The results from that lens proved that the eight-dollar Pentax worked just fine.
A couple weeks ago I noticed another K-Mount lens on eBay - this time a Pentax 50mm f2.0. I decided it was time to replace the jammed 50mm that came with the camera, and picked it up for $35.00.
The first roll of film I ran through with the 50mm was some Fuji 200 that expired in 2004. What came back after I had the roll developed amazed me; many of the shots that were taken with the aperture wide open (f2.0 to f4.5) had a somewhat magical, haunting, or innocent look to them. An interesting example is the Solara photo at the top of this post. The red car surrounded by a smooth blur made me look twice at the photo and say, "that came from my camera?"
I was intrigued.
The lens seemed to provide a level of control over the subject that I didn't have with other lenses. And coupled with a K1000 - a sturdy and simple SLR - the results were very satisfying. Of course, the shots aren't perfect. Tie some of that to the fact that the film expired eight years ago. But many of the shot required very little in the form of post editing on my computer after they were scanned. Fuji film provides cool colors - more blue than red - which gives these photos a more calming impact.
Here are some other Magic Lens shots from the roll:
