Best way to stick down aperture coupling lever on M42 lens?

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Found an old 50mm in the attic. The aperture ring doesn't work unless a pin on the rear end of the lens is pressed in. There's nothing to press it in on a dSLR: so what's the best way of sticking it down?

440roadrunner · Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 52

First, what camera do you intend to mount it onto? Some DSLR's aren't set up (Nikon for example) with enough mount-to-sensor register to be able to focus to infinity with these lenses.

If I were to mount this on my Canon, for example, there's a couple of ways.

First find out, BE SURE, of what the lens is worth, and whether you want to "ruin" it and lower it's value.

If that is OK, then what I do is simply gently bend the pin with a pair of needle nose pliers, and push it into the mount.

If you do NOT want to ruin the lens for value, search ebay for an adapter with a built in stop. Some of these are no more expensive that the type without.

Super Tak · Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 103

I'm not sure what camera you're mounting it on but the basics should be the same as this guide I found a while back for Pentax mounts, spares you ruining your lenses.

http://www.jr-worldwi.de/photo/index.html?M42_auto_adapter_Pentax_PK.html

pilant · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 138 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

The easiest way that I've done with some of my lenses is dripping a drop of super glue on the pin and press it down for 1-2 minutes, it's worked but the pin will be permanently fixed with its rear cover.

Another way, tear down the rear cover and use a cheap ball pen refill tube, cut it and put it into the pin as in the picture.

I've done both ways with my Domiplan, Helios, Yashica DS, CZJ (Zebra)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/platimaq/1262614411/

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

The lens in question is a very cheap Autoflex 50mm f2.8 which I got with my Chinon CS camera. Nothing special at all - but I thought it'd be nice for those LOMO-like shots occasionally. So, I'm just going to find my pliers and push the pin in...

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Yes, I should have said - I'm mounting the lens onto an Olympus E-1. The pin is pushed in now, presumably making an almost worthless lens completely worthless...