This lens was never made in K-mount, as far as I can see, but it is very probably optically identical to the ordinary K 1:4 50mm macro, which is a very sharp lens indeed.

If I were you, I would hang onto it and buy a bellows.

G

Thanks for your suggestions, Kim and Ted.

The batteries are alkaline, not Wein, and I've taken the bottom plate off. Everything looks fine, and spotlessly clean, but it still doesn't work.

Ah well, Overcast 8, here I come.

G

Well, that was quick. Ordered batteries off Ebay yesterday morning; received them this morning, 23 hours later.

The only trouble is, that the meter doesn't seem to work. To be fair, the seller said it didn't work, but I had been hoping he was playing safe as he didn't have a battery to test it. It seemed as though he had got the camera for 50p in a car boot sale.

No matter, good photographers don't need meters anyway.

G

You're absolutely right, Kim, and thanks for the warnings. I've now looked up silver oxide batteries, and have seen some at 99p each, plus postage.

However, I'm just playing around with an old Spottie, so the AG9s should be fine. My first proper camera was an SPII, bought for a month's pay in 1973. I got the present one on Ebay for next to nothing just out of nostalgia. It'll be interesting to see how it performs.

G

Kim,

Many thanks for the offer. I'll evaluate the situation when the batteries arrive.

G

Thanks Kim.

G

Kim,

No need to reply. I have just bought 10 on Ebay for £2.50, inc postage.

Lets's hope they work.

George

Kim,
In the thread to which you refer, you said that you could get silver cells for 60p. You also posted a link to a site which sells these cells, but the price they charge is £5.50. How do you get them for 60p?

Regards

G

All Pentax 35mm cameras since 1975 and the DSLRs use the K bayonet mount, and all bayonet lenses ("K", M, A, F, FA, D FA, FAJ, DA) for 35mm or DSLR will fit (but not necessarily work on) any camera body.

"K", M and A lenses are manual focus.

Unlike other lenses, "K" lenses are styled simply SMC Pentax. There is no suffix after the word Pentax.

Lenses without an aperture ring (FAJ, DA) can't be used on K and M series cameras (like the K1000 and the ME Super), and lenses without an A setting on the aperture ring ("K" and M lenses) won't work on recent cheap MZ series bodies and the film *ist.

DA lenses are designed for the smaller image circle of the DSLRs, and most will vignette on 35mm bodies. D-FA lenses are "digitally enhanced", but will work on 35mm.

It's mostly on the site mentioned above, but I thought a summary might be helpful. The site isn't competely up-to-date.

G

Well done Pentax indeed, for leaving to the camera those things that the camera does best, and leaving to the computer those things which the computer does best.

These are not point and shoot cameras. Post-processing is expected, and there are far more options available in the computer than you will ever get in any camera. Why duplicate?

G