General Brand Lens Mount Adapter - Universal Lens (M42) on Pentax K Body

  • Price: $15.95
  • B&H # GBCAPU
  • Mfr# ABPKS

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General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter

This adapter allows a "universal screw mount" type lens (Pentax M42) to be mounted on a Pentax K-mount type body. Although the lens will fit physically, automatic diaphragm (AE metering), or any other functions are not retained using this adapter. In this case you will need to meter in "stop-down mode" since the lens does not have the ability to have its aperture controlled by the camera body.

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter
 
2.8

(based on 16 reviews)

Ratings Distribution

  • 5 Stars

     

    (2)

  • 4 Stars

     

    (4)

  • 3 Stars

     

    (4)

  • 2 Stars

     

    (0)

  • 1 Stars

     

    (6)

63%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (6)
  • Durable (3)

Cons

  • Difficult to use (5)

Best Uses

  • Everyday use (4)
  • Macro photography (4)
  • Studio (3)
    • Was this a gift?:
    • No (7)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Enthusiast (7), Photo enthusiast (3), Professional (3)

Most Liked Positive Review

 

The only thing missing is an removal key

This is a proper m42 to K-mount adaptor; the entire adaptor fits into the k-mount barrel so it doesn't act as a impromptu extension tube. It's latching, so it will *not* come out...Read complete review

This is a proper m42 to K-mount adaptor; the entire adaptor fits into the k-mount barrel so it doesn't act as a impromptu extension tube. It's latching, so it will *not* come out unless you really want it to (my regular camera rig is a Pentax *istDS, this adapter, and a 55mm f1.8 super-tak lens. When I go on long bicycle rides, the camera goes into a pannier bag and bounces down the trail with me, and it has not come undone ever.)

There are two small defects with it. The first, which is not very much, is that the screwmount side of the adaptor is about 30° out of true, so the aperture ring is twisted to the right side of the barrel (and the manual/auto diaphragm switch sits directly under the bump that contains the built-in flash unit) and the second is that it doesn't come with a removal key, so I have to use a screwdriver to release the barrel latch so I can twist the adaptor off the lens when I want to use one of my K-mount lenses.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

 

Great price, poor build quality

I used this to adapt my old M42 camera lenses to my Pentax K10D DSLR. It allows me to use my lenses and it works as advertised. The downside is that it is rather ...Read complete review

I used this to adapt my old M42 camera lenses to my Pentax K10D DSLR. It allows me to use my lenses and it works as advertised. The downside is that it is rather flimsy. There is a flat spring held down by a small screw. The screw came out inside my camera body, along with the spring. Luckily, nothing got scratched. The head of the screw was not well cut, and was difficult to put back with a jewelers screwdriver. But hey, it's [$]. You could get one for each lens you want adapted, and just leave it on. And I do like the old lenses on the new cameras.

REVIEWS

Reviewed by 16 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-16

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1.0

Couldn´t even put it on!

By Ricardo

from Santiago, Chile

About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

Verified Reviewer

Pros

    Cons

    • Bulky
    • Difficult To Use
    • Not Functional

    Best Uses

      Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

      I bought the Bower´s one.
      For precaution before put it on my Pentax K-r, I try to do it on my vivitar v4000, and removing first the clip and making extra pressure with adapter over the mount to get it 100% inserted. The turn was a pain for the stress the adapter made. Remove process was almost the same experience. The adapter it´s not perfectly flat and probably either rounded. Better spend your money on a cap or something else.

      • Was this a gift?:
      • No

      Share this review

       
      4.0

      Works as it should.

      By Rodrigo

      from Bogotá, Colombia

      About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

      Verified Buyer

      Pros

      • Reliable

      Cons

        Best Uses

        • Landscape Photography
        • Macro Photography

        Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

        The item works as it should. It takes time to figure out how to use it cause it has no manual but after know how it does its job. Now I can use my old optics with my new dSLR.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        1.0

        Did not work.

        By Monte

        from Corryton, TN

        About Me Photo Enthusiast

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

        • None

        Cons

        • Tough To Attach

        Best Uses

        • none

        Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

        It is not made like the original Pentax adapter that I had and cannot find and was easy to get in and hard to get out. The 55mm Takumar lense would not screw into the adapter very well.

