I'd just gotten a really good deal on an SMC Takumar lens for my Spotmatic F, and it came with the clutch set to manual mode. I'd read somewhere that on a Spottie F, SMC lenses should always be set to auto (true?) so I decided to depress the small pin at the back of the lens to switch it over to auto mode. Somehow, I depressed it far too much (using a needle) and caused the tiny little pin to go all the way through and into the lens, and I don't know how to get it out. Do I have to take it out and put the pin back where it belongs or will my lens and camera work fine this way? I'm a newbie at this and would have to take it to a camera technician..

[Adam]

Yup, that's right. But the diaphragm is controlled by a clutch on the lens, rather than the pin. The pin just prevents the clutch from being moved when the lens isn't mounted on the camera, so you should be good to go with it depressed.

Adam - That's great to hear, I was really worried for a while. Seeing as many people seem to be irritated about the clutch being impossible to move while mounted, this little screw-up of mine might turn out to be a good thing after all

Also, thank you so much for the prompt reply. What a great forum!