Screw to K mount adapters

Peter Zack · 12-19-2008, 11:43 AM

This is sorta going sideways. I'm not challenging you Newarts. The lenses you listed (I have a couple of them) are fine with the mode you suggest and that's the way to go. The 28 and 55 in the OP's post should work this way also. The 105mm won't it's too small (diameter) and the locking pin, electrical contacts are left exposed. That's why i recomend the Pentax adapter for that lens. It's such a good lens, it's worth the trouble.

wildman · 12-19-2008, 02:30 PM

A quick and dirty shot with the 105mm using a T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works) only focus' around 3 feet.

Ordered three of the adapters you recommend but from Adorama.
I'm assuming these will give focus at infinity?

Thanks
Wildman

Peter Zack · 12-19-2008, 02:38 PM

As long as they don't have the collars, they should work.

newarts · 12-19-2008, 03:11 PM

Originally posted by Peter Zack

As long as they don't have the collars, they should work.

If they cost 12.95USD that's where I got them too!

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-19-2008, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by wildman

OK...

First of all it is VERY important to me to simply have ALL the lens' converted over PERMANENTLY to a K mount...

Given all that is the Pentax adapter still the only way to go?
If not what specifically would you recommend?
If yes than I'll go with Pentax if I'm convinced I really have to.
Also can the adapter by set up so once the lens is snapped in it is right side up? - So you can read the settings from the top down and not rotated out of view?

Thanks to all

The genuine adapter has the best machining, so it fits the camera and the threads start and finish in the right place. I have a mix of other adapters and they work OK too. One of them needed some filing to work well. I hunt up the genuine adapters for long telephotos just for extra insurance.

The adapted lenses normally end up oriented correctly. They were built that way for the screw-mount cameras. Sometimes the popup flash makes it harder to see the lens markings. Some adapters can have their threads started a few degrees off, so the lens is tilted a bit.

For one of those lenses, you probably can't get the camera's lens locking pin to engage. All of the 105mm Taks that I've seen (4 models) have a tapered base that doesn't extend very much past the adapter. This isn't a big deal, and the lenses are worth the trouble. Your other two have larger bases. I have wondered whether the infinity focus can be adjusted far enough to allow a flanged adapter for my 105mm, but never tried it.

cpopham · 12-19-2008, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by wildman

When I grab a lens out in the field I want to know it's ready to go without loosing time messing about with additional hardware and trying to remember what lens I last used that had the adapter on or to find I forgot to bring the lens with the adapter on etc - just grab it and use it.

An unconverted adapter does not stay on the lens, it stays on the camera. The modifications people are describing are to convert them to stay on the lens.

My suggestion is this - try using just screw mount lenses for a session. That way you only need one adapter, and there's no fussing around or trying to convert adapters so they can stay on the lens. Your adapter can just stay on the camera, and you can change lenses as you like, simple, so fuss.

**Just1MoreDave** · 12-19-2008, 04:45 PM

Originally posted by cpopham

My suggestion is this - try using just screw mount lenses for a session. That way you only need one adapter, and there's no fussing around or trying to convert adapters so they can stay on the lens. Your adapter can just stay on the camera, and you can change lenses as you like, simple, so fuss.

This is a good idea because there's more involved than just changing lenses. The different types all work differently, and it's not that easy to keep track of the different methods. With a decent set to work with (which we have here), you'll be more efficient with only screw-mounts. Add in other lenses when the M42 methods are more practiced.

wlank · 12-19-2008, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by wildman

A quick and dirty shot with the 105mm using a T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works) only focus' around 3 feet.

Keep it up and you have a very good probability of ruining the threads on that lens.

Originally posted by wildman

Ordered three of the adapters you recommend but from Adorama.
I'm assuming these will give focus at infinity?

That is exactly what I purchased first, a Bower brand - the Pentax on line store was OUT OF STOCK. Dang near couldn't get that thing off the camera. So what did I do? Called the seller (it wasn't Adorama) and they sent me a second adapter at no charge. Guess what? It was NO better than the first one. I had read a whole bunch of threads here and they all said get the GENUINE PENTAX adapter. but I had my new camera and some old lenses and I wanted to get the deal done NOW. To make a long story a little shorter, the Pentax on line store got the adapter back in stock, I got one, and I now live in a house with a white picket fence, the greenest grass in the neighborhood, and a songbird in every tree. And I have a few more Super Tak lenses.

stevebrot · 12-19-2008, 11:32 PM

Originally posted by wildman

...T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works)...

I cringed when I read that. The threads are often made out of fairly mild metal and if cross-threaded will be permanently damaged.

BTW...Excellent sharpness and color on that leaf. Just promise me that you will wait until you get your adapters before you play any more!

