My equipment

A short story

I am ancient enough to remember C-41 negative film`s development process, and I still able to load a film into film development tank, but I don`t think anyone is interested in these things at present.

I was started my personal digital photolife from Olympus C-740 and, thanks to my acquaintances, I was able to shoot with Canon EOS 300D and Pentax *ist D same time. My first personal digital APS-C camera was Pentax K10D. Because I could compare images from Canon and Pentax systems (not only from cameras mentioned above) I finally preferred Pentax. Some time later K10D was changed to Pentax K20D.

I have shoot with K20D for a long time. Because most of my photosessions were in studios I didn’t ever suffer of a slow AF (ok, a couple of time). I like almost everything in this camera, especially colors, but the viewfinder – it became a disaster for me. You can’t shoot from low points, you can’t shoot from over the head. And when (a few years ago) i found a semi-official Pentax statement that they will not going to do mirror-less segment, I understood that time to change the camera has come.

Around the same time I bought a Sony RX100 IV. I’ve planned this camera for everyday use, because one just cannot carry a 2 kilos of DSLR everyday. RX100 is a very small and light camera, you can put in the pocked, and it has a half of APS-C sensor, which makes it incredible in hand-held segment (and not only). A hundred images later I found than my K20D far behind this hand-held baby. Sony’s “complicated menu” didn’t scared me at all and I started explore about Sony mirror-less cameras too (among others of Pentax and Canon) as an alternative for change my K20D.

And because I didn’t want APS-C camera of any system, my target moved to a full frame segment. I’ve got some (very favorite) good lenses for Pentax, so I always had to remember about it. Changing system to Canon or Nikon meant I would have to change all my lenses. And that time I found an adapter from Pentax KAF to Sony E-mount with autofocus support. And yes, it was the MonsterAdapter LA-KE1. This adapter meant I will stay with my optics. That time I suddenly figured out that my next camera will be Sony and I bought the adapter. Little later I became the proud owner of Sony A7R M3A.

Main part

At present, I have three digital cameras:

  • Pentax K20D;
  • Sony RX100 M4;
  • Sony A7R M3A.

Since I’ve got Sony RX100 I almost stopped filming on Pentax. Most of the time I’m using Sony RX100. But when I use my A7R M3A, I’m using Pentax lenses with it. “Lenses I use the most with my Sony” list looks like this (arranged by frequency of use):

  • Viltrox 75 mm F1,2 (for APS-C Sony Mount E);
  • Tamron 28-75 mm F2,8 FE Di III VXD G2 (for Sony Mount E);
  • SMC Pentax FA 77 mm F1,8 Lim (with MonsterAdapter);
  • Pentax FA 100 mm Macro F3,5 (with MonsterAdapter);
  • Helios 44M (with M42-NEX adapter);
  • SMC Pentax-FA 50 mm F1,4 (with MonsterAdapter);
  • SMC Pentax-DA 40 mm F2,8 (with MonsterAdapter).

I also have some other Pentax lenses, but I use them very seldom, like one time a year, so they aren’t on the list.

The list of favorite lenses is keeping up to date.

P.S.: A review of MonsterAdapter LA-KE1, how it works with different lenses, it’s drawbacks and conclusion I will publish soon.