*IF* you can find one, Pentax rear converter-A 2X-S (for under 300mm: 2X-L for longer ones). IQ is wonderful and I see no reason why any K type lens would not latch. The electrical contacts are there but no AF

This qualifies for 'Pentax related' due to the K5 being on one end of the Pentax bellows while this non pentax, beat up old 135mm was on the other end.



It's from Greens of London, 1:3.5, preset 13 blade aperture and I can't find any information about it at all. They were clearly made for a variety of cameras since the M42 end is a bolt-on T fitting



Its IQ is something again. This is the fruit of a plane tree. It gives an impression of fuzziness at first



until you examine the 100% crop and realise that it is due to the sheer amount of tiny detail and texture



The quality from this thing is quite astonishing considering its age ( and price! )






Those 13 blades produce a great bokeh too which I shall be playing with over the next day or so

A typical Ebay session goes, "That's a really good one - got one - got that too, that one's rubbish, etc."
A typical domestic session goes, "You haven't bought another lens have you? You've got more than enough already!"
I love trying out old glass and I find them irresistible at Ebay prices. The idea is to re-sell them afterwards - but it never seems to happen

I just love the grumpy goldfinch

Good result - worth the work

I like bugs so I shall look forward to seeing them. Welcome

About a week ago "Scarrr1" asked whether we had any particular goals when we go out with a camera or whether we take pot luck, saying that his inspiration had temporarily dried up. I knew there was a location where you could see all three of Coventry's church spires so I went there with no mental brief and took pot luck.

All were taken on the approach to, or from the footbridge over the railway. This used to be a classic spot and then they blighted it with modernity .....



You can still see the famous "three spires" but only just






spiritual pursuits have given way to commercial ones. This used to be the railway goods yard



Turning to the other side, we find the inevitable empty office block without which no city is complete



This is one of the cables supporting the 'suspension' type bridge you can see in the first image and from where the previous two were taken



And if steel, glass and concrete are not your thing, at least the approaches are green



They are not mind-blowingly magnificent images but I find that themes emerge out of what is before you: in this case encroaching modernity.
All were taken with that much maligned Pentax F 28-80mm f3.5-4.5 and my K5
For comments, as you wish

They are all dramatic but the one with the train has that bit of edge because it shows what the thing is all about; it's alive, while the others are but 'portraits'

I've put a pic of a steel cable on the gallery shot against the light with the F 28-80. As can be seen the macro function is lousy, it's anything but sharp and the contrast is out of the window -- or so it is attempted to make us believe. Personally, I'm quite pleased with the result from such a useless lens -- if he's offering it to you for £5 then what have you got to lose?

There are several Takumar 300mm for sale at the moment on Ebay. It's not old - its ancient, preset and needs an M42 adapter but it's a stunning lens. The best way to use it is preset it to f22 and you can then twirl the aperture ring through the entire range with no click stops. You can stick the adapter in the front of a converter too but there's always a light loss penalty