Hi all I don't know if anyone else will find this interesting or useful, but I did - and unexpected as well.
I have a small Konica SLR system which includes several Hexanon lenses and a bellows/slide copier. Needless to say, this system hasn't seen much use even before I bought the *ist DS. Recently I needed to digitise some slides so I thought I'd check to see if it was possible to adapt the bellows by replacing its Konica mount by a K mount extension tube, to allow me to fit the DS on to the bellows. It turns out that it was easier than I anticipated. It wasn't even necessary to remove the Konica mount from the bellows - the K mount extension tube fitted directly onto it and turned sufficiently on the bayonet to make a secure union. This was completely unexpected. What it also means is that it is possible to fit a Hexanon lens, via a K mount extension tube, directly on to the DS. With this combination I can use the 55mm Hexanon macro lens for close up work with the DS. Here's a photo of the combination (including a "rare" silver DS!). http://www.pnc.com.au/~brianwal/Dscf1547.jpg Although not really necessary, I drilled a small hole in a piece of plastic and glued it on to the rear of the lens so that the hole mates with the locking pin on the extension tube. It just makes the combination a bit more secure - see photo.... http://www.pnc.com.au/~brianwal/Dscf1548.jpg In case you're wondering....no (and not surprisingly), you can't fit the Hexanon lens directly onto the camera. The various contacts and fittings directly behind the mount on the camera prevent the lens from turning sufficiently to be secure. In any event, it would be of marginal use because of the difference in lens flange to film plane register of the Konica and Pentax systems - you'd still only get close focus ability. Of course, there's no way the camera can communicate with this lens so stop down metering is the order of the day. I haven't found this a problem - set the camera to Av, focus wide open, stop down to the desired aperture and shoot. I'm feeling quite chuffed about this......... Cheers, Brian +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Brian Walters Western Sydney, Australia
