Hi Jim, If you're shooting many different compositions and focusing points at the same aperature, as for example in aperature-priority mode, what you describe is the easiest way I've heard of.
But if you're reconsidering and resetting the aperature for each shot, as for example in manual-exposure mode during slow-paced, non-action shooting, I find it a little more convenient to leave the A/M switch on M, and: -- compose and focus at the widest aperature -- stop down to the desired aperature for metering and shooting. For that kind of shooting, I think using the A/M switch is just an extra step that doesn't really buy you anything. Using the A/M switch with the lens mounted on a K-mount camera essentially uses it as a preset lens. But they weren't designed to be used as preset lenses, and the A/M switch is not as convenient as how a preset lens works. You asked for comments, so here goes: Are you using that 50mm screwmount as your normal lens for general shooting? If so, it seems like an inconvenient, frankly painful choice for such a modern, convenient camera, and I wonder if you'd be happier with an old screwmount, auto-diaphram camera. Certainly, there are people who enjoy such pain and consider it macho, and more power to them, but most of them do not choose a modern, convenient camera such as the ZX-5n. On the other hand, if you use a K-mount lens for general normal-range shooting, and picked up the SMC Takumar to get sharper shots for a small percentage of your shooting, or for slow-paced, non-action shooting situations, now that I could understand. I buy old screwmount lenses when I can't or won't pay for similar optical quality in a K-mount lens. But if I wanted to use a SMC Takumar 50mm for general shooting, I'd want to avoid unnecessary pain by matching it with an old screwmount, auto-diaphram camera. In that case, I'd probably have to keep the cost down by choosing an obscure old Fuji body, rather than a legendary, collectible old Pentax body. Greg > > I recently bought a late model SMC Takumar 50mm lens and adapter and > mounted it to my ZX-5n. It seems for focussing you move the switch to open > the lens and for metering and shooting you have move the switch on the > lens to the stop down mode? It seems very akward and slow. Anyone care to > comment or share some advice? > > Jim > >
