Mid-Summer Pow Wow

The Thunderbird American Indian Mid-Summer Pow Wow.

SMC Takumar 105mm f2.8 screwmount lens on Olympus Pen E-PL1.

Adapted Lenses

There are some occasions I wanted to shoot with a digital camera but I don't want to bother with my big DSLRs so I picked up a pre-owned Olympus Pen E-PL1. Since it's an older model micro 4/3 digital camera, this model now sells for a bargain. The E-PL1 is compact like my rangefinder film cameras but produces fine images comparable to my DSLR images. The 14-42mm kit lens that came with it handles low light well with minimal pixel noise. Another thing I like about it is that I could also use practically any other lens with it via lens mount adapters. The lens adapters are readily available and are very inexpensive at eBay. I bought a M42 and a L39 screwmount adapters so I could try my Leica tread mount and Pentax Takumar lenses. The image of the car model above was shot with my Jupiter-8 50 mm f2 lens and the pencils was shot with my Takumar 55 mm f1.8 lens both at f2.8. This camera is good for complimenting my film cameras without having to carry too much gear.

My Summer Lunch Time Hangout

No Eating On The Curb

Going For Takeout!

Appreciating M42 Screwmount Lenses

I bought the Pentax Spotmatic II cameras for the M42 screwmount lenses. They are known to be very good and sharp lenses but underrated by overly brand conscious shooters. The Pentax Takumar lenses specially, are well built and very smooth to focus. Recently it easy to build a complete lens kit with them since they can be easily acquired at a bargain. With proper lens mount adapters, they will work with many digital SLRs like Canon or Sony. They can also work with other Pentax K-mount cameras. I also use my screwmount lenses on my Pentax MX, a very small and compact SLR. It is almost the same size as my Barnack type rangefinder cameras; Leca IIF, Fed1 or Canon IIB.

Dance and Music For Mother Earth

Celebrating Mother Earth with music and dances during the 9th Annual Drums Along the Hudson Festival.

Cameras: Pentax Spotmatic II, SMC Takumar 105mm f2.8 lens, Leica M2, CV Color Skopar 35mm f2.5 lens.
Film: Fujicolor 200, Kodak BW400CN

Spotmatic II

A few weeks ago I went to a camera swap meet in New Jersey. I haven't gone to one in a couple of years. Before the internet and Ebay, camera swap meets like this are very regular in New York and a very good source of used photographic gear. I would usually meet up with some of my photographer friends and have a late lunch afterwards to show off what were able to pick up that day. I was able to build my lens collection from these events. Lately though, swap meets are getting fewer and the choices of good gear are getting even less.
This time I was able to pick a Pentax Spotmatic II with a couple screwmount lenses. I heard good things about the Pentax Takumar lenses so I thought I will give them a try.
Above and below are some images from my first test shots taken with a SMC Takumar 55mm f1.8 lens.