I inherited a M42 Super Multi coated Takumar 50mm 1.4 Now what for a body?

[ZivcoPhoto]

I bought a black Spotmatic with the 7 element version (with the yellow glass) but when I realized how “hot” that glass is with geiger counter, I bought the 8 element version to use every day - but the Spotmatic is so clumsy with the metering system I just use the lens on Nikon Z6 with M42 adapter (along with Carl Zeiss Jena goodies such as the 35mm Flektogon, 58mm Biotar, 50mm Tessar)

 

[das]

Well, I've got several of the S-M-C Takumars in various focal lengths and so I'm happy with the F, ES and ES II. The only drawback is that there isn't a meter on/off switch (other than turning the shutter speed dial). I don't like the stop-down metering of the earlier Spotmatics and yes, finding the correct battery is hard these days. I sure am not shelling out a boatload for a Bessaflex!

I am torn about the Bessaflex. On the one hand, I wish I had snapped up VC cameras like the R2S, Bessaflex, and R4A when their prices were at rock bottom ten years ago. On the other hand, it was disappointing that the Bessaflex did not use the Cosina/Chinon 1970s AE system rather than the Spotmatic's 1960s stop down operation. Heck, Cosina INVENTED the AE tech, so why it did not think to implement it in the Bessaflex was a missed opportunity. Basically, make a modern Chinon CE-II / CE-3, but with a much brighter focusing screen and a smaller, lighter body. IMHO, there really is no "great" classic M42 body -- all of them involved compromises if you plan to use M42 lenses from different manufacturers on the same body. The CE-3 would have come close if it could have retained the 1/2000 top shutter speed and had a brighter VF.

 

[hap]

I'll be keeping the takumar and the Biotar. One day i will adapt to a mirrorless cam. The Biotar works with the Urth and D750 but I dn't trust the extra glass that's necessary. K mount lenses should have similar if not identical optical formulas and easier to adapt.

 

[p.giannakis]

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.

Beautiful cameras those Pentaxes. They seem to have got it right from the get-set-go.