[.a.t.]

After recently obtaining a FA* 300 f/4.5 and subsequently buying a matching MH-RBC67 lens hood, I was surprised to find the hood didn't fit my lens.
Some internet searching revealed there are two versions of the MH-RBC67 hood. Some have three mounting / connection points, and some have four. My lens has four mounting points and my hood has three. They're not compatible.

So I thought it might be helpful to try to document this situation to potentially avoid future mis-matches.

To FA* 300mm f/4.5 owners: Would you please post your lens serial number and note whether your lens has three or four hood mount points?
And if someone with a three mount point lens would post a photo of the hood mount area, that would be appreciated.

pepperbery farm's lens in this thread appears different from mine, so I'm assuming pepperberry's has three mount points..?

For those interested, some further reading:
Lens hood (MH-RBC67) for Pentax FA*300/4.5 - PentaxForums.com
300mm FA* and MH-RBC67 - PentaxForums.com
FA* 300mm f/4.5 lens hood replacement - PentaxForums.com


Here's my three mount point hood and four mount point lens, #3730737:

File Date

View Picture EXIF

File Date

View Picture EXIF

File Date

View Picture EXIF

File Date

View Picture EXIF

[steephill]

#373428 - 4 point bayonet

[pepperberry farm]

After recently obtaining a FA* 300 f/4.5 and subsequently buying a matching MH-RBC67 lens hood, I was surprised to find the hood didn't fit my lens.
Some internet searching revealed there are two versions of the MH-RBC67 hood. Some have three mounting / connection points, and some have four. My lens has four mounting points and my hood has three. They're not compatible.

So I thought it might be helpful to try to document this situation to potentially avoid future mis-matches.

To FA* 300mm f/4.5 owners: Would you please post your lens serial number and note whether your lens has three or four hood mount points?
And if someone with a three mount point lens would post a photo of the hood mount area, that would be appreciated.

pepperbery farm's lens in this thread appears different from mine, so I'm assuming pepperberry's has three mount points..?

aye - mine is a three-point mount and the S/N is 3007405

perhaps there is an early/late revision here - I know the three pointer that I have is very worn and I am careful of it when it is in use....

[.a.t.]

#373428 - 4 point bayonet

aye - mine is a three-point mount and the S/N is 3007405

perhaps there is an early/late revision here - I know the three pointer that I have is very worn and I am careful of it when it is in use....

Thank you both for the information. I think pepperberry farm may be right about a revision.

Based on the Pentax Forums Lens Serial Number Database, it appears the FA* 300 f/4.5 had serial number runs beginning with "30..." and "37...".
And so far, it seems #30... lenses have three hood mount points and #37... lenses have four.

A few more contributions would be helpful. And for reference, a photo of the three mount point lens hardware would be appreciated.

[beemac]

#3708139 Four point. The 'nubs' on the hood are plastic and wear away. Eventually the hood will not stay on. If you use a pick to rotate them to move the worn spot to the rear, the attachment can be made solidly again. That said, reducing the number of on-off cycles will extend the life of the hood. Avoid the temptation of dis-assembling the hood; there's nothing there to repair and it is very difficult to re-assemble.

[Des]

Mine has three points. S/N is 3011439

[angerdan]

Found more informations in these threads:
FA* 300mm f/4.5 lens hood replacement - PentaxForums.com
FA* 300 4.5 lens hood question - PentaxForums.com
Lens Hood Loose - FA* 300 F4.5 - PentaxForums.com

[.a.t.]

#3708139 Four point. The 'nubs' on the hood are plastic and wear away.
....

Thank you for the details. That's good to know about the wear.

Mine has three points. S/N is 3011439

Thank you for contributing.

Found more informations in these threads:
...

Thanks for the links.


Thus far we have:

#3007405 three points
#3011439 three points

#3708139 four points
#3730737 four points
#373428 four points

[pepperberry farm]

And for reference, a photo of the three mount point lens hardware would be appreciated.

I can do this, but it will be tomorrow....

[albertob]

---------- Post added 12-23-22 at 01:42 AM ----------

My dead 3009970 has 4!

[.a.t.]

I can do this, but it will be tomorrow....

That would be great, thanks. No rush, just when it's convenient for you. A simple snap will do.

---------- Post added 12-23-22 at 01:42 AM ----------

My dead 3009970 has 4!

!?!
Thanks for messing up the nice, neat pattern, albertob.

Actually, I'm not surprised. Pentax seem most predictable in their unpredictability.
So unless albertob's lens is a hybrid / repair job, each lens will need to be checked individually.

Now we have:

#3007405 three points
#3009970 four points
#3011439 three points

#3708139 four points
#3730737 four points
#373428 four points


P.S. @albertob
That's a shame about your dead lens. The optics are so good! Can you at least use the lens manually?

[pepperberry farm]

my FA* 300/4.5 and hood


tabs for the hood at 12, 4, and 8:








and the MH-RBC67 hood:








and the outside of the hood, showing where the previous owner had put it back together with glue:






let me know if there are any other angles needed....

[.a.t.]

my FA* 300/4.5 and hood
. . .
let me know if there are any other angles needed....

Those are excellent and more than I'd hoped for. Thank you for taking the time!

I'm considering writing a review for the lens - or even just the hood - to help spread the word. May I use some of your photos with attribution?

[pepperberry farm]

Those are excellent and more than I'd hoped for. Thank you for taking the time!

I'm considering writing a review for the lens - or even just the hood - to help spread the word. May I use some of your photos with attribution?

thank you - you are more than welcome to use my photos; glad I could help...

[albertob]

That would be great, thanks. No rush, just when it's convenient for you. A simple snap will do.




!?!
Thanks for messing up the nice, neat pattern, albertob.

Actually, I'm not surprised. Pentax seem most predictable in their unpredictability.
So unless albertob's lens is a hybrid / repair job, each lens will need to be checked individually.

Now we have:

#3007405 three points
#3009970 four points
#3011439 three points

#3708139 four points
#3730737 four points
#373428 four points


P.S. @albertob
That's a shame about your dead lens. The optics are so good! Can you at least use the lens manually?

No, my 3009970 was never repaired, I bought it brand new in US in 1995. It's dead since I fell on iced tarmac with the camera in hand in 2020. The lens metal body is clearly bent, so no repair is possible (except for a transplant.. ). Yes, it was a fantastic lens and I consider the accident a net loss, since I think the DA 300 I bought later, while excellent, is not a better lens (some pros and some cons compared to FA). I stop here to avoid going OT .