Pentax Lenses

[xavier]

Friends
I got an MZ-M from Pentax this year, August if I recall BUT it had no lense. I asked Pentax did they have one, a lense to spare. They didn't! I hope some one can help? thingy is the MZ-M is a 35mm analog camera

[chris-p]

What do you mean you "got one" from Pentax?

Did you buy it? If so, did you buy a lens with it? I can't see Pentax giving away a lens but you can always buy one! Have a hunt around for a 35-80 or similar which would have been the "kit" lens it came with...

[xavier]

All I got on the day was the body and nought else thinking I could pick a lense up another time. It was not a camera kit & I did not want Pentax to give one as you think Chris I want to buy one from Pentax or Sigma or Metz. The thing is finding lenses for the MZ-M is harder than I tought

[Barkers]

Hi, Xavier,

The MZ-M is an extremely competent and underrated camera. I'm sure you'll enjoy using it. As Chris-P says, the kit lens was a 35-80 (autofocus, oddly, although the camera is strictly manual), but it will take any K-mount Pentax lens, although the newer DA lenses are designed for digital only and will not cover the entire 35mm frame. To get the full benefit of the two-segment metering, you can't go wrong with any of the SMC-A lenses. SMC-M lenses will limit the metering to centre-weighted, but that works just as well in most circumstances. I have a 35-80 f4-5.6 in as-new condition that I have no use for (gone digital). Drop me an email or private message if you're intersted in it. Good luck with your new camera.

Al Rogers

[chris-p]

Have a look in some second hand shops. I know that Harpers Photographic have A 35-80mm as I sold it to them. It's up at £42 which is fairly good value.

[HinFrance]

I've been buying second hand lenses on eBay. They are not cheap - especially any K series lens or later primes. The F and FA series of primes are the most expensive.

But F series zooms are usually pretty cheap, as are Sigma and Tamron zooms of the same vintage. Have a good hunt around, I'm sure you'll find something to suit.

[xavier]

Thanks HinFrance but I only new and as for eBay tried it for sumthing else and could not get on the web site so it is Sigma or Metz. As for Tamron they are Cannon only as far as I Know, I don't think they do for any other company. I asked Pentax about the camera and all I got was its discontinued try second hand

[HinFrance]

Hi Xavier.

My current lens collection for my film Pentax bodies consists of:
Vivitar 28-200 1:3.5-5.3 PKA (dates from the 1980s and won't fit the digital SLRs)
Tamron 80-210 PKAF 1:4.5-5.6 (came with a second hand SFX body)
Pentax 50 PKAF 1.4 (second hand - stunningly good)
Pentax 35-70 PKAF 1:3.5-4.5 (came with second hand SFX body and is quite broken, been trying to find another one for a reasonable price, no luck so far)
Chinon 50 Auto 1:7 (second hand - all manual so needs effort - stunningly good)

There really is a huge choice out there. Don't be put off buying used; many people really take very good care of their kit and you can get some super lenses - but sometimes you do get a bad one, it's a hazard of buying sight unseen. Perhaps a camera shop that sells used equipment would be a good compromise?