M42: Am I missing something?
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Posted 11/08/2013 - 12:19 - Helpful Comment
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As long as you use the genuine Pentax adapter there shouldn't be any issues. Non-genuine adapters may not allow infinity focus (they must be flush with the bayonet mount for it to work properly). Opinion on here differs as to whether non-genuine adapters are a good idea, I personally will only use the genuine ones.
Years ago M42 lenses went for peanuts as everybody wanted bayonet, AF and auto-aperture lenses - now they can be highly sort (and priced) because with the right adapter they can fit almost any camera system.
The Super/SMC Takumars are very well made, all metal lenses and they certainly feel very different to today's plastic lenses. You are limited to stop-down metering, but once you get the hang of it it's not a problem. Once you've focused wide-open, flick the Auto/Man switch on the lens to stop down so your metering works for the set aperture and shoot.
John.
Years ago M42 lenses went for peanuts as everybody wanted bayonet, AF and auto-aperture lenses - now they can be highly sort (and priced) because with the right adapter they can fit almost any camera system.
The Super/SMC Takumars are very well made, all metal lenses and they certainly feel very different to today's plastic lenses. You are limited to stop-down metering, but once you get the hang of it it's not a problem. Once you've focused wide-open, flick the Auto/Man switch on the lens to stop down so your metering works for the set aperture and shoot.
John.
Posted 11/08/2013 - 12:24 - Helpful Comment
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So long as you are comfortable working totally manually - in my experience there is no issue in using M42 lenses - so long as you have a decent adapter - preferably a Pentax original - which are a bit pricey or one that fits flush and allows for focus to infinity.
There is some very good old M42 glass out there for next to no money - but the one thing you must remember is that lens design has come a long way since these were produced and what may have had near legendary status 40 years ago may not compare favorably to even a moderately priced new lens.
All that said - it is fun finding out and is a relatively cheap adventure - I have a couple of fixed aperture long M42s (300mm and 400mm)that produce very nice images for a fraction of the price of a newer lens.
Carl
There is some very good old M42 glass out there for next to no money - but the one thing you must remember is that lens design has come a long way since these were produced and what may have had near legendary status 40 years ago may not compare favorably to even a moderately priced new lens.
All that said - it is fun finding out and is a relatively cheap adventure - I have a couple of fixed aperture long M42s (300mm and 400mm)that produce very nice images for a fraction of the price of a newer lens.
Carl
No matter how many lenses I have owned - I have always needed just one more
Posted 11/08/2013 - 12:27 - Helpful Comment
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Welcome back and good luck with whatever M42's you pick up.
I was new to Pentax when I bought my K-r and one of the reasons for getting it was that I had some M42 lenses including an old Helios 58mm f/2.0 from my old Zenit 35mm SLR.
There are several options from very cheap to not so cheap but being a 'penny pincher' I've gone for the lower cost options.
There are 2 different types of adaptors available :-
- one fits completely INSIDE the Pentax camera mount
- the other is a thin flange which remains OUTSIDE the camera mount.
BEWARE - the (cheap)ones which go INSIDE the camera have a small leaf spring on the side to stop them coming loose - however, they can also stop you ever removing it !!!
I removed the spring from mine and it still fits fairly securely but don't leave an expensive lens on it in case ot falls off !
The flange type is completely safe but has the drawback that the lens is now a small bit further forward which means you may lose focus at infinity. However, I mainly use my M42 lenses for close-up work so that is not a problem and I feel much safer.
I hope this helps and look forward to seeing the results on the Gallery
Best wishes
Peter
I was new to Pentax when I bought my K-r and one of the reasons for getting it was that I had some M42 lenses including an old Helios 58mm f/2.0 from my old Zenit 35mm SLR.
There are several options from very cheap to not so cheap but being a 'penny pincher' I've gone for the lower cost options.
There are 2 different types of adaptors available :-
- one fits completely INSIDE the Pentax camera mount
- the other is a thin flange which remains OUTSIDE the camera mount.
BEWARE - the (cheap)ones which go INSIDE the camera have a small leaf spring on the side to stop them coming loose - however, they can also stop you ever removing it !!!
I removed the spring from mine and it still fits fairly securely but don't leave an expensive lens on it in case ot falls off !
The flange type is completely safe but has the drawback that the lens is now a small bit further forward which means you may lose focus at infinity. However, I mainly use my M42 lenses for close-up work so that is not a problem and I feel much safer.
I hope this helps and look forward to seeing the results on the Gallery
Best wishes
Peter
Posted 11/08/2013 - 12:33 - Helpful Comment
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Some good lenses available in M42 and I think Zeiss have
started to release their expensive stuff again in M42.
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started to release their expensive stuff again in M42.
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Half Man... Half Pentax ... Half Cucumber
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Pentax K-1 + K-5 and some other stuff
Algi
Posted 11/08/2013 - 18:20 - Helpful Comment
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Bit of a no-brainer really- there's some lenses available in M42 that cost a fraction of their K mount counterparts and perform just as well (or even better in some cases).
I fiddled around with removing the spring from my adaptors but have decided it was easier to to remove the lens first and the adaptor second. Perhaps a bit fiddly but better than the lens falling off the camera. I have two cheap adaptors and one original, and all work well. My Takumar 200mm f3.5 preset lens is sharper than any of the of the 3 modern zoom lenses I have that cover 200mm and it cost very little in comparison. Stop-down metering is easy enough, plus it's an enjoyable experience using thee old lenses..
