I just got a bunch of M42's

[kshapero]

I just inherited a bunch of Pentax M42 screw mount lenses. Is there a way to adapt them for use on a M mount body (Zeiss Ikon)? An adaptor needed surely? How does it work? Is it worth doing?

[peterm1]

Yes there is an adapter available. Several in fact. Try this site http://www.rugift.com/photocameras/m42_lenses_adapters.htm

I have not tried their specific equipment but it looks OK. Also if you try Stephen Gandys classic cameras site (Google it) he lists some nice but rather more expensive ones. While you will often see M42- Leica adpaters on eBay these usually do not allow infinity focussing (and can only be used for close-up work) whereas those above do.

In terms of the quality of Takumar lenses you will find that many of these are up with the best SLR prime lenses of that era (or perhaps any era.) These lenses are well made and in ost cases, optically excellent. Should you use an adapter however you must remember that you will be limited to zone focussing / guessing distances so to a large extent your success will depend on your ability to judge distances and pick the right f stop. Go for wider angle lenses and smaller f stops therefore for obvious reasons.

Which lenses do you have?

I would say the follwoing are top notch amongst the more common ones:

35mm f3.5 (v sharp and contrasty)
35mm f2 (less common but still readily available.)
28mm f 3.5 (v sharp and contrasty)
55mm f1.8 (v sharp and contrasty)
50mm f1.4 (v sharp and contrasty)

You will find that as usual all of these benefit from stopping down a bit from maximum aperture but if you are zone focussing you should be using f5.6-f8 anyway, in which case you can be assured of good results. (Takumar lenses seem to have a reputation for being excellent in the centre third but softer towards the edges until you stop down. I have some old MTF graphs for some of these lenses dating back to the early 1970s and these graphs confirm this for a range of lenses.)

There are many excellent longer ones too, especially the 105mm f 2.8, the various 135mm ones and the 200mm f4 is superb. But in the circumstances I would imagine you would wish to steer clear of these due to critical focusing issues involved.

Good luck. It would be great to see your results. I keep meaning to do the same myself (hence having doen this research) as I have many m42 lenses but somehow have not yet gotten around to it.

[radiocemetery]

You could get a real nice Spotmatic body for not much investment. You will like the Takumar lenses. I have three and they all deliver excellent results. Go for the adapter too.
Steve

[peterm1]

I forgot to mention the 85mm f1.8 lenses are very good too but somewhat rarer as they tend not to be found amongst the most common amateur lens kit of the era (35, 50 and 135mm)

[mascarenhas]

Wow, at first I read this as "I got a bunch of M4-2's", and almost fainted. :-) You can find M42-M adapters (with infinity focus) at eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-Pentax-M42-to-Leica-M-mount_W0QQitemZ150152368780QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3005 9QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
I have not used them, though, but I figure you shouldn't have a problem with wide lenses...

[ZorkiKat]

Shorter lenses (28mm or less) are the best to adapt with RF cameras. Longer ones are hard to focus by scale. Include those with large apertures (eg Takumar 1,4/50) as well.

This ebay seller has an M42->M adapter:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-Pentax-M42-to-Leica-M-mount_W0QQitemZ150152368780QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3005 9QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem



He also has an LTM39 -> M flange adapter as well. This can be used on an M-mount RF with an LTM39 ->M adapter. This version allows further flexibility since it can be used for both LTM-39 and M cameras:


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-M42-TO-LEICA-L39-SCREW-MOUNT_W0QQitemZ150122399299QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3005 9QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


The catch is, the M42 lenses which can be used are those with preset diagphragms or M-A switches to stop the diaphragm down to working value. Many M42 of later vintages have auto-only diaphragms and when adapted would only shoot at full aperture.

Jay

[kshapero]

Wow, at first I read this as "I got a bunch of M4-2's", and almost fainted. :-) You can find M42-M adapters (with infinity focus) at eBay here: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ADAPTER-Pentax-M42-to-Leica-M-mount_W0QQitemZ150152368780QQihZ005QQcategoryZ3005 9QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem
I have not used them, though, but I figure you shouldn't have a problem with wide lenses...
Don't I wish.

[kshapero]

Hey, I just remembered, I also have a bunch of Nikon F glass. Which would be better?

[KoNickon]

The Pentax screw mount lenses are somewhat smaller than most SLR makers' lenses, so from that standpoint I'd say they might be a better choice to attach to a rangefinder.

[shadowfox]

I just inherited a bunch of Pentax M42 screw mount lenses. Is there a way to adapt them for use on a M mount body (Zeiss Ikon)? An adaptor needed surely? How does it work? Is it worth doing?

