ChrisPlatt
Thread Killer
I am a repeat customer of Eric Hendrickson and can recommend him wholeheartedly.
His service on Pentax cameras is excellent. He is fast and reasonably priced, too.
Chris
M42 options? The SP1000 is shot
- Thread starter Ezzie
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I am a repeat customer of Eric Hendrickson and can recommend him wholeheartedly.
His service on Pentax cameras is excellent. He is fast and reasonably priced, too.
Chris
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I will add my vote to this as well! Eric is honest, quick, and fairly priced.
If your SP1000 were just some camera you bought, it might well be a better choice to replace it but as it was your dad's, I would suggest getting it repaired.
Certainly worth an email, at least.
Rob
Vince Lupo
Whatever
I'd vote for a Pentax SV (pre-Spotmatic without a meter), or for something a bit more unique, how about a Ricoh TLS-401. That has two viewfinders!
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Gotta insist on the Fujica ST-801.
I was a True Believer of the Chinon Memotron CE-II until very recently, but the Fujica ST-801 is just so nice and those EBC lenses are tack sharp, too!
I was a True Believer of the Chinon Memotron CE-II until very recently, but the Fujica ST-801 is just so nice and those EBC lenses are tack sharp, too!
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
Again, thank you.
rbsinto
Well-known
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Chinon CE-3 Memotron.
I was told by someone who is knowledgeable about such things that it was the most advanced Pentax screw-mount camera ever made. I was given one a few years ago with a bunch of other stuff that included lenses and motor drive. It seemed to be a nice body, but
I sold the entire kit about six months ago, as I was not inclined to be running a third system in addition to my Nikon SLR and rangefinders.
I was told by someone who is knowledgeable about such things that it was the most advanced Pentax screw-mount camera ever made. I was given one a few years ago with a bunch of other stuff that included lenses and motor drive. It seemed to be a nice body, but
I sold the entire kit about six months ago, as I was not inclined to be running a third system in addition to my Nikon SLR and rangefinders.
Red Robin
It Is What It Is
EZZIE, If your into M42 stuff I just found a new-to-me site. The' Pentax M42 dadabase &forum'. http://pentaxm42.proboards.com/index.cgi I just reg. sat. nite this place seems real new. I think it will grow. All my gear, I kept out 2 RF & 1 SLR, is packed for the big family relocation event.. . Set to happend shortly before Xmas. Hope the site useful to you. Red
oftheherd
Veteran
Well, I am late getting in. I would be inclined to agree with seeing what a CLA would cost first, simply due to the sentimental value. If not, the just about any of the previous suggestions would be good. I personally have the Yashica TL X, Pentax SV, Fujica ST 801 and Fujica St 901. I have also used M-42 lenses on a Yashica FX 103, Contax 130Q, and soon will on my newly acquired Contax 167mt. All are viable solutions for the reasons stated above.
My recommendation would be the ST 801 if you can find one in good shape and reasonably priced, and better yet, the ST 901 (but harder to find). It's meter is more sensitive (EV -3 to EV 18). Actually, the Fujica AX-3 has adapters for M-42. But I would stay with the 801 or 901. Fujica made earlier models, the 601 and 701. But they are getting really long in the tooth, more so than the 801 or 901.
A good working Yashica TL Electro X is certainly a good camera, but larger.
My recommendation would be the ST 801 if you can find one in good shape and reasonably priced, and better yet, the ST 901 (but harder to find). It's meter is more sensitive (EV -3 to EV 18). Actually, the Fujica AX-3 has adapters for M-42. But I would stay with the 801 or 901. Fujica made earlier models, the 601 and 701. But they are getting really long in the tooth, more so than the 801 or 901.
A good working Yashica TL Electro X is certainly a good camera, but larger.
NickTrop
Veteran
I agree... I have converted a couple M42 lenses to PK-mount - a Jupiter 9 and a 50, 1.4 Tak (pre-SMC) by filing a small ridge on the lens where the locking pin on the camera body aligns, and removing the tension spring from the adapter. Works a charm. (Getting M42-PK lenses off and on is really annoying. This is the way to go for M42 on Pentax K mount...) If you go this route, I would recommend this camera:
http://www.amazon.com/Vivitar-3800N...YSTQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1292202679&sr=8-2
The Vivitar 3800N. It's made by Cosina and costs $169 new. The average used price on eBay is $40, and they're plentiful. It's an underrated black beauty. They come with a 1.7,50 or a zoom new. People buy these for film photography classes, then sell them. It's essentially the Voightlander-branded rangefinder body, only with a great split prism for focusing. The Cosina-made lens on it is no slouch either. Excellent, reasonably-priced lightweight Pentax K-mount SLR with a shutter speed up to 1/2000. I've had this same camera since around 1990, and still shoot it, still works a charm. Shutter jammed once, gave it a thwack with the palm of my hand - unjammed.
I say this because as charming, endearing, and well-made as old cameras are? They're 40-50 years old, and that's how old anything "M42" is gonna be. (Plus M42 lens prices are inflated because every DSLR owner - including myself, uses these with an adapter as the new "T" mount. Also, if you like shooting wide, very few M42 offerings and they're sky-high for what they are...) New is new. And for this price, especially used? You can't go wrong.
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alistair.o
Well-known
oftheherd
Veteran
Can't argue with the rest of what you say, but I don't think the wides are that bad. I don't keep up with it that much, but a quick check of ebay showed there are good bargains there. But indeed, one must be careful of old cameras. Just because my three ST 901s and two ST 801s are still going strong, doesn't mean that all are. 😛
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