Add a foot or ring to an older SMC Pentax-A 300 mm (older model)

Pentagel · 01-19-2020, 02:04 PM - **1 Like**

Hello,

I need better balance on my SMC 300 to reduce the stress on the ball head of the tripod. As that lens does not have a foot or any facility for one, what do I need to get to hack some kind of foot so I can use a long extension plate?

Cheers and thanks for any advice.

**aslyfox** · 01-19-2020, 02:29 PM

I take it that you have this one ?

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4 Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

no foot

as oppose to this one

SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F2.8 ED [IF] Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

has a foot

HoutHans · 01-19-2020, 02:33 PM

Hi Pentagel,

I've had the same problem with my M300/4* and addressed it by getting some 20 cm 5*50 mm aluminium plate. A have attached a small cradle for the front part of the lens and then I drilled some holes that would allow me to attach the camera to the plate with a separate screw and a treaded hole to fix the entire assembly to my tripod. I can take some pictures and upload these, if you're interested.

best wishes,
hans

deus ursus · 01-19-2020, 02:40 PM

They guy I bought my M*300/4 from had made this himself (see attaches images). I know no details on how it was done, so it's no use in asking me. :-) It works, though. The camera balances well on a tripod, although the design could have been a bit stiffer. It vibrates a little.

This foot is made from two pieces of aluminium. I can imagine a design in one piece could be stiffer.

Attached Images

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-19-2020, 02:49 PM

I made this for my K300/4

You could do a similar mount for your lens

It picks up both the kens and body

Ps I made it to also consider I was putting the F1.7x AF adaptor between the lens and camera

texandrews · 01-19-2020, 04:36 PM

There are a bunch of options out there for this. Just check the usual suspects....

**AggieDad** · 01-19-2020, 04:53 PM

Check this Manfrotto lens support from B&H HERE. You can use it with multiple lenses.

EDIT: The more I look at it, the more I think you can make this with some scrap lumber and extra strap you have in a drawer. I love to make these kinds of little things, and this one just begs to be a quick Saturday morning project.

**aslyfox** · 01-19-2020, 05:39 PM

Originally posted by AggieDad

. . . EDIT: The more I look at it, the more I think you can make this with some scrap lumber and extra strap you have in a drawer. I love to make these kinds of little things, and this one just begs to be a quick Saturday morning project.

do you want elegant or effective

perhaps an appropriate sized plate and some duct tape might work ?

sawtooth235 · 01-19-2020, 07:21 PM

I have a SMC 300mm F4 K that I bought a generic lens clamp for a Canon 70mm-200mm f2.8 off of e-bay for about $10.00 that works great.

Pentagel · 01-19-2020, 07:47 PM

Wow! Thank you so much for all the suggestions and ideas.

I am going on a trip to Costa Rica and need to have a solution to my problem in the next 2 weeks basically. So something mostly ready to use would be really nice.
That said, I am handy with wood and could build something custom if I can't find any other options.

If you know of something that would mostly work, I'll order it right away.

Yes, I have the older manual lens.

Paul the Sunman · 01-19-2020, 08:51 PM

This Manfrotto looks like it would do the job, and is in stock at B&H.

**TedH42** · 01-19-2020, 09:10 PM

Originally posted by Paul the Sunman

This Manfrotto looks like it would do the job, and is in stock at B&H.

This Manfrotto works quite nicely - I use it on my A* 300mm F4 lens.

vonBaloney · 01-19-2020, 09:48 PM

I have that Manfrotto thing -- it is quite useful for big older lenses, especially if they are internal focusing (since it has to rest on the brace in the front, good if it doesn't need to rotate but it still works if it does if you rest it on a smooth part). Can't say if it would be too annoying for the 300/4 but it is a nifty gadget anyway...

**Just1MoreDave** · 01-20-2020, 11:12 AM

The easiest solution is if there is a place on the lens with the same diameter as a Canon or Nikon lens. Then you can find a generic foot on Amazon or whatever, usually very cheap. The K300/4 has a very narrow area to clamp something unless you want to clamp to the aperture ring, but this generic thing mostly fits on that spot and holds well. So break out some calipers and hunt for specs on generic replacements. It's quicker than making your own.

**Lowell Goudge** · 01-23-2020, 05:02 AM

Originally posted by Just1MoreDave

The easiest solution is if there is a place on the lens with the same diameter as a Canon or Nikon lens. Then you can find a generic foot on Amazon or whatever, usually very cheap. The K300/4 has a very narrow area to clamp something unless you want to clamp to the aperture ring, but this generic thing mostly fits on that spot and holds well. So break out some calipers and hunt for specs on generic replacements. It's quicker than making your own.

