The User's Review: Pentax Reverse Adapter K (49 mm, circa 1982) and How to Use

For magnification between 1.36 and 2.12, Pentax provided two reverse adapters (49 and 52 mm) for the prime lenses of 35 - 28 mm. 

To use the adapter, I found that it's easier to screw the adapter to the front of a lens first, then mount or dismount the assembly to a camera body. In the adapter instructions, Pentax does not mention how to mount.

To use a filter, it should be added between the lens and adapter. With a filter, the magnification will be slightly increased.

A filter size adapter can be used if you lens does not match the reverse adapter. 

Definitely, lenses with non-PK mount can be used on the reverse adapter as long as you can screw the lens onto the reverse adapter.

Below are five sample images without cropping, taken by a Pentax K-x and SMC Pentax-M 50mm 1.4 prime lens.

9.68

The User's Review: Auto Revuenon MC 50mm F1.4 Prime Lens with A Pentax K Mount

This lens came to me on a used Revue SC3 body. I believe it made by Chinon because (1) SC3 is similar to Chinon CM-4s, (2) the lens itself looks like Chinon 50mm f1.4 one, and (3) the Revuenon lens has a SN beginning with a letter C.

This Revuenon lens was well made, with an aluminium body and a rubber grip on the focusing ring. This lens has no 'A' gear on its aperture ring and is bigger than SMC Pentax-M 50mm F1.4 lens although both of them have a 49mm filter ring.

The User's Review: Revue SC3 35 mm Camera, Made in 1980s?

Although Revue SC3 was made in Japan and is similar to Chinon CM-4s, I feel that SC3 was designed by German based on its look, its rewind knob and its memo holder.

Like Chinon CM-4s, Revue SC3 also has a Pentax K lent mount; Its focusing screen is of horizontally-split image with microprism collar; Shutter speeds are between 1 - 1000 plus B; ASA/DIN range between 25/15 - 1600/33; 3 LEDs of metering are mounted on the left side of viewfinder frame, indicating over (red), right (green) and under (red) exposure from top to bottom. Press the shutter button half way to activate the exposure meter, the LEDs will be off after ~13 s. The light meter is power by 2 V76PX cell batteries; The self-timer is a little bit tricky. you can set it up before or after cocking, but you must push the self time handle to start it. With the time on, if you press the shutter button, it will fire the shutter immediately; On the shutter button, is the socket of shutter cable, but there are not PC flash socket and DOF preview.  

The opening of memo holder is on the left side, different from
CM-4s and most Japanese cameras with the opening on top.

The location of the 3 LED may reduce the chance of
their light to reach the film during a long time exposure.
This is a issue for other models such as Yashica Fx-3
with the 3 LED inside the viewfinder.

Revue SC3 is a manual camera with a bright viewfinder. The batteries are used for the meter only. The camera shell is made of plastic except the detachable metal film door.

My copy of Revue SC3 is a used, coming with two parts, the lens cap and batteries, marked 'made in Germany'. I believe that the batteries are the first set ever installed.

Revue SC3 should be durable because I see some wounds on my SC3, caused by dropped.

Unlike in Europe, SC3 and other Revue models are not common in the States.

The User's Review: Walz Micro-Meter, A Shoe-Mount One

 No battery needed and has a zero adjustment in the front of shoe at the bottom. Made by Walz in Japan. The one I have is pretty sensitive and in excellent conditions.

About this meter, the only thing I do not like is its 'foot', made of plastic. I doubt its durability. 

16.25

The User's Review: Ricoh Caddy Half-Frame 35 mm Film Camera, Released in July, 1961

The first image is from Page 130 of the Popular Science April 1962. The Caddy was sold at USD 54.95 (more than $423 today).

The specs: Ricoh 1:2.8 25mm lens; Seikosha B 4 8 15 30 60 125 250, f16 11 8 5.6 4 2.8 (at bottom), EV 5 - 16 (on the top) aperture-shutter assembly; Light meter ASA12 25 50 100 200 400, and EV 4-19; Focus distance marks 1 1.2 1.5 2 3 5 10 ∞ m; Viewfinder with macro marks but without distance/range indicator; frame counter S 1 4 8 12 ...72. Top-mounted cold shoe; dials for film advance/shutter cocking (under the film door on right side) and film rewinding (on top, retactable); front PC terminal.

With the dedicated UV filter on the lens, the lens cap can't be put on.

Turn the dial to set ASA inside the meter's window

Unlike other focus-fixed half-frame cameras from Ricoh, Caddy's lens can set the focus distance although no any info, except the normal and close-up frame ranges, shown in the finder. The camera's winding/shutter cocking dial is located close to the right side bottom, right under the film door.

This camera was well built, but with the dedicated UV filter, the lens cap can't be put on. When you buy or use a Ricoh Caddy, make sure that its shutter still work well since its speeds are often off.


For more info on Caddy, please visit its page on the Ricoh website.