Which adapter to mount a Pentax lens on a Nikon SLR?

gone · Feb 26, 2022

I'm thinking of buying one of the Pentax 85 manual focus lenses, but my MV is basically a P&S. Pentax apparently made a half dozen or more 85mm lenses over the years, some of them soft focus, so I'll need to do some testing. I could do that on the N8008s since it's full featured and I know the meter is dead on. There's so many adapters on eBay though!

My Pentax knowledge is close to nonexistent, but one should be able to buy an adapter and use a K or M42 mount Pentax lens on the N8008s and get infinity w/o an optic in the adapter, right? Stop down metering's fine, I always use it w/ the Nikon, so that's easy.

benveniste · Feb 26, 2022

The register distance K and M42 mounts is 45.46mm. The register distance of the F-mount is 46.5mm. So an Pentax->Nikon adapter without optics will not allow focusing to infinity.

gone · Feb 26, 2022

Well, that was fast. Thanks. I have that sort of issue w/ a Leica R lens on my Nikon, but a Leitax adapter makes it work by essentially changing the lens mount. Maybe I need to visit the Leitax site

Nope, he doesn't make them either.

http://leitax.com/

Nige · Feb 26, 2022

I have a Cimko branded one that is Pentax to Nikon (ie. Pentax body and Nikon lens). It has optics in it. I hardly used it as I bought a Nikon that could use my Ai lenses... which I've never done anyway (only use AF lenses on those bodies). I use the MF lenses on 35mm bodies.

Huss · Feb 26, 2022

If you really like that lens, instead of trying to find an adapter (and even if you could it will not be an ideal experience), just buy a different Pentax body. P30T, K2, Super A, Program A, ME Super etc etc

randyB · Feb 26, 2022

I second what Huss says. Just get a Pentax body, I would also check into the MX for a manual camera. The ME Super is a very good choice in auto exposure with the ability to do manual. The Nikon 8008s is a very good camera, largely overshadowed by the more modern Nikons. The Nikon AF 85mm f/1.8 lens is great for portraits, you might consider it to use with your 8008s.

gone · Feb 27, 2022

Well, I don't want to do a lens test using the MV because after 1 roll w/ it, I'm not sure I like what I see on the negs from its metering. As Pentax makes such a variety of 85's, it would take buying a couple just to see which one does what, they're pretty different. A P&S camera w/ suspect metering isn't going to be a good test camera, and since I already had the Leica lens screwed onto the Nikon, I figured why not try a Pentax 85 lens on it. Alas, it won't work.

This is all a half-thought out idea to get rid of the excellent but heavy N8008s/Leica combo and move to a lighter setup...... IF the IQ doesn't take too big a hit. The little bitty Pentax SLRs like my MV are plentiful, and many have a lot more features. If I can find a Pentax lens that is 75%-80% of the Leica in most situations, I could upgrade the MV to one of those.

benveniste · Feb 27, 2022

momus said:
This is all a half-thought out idea to get rid of the excellent but heavy N8008s/Leica combo and move to a lighter setup...... IF the IQ doesn't take too big a hit. The little bitty Pentax SLRs like my MV are plentiful, and many have a lot more features. If I can find a Pentax lens that is 75%-80% of the Leica in most situations, I could upgrade the MV to one of those.

Have you considered a Nikon FG or FE? They are selling for considerably more than they did 2-3 years, alas, but that way you can continue to use your current lenses. Offhand, though, I can't think of a bad 85mm lens from that era. My choice at the time was a Tokina 90mm f/2.5 macro, which I still own and use today. I also recently sold a much maligned Nikon 85mm f/2 for a friend. After trying a few shots on my D800, I still can't see why that little lens got such a bad rap. While I do own Pentax gear, it's in the form of the 110 SLR and a 645n kit, so I can't speak to their offerings.

gone · Feb 27, 2022

I love the EMs, but like the MV, they're P&S SLRs, and there are times I really need to quickly change the metering on a shot. An FG w/ a Leica R 90 Summicron was my go to camera years ago. The SummicronR 90 is not much bigger than the 50, but a hella lot more money than my lowly Elmarit.

I've sworn off buying any more FGs though. The last 2 died suddenly, and they stayed dead. The little Pentax SLRs are hopefully more reliable. The problem w/ the Nikon 85 2 lenses, I think, was sample variation. Some were great, some were not.

The Pentax 85 1.8/1.9/2 lens sample shots on the web look just great, but you know how that goes. I want to see the negs myself to know for sure. Guess I'll just buy an inexpensive P3 w/ an electronic shutter initially just to try a couple of the Pentax lenses.

flavio81 · Mar 2, 2022

momus said:
I'm thinking of buying one of the Pentax 85 manual focus lenses, but my MV is basically a P&S. Pentax apparently made a half dozen or more 85mm lenses over the years, some of them soft focus, so I'll need to do some testing. I could do that on the N8008s since it's full featured and I know the meter is dead on. There's so many adapters on eBay though!

My Pentax knowledge is close to nonexistent, but one should be able to buy an adapter and use a K or M42 mount Pentax lens on the N8008s and get infinity w/o an optic in the adapter, right? Stop down metering's fine, I always use it w/ the Nikon, so that's easy.

No, you can't.

Which adapter to mount a Pentax lens on a Nikon SLR?

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