Pentax MV 1

Both my MV1s need new light seals/mirror bumper foam, but I'll definitely be testing them with film after.

As for the 40mm pancake, I'd be happy with one in the same condition as the Pentax-M 80-200mm zoom I bought a few days ago. Optically perfect, with worn paint but no gouges or dings. It looks as though it's been well used but by someone who cared for their gear - even had the original lens cap which is always a good sign!

Don't get too excited about the 'rare' 40mm.

I had one, the image quality was variable so I sold it.

I'm sticking with the f1.7 50s I have. They may be a bit bigger but they produce better results.

It seems that a lot of 40s have lived hard lives and suffer from some form of degradation.

That would fit. Remember that they were sold as compact walk-around lenses (I've even seen an official Pentax belt clip for an ME, presumably this was intended to go with a pancake lens) so they probably saw more than their share of rough handling.

I have just paid under £10 for a 50mm f2 with what the seller describes as slight fungus - aside from that it looks in good order so I'm viewing this as something of an experiment. If it works, I'll be happy to buy things like 50mm f1.4s with the same problem. I plan to unscrew the front element, clean the fungus out with a cotton bud dipped in vinegar, then follow up with lens cleaner and another bud before leaving it to dry out fully for a few days with as much UV light exposure as I can arrange. After that, it'll be blown clear of dust and reassembled to join either my chrome MV1 or the MV I have on the way.

I really must stop buying 50mm f2s - I've got three now! One stays on my K1000, another on the black MV1 in an ever ready case.

Out of pure sentiment I have just had my original 50mm f/2 lens serviced. I spilt something sticky on the aperture ring some 20 years ago (?beer) and since then it has been acting as a rather bulky body cap. I went out today with an ME Super (not my original, sadly) and the F2 lens and yet another roll of K64 I am trying to use up before the end of the year. Talk about a trip down memory lane as that combination was where I started back in the summer of 1982. Sadly, the weather was rather against using 64 ASA film!

Cheers, K.

The 50mm f2 is pretty simple to work on. However, if you're removing the aperture ring make sure you don't lose the tiny ball bearing that provides the "click". I have yet to see a supplier for these aside from other dead lenses.

The fungally challenged lens responded very well to treatment and is in excellent condition. Something odd has happened with the coating on the front element in one area, but it worked perfectly when briefly tested on digital. I plan to try a couple of shots with it when I put a roll of B&W through one of my M series and see if it affects film performance. I now have another one on the way with what sounds like a similar problem!

Try Micro-Tools in future. I've bought ball bearings (and many other bits!) for lens repairs from there in the past and the postal delivery from Germany is usually within 72 hours.