mystery lens

<p>In Peter's lens thread yesterday, I posted a few questions about a lens that I found while walking through the woods one day about 30 years ago. It is a Kimunor 35-500mm f8 zoom lens. A few of you asked for more information on it so I took a few more, hopefully better pictures today. My questions are: Is it of any use to anyone? Can I use it on my K10D? Is it worth ebaying? Should I throw it out? Well, here are the pics.</p><div></div>

<p>another</p><div></div>

<p>another angle</p><div></div>

<p>one more</p><div></div>

<p>lastly</p><div></div>

<p>Thanks for all your help!</p>

<p>I don't know if you've got the whole lens. I don't know what that "mount" end is, but it doesn't look like any camera mount I've seen. Almost looks like part of a adjustable extension ring.</p>

<p>The rest of the lens looks like any of a number of 400mm or 500mm telephotos of the time. Sometimes these were sold with some kind of zooming telextender, but I can't see anyway that this could ever be a 35mm focal length. Are you by any chance looking at the distance in feet on the focusing ring and taking it for the focal lengths? There's no zoom ring on the thing, only a focusing ring with distances in feet and meters.</p>

<p>What does the lens say on the front ring, under the lens cap? It should somewhere have the manufacturer, something like a ratio like "<strong>1:8</strong> " (the f/stop) and a focal length expressed as something like "f=500mm" if it's a prime lens or part of one.</p>

<p>If the lens is a Kimunor f/8 500mm prime (e.g., <a href="0083f0">link</a> ), it is usable if you can find a T-mount for it, if the back part comes off. If not, and part of the lens is missing it would be of interest for the parts only. This was never a fancy nor expensive lens. It's roughly worth what you paid for it.</p>

<p>It's a T mount. The complete lens is there and I would agree that it's not a zoom but a 400mm fixed length lens. This T mount is somewhat specific. I honestly don't know the name of the adapter but I have one. The T mount adapter fits over that flange or flared edge and there's 3 set screws in tha adapter that you tighten down to hold the T mount in place. I have the same one for a 1960's Accura 85mm f1.8 which uses the same adapter. So you can make this lens work on your Pentax, Canon and probably a few other brands.</p>

<p>I would suggest you sign up on thr MF Lens forum http://forum.mflenses.com/ and post the pictures of the camera end of the lens. Ask them to suggest a source for the adapter. I'm sure you can get it on Ebay for $10.00 but I just don't which model # to buy.</p>

<p>Not a zoom lens. Pre-set lens.<br>

Find T-Mount that could possibly be screwed into the thread shown on 3rd picture. </p>

 

<p>Not a zoom lens. Pre-set lens.<br>

Find T-Mount that could possibly be screwed into the thread shown on 3rd picture. </p>

 

<p>Frank, It doesn't screw on the inside of the barrel but slips over the flared end on the outside end. The set screws fir in the V groove. The other end is a K mount for the camera. Simple and works fine.</p>

<p>I'm fairly sure that this will work: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-T-Mount-T2-Adapter-Pentax-K-Mount-Bellows-Telescope_W0QQitemZ300296699373QQihZ020QQcategoryZ30059QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem<br>

But I need to check mine at home (I'm on a trip and 400 Kms from home). If you look at the pictures. There is a set screw on the side of the mount. The screw thread ring comes out and you just slip the mount on the lens and tighten the set screws enough to hold it in place. I'll check mine on Saturday. I have a couple different versions at home.</p>

<p>Technically, a T-mount is a M42x0.75 thread mount on the lens end. This may be some <em>other kind</em> of interchangeable mount , but what is showing is not a T-mount in the strict sense. The T-mount adapter on eBay linked to will only work <em><strong>if</strong> </em> there is a M42x0.75 screw thread somewhere on this lens.</p>

<p>Thanks to everyone for all the help. Peter, I'll be away all weekend but look forward to any other information you can add. The possibility that I could actually use this is exciting. I can't tell you how many times over the years I almost threw it in the trash. Thanks again. Bob</p>

<p>I have a lens just like it. Mine is labeled "TOU/FIVE STAR". It is a 500mm, fixed focal length, f/8.0 preset telephoto. These are/were sold with a variety of brand names, sometimes a house brand, such as Quantary. Do a search on ebay and you'll find a lot of them, both new and used. New, they sell for about $100. I got mine, including a Pentax adapter, for $10, including shipping. Obviously, they're not the greatest lenses in the world, but they are adequate.</p>

<p>That is half a t-mount adapter you have there. It is the female thread portion of the adapter. There is a larger part that fits over it and is specific to the particular camera you wish to mount it on. It should unscrew, revealing a 42mm x 0.75tpmm screw-mount. Remove the piece and throw it away.</p>

