M42 screw mount adapter - Pentax?

Muse · 08-14-2010, 04:24 PM

Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here.

If I buy it at Pentax it's going to cost me about $41 including CA tax and $6.95 shipping:

PentaxWebstore Mount Adapter K(35m m Screwmount to Bayonet)

How does this one stack up against it (It's $7.30 shipped from Asia):

Pentax M42 42mm to PK K Mount Adapter Infinity focus - eBay (item 120560612483 end time Aug-20-10 20:11:08 PDT)

Or this (about $21 shipped):

Pentax ScrewMount M42 Lens to K Mount Camera Adapter on eBay (end time 16-Aug-10 20:31:36 BST)

The ones on eBay are metal. Do they lack any features?

Adam · 08-14-2010, 04:29 PM

Here's one that's both cheap and doesn't screw up your photos at infinity: General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter ABPKS -

Just look for the presence of a protruding metal flange, and if you see it, don't buy the adapter!

Stratman · 08-14-2010, 04:54 PM

Get the Pentax adapter, you will not regret it....

Mike Cash · 08-14-2010, 05:36 PM

Originally posted by Muse

If I buy it at Pentax it's going to cost me about $41 including CA tax and $6.95 shipping:

That will cost you a total of $47.95

Quote:

How does this one stack up against it (It's $7.30 shipped from Asia):

That will cost you a total of $55.25

Quote:

Or this (about $21 shipped):

That will cost you a total of $68.95.

For the last two, you have to include the cost of replacing them with the genuine Pentax adapter, which is what you would end up doing anyway. It is cheaper to go ahead and just buy it to begin with. Seriously, there is a big difference. We have thread after thread after thread here attesting to this from folks who found out the hard (read: "expensive") way.

noblepa · 08-14-2010, 09:31 PM

The conventional wisdom around here is that only the genuine Pentax adapter is worth owning.

While there are some real crappy adapters out there, I have to say that I have never had any problems with my third-party adapter. I think it is made by Bower, but it has no markings and I long ago lost the packaging. I went to a brick and mortar camera store here in Cleveland and asked them to order one for me. I think I paid around $20 for it.

It took a little finagling to figure out how it worked, but once I did, all was well. It got even better when the spring locking clip fell off. Since I only have one M42 lens that I regularly use on my K10D, I leave the adapter on my Super Takumar 50mm, f/1.4 lens. This effectively turns it into a k-mount lens.

I have never had even a hint of a problem with the lens falling off. Friction is more than enough to keep the adapter securely mounted in the camera. M42 lenses never had any kind of lock anyway (and I never heard of the lens falling off a Spotmatic), so the lens has never come loose in the adapter. Some people have gone to the trouble of drilling a hole or machining a groove in the M42 lens to let the locking pin do its job, but I've never felt the need.

To mount it, (remember, the adapter is already on the lens), I just mount it the way I would any other k-mount lens. To remove, I simply turn about 1/8 turn counter-clockwise and it comes right off, while the adapter stays on the lens.

Mike Cash · 08-14-2010, 10:11 PM

Originally posted by noblepa

The conventional wisdom around here is that only the genuine Pentax adapter is worth owning.

I can't recall a post where someone ditched their genuine adapter and replaced it with something else. Lots of posts in the opposite direction, though.

I used a Roxsen adapter for about a year and a half with no trouble. Then I got an 85/1.9 which would cause the adapter to back out of the camera mount sometimes when focusing or adjusting the aperture. Replaced it with the genuine adapter, which both solved my problem and killed the ten bucks I had "saved" by cheaping out in the first place.

RioRico · 08-15-2010, 12:10 AM

I get tired of the Adapter Wars. I own one Official Pentax adapter, a couple dozen of the despised clones, and a half-dozen flanged (no infinity focus) adapters. The Official Pentax adapter is expensive, safe, and tedious. The flanged adapters are cheap, safe, and great for macros and closeups where you don't care about infinity. The cheap clones... once the screw and clip are removed, I've had no problems. Zero, zip, none. I tighten such clones onto the M42 lens, using a PK rear lens cap as a wrench. I easily mount and dismount those lenses; some, I've even forgotten they aren't native PK-mount.

Everyone who uses screwmount lenses should own one (1) Official Pentax adapter. Those who use M42 macro gear and otherwise shoot close, should own as many flanged adapters as they think they need. Those who have very few screwmount lenses will be happy with the above. Those who have MANY screwmounts (I own ~70) will find it very very convenient to use a number of cheap clones.

To those who have had problems with cheap clones: I'm sorry for you, but in my years of constantly swapping adapted lenses, I just haven't experienced such trouble. Good luck to y'all.

