Hello Cameron,
I purchased this lens 8 months ago in M42 mount (and yes, it is a "SMC Pentax
1.4.5 500mm"). It did get some use but not much, as it is too heavy and too big
to take everywhere. My SMC Pentax 1:5.6 400mm K series lens is much more
convenient and can be used hand-held, too. Optically the 500/f4.5 seems to be
very good, sharp, not bad even wide open, and with beautiful bokeh. Mechanically
it is simply perfect. However, due to all-manual operation, this lens can be
used very slowly, only. Shooting moving objects is very difficult. The lens
needs a heavy tripod or monopod. The minimum focusing distance of 10 meters is
often too long, so extension tubes are vital.
Of my pictures with this lens I have only scanned one yet, this you can see at
http://www.arnoldstark.de/birds.jpg
The picture was taken with an LX and at f=6.8. This pictures shall just give you
an idea of the character of pictures taken with the lens. The scan is of poor
quality (I'll have to do it again), so please do not use it to judge the
sharpness of the lens.
> And it seems to have a converter on the back that changes the mount to Pentax
> 67!!! It seems to be a good lens; is this Pentax's kind of 'generic' super
> tele? Or is it an already converted 67 lens?
I think that 6x7 lenses have the "67" in their name. However, if the lens that
you looked at really is the K-mount lens, then you can totally take off the rear
part to screw-in filters. Do not mistake the mount to fit the rear end as a 67
mount. However, one might attach another rear end to fit 67 cameras. The image
circle of the lens has a diameter of about 9 cm, so this might make sense.
Arnold
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