I just got a bunch of M42's

kshapero

kshapero

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I just inherited a bunch of Pentax M42 screw mount lenses. Is there a way to adapt them for use on a M mount body (Zeiss Ikon)? An adaptor needed surely? How does it work? Is it worth doing?
 
Yes there is an adapter available. Several in fact. Try this site http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/m42_lenses_adapters.htm

I have not tried their specific equipment but it looks OK. Also if you try Stephen Gandys classic cameras site (Google it) he lists some nice but rather more expensive ones. While you will often see M42- Leica adpaters on eBay these usually do not allow infinity focussing (and can only be used for close-up work) whereas those above do.

In terms of the quality of Takumar lenses you will find that many of these are up with the best SLR prime lenses of that era (or perhaps any era.) These lenses are well made and in ost cases, optically excellent. Should you use an adapter however you must remember that you will be limited to zone focussing / guessing distances so to a large extent your success will depend on your ability to judge distances and pick the right f stop. Go for wider angle lenses and smaller f stops therefore for obvious reasons.

Which lenses do you have?

I would say the follwoing are top notch amongst the more common ones:

35mm f3.5 (v sharp and contrasty)
35mm f2 (less common but still readily available.)
28mm f 3.5 (v sharp and contrasty)
55mm f1.8 (v sharp and contrasty)
50mm f1.4 (v sharp and contrasty)

You will find that as usual all of these benefit from stopping down a bit from maximum aperture but if you are zone focussing you should be using f5.6-f8 anyway, in which case you can be assured of good results. (Takumar lenses seem to have a reputation for being excellent in the centre third but softer towards the edges until you stop down. I have some old MTF graphs for some of these lenses dating back to the early 1970s and these graphs confirm this for a range of lenses.)

There are many excellent longer ones too, especially the 105mm f 2.8, the various 135mm ones and the 200mm f4 is superb. But in the circumstances I would imagine you would wish to steer clear of these due to critical focusing issues involved.

Good luck. It would be great to see your results. I keep meaning to do the same myself (hence having doen this research) as I have many m42 lenses but somehow have not yet gotten around to it.
 
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You could get a real nice Spotmatic body for not much investment. You will like the Takumar lenses. I have three and they all deliver excellent results. Go for the adapter too.
Steve
 
I forgot to mention the 85mm f1.8 lenses are very good too but somewhat rarer as they tend not to be found amongst the most common amateur lens kit of the era (35, 50 and 135mm)
 
Shorter lenses (28mm or less) are the best to adapt with RF cameras. Longer ones are hard to focus by scale. Include those with large apertures (eg Takumar 1,4/50) as well.

This ebay seller has an M42->M adapter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-Pen...ryZ30059QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



He also has an LTM39 -> M flange adapter as well. This can be used on an M-mount RF with an LTM39 ->M adapter. This version allows further flexibility since it can be used for both LTM-39 and M cameras:


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-M42-TO-LEICA-L39-SCREW-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ150122399299QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30059QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


The catch is, the M42 lenses which can be used are those with preset diagphragms or M-A switches to stop the diaphragm down to working value. Many M42 of later vintages have auto-only diaphragms and when adapted would only shoot at full aperture.

Jay
 
The Pentax screw mount lenses are somewhat smaller than most SLR makers' lenses, so from that standpoint I'd say they might be a better choice to attach to a rangefinder.
 
kshapero said:
I just inherited a bunch of Pentax M42 screw mount lenses. Is there a way to adapt them for use on a M mount body (Zeiss Ikon)? An adaptor needed surely? How does it work? Is it worth doing?
Click to expand...

Lucky you! ;)
 
A non-photographer friend of mine bought a Spotmatic new about forty years ago.

He still uses it regularly on his hiking trips most weekends and cannot see any reason to get anything more modern.
 
I have a Spotmatic and a Spotmatic F. The cameras are solid and functional, and the lenses are superb. My favorite lenses:
SMC 50mm/1.4
SMC 85mm/1.8

There are many M42 adapters out there so that you can use these lenses on other SLR systems. You could use a wide angle lens with a M42-FD adapter followed with Canon Adapter B (FD-LTM) and then a regular LTm-M adapter.
 
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I inherited:
55mm f1.8
50mm f4 macro
28 mm f2.8
85- 205mm f3.3 (no name) plus
Spotmatic II (battery dead and I can't the cover off, any ideas?)
 
"I inherited:
55mm f1.8
50mm f4 macro
28 mm f2.8
85- 205mm f3.3 (no name) plus"


The first two are fine lenses. (I forgot to mention the f4 in my list but it is said to be good for normal photography as well as macro work although I have seldom used mine for this purpose.)

Is the 28mm you list a Takumar or a third party lens? I am working from memory as I am too lazy to crawl under my bed and drag it out the box whee its stored but I thought the 28mm Tak was f3.5. In any event the 28mm Takumar is superb - I think its one of the best especially the later ones which have a 49mm filter mount instead of the earlier 58mm one.
 
The battery only works the meter.

I'd leave it as it is and either go Sunny f16 or use an handheld (or shoe mounted) light meter.

It's only a once a year type of camera, and unless you're a perfectionist it will make a very nice diversion untouched when you're in the mood.
 
"None of the adapters allows for RF coupling right?"

thays correct but with wide angle lenses the depth of field at f 5.6 and above is so great that is not a problem.
 
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