Manual equipment

Hello everyone, I recently inherited a great collection of Pentax cameras and

lens. They are:

1959 Heiland

1964 H1a

1971 ES

1974 SP1000

 

Each is in mint condition and works fine.

 

With these just about every accessory you can think about. Lens include:

 

28MM SMC, 2=Super Tak 50mm,2 =SMC 55MM, SMC 135MM, 200MM SMC, 300mm SMC,

400mm SMC and a russian made 500mm mirror lens.

 

Everything is in mint shape. I think there is every accessory pentax every

made with this collection.

 

Now my question, I am a new at photography but understand how good takumar

lens are. I would however like to go to more of an automatic system. I would

like to know what cameras are good for new users and what cameras will except

the M42 Screw mount lens.

 

Also, I am very curious on what this stuff may be worth.

 

Thanks

Joseph,

 

First of all I don't quite know what you mean by "more of an automatic system." There are many of course, autofocus, shutter priority, apperture priority, TTL flash, etc. You won't be abe to cover all of these with your lenses, but at least some of the auto features.

 

There are two directions you can go. As far as I know the only currently made, non-Russian/Ukranian body that is out there for M42 bodies is the Bessaflex. The following is from B&H's web site

 

"This camera provides TTL "stop-down" metering activated by the Meter Switch, ideally placed to be operated by your left thumb as you hold and focus the camera, and provides dept-of-field preview.

 

Note: Metering Switch only works with "Auto" diaphragm lenses. Camera does not come with shoe mount, but can be added as an accessory. "

 

Alternative #2 is to move into K-mount with your screw mount lenses. As far as I know you will at least have Aperature priority (stopped down focusing) with most bodies that offer AP (that is other than the film ZX/MZ 30/50/60 and ist film camera.) Even the new digital K mount bodies will work with the screw mount lenses you have. Autofocus and shutter priority are not possible however.

 

With a camera body like the Pentax LX you will have access to TTL flash

Almost every K mount camera can use the M42 screwmount lenses with an adaptor in stop-down modes. This includes all Pentax DSLR's. You would get aperture priority on all but the MZ/ZX-60 and MZ/ZX-70 (the film *ist works fine with M42 lenses, but not with non-A K mount lenses).

Hi Joseph,

 

If you are not interested in film photography I'd say sell the camera bodies and keep all the lenses. Then I urge you to buy the Pentax K10D camera body immediately, it sells for $900. However, if you like film photography then I think the LX is the best you can get, mint for about $500. At the end of the day it makes no difference what you use, but if you want the best then use the best.

 

Cheers.

<i><blockquote> Then I urge you to buy the Pentax K10D camera body immediately

</blockquote> </i><p>

 

Superb advice! Oh yes, please run out and buy a machine not even available, just officially announced minutes ago, with no reviews outlining any problems, and from the first batch of production (which may contain problems).

In the "old days" Pentax made two automatic cameras that I believe will work with the SMC lenses without stopping down, called ES and ESII. Chinon made an automatic camera called the CE3 that will work with M42 lenses and can use an autowinder.

Joseph, learn to shoot what you have, because what you are dreaming of doesn't exist.

 

You can't use a screw mount lens with more automatic than aperture priority and maybe TTL flash provided by some modern bodies. You still have to get along with manual focus and this will be harder than it is with your current gear because adapted to any other kind of camera body screw mount lenses won't stop down automatically before the exposure.

 

1 year of infrequent practicing with your gear and a aditional handheld meter should enable you to work around not having autoexposure.

 

Personally I prefer working this way with a good old fashioned entirely mechanical cameras over adapting to the use of a more or less ergonomically placed multitude of tiny wheels, buttons and submenues. Usually cameras like yours are suggested to serious beginners.

 

If you want a DSLR both Pentax and Canon will take your glass with the same restrictions I mentioned above. Cheap models usually offer less ergonomics than midrange ones.