        • Was this a gift?:
        • No

        Share this review

         
        1.0

        Adapter can get stuck on lens

        By One Thing

        from North California

        About Me Photo Enthusiast

        Verified Buyer

        Pros

          Cons

            Best Uses

              Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

              This adapter is grouped with the cheap M42 adapters. However, this one has a screw which holds a flange onto the adapter. It's not easy to put in. However, I used it fine on my M42 200mm. Then I put in my M42 135mm. When I tried to unscrew it, the thing got stuck. In the end I had to cut it off. Major pain. I hope B&H stands by their products, good or bad and refunds all my money.

              • Was this a gift?:
              • No

              Share this review

               
              5.0

              Does what it's supposed to

              By dhugo3

              from Olathe, KS

              About Me Photo Enthusiast

              Verified Buyer

              Pros

              • Durable
              • Easily Interchangeable
              • Lightweight

              Cons

                Best Uses

                  Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                  Nice quality for the money. Works as it should.

                  • Was this a gift?:
                  • No

                  Share this review

                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                   
                  1.0

                  Horrible Jam - Don't Use it.

                  By catman

                  from Freehold NJ

                  About Me Semi-pro Photographer

                  Pros

                    Cons

                    • May Jam up in camera

                    Best Uses

                    • none

                    Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                    Easily mounted on my Pentax ME Super. However, when you find out that the M42 lens you mounted cannot properly stop down with this adapter, you'll try to remove it from the camera. Forget it! You won't get it off. This thing is jammed in my camera and I can't get it off, even with the so-called "special" tool that is provided with the adapter. So, now I have useless Pentax ME that is mounted with an equally useless and unremovable adapter.

                    • Was this a gift?:
                    • No

                    Share this review

                     
                    3.0

                    Caution:

                    By Eboli2x4

                    from Texas

                    About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                    Verified Buyer

                    Pros

                    • Lightweight

                    Cons

                      Best Uses

                        Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                        Pros: Works well. I use it with a 55mm chinon lens, and it works like it's supposed to.

                        Cons:The small screw that holds the spring steel "lock" screws into the threads of the adapter. I buggered the first few threads of my lens before I figured out what was going on. After removing the screw and spring, worked fine. No problem with adapter coming loose in the body, but the lens un-screws easily, and could pose a problem with heavy use. Just be aware.

                        Conclusion: Does what it is advertised to do.

                        • Was this a gift?:
                        • No

                        Share this review

                        (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

                         
                        1.0

                        TERRIBLE PRODUCT COST ME HUNDREDS

                        By Nick Mathews

                        from Martinsburg WV

                        About Me Professional

                        Verified Buyer

                        Pros

                          Cons

                          • Breaks easy
                          • Cost me tons of money
                          • Difficult To Use
                          • Is known for being faulty
                          • Not Durable
                          • Not Functional

                          Best Uses

                          • Never

                          Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                          This adapter is a terrible product and I want to warn you against selling this. Within the first 24 hours of using the adapter, it malfunctioned and broke on my camera mount and was permanently stuck. I tried several pro camera shops and no one could remove the adapter. I had to send my camera back to Pentax for a full service. They also had to clean tons of metal shards that flaked off the adapter into my camera body. This was a terrible experience for me and I am definitely not reccomending the Bower adapter. Infact through this experience I have learned that hundreds of others had the same bad luck I did with this adapter. [...]

                          Share this review

                          (0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                           
                          5.0

                          Catalog description very good

                          By Frank the pix man

                          from Downers Grove,, IL

                          About Me Semi-Professional

                          Verified Buyer

                          Pros

                          • Adapters did the job
                          • Durable
                          • Easy To Use
                          • Lightweight
                          • Reliable

                          Cons

                            Best Uses

                            • Everyday use
                            • Home
                            • Landscape Photography
                            • Macro Photography
                            • Portraits
                            • Studio
                            • Traveling

                            Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                            Have recently ordered a Pentax K-7 from another supplier - bad decision had to wait tree weeks for the camera body. Since the have ordered on seperate dates from B&H, Lens, battery attachment, and adapters to go from screw mount to bayonet mount.[...]

