Easiest way to mount M42 lenses on K-3?

uday029 · 02-11-2015, 06:18 PM

Hello all,

One of my friends in a local photography group has a vast collection of M42 lenses. He was kind enough to tell me that I can borrow his lenses anytime. The issue is that I did not find an easy way to juggle between M42 lenses and my own K-mount lenses. Internet research told me that the adapter has to be attached on to camera first in order to mount M42 lens. So I have to perform a small surgery on my K-3 every time I want to juggle between M42 and K-mount lenses. I also read numerous horror stories of adapter getting stuck to the camera.

So, I am here to ask all you experts to see if there exists an easier (and safer) way to use M42 lenses on my K-3? Is there an adapter that I can attach to M42 lens to make it a K-mount lens?

Any input is highly appreciated.

Thank you.

**sergysergy** · 02-11-2015, 06:29 PM - **1 Like**

With the original adapter you will have no problem. It takes 5 seconds to "perform the surgery"

**jatrax** · 02-11-2015, 07:43 PM

^^^^^ What he said. The original Pentax adapter works flawlessly. All of the issues you read about are from cheaper ebay ones. Some of these work, some do not. Just spend the extra and get the Pentax one.

You can buy adapters for each lens if you want. But you should remove the metal spring lock, this is what causes the issues. I have one on my 400mm because it is too hard to screw the 400mm onto the camera. But for all other lenses I use the Pentax adapter. And if you remove the spring clip then the only thing holding the lens onto the camera is the k-mount bayonet. Usually that is fine, but I don't trust it.

**i_trax** · 02-11-2015, 07:44 PM

this original Pentax adaptor will work very well, I have a large number of M42 old lenses and never had a problem

sterretje · 02-11-2015, 08:00 PM

I go out with M42 or I go out with manual K-mount or I go out with AF. So I happily mount the adapter on the camera and live with that for a while; removes the need to remove the adapter frequently.

**UncleVanya** · 02-11-2015, 09:20 PM

I have the original and a knock off - how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool.

**jatrax** · 02-11-2015, 09:24 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool.

I just use my thumbnail. Never thought about it, it just comes right off.

**UncleVanya** · 02-11-2015, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by jatrax

I just use my thumbnail. Never thought about it, it just comes right off.

LOL I have been overthinking it.

**jatrax** · 02-11-2015, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

LOL I have been overthinking it.

I did not know there even was a tool until I bought a couple ebay ones to mount semi-permanently on my longer lenses. But I just took the spring clip off those and tossed the tool in the parts box.

schnitzer79 · 02-12-2015, 02:59 AM

just get the original adapter and you're good to go. the original one goes on and comes off in literally 2 seconds.
the m42 world is a fascinating one

some truly amazing lenses out there

sterretje · 02-12-2015, 03:10 AM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

I have the original and a knock off - how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool.

The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen.

Image source: Pentax Mount Adapter K (M42 Screwmount to Bayonet) Reviews - Pentax K-mount Teleconverters and Adapters - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

schnitzer79 · 02-12-2015, 03:16 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen.

that user manual is a bit silly though. i doubt anyone carries a ball point pen with them just for this purpose.what if you're out and want to switch from an m42 to a k-mount? thumbnail does the job for me

sterretje · 02-12-2015, 04:32 AM

Originally posted by schnitzer79

what if you're out and want to switch from an m42 to a k-mount?

I don't switch in the field

I either carry K-mount (usually either manual or AF) or M42. So no need to switch in the field

**UncleVanya** · 02-12-2015, 06:44 AM

Originally posted by sterretje

The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen.

Image source: Pentax Mount Adapter K (M42 Screwmount to Bayonet) Reviews - Pentax K-mount Teleconverters and Adapters - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

Mine came in the original box but without instructions.

sterretje · 02-12-2015, 08:08 AM

Box? Never seen that one so don't know. Mine came in a small green plastic sleeve as seen in the photos by i-trax; I bought it in January 2010.

