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Forum: Pentax Lens Articles 08-12-2010, 04:24 AM  
Sticky: How to use/meter Manual & M42 Lenses on all Pentax DSLRs (K-1, K-3, K-5, K-30, etc)
Posted By Adam
Replies: 358
Views: 415,809
Many Pentax DSLR owners want to use M42 screwmount (Takumar) lenses, or M or K manual lenses, on their cameras because of the low cost and relatively high image quality of these lenses.


If you're wondering whether or not these lenses can be used with Pentax DSLRs (or the K-01), then the answer is yes! Pentax as well as third-party manual and screwmount lenses can easily be mounted on any Pentax DSLR (such as the K-1 series, KP, K-3 series, K-70, K-S2, K-S1, K-50, K-500, K-30, K-5 series, K-r, K-x, K-7, K10D, K100D, K200D, *ist D, etc.) Just follow this guide!



Modern Pentax DSLRs use the Pentax "K-mount", which employs a bayonet and therefore differs significantly from the M42 screw mount. The older manual M and K (SMC Pentax-M, SMC Pentax) lenses actually use the bayonet, so they will not need an adapter - you can skip straight to the lower portion of this article (starting at "Important!") for information on how to meter with those lenses. Screwmount lenses usually have "Takumar" in their names, and in order to mount screwmount lenses on your k-mount body, you'll need a Pentax k to m42 adapter. Pictured above is the genuine Pentax adapter, which is ideally the one you want to get. Similar third-party adapters are also available. Caution: Many third-party adapters, such as this one, have a protruding flange which will prevent you from focusing all the way to infinity. If you want to buy a third-party adapter (they're generally cheaper), make sure that they don't have this flange. Here's an example of a good third-party adapter.

Once you have your adapter, the next step is to install it on your camera (it can easily be put on and removed on-the-fly). Check out the m42 to k adapter manual.


After you've installed the adapter, you'll want to mount the lens. This is done by screwing it into the camera until the lens feels firmly attached. The focusing window and lens ring should line up with the camera just like any other lens. Now that your lens is mounted, let's talk about how to take photos with it.

Important! The hard part is to get the camera to actually fire when a manual lens is mounted. In order to accomplish this, enter your camera's custom function menu, select the "Using Aperture Ring" setting (usually at the end of the menu, #21 on the K-7, #27 on the K-5, #27 on the K-3, #26 on the K-1), and set it to 2 (allowed). Once you do this, the shutter will at least fire, as it wouldn't have with this setting disabled (you would simply have seen an F-- indication on the top LCD/info screen). The setting description should read: 'Shutter will release when aperture ring is not set to the "A" position' when "allowed" is selected. Also note that the mount on the lens must be conductive for electrical current so that it shorts the electrical contacts on the camera body. All Pentax manufactured lenses have a conductive mount, but some third party lenses do not in which case the area of the mount touching the contacts must be sanded down.

K-30, K-50, K-500, K-70, K-S1, K-S2 and K-01 users: make sure you also set your green button "action in M/TAv Mode" to Tv SHIFT. This is found under the button customization menu (page 3 of the main menu) on the K-01 or as a custom function on the K-30, K-50 and K-500. On the K-S2 and K-70, look under the e-dial programming sub-menu under button customization in the record menu.

Finally, ensure that auto ISO is disabled.

At startup, if your camera asks you for the focal length, enter the actual focal length as labeled on the lens. This will ensure optimal Shake Reduction performance. For zooms, you can use the lower end of the zoom range (this ensures that there will be no over-compensation), or the focal length that you shoot at most often.

Now, let's discuss metering. Since manual lenses don't feed aperture data to the camera, the only way for the camera to check how much light is being passed through the lens is to measure the light while the lens is stopped down. Follow this procedure to properly meter with a screwmount, M, or K lens:

___0. Ensure that the "Using Aperture Ring" custom function is set to "2 (allowed)" (K-30/50/500/01 users must also ensure that the green button is configured to Tv Shift in M/TAv Mode) as described above
  1. Set your camera to M mode using the mode dial (your camera won't fire in other modes*)

  2. Compose and focus your image.

  3. Using the aperture ring (the ring at the very back of your lens; it will have numbers such as 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8 written on it), select your desired aperture setting. Note that the smaller the aperture number is, the more light passes through the lens, and the blurrier the out of focus areas of your photograph will be (and vice-versa). Note your lens will not stop down until step 5.

