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Any K-01 with 40mm XS pancake lens users?

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henryk1

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The frequent posts about the K-01 seem to indicate a revival of that underrated camera. I have one, bought during the fire sale of K-01s some years ago, but have not used it all that much. Right now a 35mm 2.4 lives on it, and I've been getting pretty good casual and opportunistic shots with the combo. Such as photos of flowers during my walks around the neighborhood. The kit is small and light, but I'm thinking it might be even handier with a pancake lens, specifically the 40mm XS that Marc Newsom designed to go with the K-01. Used XS in "excellent condition" are available for as low as $150 online.

Anyway, has anyone used this specific combo, and if so, how has it worked out for you?
 
The lens is perfectly good on the K-01 but I'm not fond of the focal length on a crop sensor.

Cheers!

Abbazz
 
I agree with that (too narrow FoV), the two lenses I used most on the K-01 were the M20/4.0 and M28/2.8. I said "were" because my K-01 stopped working last year (solenoid failure in the shutter mechanism). I replaced the K-01 with one of the last KP's new available.

But the XS40 optically is a great lens, in fact I use it a lot on my K1ii for the compactness and useful FoV. This despite the far corners are a bit dark and blurry on FF.

AF with the XS40 is very quick, quit and precise.
 
I once bought it for my K-S1 for compactness, but returned after a quick test. That particular copy was probably faulty, I couldn't get it to focus properly. Either edges or centre were always blurry. The focal length was also odd, neither normal nor tele. Got a 50/1.8 instead.
 
Thanks for the responses. a 60mm equivalent on an APS-C sensor does seem an odd choice. However, earlier this summer I took a Sony full-frame A7Riii on a vacation to Alaska. I had two full-frame lenses with it: a Tamron 28-200 for longer shots and a Sony 28-60 for a lightweight walkaround combo. (I am 82 and camera-and-lens weight is now a serious consideration.)

To my surprise I was using the 28-60 most at 60mm for street shots and mountain shots. That 60mm just got me a few steps closer to my subjects than either 35 or 50mm. The light weight made a difference in utility--a personal thing, of course. Fellow geezers might agree.
 
henryk1 said:
Thanks for the responses. a 60mm equivalent on an APS-C sensor does seem an odd choice.
Click to expand...
Not so odd … there were very many Zenit slrs sold with the 58mm Helios-44 (and it's derivatives) as the "kit" lens … presumably there were also cameras fitted with the Zeiss Biotar that the Helios was based on, so there is a history of that focal length being used on full-frame cameras.

Although I bought my second-hand K-01 both because it had a 40mm XS fitted and because I've always appreciated the design of the camera, when it comes down to actually using the camera I've suffered both from excessive reflections on the screen and not being able to see the screen due to age-related long-sightedness so it's had very little actual use. I've tried one of the screen loupes, certainly makes the camera easier to use but detracts from the overall "image" of the camera … I'd rather stick with one of my ovf DSLRs.

The camera continues to look good with an "ordinary" 18-55mm fitted and the 40mm XS lives in my bag … it fits in well with the general ethos of the KP when fitted with the small grip ;)
 
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kypfer said:
henryk1 said:
Thanks for the responses. a 60mm equivalent on an APS-C sensor does seem an odd choice.
Click to expand...
Not so odd … there were very many Zenit slrs sold with the 58mm Helios-44 (and it's derivatives) as the "kit" lens … presumably there were also cameras fitted with the Zeiss Biotar that the Helios was based on, so there is a history of that focal length being used on full-frame cameras.

Although I bought my second-hand K-01 both because it had a 40mm XS fitted and because I've always appreciated the design of the camera, when it comes down to actually using the camera I've suffered both from excessive reflections on the screen and not being able to see the screen due to age-related long-sightedness so it's had very little actual use. I've tried one of the screen loupes, certainly makes the camera easier to use but detracts from the overall "image" of the camera … I'd rather stick with one of my ovf DSLRs.

The camera continues to look good with an "ordinary" 18-55mm fitted and the 40mm XS lives in my bag … it fits in well with the general ethos of the KP when fitted with the small grip ;)
Click to expand...
The closest lenses (to the Zenitar) are of 35mm for cropped sensors. Well, maybe not! Anyway, I am using my K-01 with the DA 21/3.2 lens. A perfect combo :-) .

--
Regards,
Peter
 
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