02-11-2015, 06:18 PM	#1
uday029 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Posts: 505	Easiest way to mount M42 lenses on K-3? Hello all, One of my friends in a local photography group has a vast collection of M42 lenses. He was kind enough to tell me that I can borrow his lenses anytime. The issue is that I did not find an easy way to juggle between M42 lenses and my own K-mount lenses. Internet research told me that the adapter has to be attached on to camera first in order to mount M42 lens. So I have to perform a small surgery on my K-3 every time I want to juggle between M42 and K-mount lenses. I also read numerous horror stories of adapter getting stuck to the camera. So, I am here to ask all you experts to see if there exists an easier (and safer) way to use M42 lenses on my K-3? Is there an adapter that I can attach to M42 lens to make it a K-mount lens? Any input is highly appreciated. Thank you.

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02-11-2015, 06:29 PM - 1 Like	#2
sergysergy Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,170	With the original adapter you will have no problem. It takes 5 seconds to "perform the surgery"

02-11-2015, 07:43 PM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	^^^^^ What he said. The original Pentax adapter works flawlessly. All of the issues you read about are from cheaper ebay ones. Some of these work, some do not. Just spend the extra and get the Pentax one. You can buy adapters for each lens if you want. But you should remove the metal spring lock, this is what causes the issues. I have one on my 400mm because it is too hard to screw the 400mm onto the camera. But for all other lenses I use the Pentax adapter. And if you remove the spring clip then the only thing holding the lens onto the camera is the k-mount bayonet. Usually that is fine, but I don't trust it.

02-11-2015, 07:44 PM	#4
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	this original Pentax adaptor will work very well, I have a large number of M42 old lenses and never had a problem

02-11-2015, 08:00 PM	#5
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	I go out with M42 or I go out with manual K-mount or I go out with AF. So I happily mount the adapter on the camera and live with that for a while; removes the need to remove the adapter frequently.

02-11-2015, 09:20 PM	#6
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	I have the original and a knock off - how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool.

02-11-2015, 09:24 PM	#7
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by UncleVanya how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool. I just use my thumbnail. Never thought about it, it just comes right off.

02-11-2015, 09:29 PM	#8
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by jatrax I just use my thumbnail. Never thought about it, it just comes right off. LOL I have been overthinking it.

02-11-2015, 09:41 PM	#9
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by UncleVanya LOL I have been overthinking it. I did not know there even was a tool until I bought a couple ebay ones to mount semi-permanently on my longer lenses. But I just took the spring clip off those and tossed the tool in the parts box.

02-12-2015, 02:59 AM	#10
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	just get the original adapter and you're good to go. the original one goes on and comes off in literally 2 seconds. the m42 world is a fascinating one some truly amazing lenses out there

02-12-2015, 03:10 AM	#11
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by UncleVanya I have the original and a knock off - how do you remove the original without a tool? I have not found either one to be hard to remove using the Kalt tool. The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen. Image source: Pentax Mount Adapter K (M42 Screwmount to Bayonet) Reviews - Pentax K-mount Teleconverters and Adapters - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

02-12-2015, 03:16 AM	#12
schnitzer79 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,248	Originally posted by sterretje The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen. that user manual is a bit silly though. i doubt anyone carries a ball point pen with them just for this purpose.what if you're out and want to switch from an m42 to a k-mount? thumbnail does the job for me

02-12-2015, 04:32 AM	#13
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Originally posted by schnitzer79 what if you're out and want to switch from an m42 to a k-mount? I don't switch in the field I either carry K-mount (usually either manual or AF) or M42. So no need to switch in the field

02-12-2015, 06:44 AM	#14
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,401	Originally posted by sterretje The user manual that comes with the original says to use a ball-point pen. Image source: Pentax Mount Adapter K (M42 Screwmount to Bayonet) Reviews - Pentax K-mount Teleconverters and Adapters - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database Mine came in the original box but without instructions.

02-12-2015, 08:08 AM	#15
sterretje Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Roodepoort, South Africa Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,561	Box? Never seen that one so don't know. Mine came in a small green plastic sleeve as seen in the photos by i-trax; I bought it in January 2010.