"Good" M42 Body, or ... switch to Nikkormat?

Trius

Trius

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I have two pieces of M42 glass that I really like. One is a Helios 44, which is a great lens (58mm/f2), and the other is a Zeiss Jena 135/3.5. Both are tack sharp, have a look I like, and the Zeiss has enough close focus ability to be really useful to me in that regard.

Adding to that, I have an M42/OM adapter, so I can mount them on an OM, though without infinity focus and stop down metering is required. That's fine with me.

Right now I have no M42 body. I had a Mamiya Sekor 1000DTL, which was a good camera for its metering (average and spot modes), but I didn't care for the handling or the viewfinder.

So, if I'm going to keep the M42 glass, I'd like a good M42 body with much better viewfinder. I'd also probably add a moderate wide angle (35 or 28) to the kit.

OTOH, I've always liked Nikkormats, and could see myself selling of the M42 lenses and just going with a Nikkormat (no, I'm NOT giving up my OM kit!) ... but aside from a Nikkormat body being more expensive than most M42 bodies, would good glass (28 or 35, 50 & 100) be that much more expensive? In other words, what would you do? I don't want to spend a lot by switching to Nikon mount, but I'm afraid that the only M42 bodies with really good viewfinders are the Fujicas and the Bessaflex. Those go for enough money that maybe the Nikkormat would be in the same ballpark ... and I'd satisfy my long desire to have one.

I won't be doing this real soon, so there'll be time for me to change my mind more than once, I'm sure. 😉
 
M42 body

M42 body

Any Pentax body would be a good choice! A Pentax "K" body can use m42 lenses with a simple adapter. Infinity focus is retained with this adapter. Regards ---jb.
 
The Fujica ST-801 is my current favorite M42 camera. Electronic meter, small size (same as a Nikon FG), and wide-open metering with the Fujica lenses.
 
I used to have a pretty complete M42 kit based around a Spotmatic F. This model was the last one Pentax produced before switching to K-mount. The interesting point about the F is that it allowed for open-aperture metering with Pentax lenses (Super-Multi-Coated and SMC Takumars). I had a 28, 35, 50, 50 macro, 135mm from Pentax, and a few other lenses from other manufacturers.

I switched to a Nikon FM2n with a 24, 50, and 105 a few months ago. Did I regret it? A little. But mostly because the Spotmatic had such a smooth feel in the hands. In terms of image quality, I did gain a bit, especially in color, even though these old Pentax lenses are beautiful and tack sharp. I will concede that old Pentax lenses have a nice, round feel to them that can occasionally be lacking in the Nikkor. But I'm not sure if it's just nostalgia or objective factors.

My reason for switching happened when I was covering a local political event. I had my 28 and my 50 with me. At some point I let the 28 drop on the floor. I think, "well, no problems these old Pentax lenses will hurt the floor more." I pick it up, and surprise! the lens is frakked because the barrel was bent from the impact, impossible to focus and only good for the bin. I managed the rest of the shoot with my 50mm.

Then I realized that I would be unable to quickly find a replacement. Sure, M42 lenses have never been so cheap and available on the 'Bay, as the afficionados like to point out, but you won't get your lens within 24h. And you can't run into a photo store, rent an M42, and run out to finish your assignment. I need that possibility. Not all the time, but sometimes.

In terms of pictorial results, you won't see that much of a difference from switching to Nikon, which isn't a bad thing. Where you will see the difference is that you will be connected to a photographic system that is still alive, and supported across the world.

I wouldn't switch systems if you do not have solid availability/repair/reliability needs. It's rather unnerving to sell one's equipment and replace it in totality. If you have specific viewfinder quality needs, go directly for an FM2n with a modern K3 screen, or get a pro body with 100% viewfinder. To be honest, there's not that much of a difference between my FM2n viewfinder and the one on my Spotmatic F.
 
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While you can use M42 lenses with K-mount Pentaxes, including the dSLR models, you lose the automatic stopping-down of the aperture when you release the shutter. You need to manually stop the lens down. Now that is not too much of a problem most of the time - in bright lighting you can even focus and compose with the lens stopped down to the middle aperture settings. But in dimmer lighting that is a bit more of a problem, and you end up focusing with the aperture open and then stopping down before composing and shooting. With the cameras with an aperture-priority auto-exposure mode you can even just leave the lens stopped down and the camera will work out the right shutter speed for you in auto.

