raid
Dad Photographer
Nowadays you can easily find camera/lens adapters for almost any mounts. I used to use the (excellent) Pentax 85mm/1.8 M42 with an adapter on a Canon FD camera. There is a Canon FD Adapter B by which an FD lens (or modified M42 lens) could be mounted on an LTM camera, or use also a LTM-M adapter to use the M42 mount lens on any M camera.
hap
Well-known
according what I’ve read this issue applies to 8 element variations only
Mackinaw
Think Different
Canon also made the Lens Mount Converter P, which allows an M42 lens to mount on any Canon FL/FD body.
Jim B.
raid
Dad Photographer
This is adapter that I used, Jim.
Pentax M42 lens to Canon FD camera via Lens Mount Adapter P.
Canon Adapter B to mount the lens on a ltm camera
Leica adapter M to go from ltm to M.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
With the low price of Pentax bodies & the high cost of an adapter or cumulative price of Wein cells, I think any classic black Pentax body will do. The 50mm 1.4 is a great lens, especially wide open. If you can get by without an internal meter.... I settled on an S2. I also have a black spotmatic....mssg me if you're interested. 
Attachments
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
The Spotmatic F takes one 1.5V 357/44 cell -- very easy to get in any drug store. That, plus the open aperture metering, makes them preferable to the older models in my opinion.
The smaller battery (400 something) for the older cameras you'd have to find at a camera shop. And Wein cells don't last anyway. I think a 394 button cell will work for the older Spotmatics as a replacement for the 400, and they have a much longer life, but I think they are not necessarily available at a drug store. (Too bad Radio Shack is no more -- they always had them.)
The smaller battery (400 something) for the older cameras you'd have to find at a camera shop. And Wein cells don't last anyway. I think a 394 button cell will work for the older Spotmatics as a replacement for the 400, and they have a much longer life, but I think they are not necessarily available at a drug store. (Too bad Radio Shack is no more -- they always had them.)
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
KoNickon
Nick Merritt
I've tried mounting the open aperture S-M-C Takumars on earlier Spotmatics and they don't seem to mount all the way.
Retro-Grouch
Veteran
If you're set on a classic SLR, then a Pentax, of course. On the other hand, there's the Voigtlander Bessaflex. Much more recent manufacture (no battery hassles) and a great shooter, if that's your goal. I believe it was the last camera ever made that has an M42 mount. Review here: Film Friday: Voigtlander Bessaflex TM - the film SLR way ahead of its time: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
p.giannakis
Pan Giannakis
I am going through the camera manuals and i am getting confused. I found the following on the Pentax ESII manual.
So clearly you can't mount an older Super-Takumar on the ESII. Doesn't say anything about the other way around (new SMC Takumar on older Spotmatics).
The manual for the Spotmatic F says...
So in theory, it should work well. Do i understand it correctly?
There is also a 7-element Super-Takumar 50mm F1.4, uses Thoriated glass. The Super-Multi-coated 50/1.4 uses the same formula, just multi-coated and adds wide-open metering.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
An excellent recommendation! I have owned 2 Bessaflex cameras. If I was still a film shooter I'd still own them. This is one of them; it was an outstanding camera.
Bessaflex TM with Voigtländer Bessa rangfinder side grip
hap
Well-known
sounds like freeway switching directions in LA.
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
An excellent recommendation! I have owned 2 Bessaflex cameras. If I was still a film shooter I'd still own them. This is one of them; it was an outstanding camera.Bessaflex TM with Voigtländer Bessa rangfinder side grip
....a $700 camera to mount a $50 lens on .....
hap
Well-known
i got got ripped off.....75$. Inclusive
You could look for an Argus/Cosina STL1000. Like a Nikkormat with a screw mount. My OTHER SMC Super-Tak is on one.
MrFujicaman
Well-known
The Fujica ST series-ST-605, ST-701, ST-801 and ST-705W are nice cameras and the finders are brighter than the Pentax's. Another camera to consider is the Chinon/GAF/ Sears/ Memoton CE-II GAF LE-S II. Nice finder and auto exposure with any single pin M-42 mount lens. The Chinon CE-3 is a later, smaller version of the CE-II and also can take an autowinder.
hap
Well-known
Interesting, probably a very good camera and prices excellent. However, I prefer body that guarantees compatibility of open aperture metering.
hap
Well-known
I love Thorium glass. nice and warm. For as much radiation I've soaked up over my career a Thorium element is piss in the ocean.
