Official Pentax M42 mount availability

iceshiel · 02-08-2013, 04:18 PM

I plan on investing in M42 glass and both Adorama and B&H are backordered for the official pentax adapter. There are no specific restock dates.

Does anyone with experience here know how long it generally takes for them to restock the adapters?

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2013, 04:23 PM

The Pentax Adapter K was discontinued last year. It is no longer even listed on a Pentax webpage. It was briefly available from the Pentax web store but disappeared when it sold out. Adorama and B&H haven't had stock in years.

eBay is you best bet. Try searching for misspelled listings, i.e. Ashai instead of Asahi.

They also turn up from time to time on shopgoodwill.com. Look for K-mount cameras with M42 lenses. There was a ME Super with several S-M-C Taks a few weeks ago.

iceshiel · 02-08-2013, 04:43 PM

I saw the Pentax Adapter B on both adorama and B&H though. Was only the Adapter K discontinued?

vonBaloney · 02-08-2013, 04:49 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The Pentax Adapter K was discontinued last year. It is no longer even listed on a Pentax webpage. It was briefly available from the Pentax web store but disappeared when it sold out. Adorama and B&H haven't had stock in years.

Not quite true -- B&H unexpectedly had a new batch just a month ago or so. They did announce it was discontinued (before Ricoh took over), but then they had it again late 2012. They seem to have it for a few weeks once a year. (I bought one new from B&H around Dec 2011.) Would be nice if they just kept them in production or at least made a whole lot of them. Nevertheless, ebay is still your best bet at this point.

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2013, 04:50 PM

Originally posted by iceshiel

I saw the Pentax Adapter B on both adorama and B&H though. Was only the Adapter K discontinued?

Pentax Adapter K for 645 lenses is still available from Pentax. This makes sense because Pentax still makes 645 lenses. Pentax hasn't made a M42 lens in almost 40 years. Adapter K for 6x7 lenses isn't available from Pentax anymore either. But B&H has stock (2 - 3 weeks).

Pentax Adapter B is also called Pentax Mount Adapter K

Na Horuk · 02-08-2013, 04:57 PM

You will probably be better off going to an actual store. A photography store here had a bunch of these, even though online I couldn't find them anywhere. The salesperson didn't even seem to know what they were. Don't expect Best Buy to have them, but ask a specialized store that also sells Pentax stuff.

Also, the official adapter is great, but many users here have good experiences with using third party adapters. Just remember that if you get a flanged one, you lose infinity focus. But if the lens has a narrow base, you might gain CiF.

Not a Number · 02-08-2013, 05:42 PM

Pentax Adapter B is the M42 to K mount adapter. B stands for bayonet.

Maybe Adam could ask Pentax what that status is of the adapter at CP+

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2013, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by Not a Number

Maybe Adam could ask Pentax what that status is of the adapter at CP+

Missed that one by a week

It wouldn't be a high priority item for Ricoh. It made sense to have an adaptor in 1975, in 2013 not so much. Ricoh is in the business of selling new lenses, not an adapter for lenses that are older than half the population of the US. There are probably more of these adapters sitting forgotten in closets and drawers than there are Pentax DSLRs.

john1963 · 02-08-2013, 06:39 PM

HI, Pentax Australia is still showing the B adapter on their web site, and seems to be available through their online shop, might be worth a try.

**boriscleto** · 02-08-2013, 06:41 PM

Originally posted by john1963

HI, Pentax Australia is still showing the B adapter on their web site, and seems to be available through their online shop, might be worth a try.

Will Pentax Australia ship internationally? Pentax USA won't.

**monochrome** · 02-08-2013, 07:10 PM

There are several dozen genuine Pentax adapters available on ebay if you search worldwide. Prices range from $35 - $65 (ridiculous @ $65) and there's one with 1 day 19 hours to go bid $13.50. Only look at the Genuine article.

**ramseybuckeye** · 02-08-2013, 07:26 PM

B&H is showing them currently back ordered. That's better than when I had to pay more than that for a used one 3 years ago when they were not making them.

vonBaloney · 02-08-2013, 07:43 PM

Originally posted by ramseybuckeye

B&H is showing them currently back ordered. That's better than when I had to pay more than that for a used one 3 years ago when they were not making them.

Means nothing. It will show that possibly for the rest of time...

**ramseybuckeye** · 02-08-2013, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

Means nothing. It will show that possibly for the rest of time...

True, but they didn't even list them when I was looking three years ago.

Not a Number · 02-09-2013, 03:44 AM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Missed that one by a week

It wouldn't be a high priority item for Ricoh. It made sense to have an adaptor in 1975, in 2013 not so much. Ricoh is in the business of selling new lenses, not an adapter for lenses that are older than half the population of the US. There are probably more of these adapters sitting forgotten in closets and drawers than there are Pentax DSLRs.

If Ricoh wants only to sell new bodies and lenses they need only to abandon the K mount and stop-down metering support.

Seems to me it would be good advertising for Pentax Ricoh to say not only are we loyal to our customers but to our lenses.

