M42 - PK mount for Pentax MX

[Langstrum]

I want to try shooting with film camera and I'm going to buy the Pentax MX body. I have many M42 lenses and I wonder if this kind of adapter can help mounting these lenses on Pentax MX body or not. Since I don't have any experience with film camera, so I really your advice.
Thank you so much

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300843572665

BTW, can a Pentax MX with SMC Pentax 50/1.4 with $80 be considered as a good deal ?

[hoanpham]

you need the m42-PK adapter, get the original one made by pentax, 20-30usd.
it fits inside the PK mount. M42 lenses can be screw in/out and the adapter stay inside the body, until you want to take it off.

MX body is ok. My fav from pentax is ME-super, but that depends.

pentax smc has several series of lenses (list from oldest to newest):
smc takumar, K series, M series, A series, FA series (with AF).
Any of these should be ok. FA is made of newer plastic, while K series is best build.
Check pentax forums for the price development.

for 80$, price is ok, not bargain, but also depends on the working condition of the mx.

[Lloydy]

The adapter you linked to on ebay is the sort that doesn't allow infinity focus because of the flange that sits proud of the lens mount, what you need is the simple type that Pentax used to supply but apparently no longer sell. But this company SRB Griturn sell them -

http://srb-photographic.co.uk/pentax-k-to-m42-3355-p.asp

and they are excellent quality adapters, and a very good company to deal with. I've got a bunch of these and had no problems at all.

[Langstrum]

[hoanpham]

if your m42 has auto/manual switch, then set it to manual.
The Takumars has a notch you must press in to able to change the switch to manual.

There are few maker with auto-only, and the pin must be modified to press in to allow step down the lens.
The modification is fully reversible. Otherwise it should not be any problem with the pin.

[kuuan]

there are many M42>K adapters on ebay that don't have the outer flange = will allow for infinity focus. it should be easy to tell these apart from those with the outer flange like the one you had linked. right now there are surprisingly many original Pentax adapters offered, the aren't cheap. the cheap ones cost aound 5 usd only and usually come with a tool to unmount them from the camera. I read umounting those usually still is tricky! I use the original Pentax adapter and unmounting it is easy, without tool.

Pentax MX with SMC Pentax 50/1.4 for $80 I'd consider a smocking deal, even 80.- for each a very good deal, specially for the MX!

[Lloydy]

The original Pentax adapter had exactly the same spring arrangement to lock the adapter in place as the SRB Griturn one does, and indeed most of the other unbranded ones. I have one genuine Pentax, about 3 or 4 SRB and a couple of unbranded - probably Chinese ebay ones, and the Pentax and SRB are identical, my suspicion is that SRB, who have their own manufacturing facilities, probably made them for Pentax. The unbranded ones are a lottery, they can be dimensionally different. I always try them on a dead camera and then adjust them, some I have filed down considerably. Then I remove the spring and use them as semi permanent adapters by gluing them to the lens.

A lot of people complain about the tool to remove the adapter, but I find it is a an excellent thing and really easy to use. On the Pentax forums it's considered the work of the devil.

[kuuan]

thank you for the info Lloydy, great to know that most cheap ones are easy to remove and that the tool is useful! I haven't used any of these but now wouldn't hesitate to buy them

[philslizzy]

[philslizzy]