<p>T-mount adapters are available for Pentax K-mount cameras. I fully stocked camera store might have one or would be able to order one, if someone there knows what you're talking about. A t-mount adapter for Pentax k-mounts can be purchased on e-bay for $10-20. They're all the same, so buy the cheapest one you can find. Here's one: <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-T-MOUNT-ADAPTER-RING-FOR-PENTAX-K-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ160316661396QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item160316661396&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50">http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-T-MOUNT-ADAPTER-RING-FOR-PENTAX-K-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ160316661396QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLens_Accessories?hash=item160316661396&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50</a></p>

<p>Adapters are available for just about any camera you can imagine.</p>

<p>There is absolutely no automation to this lens, not even the aperture. It is what is known as a preset lens. There are two aperture rings. One has click-stops from f/8 to f/32. The other ring is free-wheeling, with no click stops. Turn the free ring one way and it opens the aperture. Turn it the other way, and it stops down to the <strong><em>preset</em></strong> aperture.<br>

<br>

In the old days, before cameras had light meters, you would use your hand-held meter to determine the exposure and set that on the click-stop ring, but keep the free ring wide open. Focus with the aperture open and, without taking the camera from your eye, turn the free ring to stop the lens down to shooting aperture. Release the shutter.</p>

<p>Since you must use stop-down metering on a dslr, like my K10D, I simply set the click ring to f/32. I then focus through the viewfinder and turn the free ring to meter the scene. I usually use mine in Av mode. That way, I just stop down until I get the depth of field I want and the camera picks the shutter speed.</p>

<p>Paul</p>

<p>....I would use that as a baseball bat....probably be a better bat than a lens... :)</p>

<p>Don't throw out your lens. Even broken, those optics are way more valuable than nothing. If you ever get in a serious jam with dead optics; like breakage of the lens assembly; consider going over to one of the amateur astronomy websites and parting out the surviving pieces. There will be some sites that are like an exchange. People will take out classifieds, advertising what parts they have for sale; these are usually snapped up by amateur telescope makers. I'd save it. You can use it on the K10, as above; only additional suggestion I would have would be to look into telescope suppliers and beef up how it is mounted. You won't want that long lens hanging off the lens mount all day if you can avoid it. </p>

<p>Paul has it. This is the inner part of a T2 mount, the kind that allows the lens to be adjusted so the numbers are "up" on the barrel in relation to the camera. If that is so, unscrew the thin part with the "lip" on it and throw it away, and get a new T-mount and screw it on. Voila.<br>

(What you have is the inner ring of this pointed to by the arrow, without the rest of the outer adjustable ring.)</p><div></div>

<p>You could always make a lamp out of it!</p>

<p>The T mount pictured above is what my Accura 135mm uses. Just back off the 3 set screws on the adapter and take the inner ring out. Then slip the adapter on the back of the lens, tighten the set screws and you have a K mount lens.<br>

<a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adapter3.jpg" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/7582/adapter3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adapter2.jpg" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/5797/adapter2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p><a title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting" href="http://img4.imageshack.us/my.php?image=adapter1.jpg" target="_blank" title="ImageShack - Image And Video Hosting"><img src="http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1092/adapter1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /> </a></p>

<p>On my lens, nothing comes off. The flared end that looks similar to yours is the universal mount. But Paul has the same lens and has more direct experience.</p>

<p>No, on a T-2 mount, that flared bit is the <em>inner</em> part of the adapter. It screws onto the 42x0.75 screw which is the "universal mount". Not that it matters, but it's a lot easier to change the whole T-mount than to substitute a new outer ring since they're really designed to twist to adjust the lens so the distance scale, etc, is on top, not to be separated. You just loosen the three screws, not take them out.</p>

<p>JDM, you are most likely correct. I can't remove the flared end from mine. Maybe the previous owner used locktite to keep it in place. Regardless the solution for the OP is simple and he can use the lens.</p>

Hello !

 

I have the same lens with the same mount that I can't unscrew.

Did you resolve the problem ?

I want to have a T-mount on it but it doesn't looks like a T-mount at all to me.

After searching a bit. It seems that there are two versions of this lens :

- T-mount ring

- Canon, Pentax, Minolta version.

It's all the rear tube that is set for each version. I don't think we can't retire the rearest ring to reveal a T-mount. And I couldn't find parts to replace the rear tube mount.

If your lens (camera end) looks like the third photo posted, that is definitely the inner part of a T2 mount adapter. This part is the same for all cameras.

 

The outer part of a T2 adapter mates to the particular camera you wish to use and had three small set screws that allow you to rotated the adapter, so that the markings for focus and aperture are always on top.

 

The easiest thing to do is buy a complete T2 adapter, loosen the three set screws and discard the inner part of the new adapter. Place the outer part of the adapter over the part on the lens, adjust so the markings are where you want them to be, and tighten the set screws. Then forget about it and simply use the lens.

 

A more complete fix would be to use a pipe wrench or an adjustable jaw pliers (commonly called "Channel Locks" here in the US). SInce the inner adapter on your lens is worthless, simply grip it with the pliers and hold the lens barrel with you other hand. That should get it off to expose the 42mm x 0.75 tpi thread.

 

Then, but a complete adapter for the camera or cameras of you choice, screw it on the lens and fire away.