I've also contracted LBA...

vinzer · 05-14-2007, 06:40 AM

...but not as expensive as you might think!

Well, I pulled the trigger on an online order from KEH for some used lenses some time back. It was my first time to buy online, so it was with much trepidation and concern.

Today, the lenses arrived via UPS and I was really excited about it. Thank heavens there are reputable dealers like KEH.

Anyway, I bought two BGN items and an EX item.

To echo the comments other people made when they ordered from KEH, BGN is really a bargain! Items were overly underassessed, and the two BGN items I bought from KEH are good enough to merit EX status. Glass is clean, body shows minor wear, and lenses turn and zoom smoothly.

Anyway, I bought a Pentax 50 1.4, Vivitar 75-205 3.8, and Kiron 28-105 3.2-4.5, all manual lenses. I think I'm turning into a manual lens nut. I don't know, I just miss using my old Yashica SLR and kit lens (well, whatever lens it was that the dealer in Hidalgo slapped on it), and from what I've read and seen, old lenses are still more than capable of producing good and sharp photos even on new bodies.

I found an issue with one of the items, though. I cannot mount the Vivitar on to my K10D, even though it's supposed to be a K-mount lens. For some reason, the Vivitar doesn't go in the mount fully. Any ideas or information about old Vivitar K-mounts that I should know?

In any case, the other two lenses look to be keepers. It's amazing how the K10D meters manual lenses normally (well, not as easily as AF lenses, but the green button works wonders!). Pentax really did go to great lengths to make their cameras work fully with legacy lenses, and that's a big plus for Pentax!

Next up: a split-focus screen, M42 to K-mount adapter, and more lenses! Haha.

P.S. any of you ordered split-focus screens? Which ones are reliable in terms of quality and actual delivery?

kbrabble · 05-14-2007, 07:23 AM

I have used the KatzEye screens for quite some time now, they are an excellent product. My camera would not complete without one. With there "plus" screens, even slower lenses work amazingly well. I highly recommend them.

**NaClH2O** · 05-14-2007, 08:09 AM

Hi Vinzer, yes it is amazing how these vintage lenses fit and work with the new bodies. And just think you now have vintage image stabilized lenses! Try doing that with either Nikon or Canon! I don't own a K10D but if I did, my 35 year old Pentax SMC 300mm, would be image stabilized! And for less than $300 USD! Nikon glass is backwards compatible, but their image stabilizaion isn't.

NaCl(the major reason to chose Pentax, IMHO )H2O

fletcherkane · 05-14-2007, 10:34 AM

I have had the same issue you are experiencing with a Nikura K Mount lens. It was a 60-300mm zoom, and it simply would not mount on my K100D. I could turn it about 1/2 way and then no further. I had an old Pentax teleconverter that it connectied just fine to, as well as an older ME Super body that it also conncected fine to.
Any thoughts from anyone on this phenom?

**jamesk8752** · 05-14-2007, 11:41 AM

Regarding third part lenses which don't mount properly, take a look at the flange which protects the stopdown lever at the base of the lens, and compare its size to the flange on a lens that does mount properly. In some cases this flange is too long (extends too far around the base of the lens) and interferes with the mirror box inside the K-mount on the camera body. I have an old Sigma 35-70 zoom lens which has this problem. It mounts fine on my LX but won't mount on my *ist-D.

The cure (if you are of an adventurous mind) is to grind the flange down or even to remove it, using a small hobby grinder such as a Dremel.

vinzer · 05-14-2007, 02:42 PM

James, I think you're correct about the flange. The Vivitar's does seem to extend further than the flanges of the other lenses. Time to chop it off!

Salty, I'm noticing metering issues using either the green button or the DOF switch in M mode with apertures from F8 and above. Seems to me that I'm not the only one who's having such issues with the K10D and pre-A lenses. I think the guys over at Pentax were too excited to launch this product, they might've forgotten to test metering with pre-A lenses. It's a bit disappointing, really; it just put a damper on the excitement of my first online purchase. Haha.

Ideas anyone about the metering? I've read about replacing the focusing screen with ones from an *ist D, but does it really fix the metering? Does it make the metering more predictable, at least?

Kbrabble, I was also looking at the Katz Eye screens, but it seems to me that they're having a bit of difficulty keeping up with orders.

