Pentax 110 18mm PanFocus (Is This the Best Pentax 110 Lens?) | Round Glass Review
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- čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
- The 18mm Pan Focus lens makes photography as easy as it can be. Simply point and fire and, for those of us using the Pentax 110 cameras, this is the ideal point and shoot lens. 18mm, on 110 and M43, has a field of view that’s roughly the same as a 36mm lens in full frame terms. So for photographers looking for a tiny lens that can be ideal for street photography, well, this is a good option. And if you have an aperture-free adapter you can always make a fixed waterhouse-style insert to use that will make this lens work at or around hyperfocal distance.
Ultimately, though, unless you’re shooting a Pentax 110 film camera, this lens makes no sense. The 18mm pan focus, and also the focusable 18mm, in the 10 System produce results that are far less technically precise, fairly artistically uninteresting, and of lower overall image quality than do other, similarly-priced lenses today. On 110 film, this lens does still perform in a reasonable manner and the flaws in its images are largely masked by the enlargement ratio and grain in 110.
For a micro four-thirds user who has the apertured adapter, this lens can be a fun experiment, but it will always struggle and likely never deliver images with the same color, contrast, and clarity as a body cap lens, which will certainly be far more durable.
The Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus lens for 110 cameras is an oddity today, an uncommon relic from a time when small was the new big, tiny the new cool, and miniature cameras a fair tradeoff for the size reduction they provided. This lens opens a door to a time when photography sought to mix simplicity with adaptability. The Pan Focus was the simplest of lenses in the simplest-to-use of cameras but could be easily carried alongside other, swappable manual-focus lenses.
The marketplace need for a simple-to-use camera with adaptability and various lens options has not disappeared - this is why many if not all new cell phones now come with multiple camera modules for different lens focal lengths. Cell phones have replaced cameras like the Pentax 110 and its various tiny lenses.
That fascinating past that this lens hints at is one not too different from today, where casual photographers not fussed by technical precision wanted fast, easy gear that could record memories in a way that met many users’ needs - small form, low weight, small prints. Today a cell phone has a small form, low weight, and delivers images to screens. The Pan Focus lens tells us that all of the technological changes over the past 40 years have simply been a new way to meet a long-standing need.
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Video Index:
0:00 - Intro
0:11 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Round Glass Review
2:37 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Specifications
4:36 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Tips & Tricks
8:02 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Lens Diagram
8:38 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Video Use
9:32 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Strengths & Weaknesses
10:57 - Pentax System 10 18mm Pan Focus Narrative Review
References:
www.pentaxforums.com/lensrevi...
www.dpreview.com/forums/threa...
www.pentaxforums.com/lensrevi...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_...
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I know little of the camera as it did not attract my attention during the film era, and I have not previously seen such a detailed and useful review for the lens.
Thanks for posting a very interesting and informative video!
Thank you!
I really loved the look of the images on black and white 110 film.
I completely agree. On film, this lens is great. Using the 24mm recently, too, and having used most of the others on digital, I suspect that theme will hold up as I review all of these lenses in the next couple of years. But, yes, on film, strongly recommend this. On digital, hard pass.
The Minox EC has a 15mm Minox lens, as found on the C and LX. It is fixed focused at 6’ 6” (2 metres), but it has a Waterhouse stop at f5.6. It’s a really excellent performer and I can pull my EC out of my pocket and shoot faster than I can on my iPhone. Film is more fun too!
Thank you! Minox cameras are ones I haven't ever really delved into.
Thanks for this video. I would love to hear what you think of the 70mm lens. It’s one of my favourite lenses on my GX85.
Thank you! The 70mm is my favorite Pentax 110 lens, without a doubt. The 50mm is also very good, too.
The Pentax 110 was great, but ultimately after lots of issues related to age and wear, I now own a Minolta 110 mk2. I also tried the Canon 110 ED 2O, but it had consistent film flatness issues when used with lomography stock. My 8yo daughter loves the Minolta😁
I have maybe 6 more rolls frozen from a clearance sale, and then I think I'm done with 110.
Really interesting review David!
Thank you! I just respooled 12 rolls of 110 this morning before work because it's almost impossible to find 110 film right now (Foma 400, Acros II, Arista 100, and Ulrafine Finesse 400). Respooling 110 is a bit of a pain, but WAY more affordable than buying fresh each time.
do you have a link to the aperture adapter for m43? I have a few of these 110 bodies and lenses
Good question and I do. www.rjcamera.com/ocart/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50
That's the one I purchased and then stuck onto an M43 to Sony E adapter.
@@DavidHancock thanks
Fujica st801 plz
If I can get one, then I would be happy to make that video.
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