I know it's a little niche...but I'm happy with aperture.
saw a review (on orielly) that pitted several raw converter/workflow tools and (unfortunately canikons used no pentax) aperture, really performed exceptionally well....

sorry, work calls...can't do the video today, but heres some snaps to help you out....won't work with all lenses, just some...if my memory is correct it should work on the 35-70.

rubber pipe connector (plumbing shop)


carefully unscrew lens bezel


three screws under bezel


tighten screws (threadlock or nail polish can be used carefully to prevent them from loosening again)

will do....I'll make a video, and post a link...get back to you tomorrow ok?

I seem to remember using a piece of rubber plumbing pipe (coupling) that fit nicely arount the bezel around the lens....under the bezel (where the pentax name was printed) were a couple screws...tightening the screws and then the bezel tuned it right up. I liked that lens...

still use that trick on my 50mm

so let me get this straight...Pentax did not reach into thier (miniscule compared to canon) budget and give away free stuff (after all the money does come from somewhere...meaning the cost of goods to you and I). Pentax was there. Pentax had still managed to get people to hide thier canon/nikon brouchures into a Pentax bag, leaving only the word Pentax showing to all the public as those (mostly brand loyal, already own a camera) photo enthusiists left the convention.....

If only our Government was so clever and frugal with our tax dollars!!!

yep that's a good point, but with the same problem on two lenses..either the operator is hamfisted and did the same thing twice or the coupling in the body is damaged.....my bet is the body....

must be the body...take it to the store and try your lenses on a different body....somethings gonna need to go in for repair....

put the thing on a tripod.
set it on manual and shoot the same scene on av and check every aperture...let us know if the exposure changes and the dof.
use a scene that has some depth and constant lighting.


I'm curious if your aperture is sticking...or your meter's out of whack...or both.

doesn't look like the dof one would expect from f22 either...
I know this sound stupid, but with the weather sealing on that lens, it might feel like it is properly locked in when it may not be...unmount it and remount it and make sure it clicks into place so all the contacts connect up?