Focus to infinity problem with an adapted lens.

woof woof said:
Thanks for all the help Mike, it's appreciated. There are no elements in this adapter but it's all boxed up ready to go back so I'm not going to unbox it as I'm not sure I could measure it accurately enough to decide anything anyway. And yes, I'm in east Cleveland which is the NE of England.

I'll see if a Novoflex adapter sheds any new light on all this. I'll report back when it arrives and I've tested both lenses.

This is a first for me as the only problem I've had anything like this with adapters in the past is not being able to focus on far objects and in that instance it was obvious. I'll be gutted if it turns out that I've bought two duff lenses though.
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Have you got any further with this? I've just tried an M42 Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8 I discovered in a cupboard on a generic adapter, and it works fine. actually the lens optically is very good, though the focus ring is alternatively tightish and sloppyish.
 
Stephen L said:
Have you got any further with this? I've just tried an M42 Jena Flektogon 35mm f2.8 I discovered in a cupboard on a generic adapter, and it works fine. actually the lens optically is very good, though the focus ring is alternatively tightish and sloppyish.
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I'm a bit confused and hoping this is an adapter issue rather than having two iffy lenses so I've ordered a Novoflex adapter and I'll see how things go when it gets here.

TBH I just can't think at the moment. You may know from another thread that I'm a bit pressured at home at the moment and my usually geeky brain just isn't working too well so trying a new adapter and taking it from there seems the easiest and best way forward. I will update the thread when the adapter arrives and thanks to all who've posted.

Do you use that 35mm? I've been looking for an M42 35mm :D
 
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Go for it, life's too short to be without MF lenses Alan.

I tried my old Sigma 70-210 the other day in Snowdonia.

Great up to around 180mm then softens a little.

This was at 150mm I believe.


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2kTtbda]Snowdonia Tree by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]


Nothing special, just trying the lens out really.

It'll now stay in the bag in case I need to compress perspective.
 
I'm sure it's a lovely lens... that 35mm f2.8... but... I... must... stop.

I've gone for a pairing of 28 and 50mm and that should really do :D
 
woof woof said:
I'm a bit confused and hoping this is an adapter issue rather than having two iffy lenses so I've ordered a Novoflex adapter and I'll see how things go when it gets here.

TBH I just can't think at the moment. You may know from another thread that I'm a bit pressured at home at the moment and my usually geeky brain just isn't working too well so trying a new adapter and taking it from there seems the easiest and best way forward. I will update the thread when the adapter arrives and thanks to all who've posted.

Do you use that 35mm? I've been looking for an M42 35mm :D
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No, I only put it on out of interest. I have my Voigtlander 35 to keep m happy. Why are you interested? If so, I’ll put it up in classifieds.
 
Stephen L said:
No, I only put it on out of interest. I have my Voigtlander 35 to keep m happy. Why are you interested? If so, I’ll put it up in classifieds.
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No, probably not as I really must stop as buying all these lenses has become my version of comfort eating :D

I do hope you give it some use though :D
 
My Novoflex adapter arrived so I was able to check my two lenses.

Takumar 50mm f1.4 - Achieves infinity at about 7ft.

Takumar 28mm f3.5 - Achieves infinity focus at just before infinity.

I'll double check the K&F adapter just to make sure as I don't want to return it unless it is definitely duff. I think the Novoflex allows better infinity focus but I will double check.

So, there seems to be something very wrong with the Takumar 50mm f1.4 as it achieves focus on infinity with lots of focus ring rotation left. I can't imagine what's causing this, maybe it's been serviced or repaired and botched? I just don't know, but it looks like there is something seriously wrong here.

PS.
Can anyone who's ever used a Takumar 50mm f1.4 comment on this or come up with any theory why infinity focus should be at about 7ft. I'm baffled. I'll hand on a day or so just in case someone says something very helpful but I think this lens will need to go back.
 
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woof woof said:
My Novoflex adapter arrived so I was able to check my two lenses.

Takumar 50mm f1.4 - Achieves infinity at about 7ft.

Takumar 28mm f3.5 - Achieves infinity focus at just before infinity.

I'll double check the K&F adapter just to make sure as I don't want to return it unless it is definitely duff. I think the Novoflex allows better infinity focus but I will double check.

So, there seems to be something very wrong with the Takumar 50mm f1.4 as it achieves focus on infinity with lots of focus ring rotation left. I can't imagine what's causing this, maybe it's been serviced or repaired and botched? I just don't know, but it looks like there is something seriously wrong here.