                            Share this review

                            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                             
                            4.0

                            works as advertised

                            By eyechart

                            from Ithaca, NY

                            Verified Buyer

                            Pros

                            • Focusing remains accurate

                            Cons

                            • May get stuck in camera

                            Best Uses

                              Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                              I use older Pentax screw mount lenses. There is no limitation in focusing. Distance imaging remains sharp with this adapter.

                              It must be screwed tightly onto the lense. Otherwise it may remain attached to the camera body. Removal is sometimes difficult.

                              Share this review

                              (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              4.0

                              The only thing missing is an removal key

                              By Orc

                              from Portland, Oregon

                              About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                              Verified Buyer

                              Pros

                              • Durable
                              • Improves Function
                              • Lightweight

                              Cons

                              • Difficult to Use

                              Best Uses

                              • Action Shots
                              • Everyday Use
                              • Macro Photography
                              • Studio
                              • Traveling

                              Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                              This is a proper m42 to K-mount adaptor; the entire adaptor fits into the k-mount barrel so it doesn't act as a impromptu extension tube. It's latching, so it will *not* come out unless you really want it to (my regular camera rig is a Pentax *istDS, this adapter, and a 55mm f1.8 super-tak lens. When I go on long bicycle rides, the camera goes into a pannier bag and bounces down the trail with me, and it has not come undone ever.)

                              There are two small defects with it. The first, which is not very much, is that the screwmount side of the adaptor is about 30° out of true, so the aperture ring is twisted to the right side of the barrel (and the manual/auto diaphragm switch sits directly under the bump that contains the built-in flash unit) and the second is that it doesn't come with a removal key, so I have to use a screwdriver to release the barrel latch so I can twist the adaptor off the lens when I want to use one of my K-mount lenses.

                              Share this review

                              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                               
                              1.0

                              Forget it

                              By Longtime LX User

                              from Redlands, Ca.

                              About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                              Pros

                                Cons

                                • Difficult to Use

                                Best Uses

                                  Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                                  The genuine Pentax adapter is available from [...] for [$], and is much superior. The cheapies don't lock on well, and then jam on the camera. OEM IS superior in this case, and though it's twice the price, that's only[$] more.

                                  Share this review

                                  (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  3.0

                                  Great price, poor build quality

                                  By Zack

                                  from Westborough, MA

                                  About Me Professional

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Lightweight

                                  Cons

                                  • Flimsy

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Action Shots
                                  • Everyday Use
                                  • Macro Photography
                                  • Studio

                                  Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                                  I used this to adapt my old M42 camera lenses to my Pentax K10D DSLR. It allows me to use my lenses and it works as advertised. The downside is that it is rather flimsy. There is a flat spring held down by a small screw. The screw came out inside my camera body, along with the spring. Luckily, nothing got scratched. The head of the screw was not well cut, and was difficult to put back with a jewelers screwdriver. But hey, it's [$]. You could get one for each lens you want adapted, and just leave it on. And I do like the old lenses on the new cameras.

                                  Share this review

                                  (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  3.0

                                  Does the job

                                  By pentaxms

                                  from Raleigh, NC

                                  About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Improves Function
                                  • Lightweight

                                  Cons

                                  • Difficult to Use

                                  Best Uses

                                  • Everyday Use

                                  Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                                  Fits a little tight to the camera body, its a litte tricky to get off.

                                  Share this review

                                  (2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  3.0

                                  Works as expected, however.........

                                  By talk2cpu

                                  from Fargo, ND

                                  About Me Hobbyist/Enthusiast

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Less cost than Pentax

                                  Cons

                                  • may need modification

                                  Best Uses

                                  • specialty old glass

                                  Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                                  Adapter does all that is expected. The rings seat against the lens was a bit rough at the slots for the "tool" and had to be filed to work smoothly and not scratch the lens housing. Does not stop at lock position, can continue rotating. Just use care and it works well.

                                  Share this review

                                  (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

                                   
                                  4.0

                                  Good adapter

                                  By Andrews Answer

                                  from Waltham

                                  About Me Professional

                                  Verified Buyer

                                  Pros

                                  • Easy to Use

                                  Cons

                                    Best Uses

                                    • Everyday Use

                                    Comments about General Brand Pentax-K Body to Universal Lens Adapter:

                                    Good adapter with quality nearly Pentax adapters (original, japan).

                                    Share this review

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