Thanks all! Pixel peeping at the shot, I can see colour fringing around most of the bright edges... but then again, I imagine the globe was meant to be used as an ornament and not as optical glass.

@Tyr: That sounds like quite a project! I hope you find a marble that fits.

with a 180 degree field of view:

link


It's fully manual too; the only way of focusing it is moving the glass orb closer to or further from the camera. (=

Lens received; it's in incredible shape. Genuinely would believe that this old manual lens was made yesterday! Thanks Jon.

PM sent re 35mm/f2 and 50mm/1.4.

Hi LaPoder,

I'm interested in the extension tubes, but can't initiate PMs yet as I haven't (quite) been registered for 30 days. Could you PM me, so that I can reply?

Lens is sold; thanks all for looking!

PM replied to.

PM replied to.

In excellent condition, with 8 months of warranty still to go. Includes original front and rear caps, pouch and box. I'll even add a 49mm pinch cap (3rd-party) if you'd prefer that to the usual lens cap.

Photos of the item here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19477230@N00/5410618820/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19477230@N00/5410622386/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19477230@N00/5410624342/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/19477230@N00/5410620958/

I bought this in October 2010 from SRS Microsystems, and have used it carefully ever since. The lens itself is in mint condition, the optics perfect, without haze or fungus. The lens cap fell off once, and sustained two tiny dings (just about visible in the photos that follow). I will include a copy of the receipt so that any buyer can make use of the warranty. (There are still 8 months of warranty to go.)

I'm sure any buyer would know this, but this received rave reviews:
http://photo.net/columns/mjohnston/pentax-35mm-lens/optical-discussion/

This currently sells new for £375 from SRS microsystems. I'm willing to part with mine for £275 plus £5 for postage via Royal Mail Special Delivery. (Will accept payment by paypal or bank transfer.)

Thanks everyone for the avalanche of advice and options! I've located a rubber hood off amazon that seems to fit alright, though the OCD in me wishes it fit on the specialised thread that the Pentax PH-RB49 would. NickW: If it doesn't work for me, I might end up placing an order with SRS too. Perhaps they only get shipments for these things quite rarely; but that's par for the course for a lens that's out of production.