Vintage Digital/This Old Lens (Digital Edit)/Hot Wheels: Pentax K-x – Pentax 100mm f/2.8 non-WR Macro Lens.
Background:
I really like the Pentax SMC F 50mm f/1.7 (AF).
It went so well with the Pentax MZ-5 I picked up recently…
…that I also picked up an older variant of the Pentax 100mm f/2.8 Macro.
Two interchangeable lenses and no digital sensor to put behind them.
This had a predictable knock om effect.
Now I wanted a digital Pentax camera.
Have had plenty of Pentax DSLRs before.
Decided against the K-1.
A great camera. Have owned it several times before. But it is overkill when all I want is a digital sensor to put behind some lenses I like. So, APS-C it is and I have owned a few. The relatively newer ones are nice…
…but like the K-1 they cost more than I want to spend and are more camera than I need just to put behind some old film era AF lenses. I could go as far back as the K-20D I once had, but I jumped on KEH and MPB to see what else was out there.
What I settled on?
The K-x.
Also costs peanuts in Excellent condition ($118). Compared to the K20D it loses weather sealing, shares the same SR (Pentax speak for IBIS), but adds a few features.
- Live View.
- Face Detect in Live View.
- Video.
This is right up my alley.
With a new to me camera to test, a solid macro lens, and some Hot Wheels I picked up at a Lowrider show not that long ago…
…it was time to take some pics. And here they are.
Thoughts.
I could not ask for better performance at any price.
All from years old gear clocking in at 12MP. And body and lens for around $200.
Nice.
Next I need to get out in the wild with this kit.
My chorus is singing the national anthem later this week. This might be the kit that I bring. The 50mm for candid pics on the field and the macro for pics of the the field from the stands. And I am looking forward to it.
After I get some more images through this camera I will write a proper Vintage Digital post for it.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 