Steve

Mike Cash · 12-20-2008, 12:40 AM

Originally posted by stevebrot

I cringed when I read that. The threads are often made out of fairly mild metal and if cross-threaded will be permanently damaged.

Close examination of the adapter and the lens should reveal that whichever had the harder metal became either a tap or a die and ripped a new set of threads onto the softer metal.

I cringed just as hard as you did.

Mike Cash · 12-20-2008, 12:44 AM

Originally posted by wildman

OK...

First of all it is VERY important to me to simply have ALL the lens' converted over PERMANENTLY to a K mount. When I grab a lens out in the field I want to know it's ready to go without loosing time messing about with additional hardware and trying to remember what lens I last used that had the adapter on or to find I forgot to bring the lens with the adapter on etc - just grab it and use it.

I feel like weeping.

Just sell the Takumars to someone who will love them and buy yourself a nice K-mount 18-250 you can weld to your camera.

wildman · 12-20-2008, 05:44 AM

Ok.

I got it figured out.
Just going to get one Pentax adapter and live with that.
Will not be as useful as I hoped but it's worth a 30 buck apapter.

Thanks,
Wildman

Peter Zack · 12-20-2008, 08:11 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I cringed just as hard as you did.

Likewise. I did too.

My position was as well, that it's worth the time and effort to use one Pentax adapter to switch lenses when shooting M42's. As I said earlier, I don't agree that they should be modified either since they are such fine pieces of glass. Oh well it's his stuff.

jsherman999 · 12-20-2008, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I feel like weeping.

Just sell the Takumars to someone who will love them and buy yourself a nice K-mount 18-250 you can weld to your camera.

rofl

.
............

jsherman999 · 12-20-2008, 08:26 AM

Originally posted by wildman

Ok.

I got it figured out.
Just going to get one Pentax adapter and live with that.
Will not be as useful as I hoped but it's worth a 30 buck apapter.

Thanks,
Wildman

Wildman, you'll find it's pretty easy. I actually started out like you, wanting to convert all my m42's to K with dedicated adapters, then decided it wasn't worth the cost/effort, because the Pentax adapter was so easy.

Plus, you'd have to get new K-mount rear caps for every lens then - screw-mount rear caps won't go on a K-converted lens.

Your Taks want to be Taks. They'll bring you the images better if they aren't 'corsetted'.

.

12-19-2008, 02:30 PM	#17
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	A quick and dirty shot with the 105mm using a T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works) only focus' around 3 feet. Ordered three of the adapters you recommend but from Adorama. I'm assuming these will give focus at infinity? Thanks Wildman Last edited by wildman; 12-26-2008 at 01:00 PM.

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12-19-2008, 11:43 AM	#16
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	This is sorta going sideways. I'm not challenging you Newarts. The lenses you listed (I have a couple of them) are fine with the mode you suggest and that's the way to go. The 28 and 55 in the OP's post should work this way also. The 105mm won't it's too small (diameter) and the locking pin, electrical contacts are left exposed. That's why i recomend the Pentax adapter for that lens. It's such a good lens, it's worth the trouble.

12-19-2008, 02:38 PM	#18
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	As long as they don't have the collars, they should work.

12-19-2008, 03:11 PM	#19
newarts Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ames, Iowa, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 2,965	Originally posted by Peter Zack As long as they don't have the collars, they should work. If they cost 12.95USD that's where I got them too!

12-19-2008, 03:26 PM	#20
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by wildman OK... First of all it is VERY important to me to simply have ALL the lens' converted over PERMANENTLY to a K mount... Given all that is the Pentax adapter still the only way to go? If not what specifically would you recommend? If yes than I'll go with Pentax if I'm convinced I really have to. Also can the adapter by set up so once the lens is snapped in it is right side up? - So you can read the settings from the top down and not rotated out of view? Thanks to all The genuine adapter has the best machining, so it fits the camera and the threads start and finish in the right place. I have a mix of other adapters and they work OK too. One of them needed some filing to work well. I hunt up the genuine adapters for long telephotos just for extra insurance. The adapted lenses normally end up oriented correctly. They were built that way for the screw-mount cameras. Sometimes the popup flash makes it harder to see the lens markings. Some adapters can have their threads started a few degrees off, so the lens is tilted a bit. For one of those lenses, you probably can't get the camera's lens locking pin to engage. All of the 105mm Taks that I've seen (4 models) have a tapered base that doesn't extend very much past the adapter. This isn't a big deal, and the lenses are worth the trouble. Your other two have larger bases. I have wondered whether the infinity focus can be adjusted far enough to allow a flanged adapter for my 105mm, but never tried it.

