Pentax First impressions of my new K-01

wrangler

Regular
Location
SW Minnesota
Name
Dennis Ulrich
My K-01 arrived yesterday from Adorama. I was a bit apprehensive, as I don't like buying things without fondling them first and the reviews of the K-01 are not that positive.

Upon opening the box and handling the camera for the first time, I had the following reactions:

The body really is as big and heavy as my K110D.

I like the build quality and feel of the controls. Great improvement over the dslr.

Why die they decide to use that flap for a cover over the memory card? It seems like a flimsy, cheap solution.

Once the battery was charged and a memory card installed, I shot a few pictures around the house (nothing that I would care to share).

The K40 lens from the kit seems to perform well. But it looks like a toy. This is my first prime lens on a digital. I was reminded how much I like primes. It's just that the ones from my MX and ME Super only work wide open aperture with the new cameras.

The camera balances well in the left hand with my old Sigma 35 to 70 Zoom. The focus/zoom ring falls to hand.

The autofocus for the 40 is much faster and quieter than the 18 to 55 that I bought with dslr.

I love the focus peaking and probably won't rely on autofocus often.

I bought this camera as a backup for the dslr, I think that it might be the other way around.
 
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Make sure you update the firmware on the K-01, if the camera doesn't already have the latest firmware. It supposedly improves the AF speed significantly.
 
... This is my first prime lens on a digital. I was reminded how much I like primes. It's just that the ones from my MX and ME Super only work wide open aperture with the new cameras.

Have you gone into the settings in your K110 to tell it to allow use of the aperture ring on older lenses? Thats what I've done, first on my K200 and now on my K5. You can set manually with the ring and it works a treat. Its off by default. (that is, I am assuming the K110D had that possibility, cannot see why it wouldnt) Should be able to do it with the K-01 as well.
 
Have you gone into the settings in your K110 to tell it to allow use of the aperture ring on older lenses? Thats what I've done, first on my K200 and now on my K5. You can set manually with the ring and it works a treat. Its off by default. (that is, I am assuming the K110D had that possibility, cannot see why it wouldnt) Should be able to do it with the K-01 as well.

I have made that change in setting for both of my digital cameras. The issue is that the lenses for the older film cameras have no "A" aperture setting; therefore, the camera has no way of knowing where the aperture is set. There appears to be no mechanical linkage to stop down the lenses and they operate only at full aperture.

I have a couple of screw mount lenses; one is a Soligar 180 mm with a preset aperture. It works perfectly with the digital cameras. The other is a 70 to 150 Super Takumar Zoom. It has a lever which allows the aperture to stop down. That lens also works with the new cameras.
 
The issue is that the lenses for the older film cameras have no "A" aperture setting; therefore, the camera has no way of knowing where the aperture is set. There appears to be no mechanical linkage to stop down the lenses and they operate only at full aperture.

No there isn't a mechanical linkage to the camera, if there was, there would be no need to use the aperture ring on the lens. I have three manual lenses designed for film, one K, one nothing in particular and one Minolta Rokkor which I was using with an adapter. Setting A in the camera allows the use of the aperture ring on the lens. are you saying you can't do that? Even the old screwmount lenses should have that. On my camera its under C settings (as it was on the K200D, K-x and K-r) and in my case its setting 27--> Using Aperture ring ---> permitted. Then, you'll find you can manually shift the Aperture ring to the setting you want. Its not going to register in the camera, and wont show up in EXIF, but you can use it.

theres a full set of howto for each digital camera at PF
 
No matter how I set up any of the three digital Pentax cameras that I have owned the K-M lenses that I own will not stop down the aperture. This experience concurs with the exceptions to lens compatibility in the manuals. The screw mount lenses that I have make provisions to stop down manually. Those lenses work fine. I have read about breaking off the lever that is used to stop down the lens in the old film cameras. I don't understand how that works and am not willing to sacrifice any of my lenses to try it. I think that if you use these lenses on these cameras you are shooting at wide open aperture; the higher shutter speeds available on dig cameras compensate. But what do I know, my learning curve is still vertical.
 
