Lens stuck on camera - Help please!

dompel · 03-16-2011, 06:29 PM

Hi guys,
So I bought a few lenses last week. Some old primes. They are awesome and I'm having so much fun with them. Then I found someone else selling some. I did my research to make sure that the camera they came from was k-mount (Sears KSX-P) which it is.

The lenses he had were all manual (no A settings) and I couldn't figure out how to get them to take a picture. The F-- just kept on blinking in every mode. So I tried lens after lens hoping one would snap pictures. Then I put the telephoto lens on and it only went on like half way, and it's completely stuck on. I cannot remove it from the body.

We spent like 10 minutes trying to get it off and it won't move. It feels loose and just moves like a millimeter in each direction.

Does anyone know how to get it off? I'm really freaking out. I just bought this camera a couple of weeks ago and I think I'm in way over my head.

If it's not something I can fix, how much would a camera shop cost to remove it? Can a camera shop even do this sort of thing?!

Attached Images

SOldBear · 03-16-2011, 06:35 PM

The infamous "Ricoh pin" gets stuck in the hole for the autofocus shaft on the camera's lens mount.

I happen to have a photo here (preparing to sell the adapter). The red arrow points to the pin.

Do a search for "Ricoh pin" for remedy. It's tedious, but fixable.

SlickYamaha · 03-16-2011, 06:36 PM

Im thinking thats the lens with the little pin in it... if so i BELIEVE someone knows how to get them off, but im not going to be the guy who gives you bad advice, so, hopefully someone with knowledge will chime in.

I thought i heard you just try to muscle it off, but I would not personally try that.

Wheatfield · 03-16-2011, 06:37 PM

Try switching the body to manual focus and see if you can't wiggle the lens off. I suspect you have a Rikoh mount lens and the AF key is jammed on the mount.
Also, to get your non A lenses to work you need to go into the menu and enable Aperture Ring off A to take pictures.

aleonx3 · 03-16-2011, 06:39 PM

If you search for the threads about the dreadful ricoh pin get stuck, you will know that you have to be careful with the P(R) MF lens. Some have suggested that you use a thin gauge to slide through and carefully wiggle the lens to get the ricoh pin loose stuck in the screw drive position on the camera mount. Apparently some have succeeded.

I have not done this before. But I know my Ricoh/Rikenon lens does have the pin but is retractable easily so it does not get stuck. I heard the Sears lens was problematic. If I have that lens, I will definitely consider removing that pin first. However, all of my Sears MF lens are m42 lenses, so I don't have that problem.

dompel · 03-16-2011, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by Wheatfield

Try switching the body to manual focus and see if you can't wiggle the lens off. I suspect you have a Rikoh mount lens and the AF key is jammed on the mount.
Also, to get your non A lenses to work you need to go into the menu and enable Aperture Ring off A to take pictures.

Dumb question: Camera on or off to switch focus?

**monochrome** · 03-16-2011, 06:40 PM

Here's a link to the Ricoh pin rescue. This might be your problem - you didn't break anything.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/125535-help-old-lens-stuck-new-k-r.html

K57XR · 03-16-2011, 06:48 PM

Your first photo shows "KR" stamped on the lens...it does have the Ricoh Pin.

This may be worth a shot. Take the aperture out of "A" setting then try to take the lens off. This works on some Vivitars, I'm not sure it will work on yours but it's worth a try. The Ricoh pin on some Vivitars retract if aperture ring is not on "A" position.

Here's another link: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/46816-all-righ...ens-stuck.html
Good luck!

dompel · 03-16-2011, 07:42 PM

YES. Got it off.

Thank you so much guys. I ended up using an iphone screen cover, it's like a thin piece of plastic.

**boriscleto** · 03-16-2011, 07:55 PM

Any time you see a lens with a P(A) setting, it has a "Ricoh" pin. Some lenses only have the A marking but still have the "Ricoh" pin.

Ricoh Pin - a set on Flickr

Later lenses use a redesigned pin that won't get stuck in the AF. Some lenses have a pin that retracts when you switch off the P(A) setting.

Stringmike · 03-16-2011, 08:55 PM

...especially those of us who like older manual-focus lenses. I got a Ricoh pin stuck in my K10D and managed to release it by turning off autofocus and wiggling. A thin feeler gauge is supposed to work pretty well if wiggling doesn't work.

