USSR delights in the digital age

[lushd]

I recently bought a Pentax K100d so I could mount my M42 lenses on a digital device. Here's two shots (not great works of art, just playing) with my Helios 44, the standard lens from Zenit E (the window) and my Tair 11a 135mm (the cars). I am delighted with the results and can't wait to play some more with my M42 USSR lenses. Ironically, metering is totally manual and best done with a Leningrad 4 or similar.

 

[payasam]

Donald, doesn't the camera meter in stop-down mode?

 

[lushd]

I've been playing some more and to my surprise, it meters brilliantly in "P" (Programme) mode. I haven't been able to find a reference to this in the very comprehensive instruction manual yet but I am sure it's there!

 

[sienarot]

What a misleading title; I thought someone had come up with Soviet M8 knockoffs at a fraction of the price of their German counterparts 😛

 

[Valkir1987]

You should try the Industar 50 in M42, I saw digital pictures taken with this lense somewhere and the results are great. However, I still prefere film 🙂

 

[lushd]

I prefer film too - but I am enjoying the digi device and I like the idea that the Soviet lens designers work is being put to a use they could not have expected.

As to the Soviet M8 knockoff - we can dream. I would buy one and it would be a great camera for sure.

 

[brachal]

What a misleading title; I thought someone had come up with Soviet M8 knockoffs at a fraction of the price of their German counterparts 😛

I think there was thread about the Fed 8 here, not too long ago. And let's not forget the Fed 2 Digital Back! 😀

 

[lushd]

Yes - I am afraid I was one of the perpertrators. I was driven to mild satire by the sad looks of those who bought an M8 and found it wanting.

But also by a desire for there to be a real one.

 

[lushd]

Here it is - almost the same view out my window but with Industar 50. It does deliver excellent results.

 

[Blank288]

Lushd,
Off topic, but it should be possible to use the in-built meter in your K100D. If I remember well from mu stolen *ist-Ds, you have to allow the camera to use lenses with aperture rings somewhere in the custom menu, and use the camera in M. The DOF-preview or the AE-L button should record a correct exposure. I'm not sure on which one, try it out.
Indeed FSU m42 lenses do deliver great results on digital Pentaxes. I regularly used my J9 an I50 on my *ist and K10D, and a Pancolar 1,8/50. The tiny I50 was quite a surprise - much better than a Praktica CZJ-Tessar 2,8/50.

 

[lushd]

Erik - thanks for that.

After careful reading I tracked that instruction down on page 134 of the book and now have it working in aperture priority mode. As with many instruction books, the language is sometimes a bit obscure.

 

[Blank288]

Donald,
Glad it works! Indeed A-mode can be used with stopped-down lenses, as with adapted screw mount Takumars and FSU's.
I remember that there is however an issue with older K-mount lenses, which do have automatic aperture, in A-mode. I only use them in Manual. (I now have a K10D, which works slightly different, with another 'green' button to set a correct meter reading in M-mode.)

 

[lushd]

Thanks Erik - I am enjoying this camera a lot (esp with the USSR lenses on board) but I never cease to wonder at the complexity. With my Zorki 1 (and all my manual rangefinders) I use sunny 16 most of the time, hyperfocal distance and never worry too much about the settings.

 

[Blank288]

Donald,
That's the way I look at it too - it is packed with all these amazing features which the designer apparently all wanted to add in it.
But playing with these features (but hardly really using them) I even more admire the pure simplicity of Zorki-1 a.o., which can give such great results too.
Anyhow: your K100D wont employ any of the high tech multi-segment features when you use manual M42 lenses - it automatically picks the old fashioned centre-weighed metering (which does just fine).