05-14-2007, 06:40 AM	#1
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399	I've also contracted LBA... ...but not as expensive as you might think! Well, I pulled the trigger on an online order from KEH for some used lenses some time back. It was my first time to buy online, so it was with much trepidation and concern. Today, the lenses arrived via UPS and I was really excited about it. Thank heavens there are reputable dealers like KEH. Anyway, I bought two BGN items and an EX item. To echo the comments other people made when they ordered from KEH, BGN is really a bargain! Items were overly underassessed, and the two BGN items I bought from KEH are good enough to merit EX status. Glass is clean, body shows minor wear, and lenses turn and zoom smoothly. Anyway, I bought a Pentax 50 1.4, Vivitar 75-205 3.8, and Kiron 28-105 3.2-4.5, all manual lenses. I think I'm turning into a manual lens nut. I don't know, I just miss using my old Yashica SLR and kit lens (well, whatever lens it was that the dealer in Hidalgo slapped on it), and from what I've read and seen, old lenses are still more than capable of producing good and sharp photos even on new bodies. I found an issue with one of the items, though. I cannot mount the Vivitar on to my K10D, even though it's supposed to be a K-mount lens. For some reason, the Vivitar doesn't go in the mount fully. Any ideas or information about old Vivitar K-mounts that I should know? In any case, the other two lenses look to be keepers. It's amazing how the K10D meters manual lenses normally (well, not as easily as AF lenses, but the green button works wonders!). Pentax really did go to great lengths to make their cameras work fully with legacy lenses, and that's a big plus for Pentax! Next up: a split-focus screen, M42 to K-mount adapter, and more lenses! Haha. P.S. any of you ordered split-focus screens? Which ones are reliable in terms of quality and actual delivery?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
what is LBA?	kjacks	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	39	04-04-2010 11:49 AM
Please help… I have “LBA-P”… LBA Paranoia!!!!!	pHREDD D	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	14	03-13-2010 07:29 AM
Lba Help!!!!	gokenin	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	02-21-2008 10:41 AM
What is LBA?	jambowl	Photographic Technique	29	09-16-2007 12:15 PM
For those with LBA	Photo Tramp	General Talk	11	04-10-2007 10:35 AM

05-14-2007, 07:23 AM	#2
kbrabble Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 181	I have used the KatzEye screens for quite some time now, they are an excellent product. My camera would not complete without one. With there "plus" screens, even slower lenses work amazingly well. I highly recommend them.

05-14-2007, 08:09 AM	#3
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,633	Hi Vinzer, yes it is amazing how these vintage lenses fit and work with the new bodies. And just think you now have vintage image stabilized lenses! Try doing that with either Nikon or Canon! I don't own a K10D but if I did, my 35 year old Pentax SMC 300mm, would be image stabilized! And for less than $300 USD! Nikon glass is backwards compatible, but their image stabilizaion isn't. NaCl(the major reason to chose Pentax, IMHO )H2O

05-14-2007, 10:34 AM	#4
fletcherkane Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 299	I have had the same issue you are experiencing with a Nikura K Mount lens. It was a 60-300mm zoom, and it simply would not mount on my K100D. I could turn it about 1/2 way and then no further. I had an old Pentax teleconverter that it connectied just fine to, as well as an older ME Super body that it also conncected fine to. Any thoughts from anyone on this phenom?

05-14-2007, 11:41 AM	#5
jamesk8752 Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Suburban Detroit, MI, USA Posts: 238	Regarding third part lenses which don't mount properly, take a look at the flange which protects the stopdown lever at the base of the lens, and compare its size to the flange on a lens that does mount properly. In some cases this flange is too long (extends too far around the base of the lens) and interferes with the mirror box inside the K-mount on the camera body. I have an old Sigma 35-70 zoom lens which has this problem. It mounts fine on my LX but won't mount on my *ist-D. The cure (if you are of an adventurous mind) is to grind the flange down or even to remove it, using a small hobby grinder such as a Dremel.

05-14-2007, 02:42 PM	#6
vinzer Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Philippines Posts: 1,399 Original Poster	James, I think you're correct about the flange. The Vivitar's does seem to extend further than the flanges of the other lenses. Time to chop it off! Salty, I'm noticing metering issues using either the green button or the DOF switch in M mode with apertures from F8 and above. Seems to me that I'm not the only one who's having such issues with the K10D and pre-A lenses. I think the guys over at Pentax were too excited to launch this product, they might've forgotten to test metering with pre-A lenses. It's a bit disappointing, really; it just put a damper on the excitement of my first online purchase. Haha. Ideas anyone about the metering? I've read about replacing the focusing screen with ones from an *ist D, but does it really fix the metering? Does it make the metering more predictable, at least? Kbrabble, I was also looking at the Katz Eye screens, but it seems to me that they're having a bit of difficulty keeping up with orders.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search