Thursday, March 10, 2011

Fitting an enlarger lens to bellows



I recently obtained set of Pentax auto-bellows, which I had been after for a while.  The automatic diaphragm isn't what I was after, it was more to find a home for a nice (although not valuable) 50mm Schneider enlarger lens that I have had for ages.




Sunday, March 6, 2011

Pentax KA Zoom rehab



When I got this lens it was a mess.  The zoom was prone to drifting, the focus was sloppy and gritty, the rubber grip for the focus ring was gone, and the lens cap wouldn't even stay on.

I tried to sell it on eBay; got bids up to $2.75 and then the eventual winner changed their mind.

My plan is to find a suitable KA body to stick behind it - perhaps a Program Plus - but in the meantime I gave it an overhaul.  The Ricoh currently modeling the lens is also in need of a refit, and it can't run the A lens in Auto mode so I don't want to sell them together.

Dismantling was easy, because the focus grip was missing - pull the screws out and then it can be completely unscrewed.

I found lots of dirt in the focus helix (in the grease).  I tightened up all the screws to fix up the slop, gave it fresh grease, and cut a new grip off a donor lens (a Vivitar/Kiron 80-200mm f4.5).  The new grip was a little loose so I used my new favorite product to stick it on: Ultra-thin double-sided tape from Lee Valley.

Good as new?  I think it's better.