Fun, Cheap, Small M42 SLR?

I've been getting some nice M42 lenses to use on a DSLR with adapters.

But I'd also like to be able to use them with film, so am looking for

a cheap little M42 capable body. Either an M42 body, or something

that can be adapted (Nikon F?). The Bessaflex TM looks good, but

about $200 used, so a little too much. If I'm going to pay that much

I might as well get a real gem like a Nikon F2! Others, more in the

price range are the Fujica ST801 and perhaps ST901 (only read about

it, haven't seen one FS yet). Or maybe just a Spotmatic. This is

just for fun, a toy. I don't want more electronics than a meter

(needle-match preferably), and don't particularly need aperture

coupling as long as the meter works in stop-down. 1/60 or better sync

speed. Would it be possible to use a classic Deckel-mount Bessaflex

(behind-the-lens leaf shutter sounds pretty wild)? I like bright

viewfinders (hence the interest in the new C/V Bessaflex and the

Fujica ST801).

 

What should I be looking at???

Pentax Spotmatic is the best M42 choice. There are waggons of them laying around, even at "Cash Trade" type stores, often offered at ridiculous prices - around $20.00 with a standard Takumar lens sometimes.

 

The Fujica are not bad, but certainly less reliable.

Fujicas are fun to use, but standard M42 lenses don't fit very well on the later ones, which have the lens lock, and aperture simulator for full open metering.

Even though you don't want auto-exposure, the Pentax ES is an excellent camera. For compact and light weight, maybe Ricoh had some M42, they did build many models for bayonet lenses-some look like clones of the Super, ME, Program etc. GODO LUCK.

Another vote for Spotmatic. It is extremely ergonomic, a number of repairmen still have spare parts, can take 1.5V batteries and reliable. Plus the viewfinder is pretty bright, though not as bright as some late Fujicas.

Jan,

 

I have a bunch of Spotmatics that I'mm selling. I can hook you up with a chrome SP with a working meeter for $50 plus shipping. Email me off line! I'm in Florida, USA.

I would like to know more about using M42 lenses on a DSLR - which body (the Pentax?) and what sort of metering/stop down/adapter arrangement you are using? At this point, the only reason I would get a DSLR is if I could use classic glass. Otherwise, it's film and scan for me.

 

Oh, and I like the Spotmatic for that same reason - metal, solid and dependable. Maybe a nice black one with a bit of paint worn off where the fingers go.

As far as small goes, the Fujica ST-605 is smaller than a Spotmatic. My 605 is fun to use and has a bright viewfinder, and I've found mine to be very reliable. For a low priced M42, there are Ricoh Singlexs all over the place for around 20 bucks. I get a kick out of M42 cameras, I've got Chinons, GAFs, Cosinas, Yashicas, Mamiyas, Fujicas, and Spotmatics. The batteries for the ST-605 is the LR44 or SR44, easy to find. Some of the other M42 cameras use harder to find 625 mercury batteries.<p>Randy Jay

I you want to get a really cheap SLR with M42 thread mount, you can try buying a Praktica - it is really cheap, has a needle meter (models: LLC, LTL, MTL3 and similar). It is quite easy to get replacement parts for it. The shutter speeds: 1s...1/1000s, Electric/Stop-Down light metering. It takes almost all M42 lenses - a variety of fantastic zeiss lenses were made for prakticas (i have some for my LLC).

I use an M42 lens on my Canon 20D via an inexpensive adapter. It works fine, though I

have to remember the stop-down button. Search for "EOS M42"

I agree with Randy. My first SLR was a Fujica ST605. Great little camera. Simple match needle metering system. In the 10 years that I used it, I only had to change batteries once or twice.

Can't beat the Pentax M series of cameras for "fun, cheap and small" - my fave is the ME Super. Just use the adapter like you would on the DSLR.

Mamiya MSX 1000 or DSX 1000.

You will have to stop down meter for all lenses except Mamiya SX lenses.

Both models have needle meters. The MSX has spot metering; the DSX can be switched from spot to average metering. 1/60 sync speed. The only thing I don't like is there is no split image focusing. I bought my MSX 1000 for $20.

http://anusf.anu.edu.au/~aab900/photography/cameras/cameras.htm is a fairly comprehensive list of m42's, but in the small size range, I have a Pentax SP II and a Fujica ST701. Both are fine shooters, with the Fujica having a brighter screen than the SPII.

One of my favorite cameras is a Yashica TL Electro X. Something about it just feels good, despite the stop down metering, which I'm not crazy about. It has LED meter indicators, not match needle but mine has been very accurate.

The cheapest and smallest?

 

The Petri MF-1 (aka micro, slr, etc.).