02-08-2013, 04:18 PM	#1
iceshiel Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 40	Official Pentax M42 mount availability I plan on investing in M42 glass and both Adorama and B&H are backordered for the official pentax adapter. There are no specific restock dates. Does anyone with experience here know how long it generally takes for them to restock the adapters?

02-08-2013, 04:23 PM	#2
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	The Pentax Adapter K was discontinued last year. It is no longer even listed on a Pentax webpage. It was briefly available from the Pentax web store but disappeared when it sold out. Adorama and B&H haven't had stock in years. eBay is you best bet. Try searching for misspelled listings, i.e. Ashai instead of Asahi. They also turn up from time to time on shopgoodwill.com. Look for K-mount cameras with M42 lenses. There was a ME Super with several S-M-C Taks a few weeks ago. Last edited by boriscleto; 02-08-2013 at 04:28 PM.

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02-08-2013, 04:43 PM	#3
iceshiel Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 40 Original Poster	I saw the Pentax Adapter B on both adorama and B&H though. Was only the Adapter K discontinued?

02-08-2013, 04:49 PM	#4
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by boriscleto The Pentax Adapter K was discontinued last year. It is no longer even listed on a Pentax webpage. It was briefly available from the Pentax web store but disappeared when it sold out. Adorama and B&H haven't had stock in years. Not quite true -- B&H unexpectedly had a new batch just a month ago or so. They did announce it was discontinued (before Ricoh took over), but then they had it again late 2012. They seem to have it for a few weeks once a year. (I bought one new from B&H around Dec 2011.) Would be nice if they just kept them in production or at least made a whole lot of them. Nevertheless, ebay is still your best bet at this point.

02-08-2013, 04:50 PM	#5
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by iceshiel I saw the Pentax Adapter B on both adorama and B&H though. Was only the Adapter K discontinued? Pentax Adapter K for 645 lenses is still available from Pentax. This makes sense because Pentax still makes 645 lenses. Pentax hasn't made a M42 lens in almost 40 years. Adapter K for 6x7 lenses isn't available from Pentax anymore either. But B&H has stock (2 - 3 weeks). Pentax Adapter B is also called Pentax Mount Adapter K

02-08-2013, 04:57 PM	#6
Na Horuk Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Slovenia, probably Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,186	You will probably be better off going to an actual store. A photography store here had a bunch of these, even though online I couldn't find them anywhere. The salesperson didn't even seem to know what they were. Don't expect Best Buy to have them, but ask a specialized store that also sells Pentax stuff. Also, the official adapter is great, but many users here have good experiences with using third party adapters. Just remember that if you get a flanged one, you lose infinity focus. But if the lens has a narrow base, you might gain CiF.

02-08-2013, 05:42 PM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Pentax Adapter B is the M42 to K mount adapter. B stands for bayonet. Maybe Adam could ask Pentax what that status is of the adapter at CP+

02-08-2013, 05:57 PM	#8
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by Not a Number Maybe Adam could ask Pentax what that status is of the adapter at CP+ Missed that one by a week It wouldn't be a high priority item for Ricoh. It made sense to have an adaptor in 1975, in 2013 not so much. Ricoh is in the business of selling new lenses, not an adapter for lenses that are older than half the population of the US. There are probably more of these adapters sitting forgotten in closets and drawers than there are Pentax DSLRs.

02-08-2013, 06:39 PM	#9
john1963 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Melbourne Posts: 25	HI, Pentax Australia is still showing the B adapter on their web site, and seems to be available through their online shop, might be worth a try.

02-08-2013, 06:41 PM	#10
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by john1963 HI, Pentax Australia is still showing the B adapter on their web site, and seems to be available through their online shop, might be worth a try. Will Pentax Australia ship internationally? Pentax USA won't.

02-08-2013, 07:10 PM	#11
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	There are several dozen genuine Pentax adapters available on ebay if you search worldwide. Prices range from $35 - $65 (ridiculous @ $65) and there's one with 1 day 19 hours to go bid $13.50. Only look at the Genuine article.

02-08-2013, 07:26 PM	#12
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	B&H is showing them currently back ordered. That's better than when I had to pay more than that for a used one 3 years ago when they were not making them.

02-08-2013, 07:43 PM	#13
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by ramseybuckeye B&H is showing them currently back ordered. That's better than when I had to pay more than that for a used one 3 years ago when they were not making them. Means nothing. It will show that possibly for the rest of time...

02-08-2013, 09:15 PM	#14
ramseybuckeye Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hampstead, NC Photos: Gallery Posts: 17,292	Originally posted by vonBaloney Means nothing. It will show that possibly for the rest of time... True, but they didn't even list them when I was looking three years ago.

02-09-2013, 03:44 AM	#15
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by boriscleto Missed that one by a week It wouldn't be a high priority item for Ricoh. It made sense to have an adaptor in 1975, in 2013 not so much. Ricoh is in the business of selling new lenses, not an adapter for lenses that are older than half the population of the US. There are probably more of these adapters sitting forgotten in closets and drawers than there are Pentax DSLRs. If Ricoh wants only to sell new bodies and lenses they need only to abandon the K mount and stop-down metering support. Seems to me it would be good advertising for Pentax Ricoh to say not only are we loyal to our customers but to our lenses.