Ross Lenses

LachlanB · 08-09-2014, 01:02 AM

Hi everyone, I hope I've put this in the right subforum.
I was looking at secondhand Pentax lenses today, and I found an old manual K mount zoom. Being an idiot, I bought it, but have since realised that I can't actually find anything out about the people who have made it. It looks kinda like this Vivitar lens, with the same (but not quite) physical look and specifications:
Vivitar 80-200mm F4 MACRO FOCUSING ZOOM MC Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database
But, it doesn't say on it anywhere what brand it is- except for the name 'Ross' in one spot. I looked up the Ross brand, but I got the impression that they were bought out and wound down in the M42 era, and the lens I bought is certainly K mount. Does anyone know what brand my lens might be? Perhaps a licensed version of the Vivitar, but I don't know much about Vivitar's history?

At the same time, I got a copy of a Hanimex 135mm f2.8. It's K mount, but I can't seem to meter with it using the Green Button as with other manual lenses. It doesn't have an 'A' setting on the aperture ring, but seems to still seems to work in Av mode. Is this as designed (as it looks to have originally been a pretty cheap lens)? The Lens Database lists it as manual aperture, so shouldn't it only work in M mode? (Hanimex 135mm F2.8 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database)
Thanks!

**savoche** · 08-09-2014, 02:24 AM

Welcome to the forums! Can't help you with the Ross lens. As for the Hanimex, I suppose you have enabled (on the camera) the use of the aperture ring? But yes, you can use manual aperture lenses in Av mode, but then the lens will always be wide open. Of course, if the lens won't stop down anyway you might as well shoot in Av mode

LachlanB · 08-09-2014, 03:06 AM

Thanks for the reply,
I didn't realise you could still use manual lenses wide open in Av. I think I may have solved my Hanimex problem: I don't think the mount is conductive, and thus doesn't want to stop down.

**Canada_Rockies** · 08-09-2014, 02:50 PM

Some have creatively used aluminium foil to solve the conductivity problem without butchering the lens.

08-09-2014, 01:02 AM	#1
LachlanB New Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 4	Ross Lenses Hi everyone, I hope I've put this in the right subforum. I was looking at secondhand Pentax lenses today, and I found an old manual K mount zoom. Being an idiot, I bought it, but have since realised that I can't actually find anything out about the people who have made it. It looks kinda like this Vivitar lens, with the same (but not quite) physical look and specifications: Vivitar 80-200mm F4 MACRO FOCUSING ZOOM MC Lens Reviews - Vivitar Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database But, it doesn't say on it anywhere what brand it is- except for the name 'Ross' in one spot. I looked up the Ross brand, but I got the impression that they were bought out and wound down in the M42 era, and the lens I bought is certainly K mount. Does anyone know what brand my lens might be? Perhaps a licensed version of the Vivitar, but I don't know much about Vivitar's history? At the same time, I got a copy of a Hanimex 135mm f2.8. It's K mount, but I can't seem to meter with it using the Green Button as with other manual lenses. It doesn't have an 'A' setting on the aperture ring, but seems to still seems to work in Av mode. Is this as designed (as it looks to have originally been a pretty cheap lens)? The Lens Database lists it as manual aperture, so shouldn't it only work in M mode? (Hanimex 135mm F2.8 Lens Reviews - Miscellaneous Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database) Thanks!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sports Inside Ross-Ade Stadium at Purdue University	MadMathMind	Post Your Photos!	2	03-09-2014 07:39 AM
Landscape Sunset, Ross Bridge	Wild Hog 4	Post Your Photos!	5	05-13-2013 09:00 PM
Landscape the Ross of Mull (Scotland)	wpvv	Post Your Photos!	4	01-13-2013 09:39 AM
Travel Ross castle - ireland	Schraubstock	Post Your Photos!	14	12-13-2012 06:39 AM

08-09-2014, 02:24 AM	#2
savoche Master of the obvious Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Lowlands of Norway Posts: 18,312	Welcome to the forums! Can't help you with the Ross lens. As for the Hanimex, I suppose you have enabled (on the camera) the use of the aperture ring? But yes, you can use manual aperture lenses in Av mode, but then the lens will always be wide open. Of course, if the lens won't stop down anyway you might as well shoot in Av mode

08-09-2014, 03:06 AM	#3
LachlanB New Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 4 Original Poster	Thanks for the reply, I didn't realise you could still use manual lenses wide open in Av. I think I may have solved my Hanimex problem: I don't think the mount is conductive, and thus doesn't want to stop down.

08-09-2014, 02:50 PM	#4
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	Some have creatively used aluminium foil to solve the conductivity problem without butchering the lens.