K50/f1.2 before and after

**microlight** · 05-16-2016, 02:12 AM - **8 Likes**

I bought a bargain K50/f1.2 here in the UK for £99 - couldn't believe my luck. The glass was in very good condition: no marks or fungus, but the body was pretty beat up with the filter ring distorted and the metal of the nose creased where it must have been dropped. So I contacted Brian Gohacki (dcshooter on the forum) to ask if he could help with refurbishing it, and what a marvellous job he's done. Here it was before, mounted on my K-3II:

And here it is after, chrome nose and all!

So I join the ranks of those that Brian has worked with, and my sincere thanks to him for what he's done with this classic lens.

MarkJerling · 05-16-2016, 02:37 AM

Wow! You'd never guess that's the same lens!

aurele · 05-16-2016, 02:45 AM

impressive work !

Sandy Hancock · 05-16-2016, 02:47 AM

Awesome.

clockworkrat · 05-16-2016, 03:03 AM

I'll keep him in mind if I come across any beaten up old glass. If you're both comfortable with saying, could you give a ballpark figure for the cost of restoration?

pathdoc · 05-16-2016, 03:12 AM - **2 Likes**

"Lazarus, come out!"

**BigMackCam** · 05-16-2016, 03:16 AM

What a nice result - it looks fantastic! Another great example of Brian's work... a very talented chap!

bxf · 05-16-2016, 03:30 AM

As far as I am able to see, even the totally demolished DOF scale looks new now. Now idea how he does this, but it's fantastic work!

**BigMackCam** · 05-16-2016, 03:35 AM

Originally posted by bxf

As far as I am able to see, even the totally demolished DOF scale looks new now.

Yes, I noticed that too. Incredible. Makes me want to find a nice-but-battered old lens just to ask Brian to work his magic on it

**kiwi_jono** · 05-16-2016, 03:40 AM

That's incredible!

And certainly something to be very proud to own.

pathdoc · 05-16-2016, 03:43 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by clockworkrat

If you're both comfortable with saying, could you give a ballpark figure for the cost of restoration?

For a bargain acquisition like this one was, even remembering that the cost of shipping both ways has to be figured in (unless you're local to him), I'd say it's significantly less than the cost of an absolutely mint K50/1.2, which is basically what you're getting once he's finished with it.

You'd have to travel back in time to get them this good - just remember if it ever becomes possible that all your coin has to have the right dates, or you will be arrested in the past for passing fraudulent money - you can't just pull a few hundred $ out of the automatic teller and take it back with you!

(Although no doubt if time travel does ever become possible, the First Temporal Bank of New York or whatever will probably start up, to provide legitimate spending money at appropriate rates of inflation...)

On a side note, I wonder if Brian has ever read James Herriott's vet autobiographies - because every time I see one of his magnificent lens jobs, I think of the little old lady who transformed a neglected dog whose life Herriott had saved from a ruin into a canine masterpiece, and every time she saw him she'd point to it and say:

"Mr Herriott, haven't I made a difference to this dog!"

gorme · 05-16-2016, 04:04 AM

Wow ! That's a great work !

pete-tarmigan · 05-16-2016, 05:17 AM

As usual, dcshooter's work is a thing of beauty.

noelpolar · 05-16-2016, 05:41 AM

Snap.....

**microlight** · 05-16-2016, 06:57 AM

@noelpolar; is your hood screw-on or snap-on?

05-16-2016, 02:12 AM - 8 Likes	#1
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129	K50/f1.2 before and after I bought a bargain K50/f1.2 here in the UK for £99 - couldn't believe my luck. The glass was in very good condition: no marks or fungus, but the body was pretty beat up with the filter ring distorted and the metal of the nose creased where it must have been dropped. So I contacted Brian Gohacki (dcshooter on the forum) to ask if he could help with refurbishing it, and what a marvellous job he's done. Here it was before, mounted on my K-3II: And here it is after, chrome nose and all! So I join the ranks of those that Brian has worked with, and my sincere thanks to him for what he's done with this classic lens.

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05-16-2016, 02:37 AM	#2
MarkJerling Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: May 2012 Location: Wairarapa, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 20,408	Wow! You'd never guess that's the same lens!

05-16-2016, 02:45 AM	#3
aurele Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Paris, France Photos: Albums Posts: 3,217	impressive work !

05-16-2016, 02:47 AM	#4
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,275	Awesome.

05-16-2016, 03:03 AM	#5
clockworkrat Veteran Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Black Isle, Scotland Posts: 405	I'll keep him in mind if I come across any beaten up old glass. If you're both comfortable with saying, could you give a ballpark figure for the cost of restoration?

05-16-2016, 03:12 AM - 2 Likes	#6
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	"Lazarus, come out!"

05-16-2016, 03:16 AM	#7
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,681	What a nice result - it looks fantastic! Another great example of Brian's work... a very talented chap!

05-16-2016, 03:30 AM	#8
bxf Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Lisbon area Posts: 1,660	As far as I am able to see, even the totally demolished DOF scale looks new now. Now idea how he does this, but it's fantastic work!

05-16-2016, 03:35 AM	#9
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,681	Originally posted by bxf As far as I am able to see, even the totally demolished DOF scale looks new now. Yes, I noticed that too. Incredible. Makes me want to find a nice-but-battered old lens just to ask Brian to work his magic on it

05-16-2016, 03:40 AM	#10
kiwi_jono Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Christchurch, New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,437	That's incredible! And certainly something to be very proud to own.

05-16-2016, 03:43 AM - 1 Like	#11
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	Originally posted by clockworkrat If you're both comfortable with saying, could you give a ballpark figure for the cost of restoration? For a bargain acquisition like this one was, even remembering that the cost of shipping both ways has to be figured in (unless you're local to him), I'd say it's significantly less than the cost of an absolutely mint K50/1.2, which is basically what you're getting once he's finished with it. You'd have to travel back in time to get them this good - just remember if it ever becomes possible that all your coin has to have the right dates, or you will be arrested in the past for passing fraudulent money - you can't just pull a few hundred $ out of the automatic teller and take it back with you! (Although no doubt if time travel does ever become possible, the First Temporal Bank of New York or whatever will probably start up, to provide legitimate spending money at appropriate rates of inflation...) On a side note, I wonder if Brian has ever read James Herriott's vet autobiographies - because every time I see one of his magnificent lens jobs, I think of the little old lady who transformed a neglected dog whose life Herriott had saved from a ruin into a canine masterpiece, and every time she saw him she'd point to it and say: "Mr Herriott, haven't I made a difference to this dog!"

05-16-2016, 04:04 AM	#12
gorme Senior Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: Galway - Ireland Posts: 213	Wow ! That's a great work !

05-16-2016, 05:17 AM	#13
pete-tarmigan Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Conception Bay South, New-fun-land Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,272	As usual, dcshooter's work is a thing of beauty.

05-16-2016, 05:41 AM	#14
noelpolar Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Goolwa, SA Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,310	Snap.....

05-16-2016, 06:57 AM	#15
microlight Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 2,129 Original Poster	@noelpolar; is your hood screw-on or snap-on?