Manual Extension Tubes

I have quite a few old 42mm screw mount and manual K-mount lenses with an aperture ring. I would like to get a set of manual extension tubes for macro work. I've had a look on the internet but can't see any. Every fitting but Pentax.

Does anyone know where I can get some? Thank you.

There must be thousands of sets of M42 extension tubes available. I probably have some somewhere as well. Try M42, 42mm, Pentax, Pentax S and Praktica as searches.

You'll need Pentax K mount tubes for the bayonet lenses. Pentax made a beautifully engineered set and there were plenty of others. A set of these tubes plus a Mount Adapter K would enable you to use the screw thread lenses on them.

Thanks John. I think I should have been a bit clearer, I have seen many advertised on ebay but I'm a little concerned about the quality of some of them e.g. stuck on camera. I'm sure most are ok but I'd like to be sure.

The cost is likely to be low, so the risk equally so, perhaps try something and see? If you stick to recognisable makes, even ideally finding a Pentax branded set, then it should reasonable. You're quite right to want to avoid anything cheap and nasty that might damage the finish on your camera mount.

If it helps I have an Asahi Bellows Unit here, M42 fittings, in original box with instruction manual and virtually unused. £25 including shipping?

Don't include "stuck on camera" in your ebay search

Should show about 217 M42 extension tubes including a nice 4 piece Genuine Yashica set for £9.99

Nice set from Schacht one of my favourite West German lens makers for £26.65 posted
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Schacht-M42-Auto-extension-tubes-german-made-/23213837...

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Thanks John & Algernon. I've just seen a K mount manual set advertised on Premier Ink website for approx £20 including postage. May give those a try.

I actually already have a very old bellows unit. Only ever used it indoors with my Spotmatic. We had a speaker at the club last night who gave a presentation on wildlife close-up and macro photography. Using an extension tube with a zoom lens was very impressive. His website is here:

http://www.naturesphotos.co.uk/

and his information on extension tubes here:

http://www.naturesphotos.co.uk/media/Tips%20and%20techniques/Extension_Tubes.pdf

Wouldn't you be better seeking out a set of tubes with the electrical contacts so you can use auto focus, set the aperture and stop down the lens? Search for 'Pentax K AF extension tubes' (if that's what you want rather than the M42 screw ones.) However most of those on ebay don't look to have the electrical contacts.

Something like this might be worth considering:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tele-Plus-Extension-Tubes-For-Pentax-P-AF-Mount-7396-/...

Proof they exist! However they do seem scarce! I have a set of Jessops branded ones (sorry not for sale!) I could however help with a cased set of original Pentax K manual tubes in excellent condition, but still reckon you're better off with AF ones.

It depends on the lens you want to use, I'd think ....

For tubes with no contacts, then I believe you need an old lens with 'Manual Aperture' setting (as distinct from Manual focus, which is a different thing). None of our more recent Pentax Manual focus Lenses (that's K, M & A types) are Manual Aperture, they are all Automatic Aperture lenses as I understand it. That means they default to the wide open position to aid brighter focussing, and even setting the aperture on the ring will not move the diaphragm down until the point of capture.

So with no contacts to make the lens stop then, as with manual tubes, then I believe we need full Manual Aperture lenses (ie such as M42 ..?) that stop down as you turn the ring and remain fixed in the set position.

Obviously Autofocus capable tubes are not needed for any of these old lens types, but I wonder if there are tubes with contacts that will enable the normal 'stop down' metering type approach with automatic lenses?

Please see my post just before yours; question answered!

It was seeing your post that prompted my question, because you referred to tubes with 'electrical contacts so you can use auto focus, set the aperture and stop down the lens'. Clearly the autofocus aspect is not going to be relevant for the OP, who is using M42 and 'manual K mount lenses with an aperture ring'.

So I was thinking that these autofocus types would be rather expensive and not needed. I wondered if there were types with just the contacts but not AF capable that would allow stop down metering, but be at a lower cost.

AFAIK there aren't any extension tubes that support auto focussing?

More than happy to be corrected.

Well there are teleconverters with AF 'passthrough' ability, but maybe you're right, no tubes for that .....?

Thanks again everyone.
I'm old school I'm afraid, Learnt my basics 45 years ago with a Russian Zenit B SLR and a hand held light meter before venturing to a Pentax Spotmatic. All totally manual of course so manual extension tubes coupled with my old fully manual lenses won't be a problem. Makes photography more enjoyable actually.

I agree, I use my old 1970s Tamron Adaptall 135mm F2.8 , with K mount adaptor, and fully manual basic tubes. The Adaptall is rather handy with its 'Manual/Auto' switch for aperture control, allowing it to switch from full manual (great for using with contactless tubes), and Auto (great for normal use with stop down metering).

But you need an M42 adaptor for tubes, or tubes with the actual screw mount .....?

I was surprised to find AF extension tubes for the Pentax Q system.