  4. [Screwmount lenses only] Switch the diaphragm clutch on your lens to "Manual" (you can leave it on Auto when composing and focusing if you don't want a dark viewfinder).

  5. Measure the light by either pressing the "Green Button" (older bodies may use the Av button), or pushing your power button to DOF preview mode (only available on high-end bodies). Your camera will automatically set the shutter speed for you.

All that's left now is for you to press the shutter release button to take your photo. Congratulations- you've now learned how to use M42 and M & K manual lenses with Pentax DSLRs!

*Screwmount lenses may also be used in Av mode since they are always stopped down to the aperture you will be shooting at (unlike M&K lenses, which are stopped down only when the shutter is released or when you meter as described above).

Note: if your aperture ring has an "A" on it, instead of doing stop-down metering as per this guide, you'll want to set the ring to "A" and use the camera's scrollweel to adjust the aperture via Av mode.

Click here if you found this article helpful!

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Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 07-24-2012, 08:26 AM  
Replacing k-x with k-r? Differences?
Posted By Edgar_in_Indy
Replies: 29
Views: 2,981
Plus, the huge front element on the Sigma will impress your friends and confuse your enemies.
Forum: Photographic Technique 01-19-2012, 12:37 PM  
Help With a Light Tent
Posted By Deiberson
Replies: 11
Views: 5,017
HERE are the directions I used t build mine. It was free.

Here are the results I get with it.




I do use 2 lights though. One on each side.

Hope that helps
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-24-2011, 05:55 PM  
Are we really THAT rare?
Posted By guinnessman
Replies: 7,240
Views: 985,627
I saw someone sitting a couple rows in front of me at the Fresno Grizzlies game last Saturday, with what looked like a K100D and a 55-300.

I was just really shocked to see another Pentaxian in town.
He definitely got better pics than I did, as I though I packed my 60-300mm Tamron, but alas, only had my 10-20 Sigma and kit lens.
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 05-02-2011, 10:44 AM  
Any way to tether with K-X?
Posted By boriscleto
Replies: 5
Views: 2,269
Forum: Troubleshooting and Beginner Help 04-08-2011, 08:50 PM  
What is LBA?
Posted By Wombat
Replies: 52
Views: 8,907
The big problem with LBA, of course, is that you can rapidly wind up with a large collection of junk lenses. You know the routine - "Oh well, it's only $20 bucks - why not?" When clear vision dawns one winter morning, have you ever tried to dispose of a collection of junk lenses? Pepe, take your inspiration from those disciplined souls who regularly shoot with only one or two lenses for a very long time. They develop consistency and depth of knowledge most of us can only dream of. If it was good enough for Henri Cartier-Bresson ...

Anyone want a box of junk? Cheap?
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 04-08-2011, 05:51 AM  
Is it OK to store a camera vertically?
Posted By RioRico
Replies: 7
Views: 3,899
I've also warned against frequenting Photon Depletion Zones, such as the Kodak-moment viewpoints near the Golden Gate Bridge, Eiffel Tower, Sydney Opera House, and the vicinity of any paparazzi subjects. Serious photon depletion and imbalance can have dire consequences on the photographer, who will only see what the missing photons have left, not what is actually there. If anything. Yes, whenever you see scads of cameras busily depleting photons from the environment, you should move quickly in the opposite direction. With camera lens pointed down, so excess photons may escape. SAVE THE PHOTONS!
Forum: Pentax DSLR Discussion 04-09-2011, 06:12 AM  
why did Pentax sell to Hoya
Posted By normhead
Replies: 32
Views: 6,769
So anyone who just got insulted by someone who called their favourite camera a piece of junk , now has more insult piled on top of the first insult by being called a fanboy? There are some serious laws in manageing interpersonal relations that are being broken here.

My k20 isn't a piece of junk, it's a camera.saying I'm stupid enough to pay what I paid for it for junk is personally insulting.

Calling me a fanboy for liking my camera is personally insulting.

I'm sorry you've had such bad luck with your cameras, but insulting me isn't the answer.

I've had my K20D for thousands exposures, carried it on canoe trips and hikes, it's been dropped, it's gotten wet, it's been in my pack when I've slipped and fallen landing on it. ANd it's still wroking. And I'm supposed to think there is something wrong with it, because some person on the internet says he's had a problem with 2 k-5's.

Well,dude, the problem is, I don't know you, I don't know what I'd have to do to my cameras to have the problems you describe. For all I know you could be a Canon marketer just out to spread the BS. But I assume, they would be more professional.

Sorry about your difficulties klutz.

Fanboy my ass.
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