Problem: M42 lens on K10D

[SGT]

I posted this on another forum with no satisfaction. Maybe someone here has some ideas:

HELP!! I’m having an issue with mounting a M42 lens to my K10D using a M42 – PK adapter. If I thread the adapter on the lens first, then try to mount it to the body it doesn’t work. I can only turn the lens about 1/32”. If I put the adapter on the body 1st then screw the lens on, it goes on ok, but the aperture scale and DOF scale are at about the 4:00 position I would expect them to be at or near the 12:00 position (can’t test infinity focus, it’s too dark). If I try the same setup on my MX, I have the same issue. I can use the same adapter with another lens without any problem. The lens that doesn’t work is a 400 5.6 Takumar, the lens that does is a very cheap Focal 135 2.8. Anybody heard of this issue or a work around? I am at the end of my rope.

Thanks
Steve

[carpents]

Can you post a photo of the adapter?

I have never heard of your problem.

I take it back - it sounds like you're trying to fit a T-mount adapter (42mm x 1mm thread pitch) onto an M42 lens (42mm x .75mm thread pitch). The other brand lens is probably a T-mount.

[Mike Cash]

Not sure what's going on, exactly. But you should find that the center of your scale markings will end up at around the 10 o'clock position (as viewed from the front of the camera). You will very quickly come to appreciate this as a feature instead of a bug. It puts the scales in plain sight instead of having them blocked off by the protrusion of the built-in flash.

[SGT]

Originally Posted by carpents

Can you post a photo of the adapter?

I have never heard of your problem.

I take it back - it sounds like you're trying to fit a T-mount adapter (42mm x 1mm thread pitch) onto an M42 lens (42mm x .75mm thread pitch). The other brand lens is probably a T-mount.

Thanks for the response, I was hoping that this was one of those common easy to fix issues. The adapter is in fact a M42 to Pentax K mount adapter (brand is Kalt), and the cheap lens is an M42 (I took it off my old Spotmatic).

I wonder if I should spend the $30 and get a genuine Pentax adapter? It's just bugs me that the adapter works on a cheap off brand lens but not the genuine article.

[roy]

my kalt works just fine. are you sure you are lining up the mount correctly. i always put the adapter on the lens first. i have 3 original pentax adapters if you are interested.