I can't recall the details but there was a recent thread with a discussion of M42 bodies, and someone referred to a non-Pentax model as having the most advanced metering system. Can anyone remember?

Edit: found the thread: http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49627
 
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Pre-AI Nikkors can be had for pretty good prices these days. A Nikkormat FT2 or FTn would give you metering (not stop down) with the old Nikkors.
 
I have a "Accura Supertel 300mm f5.6" (threadmount) which I believe is M42 as well as a "135mm f2.8 Telesar Tele Photo"

If you think both these lenses are M42 and if you want them, give me your address and I'll send them to you.
 
I also have a mount converter on which is written "Japan TA1"

I know nothing about the M42 mount so I can't give more info on the lenses but they are in great shape.
 
These days, you can pick up a lot of M42 gear for under $50.

Other bargains- Yashica TL electro-X. weak spot- shutter speed dial. It is electronic. If it gets dirty, the shutter speed may turn into "B". Best to check it out, but mine is MUCH better now. $20 bucks with lens. Metal Shutter. Uses the same shutter assembly as a Nikkormat EL, but manual only and M42 mount.

Fujica ST-701, galvenometer, and only stop-down metering. All metal, small size, Silicon photocells instead of CDS. Another $20 find.
 
I recently bought a Fujica ST705 from another RFF member to back up or replace my Spotmatic SP. It works with my favorite Pentax lenses, but requires a two-finger operation to get the metering to work properly.

Jim N.
 
Some really good info here, thanks to everyone.

Ned, thanks kindly for the offer, but I have a good 135 (Zeiss Jena) and would use a 300 very rarely.

mhv: An M42 or Nikon mount body is pretty much for "play", not for paying work. At least at this point. You do, however, make a really good point. A better supported system is a real factor; I can't say I'd never use the gear for paying work. I was in Hahn Graphic yesterday (the last real camera store in Rochester) and they have cleared all their used 35mm gear out except Nikon. I saw some pretty Nikkormats (they are beautiful in black), and that's what set me thinking...

Peter: As one of the resident Nikon authorities, we'll sit down and I'll pick your brain a bit more at the next GTA/RFF focusing fluid fest. 😉 The various versions of lenses (pre-AI, AI, AIS) is a bit confusing to me.
 
This seems like making a lens fit a different animal. RF lenses are usually smaller than most SLR lenses, so there figures to be a problem.

But I don't have it. I bought a new M4-2 after the M4-P came out. The only difference was some additional finder frames in the 'P', and I didn't figure I needed them, as I already had SLRs with zoom lenses. But I had spent half my life wanting an RF Leica, so one year when I got a sufficient refund from the IRS I finally jumped.

I bought the 50mm f/2 with the camera, then later added the 35mm and the 90mm. They are all I ever wanted, and I still have all of them.

All this happened in the early to mid-1980's, so I won't go into what I paid for them. Suffice it to say that the total wouldn't come close to today's prices for RF Leicas.
 
Earl, I have a Nikkormat FT3 en route to me. You can have a good look at it next time we do a cardio breakfast. At least for you the shutter selector is in the right place 🙂

Gene
 
Earl,
I have sent a PM but a few "open" thoughts. The best M42 finder/meter system is probably the Bessa but these are herd to find and pricey. Generally speaking the Fuji finders are brighter than Pentax and in many cases the metering systems are more advanced than the Pentax. You can get open aperturemetering in M42 but you need to match the lens with camera. ie Pentax SMC lenses on the SPF and Fujinons on the later Fujis.

Another point to bear in mind is that the SMC Pentaxs can cause problems on many M42 bodies. They will jam unless the lens mount ring is smooth. Many bodies have screws in like the LTM RF bodies.

Kim
 
I am using M42 lenses more often than Nikkor lenses these days. The Pentax lenses are superb. The 50mm/4 macro and the 50mm/1.4 are among the sharpest SLR lenses ever made. The Nikkors are also great, as expected. In particular, the 55mm/3.5 micro is very sharp.
 
I like the idea of committing to Nikon. Use your M42 stuff for your hobby photography, where losing a lens isn't fatal.

However, I don't think I'd suggest a Nikkormat (although you should get one to play with; they're cheap). I'd suggest an F2A / F2AS or F3 / F3HP. These are magnificent bodies and are built to last.
 
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