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View Full Version : Wide to short tele zoom lens in M42/Praktica/Pentax mount?

POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 00:33
I'm in search for a decent zoom lens for my Fujica SLR, do you know any good choices? It mustn't be a brilliant performer, just decent so that it works. I detest the idea of having to carry multiple fixed focal length lenses with me wherever I may roam... I recently bid on a Pentacon 39-80mm f3.5 lens, but the price went a bit too high for me. So no luck there... I am skimming through the various electronic Bay stores, but haven't found any suitable lenses so far.
SCOTFORTHLAD
03-10-2007, 00:56
I would recommend a Tamron Adaptall 2 lens with an M42 removable mount,either the 35/80 SP model,or the 28/80 SP.I have used both and they are excellent.If you change camera marque at any time,just buy the appropriate mount and the lens can move to the other camera.
BTW --SP stands for 'Super Performance.'

Brian.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 01:05
Alright, Brian. I'll keep my eyes peeled for either lens. Thank you!
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 09:38
Is there an adapter made for K-mount lenses to fit M42 bodies? I found a decent lens on the auction site, but it is in K-mount... Didn't find any adapters when I searched for them, but I think they exist. Sure enough, plenty of adapters for Pentax K-mount bodies but not the other way around...

Lens register wouldn't be a complicating factor, as both mounts have 45.5mm lens-to-focal-plane distance...

About the Tamron Adaptalls: they seem to be popular zoom lenses, no wonder though. The mounting system makes them very versatile lenses. And I've heard the image quality isn't that bad either....
zuikologist
03-10-2007, 09:44
Posti - the Adaptall lenses, especially the SP range, are good performers and have good close focus ability for such zooms. There is no K lens to M42 camera adaptor - the K mount is wider than the M42 mount.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 09:49
Ah, heh. No wonder I couldn't find those adapters. :o Gotta keep looking for a Tamron, then!
ZorkiKat
03-10-2007, 10:00
Look for "Sakar" brand zooms on eBay. It has a 28-80mm zoom which sometimes appears in M42 fits. They're not pricey too. Or do a search under the categories "M42" or "Pentax" or "Screw mount". Many inexpensive 'housebrands' (lenses rebadged under the names of the stores which they were sold in like "Focal" or "Sears") zooms made in the 1970s-80s
could be found as well. The most common M42 zoom range found though are in the 70-200 mm range. I was able to get a 24-35 M42 lens once for just $20
on eBay.

Jay
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 10:48
Look for "Sakar" brand zooms on eBay. It has a 28-80mm zoom which sometimes appears in M42 fits. They're not pricey too. Or do a search under the categories "M42" or "Pentax" or "Screw mount". Many inexpensive 'housebrands' (lenses rebadged under the names of the stores which they were sold in like "Focal" or "Sears") zooms made in the 1970s-80s
could be found as well. The most common M42 zoom range found though are in the 70-200 mm range. I was able to get a 24-35 M42 lens once for just $20
on eBay.

Jay
Good tips, Jay. Zoom lenses from the 28-80mm range can be found on eBay, too bad they usually come in different mounts, and all of them are wrong... :D Maybe different wording in the search function would yield better results.

Yes, the 70-200mm range seems to be more prevalent. But that's not really what I'm after, 2 reasons for that: I've got a half-functioning 28mm lens (the diaphragm sticks, will have to try repairing it) and a 200mm tele as well. And anyway, a 70-200mm lens would be too bulky.
venchka
03-10-2007, 11:09
I bought this lens in Canon FD mount in the early 90s. It was the only lens I used on 3 trips to the Canadian Rockies. Heck, it was the only lens I used for about 10 years. It uses 55mm filters like my other Canon lenses. It's a keeper lens for sure.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 11:20
I bought this lens in Canon FD mount in the early 90s. It was the only lens I used on 3 trips to the Canadian Rockies. Heck, it was the only lens I used for about 10 years. It uses 55mm filters like my other Canon lenses. It's a keeper lens for sure.

Hmm, does that come in M42 mount as well?
venchka
03-10-2007, 11:45
Sigma made versions in all popular mounts back in the 1980s when the lens was first introduced. My guess: Yes.
Kin Lau
03-10-2007, 11:49
M42 zooms are few and far btwn. By the time they figured out how to make short zooms affordably and well, everyone was into K-mounts.

Your best bet is to stick with a Tamron Adaptall2 zoom. Even the basic 28-70 is not bad, but the SP series is much better.

I've had a few Sakar & Focals etc, and haven't been impressed by the quality, so unless you get one cheap or free, you're better off looking elsewhere.
ChrisPlatt
03-10-2007, 12:48
The Tamron 35-70mm f/3.5 (NOT 3.5-4.5) is very nice.
It's the only zoom lens I have chosen to keep.
These appear on eBay occasionally...

http://www.adaptall-2.com/lenses/17A.html

http://freenet-homepage.de/stauber/mamiya-nc/m42_tamron_35-70_3.5.htm

Chris
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 12:59
Nice, very nice... I hope one day I'll be able to snatch that 35-70mm. Looks very well suited to my needs.
SCOTFORTHLAD
03-10-2007, 13:48
Thinking back,I have also used the 35/70 Chris has detailed(I had a thing about Tamron zooms in my ship photography days).

I found that the 35/70 is virtually as sharp as the two SP lenses I mentioned earlier,it is MUCH MORE compact,and has the great virtue of being a lot cheaper because it does not have the SP badge.:)

Brian.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 13:54
Brian, you do not happen to have that lens just lying around, waiting to be picked up by loving hands for a reasonable price, do you? :angel:
SCOTFORTHLAD
03-10-2007, 14:05
Unfortunately not,the only one that I held on to is a 70/150.I always used them on M42 bodies,and never had on problem with them.

The very best Tamron that I ever used was the 35/135 4.2,which was outstanding.More bulky than the others mentioned,but perfect for shooting from the Dockside.

Happy days.

Brian.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-10-2007, 14:10
Aww, too bad. Nevertheless, good info on other lenses. Will have to make a mental note.
ray_g
03-10-2007, 14:44
I would recommend the Vivitar Series 1 zooms. They have excellent zooms in the 70-210mm range. In the range you mention, one particularly good zoom is the 35-85mm f/2.8, if you don't mind the size and weight.
POSTI-Tuomo
03-11-2007, 00:41
Have you had experiences with the Cosina MC 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 ?
POSTI-Tuomo
03-20-2007, 06:09
Yay, both items arrived in very good condition just today! The lens (Tamron 35-70mm f/3.5) looks and feels very solid to use, and the Adaptall 2 Mount adapter was quite intuitive to use as well. Figured it out how to attach the adapter to the lens without a manual. Very well crafted and thought out piece of equipment.

Optical-wise, the glass looks pristine. Literally no scratches or cleaning marks! Aperture blades are perfect. Only a new lens would be in better shape, really.

Off to shoot!
ChrisPlatt
03-20-2007, 15:32
Glad you got one in good shape.
I'm certain you will like that lens! :)

Chris