More fun with Miranda +M42 lenses.

<p>A week or so ago, I was lucky enough to score an M42 adapter for my Miranda. Came up on ebay with a low-ish buy it now and free shipping. Was up for less than an hour before I saw it, and only one other soul had loaded the page before me! Needless to say some swift force acted upon my hand and caused it to click the buy it now button! :D <br>

<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6139/5991342253_7c51a1d625_z.jpg" alt="" /></p>

<p>Now I can use my M42 lenses and extension tubes on the Miranda! This is nice because my Praktiflex doesn't have lever wind or an instant return mirror (or a fresnel screen) - the miranda does, but it also lacks an aperture plunger that would foul up on some early M42 lenses (such as the pictured Tessar) that my Praktica Super TL has.<br>

Speaking of old M42 lenses:<br>

<img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6009/6016592248_17c81d3538_z.jpg" alt="" width="440" height="640" /><br>

Here is an Isco Isconar 100mm lens on my Praktiflex. This is a neat old lens, that gives decent results but is a pain in the butt to use. If you wanted a long lens in the 1950s but didn't have money for one, you could have picked up one of these for $25. It's a triplet with front cell focusing and niether click stops or a preset ring, which means you have to the set the aperture visually on the mark - so basically useless when using an eye-level prism.<br>

Pictures next...</p>

 

<p>Isconar test shots:<br /> <img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/isco2.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="499" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/isco3.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="495" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/isco1.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="498" /></p>

<p>The Isconar actually gives pretty sharp results even wide open at f4.5 - I'm sure if it was covering a 6x9 frame that it was probably originally intended for there'd be some noticeable corner softness but on a 35mm frame it looks sharp edge to edge. The last shot is a little blurry from a combination of camera shake (1/30 handheld) and some light haze/flare. There is basically no built in shading on the lens, so it is susceptible to flare. I guess I need to look for an appropriate hood.</p>

<p>I also tried out that f2.8 5cm preset miranda lens. This was the "budget" lens for Miranda in the 50s an early 60s. I had initially assumed it to be a tessar clone, but it is actually a five element design. <br>

<img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira281.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="509" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira282.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="595" /><br>

Plus a crop. Don't let this shot fool you, the lens is actually pretty sharp if you can hold a camera correctly!</p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira283.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="501" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira284.jpg" alt="" width="884" height="590" /></p>

<p>The lens features an 8-bladed aperture, and gives nearly circular highlights... you can still see a little bit of "edginess" but you have to look for it. Bright lining is minimal, though double lining seems to be more apparent at small apertures.<br>

<img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira285.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/mira286.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" /></p>

<p>^^^My attempt at fixing the color balance of drug store film. Not quite right! lol - but at least everything isn't blue anymore.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>And some macro shots using a Meyer Oreston and extension tubes. Macro work is not my forte, most of my shots came out underexposed, I guess I had figured the extension factors wrong.</p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/macro3.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="431" /></p>

<p><img src="http://powflip.com/data/aweart/macro1.jpg" alt="" width="650" height="462" /></p>

<p> </p>

<p>very, very cool post - glad to come along on your adventures with these vintage beauties.</p>

<p>I see from the photos that it is a Miranda D.<br>

Unfortunately the only non-miranda lenses that could be used automatically were the PAD type exacta lenses with the expensive Miranda AXM adapter.<br>

they never made a t4 or other adaspter so interchangable lenses could be used on a d dr or earlier no auto diaphragm model.<br>

One work arounmd is to use a Sensorex.<br>

you set the dial to max aperture "<br>

or treat the Lens as an unknown lens as long as the meter arm on the body and the dial<br>

are set the same ( safest max at f/1.4)<br>

so you can do full aperture metering with any lens.<br>

Most folks do not realize the sensorex will work and meter with any lens you can screw glue or tape on the body.</p>

<p>A man after my own heart, <strong>Dave</strong>; there's nothing quite as much fun as this kind of experimentation. I don't have a M42 adapter for my Mirandas, and they're not all that common where I come from, but I keep my eyes open. I've just acquired a 50mm Iscotar f/2.8 in M42 mount, and though I haven't had time to put it through it's paces, initial results suggest that it's a very useable little lens.</p>

<p>Thanks for some great pics and a really interesting post.</p>

<p>Mixing and matching is what makes this CC thing such a hoot, and there are so many M42 lenses to try out....need another lifetime.<br>

Great shots with that pretty Miranda, the last shot of the flower really pops.</p>

<p>I have one of these adapters, and I got it the same way, it just popped up cheap on a BIN and I grabbed it about two years ago. Unfortunately I don't have a lot of M42 lenses, but I have a few.</p>

<p>thanks for this, dave. i have 2 sensorex (with functioning meters!) and love the way they feel and look. i also purchased an adapter for these "poor man's nikon" but have not yet used them with my m42 glass. you've now inspired me to do so....cheers. </p>

<p>Thanks for the responses. The adapter is nice to have. I have a few M42 lenses, but only two M42 cameras. The Praktiflex and the Praktica Super TL. However the Super TL has a strange yellowish tint in the viewfinder, which makes it very difficult to focus the slower/older lenses I have like the Isconar and Tessar - and the Miranda has a crystal clear viewfinder - so having the ability to put M42 lenses on it is useful, especially if I don't feel like having film going through multiple cameras at the same time.</p>