Need advice for removing stuck Rainbow imaging adapters

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

Hello all, I have two Rainbow imaging (Fotasy) adapters that have stuck fast to the lenses to which they are attached and try as I might, I cannot remove them. One is a Pentax K and one is a Nikon. Anybody have useful hints? I found a couple of youtube videos but no luck. I have depressed the little toggle but that doesn't work either.

The sensible solution would be to buy another adapter for my other lenses. But the P/K is stuck on a lens that I want to sell and I'd like to retrieve it, if possible.

Thanks in advance for any useful tips.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

This might be obvious - but are you sliding the button back towards the camera ? I have two PK - NEX adapters here and the unbranded one has a button that pretty much slops about all over the place, and can be mistaken for the adapters which do have a button that is pressed - such as the Minolta and Yashica.
The Fotodiox adapter had a little tab that is also pressed back towards the camera, and it a lot more positive, and obvious in its operation.

If the lens is stuck, then it is going to be a problem. I've looked inside both of my adapters with a lens mounted and can see no moving parts when the button is slid back to release the lens. And dismantling the adapter has to be done from the lens mount side.

I don't think the old Ricoh pin trick of using a feeler gauge would work, the locking pin is a lot longer than the Ricoh pin and I can't see how it could possibly be inserted and pushed over the lock pin.

If all else fails, then brute force will more than likely damage the pin in the adapter before it damages the lens, and if it is a common lens then a fungused copy would provide a new mount.

I don't know anything about the Nikon mount though.

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

Success!

Oddly, the Nikon adapter required sliding the button towards the lens and the P/K, away from the lens. The former wasn't too difficult to manipulate. The latter resisted, but I was finally able to toggle it back and forth and get the darn thing off.

I have a whole bunch of these adapters and every one is a little bit different

You're a brick! Thanks much.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

Most cheap adapters have crappy release buttons, some are far too easy to catch on clothing allowing the lens to drop off. The difference between the two PK adapters I have is typical, the no name release button is really easy to activate accidentally, the Fotodiox is fine. The lens is really slack on the no name as well, I won't use the thing.

JJB · Joined: 02 Oct 2014 Posts: 424 Location: USA

Yes, the moral of the story is buy better adapters! Smile

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England