Mike Cash · 08-15-2010, 01:12 AM

I usually find it easier to mount the adapter in the camera and just forget that K mount exists.

Jasvox · 08-15-2010, 02:26 AM

I have a Bower and after a couple of years of using it, has never let me down, never gotten stuck on the camera and never disappoints when focusing at infinity. The only difference, says "Bower" on it rather than "Pentax". Who knows (and I would bet on it) it is probably made in the same factory, by the same 12 year olds.

Jason

**Lowell Goudge** · 08-15-2010, 05:09 AM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I usually find it easier to mount the adapter in the camera and just forget that K mount exists.

I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera

Mike Cash · 08-15-2010, 05:25 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera

Takumars are my default kit so I view the adapter as not as something I put on the camera for use M42 lenses but rather as something I once in a great while remove from the camera to reluctantly use K mount lenses. If the adapter got permanently stuck it wouldn't break my heart.

noblepa · 08-15-2010, 06:04 PM

Originally posted by Mike Cash

I can't recall a post where someone ditched their genuine adapter and replaced it with something else. Lots of posts in the opposite direction, though.

I do not question the quality of the genuine Pentax adapter. I was simply relaying my experience, which may or may not match that of others. My only point was that there are non-Pentax adapters out there that work well.

The problem, of course, is distinguishing the good ones from the bad ones.

Stratman · 08-15-2010, 08:10 PM

That's the reason you buy the genuine Pentax, and have no worries.

Ira · 08-16-2010, 06:56 AM

Originally posted by Lowell Goudge

I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera

Gee, I almost forgot that you can actually REMOVE the adapter!!!

Muse · 08-17-2010, 05:56 AM

Originally posted by Ira

Gee, I almost forgot that you can actually REMOVE the adapter!!!

OK, is this a joke? Not having seen one in person, I have to say that it "looks" to me (from online images) that the only lenses you can affix to the camera as long as one of these adapters is attached is a screw mount lens (i.e. one that you attach by turning it several revolutions into the threading). Is this not the case?

08-14-2010, 04:24 PM	#1
Muse Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SF Bay Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 211	M42 screw mount adapter - Pentax? Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. If I buy it at Pentax it's going to cost me about $41 including CA tax and $6.95 shipping: PentaxWebstore Mount Adapter K(35m m Screwmount to Bayonet) How does this one stack up against it (It's $7.30 shipped from Asia): Pentax M42 42mm to PK K Mount Adapter Infinity focus - eBay (item 120560612483 end time Aug-20-10 20:11:08 PDT) Or this (about $21 shipped): Pentax ScrewMount M42 Lens to K Mount Camera Adapter on eBay (end time 16-Aug-10 20:31:36 BST) The ones on eBay are metal. Do they lack any features?

08-14-2010, 04:29 PM	#2
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,608	Here's one that's both cheap and doesn't screw up your photos at infinity: General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter ABPKS - Just look for the presence of a protruding metal flange, and if you see it, don't buy the adapter! Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
? about M42 screw Lens to K mount adapter	whitedogone	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	15	07-18-2008 01:39 PM
M42 screw-mount adapter advice	jsherman999	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	3	01-29-2008 10:39 AM
For Sale - Sold: FA: Original PENTAX Screw Mount to K Mount Adapter M42	HogRider	Sold Items	0	10-21-2007 02:12 PM
M42 Screw mount adapter	mysterick	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	03-12-2007 01:32 PM

08-14-2010, 04:54 PM	#3
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	Get the Pentax adapter, you will not regret it....

08-14-2010, 05:36 PM	#4
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by Muse If I buy it at Pentax it's going to cost me about $41 including CA tax and $6.95 shipping: That will cost you a total of $47.95 Quote: How does this one stack up against it (It's $7.30 shipped from Asia): That will cost you a total of $55.25 Quote: Or this (about $21 shipped): That will cost you a total of $68.95. For the last two, you have to include the cost of replacing them with the genuine Pentax adapter, which is what you would end up doing anyway. It is cheaper to go ahead and just buy it to begin with. Seriously, there is a big difference. We have thread after thread after thread here attesting to this from folks who found out the hard (read: "expensive") way.