After playing for a week, I have some additional thoughts.

Many years ago, I owned a twin lens reflex, and tested a view camera with the idea of buying it if I liked it. With those exceptions all of my photography, in the last forty years has been with various Pentax SLR's.

The LCD screen allows me to compose a picture as I was able to do with the TLR and View. A viewfinder would be wasted on me. If I want a viewfinder, I will use my SLR.

I love the "Brick" look and feel; solid, heavy and comfortable in my old arthritic hands.

Although the rubber flap covering the I/O ports has caused me no problems yet, it is a stupid design and I will always wounded what the designer was thinking.

I am happy with my decision to get this camera.
 
No matter how I set up any of the three digital Pentax cameras that I have owned the K-M lenses that I own will not stop down the aperture. This experience concurs with the exceptions to lens compatibility in the manuals. The screw mount lenses that I have make provisions to stop down manually. Those lenses work fine. I have read about breaking off the lever that is used to stop down the lens in the old film cameras. I don't understand how that works and am not willing to sacrifice any of my lenses to try it. I think that if you use these lenses on these cameras you are shooting at wide open aperture; the higher shutter speeds available on dig cameras compensate. But what do I know, my learning curve is still vertical.

M and K lenses stop down fine , but only shooting in M.
Hit the green button, iris closes, camera meters, sets shutter speed, bingo !
In Av and other modes, these lenses stay, as you say, wide open.

Pete
 
I'm going to have to learn to read owner's manuals more carefully!! I read that in Av mode the aperture stays open, and I stopped reading. In manual mode the "green" button must equal depth of field preview.

No green button on my K110D, but depth of field preview turns on meter while stopped down!

Just goes to show that even an old dog _______. Thanks for helping me learn!
 
I'm going to have to learn to read owner's manuals more carefully!! I read that in Av mode the aperture stays open, and I stopped reading. In manual mode the "green" button must equal depth of field preview.

No green button on my K110D, but depth of field preview turns on meter while stopped down!

Just goes to show that even an old dog _______. Thanks for helping me learn!

Needed some fresh eyes :)
mmm the green button :cool:
Pete
 
I heard the gnashing and wailing from the ether at threat of lens surgery...
rushed to the rescue !
One of the glories of Pentax is their faithful following of the lens mounts to various extents.
 
I heard the gnashing and wailing from the ether at threat of lens surgery...
rushed to the rescue !
One of the glories of Pentax is their faithful following of the lens mounts to various extents.

I NEVER considered lens surgery; but I did buy a KA 50 for $24 to supplement my K 50 from my MX. But now , I can use my K 28 mm 2.8 and get the results that I want.
 
A note about the "lens surgery". Breaking off the aperture tang of -M series lenses. It works wonderfully, in live view (as in the K-01), but will darken the view finder as the aperture is stopped down on the other Ks. I chose the surgery rout for mine, with the understanding that the lens would probably not ever be used for any other body. The Pentaxians recommended method, was just too cumbersome for me. My approach gives me instant response to fast changing conditions/situations. I understand the reluctance to "cripple" a good lens. And it's not for the cautious or prudent. But hey, I'm very adventuresome! :D :eek:
 
I've been using the "Brick" for a couple of months now, and have taken several hundred pictures with it. It took me a while to get all of the settings to suit. I bought an MX new, because I prefer the control of a manual camera. I drive a 22 year old car with manual transmission, and crank up windows, again because I want control. I don't like technology interfering. The K-01 is set to spot metering and spot focus so I can pick the meter point and focus point. I have to say that the Brick fulfills all of my expectations for a Pentax camera. In my hand, it feels as solid as the MX. Manual focus and focus peaking are great. I look forward to many years of using this camera.

I have read with interest comments on this forum, and the Pentax forum about the strengths and short comings of K-01; and have reached the following conclusions: people that have tried the K-01 and find fault with the lack of viewfinder and slow auto focus generally only have experience with DSLR's. Those, like me that really like the thing, have lived with manual filmSLR's, Twin lens reflex, view cameras, cameras that required slow methodical input from the user.

No value judgement here, just a casual observation.
 
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