I enjoyed my time with Pentax, but it was just part of the incremental advance of my skill and expectation. I use the Fuji now, and when I go back to the Pentax I am awesomely underwhelmed by the lack of resolution, detail, and micro-contrast. It bugs me in the way that looking at old low resolution TV sets running VHS video tapes does. It's because I've seen the new, and what's possible with the new. The Pentax I still have, but it's place on the shelf is simply a historical reminder of progress made. I guess that old-time patina is not for everyone.
So I recently started doing this with my Sony a6000 and my old Nikon E-Series lenses. It seemed appropriate to use the basic lenses with the basic mirrorless, and the results have been terrific. As you note, the feel of the images are very different and more analog, including a series of recent landscapes that felt like a vintage postcard from the 70s. More than that, though, I really like the way it has forced me back to thinking very carefully about shots. Cool stuff!
This one is excellent. I have the 50R and would love to try the Pentax MF lens on it. Not so easy to find in Australia, but I will keep looking. Thank you.
I have a 50r that I picked up used at a good price in March 2020. I only have one native lens (GF50), which I only really got because it was so heavily discounted at the time by Fuji, and it gave me something to better judge the camera with. I didn’t buy the camera to use primarily with native glass however, I bought it to adapt a number of old manual focus lenses too.
I have around 3 decades on the Eos system, then at the end of 2017 got an A7R3 (which I can use my Canon lenses on anyway), and I added the 50r because it offered me things the A7R3 didn’t (& vice versa).
The 50r is a really enjoyable camera to use. The A7R3 is technically brilliant, but i don’t actually find it ‘fun’ to use, ‘impressive’, yes.
I occasionally see posts in GFX forums where people “don’t get” why folk adapt old manual lenses to the GFX’s as the GF lenses are (mostly) so technically so excellent. But I think these old lenses can be ‘sharp enough’ while imparting some lovely character, or ‘lens flaw’ if you want to put it that way. I see the use of old lenses on the 50r as a choice, in the same way I chose a focal length, aperture or shutter speed. I can select a lens to give me a v.sharp, technically perfect if a tad clinical look, or one that may only be just sharp enough, but may render bokeh unusually, or flare easily or some other normally undesirable trait in a lens that I may want to ‘play’ with in an image. It’s about choice.
Lawrence! I hear all of this for sure, especially the way you describe the Sony feel. Brilliant computer, less joy sparked in use. But of course, that's very personal. I know lots of fellow shooters in love with their Sony's, to each their own. The beauty of friendly competition in camera companies.
I did get a chance to also try out the native 65mm and 110mm lenses and they were very capable, but I spent most of the time shooting with the analog lenses because that is where my interest lies. Like you said, choice!
can you explain a little more about the adapter. it looks like there is a second part. that curved part between adapter and lens, or is it part of it.?
Hi Andy, that curved part is also the adapter, it's a huge thing. It starts at the body of the camera and goes all the way to that red dot in the picture on the right
I enjoyed my time with Pentax, but it was just part of the incremental advance of my skill and expectation. I use the Fuji now, and when I go back to the Pentax I am awesomely underwhelmed by the lack of resolution, detail, and micro-contrast. It bugs me in the way that looking at old low resolution TV sets running VHS video tapes does. It's because I've seen the new, and what's possible with the new. The Pentax I still have, but it's place on the shelf is simply a historical reminder of progress made. I guess that old-time patina is not for everyone.
So I recently started doing this with my Sony a6000 and my old Nikon E-Series lenses. It seemed appropriate to use the basic lenses with the basic mirrorless, and the results have been terrific. As you note, the feel of the images are very different and more analog, including a series of recent landscapes that felt like a vintage postcard from the 70s. More than that, though, I really like the way it has forced me back to thinking very carefully about shots. Cool stuff!
Awesome that you're enjoying it too!
This one is excellent. I have the 50R and would love to try the Pentax MF lens on it. Not so easy to find in Australia, but I will keep looking. Thank you.
I have a 50r that I picked up used at a good price in March 2020. I only have one native lens (GF50), which I only really got because it was so heavily discounted at the time by Fuji, and it gave me something to better judge the camera with. I didn’t buy the camera to use primarily with native glass however, I bought it to adapt a number of old manual focus lenses too.
I have around 3 decades on the Eos system, then at the end of 2017 got an A7R3 (which I can use my Canon lenses on anyway), and I added the 50r because it offered me things the A7R3 didn’t (& vice versa).
The 50r is a really enjoyable camera to use. The A7R3 is technically brilliant, but i don’t actually find it ‘fun’ to use, ‘impressive’, yes.
I occasionally see posts in GFX forums where people “don’t get” why folk adapt old manual lenses to the GFX’s as the GF lenses are (mostly) so technically so excellent. But I think these old lenses can be ‘sharp enough’ while imparting some lovely character, or ‘lens flaw’ if you want to put it that way. I see the use of old lenses on the 50r as a choice, in the same way I chose a focal length, aperture or shutter speed. I can select a lens to give me a v.sharp, technically perfect if a tad clinical look, or one that may only be just sharp enough, but may render bokeh unusually, or flare easily or some other normally undesirable trait in a lens that I may want to ‘play’ with in an image. It’s about choice.
Lawrence! I hear all of this for sure, especially the way you describe the Sony feel. Brilliant computer, less joy sparked in use. But of course, that's very personal. I know lots of fellow shooters in love with their Sony's, to each their own. The beauty of friendly competition in camera companies.
I did get a chance to also try out the native 65mm and 110mm lenses and they were very capable, but I spent most of the time shooting with the analog lenses because that is where my interest lies. Like you said, choice!
can you explain a little more about the adapter. it looks like there is a second part. that curved part between adapter and lens, or is it part of it.?
Hi Andy, that curved part is also the adapter, it's a huge thing. It starts at the body of the camera and goes all the way to that red dot in the picture on the right