Don't panic and take your time - the Pentax mount is pretty robust and you won't damage it.

Mike

K57XR · 03-16-2011, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by dompel

YES. Got it off.

Thank you so much guys. I ended up using an iphone screen cover, it's like a thin piece of plastic.

Now that you have the lens off, the Ricoh pin can be removed easily if you're up to it.
theatre of noise: Ricoh Lenses On Pentax Cameras -- The Ricoh Pin Fix

Raylon · 03-16-2011, 09:36 PM

I remember getting a lens stuck on my K200D. Scared the bajeebies outta me. I can't remember how I got it off but it was a terrible couple hours, thinking I ruined my lens mount and would have to send it to someone to get it off.

stevebrot · 03-16-2011, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by dompel

I did my research to make sure that the camera they came from was k-mount (Sears KSX-P) which it is.

...and there is your first clue. The Sears program exposure cameras were made by Ricoh and share the Ricoh P variant of the K-mount. Those are the lenses with the pin. As mentioned above, they often have "P" on the aperture ring rather than "A", though the easiest way to tell is to look for an "R" somewhere on the lens or mount.

Note that not all Ricoh lenses are dangerous. Only the ones made for their program exposure cameras. All Rikenon M42 screw mount are perfectly safe as are XR Rikenon K-mount lenses.

Steve

**boriscleto** · 03-17-2011, 05:55 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

...and there is your first clue. The Sears program exposure cameras were made by Ricoh and share the Ricoh P variant of the K-mount.

Except for the KSX-P. The KSX-P was made by Chinon (Chinon Program 5)

Sears KSX-P 35mm camera manual

Chinon lenses do not have a "Ricoh" pin or an A setting. For Program mode you set the lens to f/22. The Chinon lenses are plain PK mount. I have an Auto Sears 50mm f/1.7 from a KSX-P. Very nice lens, paid $10 for it.

03-16-2011, 06:29 PM	#1
dompel New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 7	Lens stuck on camera - Help please! Hi guys, So I bought a few lenses last week. Some old primes. They are awesome and I'm having so much fun with them. Then I found someone else selling some. I did my research to make sure that the camera they came from was k-mount (Sears KSX-P) which it is. The lenses he had were all manual (no A settings) and I couldn't figure out how to get them to take a picture. The F-- just kept on blinking in every mode. So I tried lens after lens hoping one would snap pictures. Then I put the telephoto lens on and it only went on like half way, and it's completely stuck on. I cannot remove it from the body. We spent like 10 minutes trying to get it off and it won't move. It feels loose and just moves like a millimeter in each direction. Does anyone know how to get it off? I'm really freaking out. I just bought this camera a couple of weeks ago and I think I'm in way over my head. If it's not something I can fix, how much would a camera shop cost to remove it? Can a camera shop even do this sort of thing?! Attached Images

03-16-2011, 06:35 PM	#2
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	The infamous "Ricoh pin" gets stuck in the hole for the autofocus shaft on the camera's lens mount. I happen to have a photo here (preparing to sell the adapter). The red arrow points to the pin. Do a search for "Ricoh pin" for remedy. It's tedious, but fixable. Last edited by SOldBear; 03-16-2011 at 06:43 PM.

03-16-2011, 08:55 PM	#11
Stringmike Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 283	Don't worry - many of us have done the same! ...especially those of us who like older manual-focus lenses. I got a Ricoh pin stuck in my K10D and managed to release it by turning off autofocus and wiggling. A thin feeler gauge is supposed to work pretty well if wiggling doesn't work. Don't panic and take your time - the Pentax mount is pretty robust and you won't damage it. Mike

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03-16-2011, 06:36 PM	#3
SlickYamaha Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Bel Air MD Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 840	Im thinking thats the lens with the little pin in it... if so i BELIEVE someone knows how to get them off, but im not going to be the guy who gives you bad advice, so, hopefully someone with knowledge will chime in. I thought i heard you just try to muscle it off, but I would not personally try that.