PS.
Can anyone who's ever used a Takumar 50mm f1.4 comment on this or come up with any theory why infinity focus should be at about 7ft. I'm baffled. I'll hand on a day or so just in case someone says something very helpful but I think this lens will need to go back.
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I‘ve got a 50mm Takumar somewhere, but I can’t remember if it’s a f1.4 or not. I’ll see if I can find it and get back to you.
 
Great stuff.

I've spotted another one on line just in case this one has to go back.
 
woof woof said:
Great stuff.

I've spotted another one on line just in case this one has to go back.
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Well, I found the lens, but it's a f1.7. And in PK mount. However, on a Fotodiox adapter it focusses as near as dammit on the infinity marker. I do suspect that your lens has been taken apart and incorrectly reassembled.
 
Yup. Maybe that's the case.

I'll press the Return This Item button.

Thanks for everyones help.
 
Stephen L said:
Well, I found the lens, but it's a f1.7. And in PK mount. However, on a Fotodiox adapter it focusses as near as dammit on the infinity marker. I do suspect that your lens has been taken apart and incorrectly reassembled.
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I have a Pentax M50/1.4, and at least 3 or 4 M50/1.7s The only one that doesn't focus near the right distances on PK cameras is the one I took the rear group out from (with this removed it needs quite a bit of extension to focus at all - I used some bellows). As far as I remember much the same has been the case when ever I've used them adapted to either MFT or e-mount.

Neither of the versions of the Super Takumar 50/1.4 has the same optical formula as my M series (which is more compact) so this isn't much help. According to my Pentax book there where no 50/1.4s in either the Takumar or Auto Takumar series, only leaving the Super Takumars & SMC Takumars, where 8 element 50/1.4s where introduced in 1965, the design later being modified to a 7 element variant before the SMC series started.
FWIW The 28/3.5 is also listed as being a Super Takumar (or SMC Takumar) made from the mid sixties & having 7 elements.
 
This is a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 with the IR line between the 4 and the 8.

I described the symptoms to the seller and they've agreed to accept the return but gave no explanation. I should receive another one from a different seller on Wednesday so I'll report back but I'm hoping it works ok.

I do like the 28mm f3.5.
 
woof woof said:
This is a Super Takumar 50mm f1.4 with the IR line between the 4 and the 8.

I described the symptoms to the seller and they've agreed to accept the return but gave no explanation. I should receive another one from a different seller on Wednesday so I'll report back but I'm hoping it works ok.

I do like the 28mm f3.5.
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I've got the 8 element 50mm f/1.4, mate but my Z6 is on it's way back to the dealer and waiting for another I just bought today. When the camera arrives Tuesday I'll have a look for you. Remind me if I forget. I've got the 28 f/3.5, too. Lovely lens.
 
woof woof said:
Another Takumar 50mm f1.4 arrived today and on the Novoflex it performs as expected with infinity at infinity. So, there was something wildly wrong with the first one I received.
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Glad you're sorted!
 
It's something I've not seen before but I do wish I knew exactly what had been done to that last lens to cause it to focus to infinity so soon. I do wonder if the seller knew and priced it low hoping someone would put up with it.

Thanks for your help Mike, and everyone else too.
 
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woof woof said:
It's something I've not seen before but I do wish I knew exactly what had been done to that last lens to cause it to focus to infinity so soon. I do wonder if the seller knew and priced it low hoping someone would put up with it.

Thanks for your help Mike, and everyone else too.
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Could well have done, Alan. Good to hear you're sorted, tho. Your GAS rubbed off on me again, though and bought a couple more old lenses today between jobs. :ROFLMAO:
 
THIRTYFIVEMILL said:
Could well have done, Alan. Good to hear you're sorted, tho. Your GAS rubbed off on me again, though and bought a couple more old lenses today between jobs. :ROFLMAO:
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Haha.

It's a cheap and harmless hobby if you're satisfied with humble kit but I honestly can't think of anything else I want at the moment.
 
I suspect that it's as I suggested in post #27 - it's been had in bits by a novice and misassembled - they probably chose the wrong start for the helicoid.

That it's been in bits begs the question also about why? A desperate attempt at cleaning mould from the elements?
 
droj said:
I suspect that it's as I suggested in post #27 - it's been had in bits by a novice and misassembled - they probably chose the wrong start for the helicoid.

That it's been in bits begs the question also about why? A desperate attempt at cleaning mould from the elements?
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That's a good explanation. The fact that something is wrong should have been immediately apparent if the lens was mounted and used.
 
It's a thought and some may prefer that but when I bought my Nikon 85mm I went for the short throw version but after using it I do wish I'd gone for the long throw version. Shorter throws get you there or there abouts quickly but these days we can pixel peep very easily and see even quite minor focus errors.
 
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