That’s why on my homemade mount, I carried it under the camera and also picked up on the cameras tripod mount. The engagement area is not really enough to clamp to

01-19-2020, 02:04 PM - 1 Like	#1
Pentagel New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Calgary Posts: 14	Add a foot or ring to an older SMC Pentax-A 300 mm (older model) Hello, I need better balance on my SMC 300 to reduce the stress on the ball head of the tripod. As that lens does not have a foot or any facility for one, what do I need to get to hack some kind of foot so I can use a long extension plate? Cheers and thanks for any advice.

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01-19-2020, 02:29 PM	#2
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	I take it that you have this one ? SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F4 Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database no foot as oppose to this one SMC Pentax-A* 300mm F2.8 ED [IF] Reviews - A Prime Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database has a foot

01-19-2020, 02:33 PM	#3
HoutHans Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Appingedam Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,123	Hi Pentagel, I've had the same problem with my M300/4* and addressed it by getting some 20 cm 5*50 mm aluminium plate. A have attached a small cradle for the front part of the lens and then I drilled some holes that would allow me to attach the camera to the plate with a separate screw and a treaded hole to fix the entire assembly to my tripod. I can take some pictures and upload these, if you're interested. best wishes, hans

01-19-2020, 02:40 PM	#4
deus ursus Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Stårheim, Norway Posts: 658	They guy I bought my M*300/4 from had made this himself (see attaches images). I know no details on how it was done, so it's no use in asking me. :-) It works, though. The camera balances well on a tripod, although the design could have been a bit stiffer. It vibrates a little. This foot is made from two pieces of aluminium. I can imagine a design in one piece could be stiffer. Attached Images

01-19-2020, 02:49 PM	#5
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	I made this for my K300/4 You could do a similar mount for your lens It picks up both the kens and body Ps I made it to also consider I was putting the F1.7x AF adaptor between the lens and camera

01-19-2020, 04:36 PM	#6
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,394	There are a bunch of options out there for this. Just check the usual suspects....

01-19-2020, 04:53 PM	#7
AggieDad Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Houston, TX Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,455	Check this Manfrotto lens support from B&H HERE. You can use it with multiple lenses. EDIT: The more I look at it, the more I think you can make this with some scrap lumber and extra strap you have in a drawer. I love to make these kinds of little things, and this one just begs to be a quick Saturday morning project.

01-19-2020, 05:39 PM	#8
aslyfox Seeker of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Topeka, Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 24,582	Originally posted by AggieDad . . . EDIT: The more I look at it, the more I think you can make this with some scrap lumber and extra strap you have in a drawer. I love to make these kinds of little things, and this one just begs to be a quick Saturday morning project. do you want elegant or effective perhaps an appropriate sized plate and some duct tape might work ?

01-19-2020, 07:21 PM	#9
sawtooth235 Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Orange Park, Florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 886	I have a SMC 300mm F4 K that I bought a generic lens clamp for a Canon 70mm-200mm f2.8 off of e-bay for about $10.00 that works great.

01-19-2020, 07:47 PM	#10
Pentagel New Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Calgary Posts: 14 Original Poster	Wow! Thank you so much for all the suggestions and ideas. I am going on a trip to Costa Rica and need to have a solution to my problem in the next 2 weeks basically. So something mostly ready to use would be really nice. That said, I am handy with wood and could build something custom if I can't find any other options. If you know of something that would mostly work, I'll order it right away. Yes, I have the older manual lens.

01-19-2020, 08:51 PM	#11
Paul the Sunman Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Melbourne Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,846	This Manfrotto looks like it would do the job, and is in stock at B&H.

01-19-2020, 09:10 PM	#12
TedH42 F/8 & Somewhere Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Colorado Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,412	Originally posted by Paul the Sunman This Manfrotto looks like it would do the job, and is in stock at B&H. This Manfrotto works quite nicely - I use it on my A* 300mm F4 lens.

01-19-2020, 09:48 PM	#13
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	I have that Manfrotto thing -- it is quite useful for big older lenses, especially if they are internal focusing (since it has to rest on the brace in the front, good if it doesn't need to rotate but it still works if it does if you rest it on a smooth part). Can't say if it would be too annoying for the 300/4 but it is a nifty gadget anyway...

01-20-2020, 11:12 AM	#14
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	The easiest solution is if there is a place on the lens with the same diameter as a Canon or Nikon lens. Then you can find a generic foot on Amazon or whatever, usually very cheap. The K300/4 has a very narrow area to clamp something unless you want to clamp to the aperture ring, but this generic thing mostly fits on that spot and holds well. So break out some calipers and hunt for specs on generic replacements. It's quicker than making your own.

01-23-2020, 05:02 AM	#15
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by Just1MoreDave The easiest solution is if there is a place on the lens with the same diameter as a Canon or Nikon lens. Then you can find a generic foot on Amazon or whatever, usually very cheap. The K300/4 has a very narrow area to clamp something unless you want to clamp to the aperture ring, but this generic thing mostly fits on that spot and holds well. So break out some calipers and hunt for specs on generic replacements. It's quicker than making your own. That’s why on my homemade mount, I carried it under the camera and also picked up on the cameras tripod mount. The engagement area is not really enough to clamp to