 

The smallest lightest M42 camera ever made, 1974-77.

 

All mechanical, mostly metal, stop-down match needle metering. Even the top and bottom plates were metal, but lightweight aluminum alloy instead of plastic. A pleasure to use when working correctly, but like all M42's that are 30-40 years old and have never been serviced, the speeds will be off, at least (just like a Spotmatic). About the size and weight of an Olympus OM-1 but not finished as nicely. But sold for one third of the price in the 70's. Scarce- if you can find a nice one, grab it!

<p style="color: red;"><i>I would like to know more about using M42 lenses on a DSLR - which body (the Pentax?) </i>

<p>I use a Canon, but Nikon would work also. Not sure what the Pentax mount register is...

<p style="color:red;">

<i>and what sort of metering/stop down/adapter arrangement you are using?</i>

<p>I close down the lens and shoot in aperture priority or manual mode like normal. Works just fine for me, but Canon has two metering systems; one works well for this while the other one doesn't.

<p>

I have two M42 adapters, one was bought over ebay from the Czech republic (ebay id gold-camera IIRC), the other from fotodiox.com. The former is thicker than the latter, and I think a little more accurate. But it's borderline whether it gets a perfect infinity focus. The latter will focus beyond infinity. In practice they both work fine.

<p>

Here's a pet snap from my M42 Helios 44-2 on a DSLR... About f/2.8, aperture mode. (I just love the look of this lens.)

<br><center><table cellspacing="0"><tbody bgcolor="black">

<tr><td><img src="http://www.rockgarden.net/download/VI0W5151-700.jpg">

</td></tr>

<tr><td style="color: white;" align="center"><b><i>Helios 44-2</i></b>

</td></tr></center>

</tbody></table>

Fujicas are more reliable than Spotmatics, I've owned many examples of both. The best Fuji models are ST705 and ST605. Stay away from Prakticas - they are junk. Other very good M42 cameras, though not small, are Chinon CS and GAF L17.

Another vote for the Spottie. You frequently find them with the Super Takumar 1.4/50, which is one of the finest normal lenses ever made. If it's yellowed (like 1/2 stop filter factor), I'm told you can clear it by wrapping the back end in aluminum foil and putting the lens, front end up, on a window sill in the sun for a few days (or under a UV lamp for a few weeks).

 

My SP was made around 1967-1968. I got it at a pawn shop in the early 1980s. As far as I know, it's never been serviced (certainly not since I've had it), and it still works 100%, including the self timer. The only thing it doesn't have that I sometimes wish for is mirror lockup (even the poor-man's variety using self-timer). Oh, and it doesn't require some exotic, no-longer-obtainable mercury battery; it works fine on alkalines or silver oxide cells, because the meter uses a bridge circuit that, at least for the null at correct exposure, is independent of voltage. Dead battery? No problem -- the battery only runs the meter; everything else will work fine with an external meter or Sunny 16 (though if you're shooting through a yellowed lens, don't forget the filter factor).

I went for the silver Bessaflex TM and I use it with a 50/1.4 SMC Takumar. Better meter, vewfinder, ergonomics, higher speeds. You don't have to service it and full reliability.

The Pentax DSLR's (*Ist D, *Ist DS) can, in "manual mode" take M42 lenses with an adapter, and focus to infinity. You must stop down manually but as you do so there will be an indication in the viewfinder whether the exposure is correct or, if not, by how many stops it is over- or under-exposed. Also, the autofocus function can be set to signal when the lens is focused on the object at the focus point in the viewfinder.

 

The only good adapter is the stainless steel one made by Pentax ($30 from Pentax); the aluminum knock-offs bind and are difficult to remove from the camera. The results from the screw-mount Takumars on the dslr are excellent.

I have a GAF L-17 for sale if you are interested. I am in the process of posting it to ebay but feel free to email me. ccwride@cc.usu.edu<div></div>

If you are looking for a cheap and reliable M42 slr, you can try the Yashica TL Electro X; LED meter, metallic shutter controlled by an electromagnet. Better and cheaper than a Pentax Spotmatic. This was my favorite SLR in the Seventies !!! But you will have to change light seals, after 35 years. Another choice, the Praktica MTL 5B (from the late Eighties) : you can find one in mint condition for peanuts (try EBay UK, the more expensive will be the shipping). Much better than Russian Zenits (forget them), quite good standard Pentacon lenses (2,8/29, 1,8/50, 2,8/135). Metallic shutter sounds like a riffle, and shutter release button is unusually located on the front, near the metering/depth field key. But the best quality/price ratio on the market !

I also own and use some M42 Chinon (CM1, CE2, CE3), underrated, well built, reliables, found also under different brand names (Sears, RevueFlex). Not a bad choice.