Re: Whatever happened to Pentax?

nospam wrote:
> In article <47d31526$0$6164$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, Pudentame
> <no.one@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> 
>> And unlike Nikon and Canon Pentax DSLRs are backward compatible with
ALL 
>> of Pentax's legacy lenses; going all the way back to screw mount 
>> (although somewhat grudgingly and with some limitations in
functionality 
>> - but you CAN use them).
> 
> that's not entirely true.  pentax dropped the coupler so non-a lenses
> need an extra step to stop down and meter.  however, it's a single
> button to press and that's easier than with low end nikon; mid and high
> end nikon meter normally.  pentax sdm lenses won't work on earlier
> cameras, such as the k100d.  
They work, they won't autofocus. Which is the same situation 
you will have with Nikon if you mount a non-AFS lens on a 
D40/D40x. Which basically means most 3rd party lenses won't 
deliver AF on these cameras.
>and then there's ricoh's k mount variant
> where the lens mounts, but gets stuck on the camera and needs to be
> surgically removed.  so there's some issues with pentax too.
A Ricoh K-Mount isn't a pentax lens though. Although there 
are some limitations with focus and metering, you can 
attach, and then take a photograph with all old Pentax K 
mount lenses, or with a suitable adapter you can also use 
thread, 645 and 67 lenses. If it is non-Pentax, but in K, 
Thread, 645, or 67 mount, then it will most probably still 
work. The Ricoh lenses can be modified and then will work 
fine. Compare this scenario with Canon and Nikon, where not 
even all the genuine lenses will work.
> 
> on nikon, just about every ai lens or later will mount and work, with
> some limitations in functionality, just like pentax.
Yes, but if it is a non-AI lens, then on some cameras you 
have no metering at all (at least pentax gives stop-down 
metering), and on some models they won't fire at all. If it 
is a non-AFS lens, which is a LOT, even current models, then 
you will have no AF on some models.