12-19-2008, 04:38 PM	#21
cpopham Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Auckland Posts: 553	Originally posted by wildman When I grab a lens out in the field I want to know it's ready to go without loosing time messing about with additional hardware and trying to remember what lens I last used that had the adapter on or to find I forgot to bring the lens with the adapter on etc - just grab it and use it. An unconverted adapter does not stay on the lens, it stays on the camera. The modifications people are describing are to convert them to stay on the lens. My suggestion is this - try using just screw mount lenses for a session. That way you only need one adapter, and there's no fussing around or trying to convert adapters so they can stay on the lens. Your adapter can just stay on the camera, and you can change lenses as you like, simple, so fuss.

12-19-2008, 04:45 PM	#22
Just1MoreDave Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Aurora, CO Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,340	Originally posted by cpopham My suggestion is this - try using just screw mount lenses for a session. That way you only need one adapter, and there's no fussing around or trying to convert adapters so they can stay on the lens. Your adapter can just stay on the camera, and you can change lenses as you like, simple, so fuss. This is a good idea because there's more involved than just changing lenses. The different types all work differently, and it's not that easy to keep track of the different methods. With a decent set to work with (which we have here), you'll be more efficient with only screw-mounts. Add in other lenses when the M42 methods are more practiced.

12-19-2008, 06:23 PM	#23
wlank Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Santa Teresa, New Mexico Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,130	Originally posted by wildman A quick and dirty shot with the 105mm using a T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works) only focus' around 3 feet. Keep it up and you have a very good probability of ruining the threads on that lens. Originally posted by wildman Ordered three of the adapters you recommend but from Adorama. I'm assuming these will give focus at infinity? That is exactly what I purchased first, a Bower brand - the Pentax on line store was OUT OF STOCK. Dang near couldn't get that thing off the camera. So what did I do? Called the seller (it wasn't Adorama) and they sent me a second adapter at no charge. Guess what? It was NO better than the first one. I had read a whole bunch of threads here and they all said get the *GENUINE PENTAX* adapter. but I had my new camera and some old lenses and I wanted to get the deal done NOW. To make a long story a little shorter, the Pentax on line store got the adapter back in stock, I got one, and I now live in a house with a white picket fence, the greenest grass in the neighborhood, and a songbird in every tree. And I have a few more Super Tak lenses.

12-19-2008, 11:32 PM	#24
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by wildman ...T ring (right thread size wrong thread pitch but it kind of works)... I cringed when I read that. The threads are often made out of fairly mild metal and if cross-threaded will be permanently damaged. BTW...Excellent sharpness and color on that leaf. Just promise me that you will wait until you get your adapters before you play any more! Steve

12-20-2008, 12:40 AM	#25
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by stevebrot I cringed when I read that. The threads are often made out of fairly mild metal and if cross-threaded will be permanently damaged. Close examination of the adapter and the lens should reveal that whichever had the harder metal became either a tap or a die and ripped a new set of threads onto the softer metal. I cringed just as hard as you did.

12-20-2008, 12:44 AM	#26
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by wildman OK... First of all it is VERY important to me to simply have ALL the lens' converted over PERMANENTLY to a K mount. When I grab a lens out in the field I want to know it's ready to go without loosing time messing about with additional hardware and trying to remember what lens I last used that had the adapter on or to find I forgot to bring the lens with the adapter on etc - just grab it and use it. I feel like weeping. Just sell the Takumars to someone who will love them and buy yourself a nice K-mount 18-250 you can weld to your camera.

12-20-2008, 05:44 AM	#27
wildman Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Flyover America Posts: 4,469 Original Poster	Ok. I got it figured out. Just going to get one Pentax adapter and live with that. Will not be as useful as I hoped but it's worth a 30 buck apapter. Thanks, Wildman

12-20-2008, 08:11 AM	#28
Peter Zack Pentaxian Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton Alberta, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 10,643	Originally posted by Mike Cash I cringed just as hard as you did. Likewise. I did too. My position was as well, that it's worth the time and effort to use one Pentax adapter to switch lenses when shooting M42's. As I said earlier, I don't agree that they should be modified either since they are such fine pieces of glass. Oh well it's his stuff.

12-20-2008, 08:20 AM	#29
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by Mike Cash I feel like weeping. Just sell the Takumars to someone who will love them and buy yourself a nice K-mount 18-250 you can weld to your camera. rofl . ............

12-20-2008, 08:26 AM	#30
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	Originally posted by wildman Ok. I got it figured out. Just going to get one Pentax adapter and live with that. Will not be as useful as I hoped but it's worth a 30 buck apapter. Thanks, Wildman Wildman, you'll find it's pretty easy. I actually started out like you, wanting to convert all my m42's to K with dedicated adapters, then decided it wasn't worth the cost/effort, because the Pentax adapter was so easy. Plus, you'd have to get new K-mount rear caps for every lens then - screw-mount rear caps won't go on a K-converted lens. Your Taks want to be Taks. They'll bring you the images better if they aren't 'corsetted'. .