I fiddled around with removing the spring from my adaptors but have decided it was easier to to remove the lens first and the adaptor second. Perhaps a bit fiddly but better than the lens falling off the camera. I have two cheap adaptors and one original, and all work well. My Takumar 200mm f3.5 preset lens is sharper than any of the of the 3 modern zoom lenses I have that cover 200mm and it cost very little in comparison. Stop-down metering is easy enough, plus it's an enjoyable experience using thee old lenses..
Posted 11/08/2013 - 18:22 - Helpful Comment
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I love using old lenses, including M42 ones. You've made a start with manual lenses so you could always try a few more of the k-mount ones first.
However, for accurate focusing you will always need either live view or a special focusing screen (I have the latter).
However, for accurate focusing you will always need either live view or a special focusing screen (I have the latter).
Posted 11/08/2013 - 19:51 - Helpful Comment
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Using M42 lenses is one of the great pleasures of Pentax ownership, I think. I loved rotating my very cheap collection of no-name primes before the whole lot were stolen "in one fell swoop". Haven't had the heart or will to replace them (even if I could.)
Doesn't the focus peaking built into the K30 aid manual focusing? If so, it could be a great camera upon which to mount old lenses.
Doesn't the focus peaking built into the K30 aid manual focusing? If so, it could be a great camera upon which to mount old lenses.
Best wishes,
Andrew
"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050
http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05
Andrew
"These places mean something and it's the job of a photographer to figure-out what the hell it is."
Robert Adams
"The camera doesn't make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE."
Ernst Hass
My website: http://www.ephotozine.com/user/bwlchmawr-199050
http://s927.photobucket.com/home/ADC3440/index
https://www.flickr.com/photos/78898196@N05
Posted 11/08/2013 - 20:34 - Helpful Comment
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I must admit I prefer the convenience of the K series lenses.
However the M42's are cheaper. A K30 would be a good second body to have an M42 adaptor permanently fixed to.
However the M42's are cheaper. A K30 would be a good second body to have an M42 adaptor permanently fixed to.
Posted 11/08/2013 - 21:56
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I like my M42 primes a lot
I was out using one this afternoon - however, we arrived too late as the two Kestrel chicks had fledged some time this morning
I was out using one this afternoon - however, we arrived too late as the two Kestrel chicks had fledged some time this morning
Posted 12/08/2013 - 08:58
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Thanks everyone for all this info, my ebay watch list is growing in line with my motivation!
bwlchmawr, I have used the focus peaking on my K30 and it is helpful but not always spot on accurate with an open lens in my experience. That may well be an operator problem but it if you have a narrow depth of field and an object thats deep it seems to find it difficult to "grab" on to a certain point ie it seems happier against a flatter background.
PeterKR am I right in thinking that if the cheaper adapter gets stuck on that you can still unscrew the lens and its the adapter stuck rendering the body unable to accept a K lens? I'm wondering how the genuine Pentax differs in its locking mechanism?
I fancy a 28mm for starters, anyone any views on how they compare to the M's and A's in K mount please?
On a linked but slightly seperate point I'm kind of struggling to see a large benefit in an "A" lens over an "M" lens. When I'm shooting manual I like full control over the aperture then stop down to give speed, I'm wondering in what situation does it really offer a lot more convenience/speed to have the camera control the aperture; weddings perhaps? Arguably you'd need a situation where you know what the aperture would roughly be at when you expose so that your DOF/sharpness is not way out from what you expect?
Thanks again everyone I've been telling she who shall be obeyed what a great response I've had and how friendly this forum is. In return I got the slightly forlorn "Oh you'll be spending more time with your camera" look........
bwlchmawr, I have used the focus peaking on my K30 and it is helpful but not always spot on accurate with an open lens in my experience. That may well be an operator problem but it if you have a narrow depth of field and an object thats deep it seems to find it difficult to "grab" on to a certain point ie it seems happier against a flatter background.
PeterKR am I right in thinking that if the cheaper adapter gets stuck on that you can still unscrew the lens and its the adapter stuck rendering the body unable to accept a K lens? I'm wondering how the genuine Pentax differs in its locking mechanism?
I fancy a 28mm for starters, anyone any views on how they compare to the M's and A's in K mount please?
On a linked but slightly seperate point I'm kind of struggling to see a large benefit in an "A" lens over an "M" lens. When I'm shooting manual I like full control over the aperture then stop down to give speed, I'm wondering in what situation does it really offer a lot more convenience/speed to have the camera control the aperture; weddings perhaps? Arguably you'd need a situation where you know what the aperture would roughly be at when you expose so that your DOF/sharpness is not way out from what you expect?
Thanks again everyone I've been telling she who shall be obeyed what a great response I've had and how friendly this forum is. In return I got the slightly forlorn "Oh you'll be spending more time with your camera" look........
Posted 12/08/2013 - 09:01 - Helpful Comment
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The A setting enables proper communication between lens and camera. You control the aperture from the camera, there's no loss of control. You can then use Av, Tv or whatever else you want without resorting to stop down metering.
It's far quicker , far easier and also the metering will be more reliable.
It's far quicker , far easier and also the metering will be more reliable.
Best regards, John
Posted 12/08/2013 - 09:06
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Got it thanks John, having never used one I was thinking the camera "set" the aperture.
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82 posts
13 years
Bedfordshire
My knowledge of M42 lenses and adaptors is somewhere between little and nothing. I'm guessing that fitting adapters can present all sort of issues but I do see a lot of M42 stuff on the bay that looks interesting.
Just seeking some guidance please on the pleasure/pain balance in going M42 on my K30. Cheers.
PS If I should have added another option(s) to the poll please tell me and I'll add it if thats poss.