Recommend Me A M42-Body, Please!

[radi(c)al_cam]

I'd like to have a fine M42 body where the mount is easily removable.

I've seen many M42 bodies where the mount has invisible/inaccessible screws, but I'm considering a modification, where it's necessary that I can remove the mount without a complete dismantling of the camera.

My reasons are: I had to find out recently that I have more Rollei SL35 glass, than I have flawlessly working SL35 bodies. 🙁

But I will NOT use my Rollei SL35 lenses on a camera that is an autofocus or a digital camera — I want to use it on a manual focus film camera.

And: I'd like to have an automatic aperture — hence I guess that the M42-bodies are the best choice since their aperture actuation is basically the same.


@MOD: well, one could say this belongs to the «DIY» threads, but it's mainly an SLR-question, isn't it?

 

[johnf04]

Zenit EM, Mamiya 500 or 1000 DTL.

 

[tunalegs]

M42 register difference is longer, which depending on the thickness of the Rollei mount might mean either machining the mount thinner or shimming to keep register distance in check. Also the Rollei mount is a larger diameter than M42, which may present more difficulty than the register distance. If new holes have to be tapped into the camera body, they'd need to be far enough away from the existing holes for the M42 mount, which may make necessary rotating the mount a few degrees, but that would introduce even more complications in getting the automatic aperture to function.

 

[DFigueira]

If getting a new body with lens - spotmatic F with those takumars.
Or if you feal cheap but you want something to remind you are carrying it at your neck, something more like the 50's, a good praktica fx2 would be fun.

 

[CameraQuest]

hands down my best M42 SLR

is a Canon T90 with the M42 to FD adapter.

the only thing I hate about that great camera is the name plate.

A camera that good should say NIKON

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Zenit EM, Mamiya 500 or 1000 DTL.

Thank you. In fact, Mamiya is very close to Rollei; when Rollei realised that their plant in Singapore didn't deliver the best quality (well, the climate isn't really the best one for lens and camera manufacturing), they requested Mamiya to build the new Rolleinar lens line (perhaps the cameras too, but IDK exactly).

M42 register difference is longer, which depending on the thickness of the Rollei mount might mean either machining the mount thinner or shimming to keep register distance in check. Also the Rollei mount is a larger diameter than M42, which may present more difficulty than the register distance. If new holes have to be tapped into the camera body, they'd need to be far enough away from the existing holes for the M42 mount, which may make necessary rotating the mount a few degrees, but that would introduce even more complications in getting the automatic aperture to function.

Thank you, too. You're right, the flange register of the Rollei SL-line is 44.7mm apparently. (But I don't care too much whether or not I'll lose infinity.) But then I agree, I'll have to consider the larger diameter … hm.

If getting a new body with lens - spotmatic F with those takumars.
Or if you feal cheap but you want something to remind you are carrying it at your neck, something more like the 50's, a good praktica fx2 would be fun.

LOL, yes: better a cheap and easily replaceable camera with an excellent lens, than the other way round 😉

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

IIRC, I have a «Revueflex 2000 CL» at home …

… somewhere in my basement vaults I presume? 😱

That camera appears to be a «Chinon CX», re-named by the retailer Quelle.

According to the camera-wiki article (vide supra), in the Anglosphere, it's an Argus CR-2, or a GAF L-CX.

Does anyone have experience with this model?

Is it easy to tinker with?

 

[DFigueira]

Fair enough, BUT: Does someone offer an adapter so that I can use my Rollei SL lenses?

I meant cheap and fun...

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

I meant cheap and fun...

«cheap and fun» — is this a pun, that I — as a chaste husband and father of a quiver full — probably will never understand? 😕

😉