Is this a genuine Pentax K to M42 mount adapter?

[clickshot]

Hello,

I recently bought what was advertised as a genuine Pentax K to M42 adapter to mount my M42 Russian lenses on my Pentax K1000. However, when the adapter arrived it was obvious that it was missing the spring described in this instruction sheet:

http://www.mosphotos.com/PentaxScrew...nsAdapter.html

The adapter looks like this:
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20127/5868_asahipentax1_1.jpg
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20127/5868_asahipentax2_2.jpg
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20127/5868_asahipentax3_1.jpg


This is the section where the spring would normally be. I've never seen a genuine adapter before but to my untrained eye it looks as if someone has forcibly removed the spring with a pair of pliers as there is a ragged edge where I assume the spring would be. If this is the case, can someone confirm whether this adapter would be safe to use, and second, would I be able to remove it once inserted? (I'm too scared of damaging my precious and well-loved camera and lenses).

From what I've read around on the web it appears that some people remove the spring so that they can mount the adapter directly on the lens rather than on the camera body. The drawback of this is that in this way the lens doesn't lock in place. Would it be safe to use it this way?

[Attila]

[Attila]

I have genuine adapter , it has spring and lock into camera body, it has a tool what help to remove it.

[clickshot]

I found this on a different manual focus forum:

[Spotmatic]

I've never had a single problem with my original K-mount adapters (of which I have three). I can remove them just fine with just the help of my fingernail, and I use/remove them on almost a daily basis.

BTW, the oldest version of the adapter has its back painted matte black. They omitted that in later versions.

[Lloydy]

http://www.srb-griturn.com/m42-lenses-on-pentax-k-206-p.asp

I use these adapters from SRB Griturn and never have any problems with them. I spent many years working on quality control on small machined products and soon recognize crappy machining, these are as good as the genuine Pentax item. And only £15-95, which is possibly cheaper than the Chinese ebay ones ? but SRB have always been quick and reliable for anything I've bought from them.

On some of mine I remove the spring, but I have drilled a small hole for the Pentax lens lock pin in a lot of my lenses. But even on those that aren't locked on I've never had a lens fall off, but the spring is no problem as long as it's used as it should be used. I'm sure that most of the bitching about 'cheap adapters' and the 'stupid spring' is down to people who don't have the patience to do it right!

[clickshot]

Thank you all for your replies.

[Lloydy]

If you are only going to use the springless adapter on one lens I would tighten it onto the lens really tight with a lens cap, or even put a tiny bit of glue - Loctite threadlock - on the thread and leave the adapter on the lens.