
Do I now understand correctly that this lens too will operate
in ANY light metering mode on the *Ist body?

The same comments apply as for the 90mm f/2.5. All depends on which
Tamron Adaptall adapter is fitted.

4) My other lenses....Pentax 50mm f1.4
5)............................Pentax 28mm 3.5
are manual lenses and do not have the "A" of 'AE" modes

Tony if I understand you correctly these two lenses only work
in the "automatic stop-down method" or
one-shot aperture priority AE. Pentax call it "Hyper Manual".

That's correct. Don't forget that you first have to set a custom
function that allows you to use lenses at any aperture setting other
than "A". You only need to do this once.