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.
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