Lucky you! ;)

[ClaremontPhoto]

If I were you I'd get a Pentax Spotmatic.

[kshapero]

If I were you I'd get a Pentax Spotmatic. I also inherited a Spotmatic II. Looks real nice also.

[ClaremontPhoto]

A non-photographer friend of mine bought a Spotmatic new about forty years ago.

He still uses it regularly on his hiking trips most weekends and cannot see any reason to get anything more modern.

[raid]

I have a Spotmatic and a Spotmatic F. The cameras are solid and functional, and the lenses are superb. My favorite lenses:
SMC 50mm/1.4
SMC 85mm/1.8

There are many M42 adapters out there so that you can use these lenses on other SLR systems. You could use a wide angle lens with a M42-FD adapter followed with Canon Adapter B (FD-LTM) and then a regular LTm-M adapter.

[kshapero]

I inherited:
55mm f1.8
50mm f4 macro
28 mm f2.8
85- 205mm f3.3 (no name) plus
Spotmatic II (battery dead and I can't the cover off, any ideas?)

[peterm1]

"I inherited:
55mm f1.8
50mm f4 macro
28 mm f2.8
85- 205mm f3.3 (no name) plus"


The first two are fine lenses. (I forgot to mention the f4 in my list but it is said to be good for normal photography as well as macro work although I have seldom used mine for this purpose.)

Is the 28mm you list a Takumar or a third party lens? I am working from memory as I am too lazy to crawl under my bed and drag it out the box whee its stored but I thought the 28mm Tak was f3.5. In any event the 28mm Takumar is superb - I think its one of the best especially the later ones which have a 49mm filter mount instead of the earlier 58mm one.

[ywenz]

None of the adapters allows for RF coupling right?

[ClaremontPhoto]

The battery only works the meter.

I'd leave it as it is and either go Sunny f16 or use an handheld (or shoe mounted) light meter.

It's only a once a year type of camera, and unless you're a perfectionist it will make a very nice diversion untouched when you're in the mood.

[peterm1]

"None of the adapters allows for RF coupling right?"

thays correct but with wide angle lenses the depth of field at f 5.6 and above is so great that is not a problem.

[peterm1]

http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_Takumar_Collection.html

Although the lenses on show at the above site are a little earlier than yours I am sure, its still a fascinating site on early pentax lenses - many of which were dusted off and upgraded to super takumars wen the spotmatics were released. And at the ottom of this page http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Pentax_main.html there are links to other useful pentax pages

[kshapero]

The battery compartment cover is probably corroded shut from a leaky battery.
Remove the four tiny screws and the entire bottom cover can be taken off.
Be careful cleaning up the corrosion; any amount of mercury can't be good for you.
I have it on very good authority that you should *NEVER* use vinegar.

Rather than look for an adapter, I suggest you try using those Takumar
lenses with that Spotmatic II. It's a wonderful camera.
And if you'd like to get it working like new, send it to Eric Hendrickson
pentaxrepairs@aol.com

Chris
Ok I took off the bottom plate, but I still can't open the battery cover. Any ideas?

[ZeissFan]

If you get an M42 to K-mount adapter, make sure it allows for infinity focus. Some of the cheaper ones won't allow the M42 lens to focus to infinity.

[kshapero]

Can you use vinegar or wd 40 to loosen?

[wolves3012]

Ok I took off the bottom plate, but I still can't open the battery cover. Any ideas? Soak it in penetrating oil for a week, at least. Then also apply some heat from a hairdryer and try again. Try to apply the heat around the battery cover more than on the cover itself if possible. Patience, rather than brute force, is the key. If it still won't shift. soak it again and wait. Regarding the mercury hazard, try and do it in a well-ventilated area and don't breathe any fumes from heating it.

By the way, I used to have a Spotmatic, they're excellent cameras. Only niggle is the stop-down metering, where the view goes very dim suddenly! Something you may not have to suffer if you can't fix the meter up...

[peterm1]

I would try WD-40 or something of that sort. But if perchance you find it impossible to get the cover off, remember that (a) the Spotmatic works perfectly well without a meter and (2) in the alternative you can pick up a new Spotmatic body dirt cheap on eBay.

[tedwhite]

Or a new bottom plate. My suggestion: Just send it to Eric Hendrickson. He's the retired head of the Pentax repair division.

As others have said, Pentax lenses are simply superb.

Ted

[ZeissFan]

If you're going to use WD40 or some type of penetrating oil, spray it into a small plastic cup and NEVER directly onto the camera. Then use a cotton swab to get it into the crevices. But don't overdo it.

[kshapero]

Well I soaked the bottom plate with stuck battery cover over night in vinegar. battery cover came off smooth as silk. No real corrision I could see but a definite dead battery.