08-14-2010, 09:31 PM	#5
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	The conventional wisdom around here is that only the genuine Pentax adapter is worth owning. While there are some real crappy adapters out there, I have to say that I have never had any problems with my third-party adapter. I think it is made by Bower, but it has no markings and I long ago lost the packaging. I went to a brick and mortar camera store here in Cleveland and asked them to order one for me. I think I paid around $20 for it. It took a little finagling to figure out how it worked, but once I did, all was well. It got even better when the spring locking clip fell off. Since I only have one M42 lens that I regularly use on my K10D, I leave the adapter on my Super Takumar 50mm, f/1.4 lens. This effectively turns it into a k-mount lens. I have never had even a hint of a problem with the lens falling off. Friction is more than enough to keep the adapter securely mounted in the camera. M42 lenses never had any kind of lock anyway (and I never heard of the lens falling off a Spotmatic), so the lens has never come loose in the adapter. Some people have gone to the trouble of drilling a hole or machining a groove in the M42 lens to let the locking pin do its job, but I've never felt the need. To mount it, (remember, the adapter is already on the lens), I just mount it the way I would any other k-mount lens. To remove, I simply turn about 1/8 turn counter-clockwise and it comes right off, while the adapter stays on the lens.

08-14-2010, 10:11 PM	#6
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by noblepa The conventional wisdom around here is that only the genuine Pentax adapter is worth owning. I can't recall a post where someone ditched their genuine adapter and replaced it with something else. Lots of posts in the opposite direction, though. I used a Roxsen adapter for about a year and a half with no trouble. Then I got an 85/1.9 which would cause the adapter to back out of the camera mount sometimes when focusing or adjusting the aperture. Replaced it with the genuine adapter, which both solved my problem and killed the ten bucks I had "saved" by cheaping out in the first place.

08-15-2010, 12:10 AM	#7
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I get tired of the Adapter Wars. I own one Official Pentax adapter, a couple dozen of the despised clones, and a half-dozen flanged (no infinity focus) adapters. The Official Pentax adapter is expensive, safe, and tedious. The flanged adapters are cheap, safe, and great for macros and closeups where you don't care about infinity. The cheap clones... once the screw and clip are removed, I've had no problems. Zero, zip, none. I tighten such clones onto the M42 lens, using a PK rear lens cap as a wrench. I easily mount and dismount those lenses; some, I've even forgotten they aren't native PK-mount. Everyone who uses screwmount lenses should own one (1) Official Pentax adapter. Those who use M42 macro gear and otherwise shoot close, should own as many flanged adapters as they think they need. Those who have very few screwmount lenses will be happy with the above. Those who have MANY screwmounts (I own ~70) will find it very very convenient to use a number of cheap clones. To those who have had problems with cheap clones: I'm sorry for you, but in my years of constantly swapping adapted lenses, I just haven't experienced such trouble. Good luck to y'all.

08-15-2010, 01:12 AM	#8
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	I usually find it easier to mount the adapter in the camera and just forget that K mount exists.

08-15-2010, 02:26 AM	#9
Jasvox Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 3,107	I have a Bower and after a couple of years of using it, has never let me down, never gotten stuck on the camera and never disappoints when focusing at infinity. The only difference, says "Bower" on it rather than "Pentax". Who knows (and I would bet on it) it is probably made in the same factory, by the same 12 year olds. Jason

08-15-2010, 05:09 AM	#10
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,891	Originally posted by Mike Cash I usually find it easier to mount the adapter in the camera and just forget that K mount exists. I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera

08-15-2010, 05:25 AM	#11
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera Takumars are my default kit so I view the adapter as not as something I put on the camera for use M42 lenses but rather as something I once in a great while remove from the camera to reluctantly use K mount lenses. If the adapter got permanently stuck it wouldn't break my heart.

08-15-2010, 06:04 PM	#12
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Originally posted by Mike Cash I can't recall a post where someone ditched their genuine adapter and replaced it with something else. Lots of posts in the opposite direction, though. I do not question the quality of the genuine Pentax adapter. I was simply relaying my experience, which may or may not match that of others. My only point was that there are non-Pentax adapters out there that work well. The problem, of course, is distinguishing the good ones from the bad ones.

08-15-2010, 08:10 PM	#13
Stratman Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: St Louis, Missouri U S A Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,464	That's the reason you buy the genuine Pentax, and have no worries.

08-16-2010, 06:56 AM	#14
Ira Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Coral Springs, FL Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,216	Originally posted by Lowell Goudge I'm pretty much the same. Started with just one M42 but after a while I had collected enough M42'lenses to have a screw mount kit. When I go out with it the adaptor stays in the camera Gee, I almost forgot that you can actually REMOVE the adapter!!!

08-17-2010, 05:56 AM	#15
Muse Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: SF Bay Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 211 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ira Gee, I almost forgot that you can actually REMOVE the adapter!!! OK, is this a joke? Not having seen one in person, I have to say that it "looks" to me (from online images) that the only lenses you can affix to the camera as long as one of these adapters is attached is a screw mount lens (i.e. one that you attach by turning it several revolutions into the threading). Is this not the case?