The lever you mention will be found on some SMC Takumar lenses and is for open aperture metering on the Spotmatic F. In other words, like all modern SLRs the metering is carried out with the lens wide open. With earlier Spotmatic cameras, turning on the meter closed down the aperture to the working value, thus darkening the viewfinder image at the same time.

Fair question John. The W90 was used for this shot, which was one of a sequence using the interval timer. Plain cold water rinse was selected, so no abrasive detergents.


If the cameras are good enough for this sort of treatment, then I'm pretty confident that they're up to scratch in other harsh environments.

I wouldn't use any impregnated wipes on my lenses. The only thing I do use is a microfibre cloth and even that very rarely.

It's no doubt a standard warranty term, but doesn't make sense for an underwater camera. Obviously if it is used correctly and water gets in, then I'd expect warranty service. I know someone who did get warranty service after a holiday where a WG camera leaked.

I've used these cameras in the dishwasher and there was no problem, so I just don't worry about it. If one day it leaks, then we'll cross that bridge then.

The file you want in the root directory of your SD card is just the BIN file. The instructions are on the Ricoh website and need following exactly, but when I've done this there hasn't been a problem. I've always made sure only the BIN file was on the card when I put it in the camera.

The K-5 has remarkably little noise, and I happily use it up to ISO 1600 without any trouble, albeit it usually in good light levels.

In low light levels, the answer is a truly low ISO (say up to ISO 200) and a long exposure with the camera firmly on a tripod. If you shoot JPEG the camera will sort out noise reduction, and you can adjust the parameters for this in the menus.

If you are shooting RAW then there may well be noise reduction in the RAW converter, or you might use stand alone software.

Hope that helps.

If we're being pedantic, we might have to say "almost all M42...etc." but of course you're quite right.

Incidentally, those smaller lenses can be used with some success, although quality is very variable, on the lovely little Pentax Q cameras. I found CCTV lenses very poor in this respect, but as ken pointed out their resolution is low. he suggested C mount cinematography lenses, and when I find one I'll try that thought out.

All screw mount lenses can easily be used on a Pentax DSLR with Pentax Adapter K.

Can you remove the tripod collar from that lens? If you're in the field I would probably do that, and did with lenses such as the 60-250mm, and used other means of support.

We have strayed a little from the request for the easiest way to mount screw thread lenses on a K-3!

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