03-16-2011, 06:37 PM	#4
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	Try switching the body to manual focus and see if you can't wiggle the lens off. I suspect you have a Rikoh mount lens and the AF key is jammed on the mount. Also, to get your non A lenses to work you need to go into the menu and enable Aperture Ring off A to take pictures.

03-16-2011, 06:39 PM	#5
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	If you search for the threads about the dreadful ricoh pin get stuck, you will know that you have to be careful with the P(R) MF lens. Some have suggested that you use a thin gauge to slide through and carefully wiggle the lens to get the ricoh pin loose stuck in the screw drive position on the camera mount. Apparently some have succeeded. I have not done this before. But I know my Ricoh/Rikenon lens does have the pin but is retractable easily so it does not get stuck. I heard the Sears lens was problematic. If I have that lens, I will definitely consider removing that pin first. However, all of my Sears MF lens are m42 lenses, so I don't have that problem.

03-16-2011, 06:40 PM	#6
dompel New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	Originally posted by Wheatfield Try switching the body to manual focus and see if you can't wiggle the lens off. I suspect you have a Rikoh mount lens and the AF key is jammed on the mount. Also, to get your non A lenses to work you need to go into the menu and enable Aperture Ring off A to take pictures. Dumb question: Camera on or off to switch focus?

03-16-2011, 06:40 PM	#7
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Here's a link to the Ricoh pin rescue. This might be your problem - you didn't break anything. https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-k-r-forum/125535-help-old-lens-stuck-new-k-r.html

03-16-2011, 06:48 PM	#8
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	Your first photo shows "KR" stamped on the lens...it does have the Ricoh Pin. This may be worth a shot. Take the aperture out of "A" setting then try to take the lens off. This works on some Vivitars, I'm not sure it will work on yours but it's worth a try. The Ricoh pin on some Vivitars retract if aperture ring is not on "A" position. Here's another link: https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/pentax-slr-lens-discussion/46816-all-righ...ens-stuck.html Good luck!

03-16-2011, 07:42 PM	#9
dompel New Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 7 Original Poster	YES. Got it off. Thank you so much guys. I ended up using an iphone screen cover, it's like a thin piece of plastic.

03-16-2011, 07:55 PM	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Any time you see a lens with a P(A) setting, it has a "Ricoh" pin. Some lenses only have the A marking but still have the "Ricoh" pin. Ricoh Pin - a set on Flickr Later lenses use a redesigned pin that won't get stuck in the AF. Some lenses have a pin that retracts when you switch off the P(A) setting.

03-16-2011, 09:06 PM	#12
K57XR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 830	Originally posted by dompel YES. Got it off. Thank you so much guys. I ended up using an iphone screen cover, it's like a thin piece of plastic. Now that you have the lens off, the Ricoh pin can be removed easily if you're up to it. theatre of noise: Ricoh Lenses On Pentax Cameras -- The Ricoh Pin Fix

03-16-2011, 09:36 PM	#13
Raylon Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 70	I remember getting a lens stuck on my K200D. Scared the bajeebies outta me. I can't remember how I got it off but it was a terrible couple hours, thinking I ruined my lens mount and would have to send it to someone to get it off.

03-16-2011, 09:38 PM	#14
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by dompel I did my research to make sure that the camera they came from was k-mount (Sears KSX-P) which it is. ...and there is your first clue. The Sears program exposure cameras were made by Ricoh and share the Ricoh P variant of the K-mount. Those are the lenses with the pin. As mentioned above, they often have "P" on the aperture ring rather than "A", though the easiest way to tell is to look for an "R" somewhere on the lens or mount. Note that not all Ricoh lenses are dangerous. Only the ones made for their program exposure cameras. All Rikenon M42 screw mount are perfectly safe as are XR Rikenon K-mount lenses. Steve

03-17-2011, 05:55 AM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by stevebrot ...and there is your first clue. The Sears program exposure cameras were made by Ricoh and share the Ricoh P variant of the K-mount. Except for the KSX-P. The KSX-P was made by Chinon (Chinon Program 5) Sears KSX-P 35mm camera manual Chinon lenses do not have a "Ricoh" pin or an A setting. For Program mode you set the lens to f/22. The Chinon lenses are plain PK mount. I have an Auto Sears 50mm f/1.7 from a KSX-P. Very nice lens, paid $10 for it.