Dwarf

[Neil Grant]

I'm using a number of vintage m42 lenses - Helios 44, Domiplan, Lydith - and they are all dwarfed by the 'foundling' Chinon M1 I have. Are all m42 SLR's big and bulky - or is there something more compact ? - FM 2 or OM 1 size would be more in keeping.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Pentax ME or MX with K to 42mm adapter. The H1a isn't huge, either. Nor is a Spotmatic

 

[Paul Howell]

Vivitar Xc3, very small and light, make by Chinon might have been offered under different makes as well. It had an sensor that attached to the film speed dial and turned it into aperture preferred exposure.

 

[Neil Grant]

Pentax ME or MX with K to 42mm adapter. The H1a isn't huge, either. Nor is a Spotmatic

An MX might be interesting - suitable for preset lenses like Helios and Lydith or those with an A/M switch. Are they reliable? I guess many of them could have seen hard use.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The MX should be reliable as any 40~ year old camera, i.e. it will likely need a CLA and foam, at the minimum.

 

[vsyrek1945]

Fujica ST605 and ST605n are stop down metering M42 models comparable in size to FM/FM2 and OM-1.

 

[darinwc]

I would recommend a spotmatic. It's not quite as small as an om1 but about the same as the Nikon fm line. It actually balances nicely in the hands. The Fuji stNNN line is another group of well made will balanced cameras.

 

[guangong]

Yes! A Pentax. Rather small and also quality construction. Used a Spotmatic when they first came out. My current 42 is a Zeiss Ikon SL706 which was a present...I am partial to Zeiss but the 706 is definitely not petite.

 

[RichardJack]

This is really a question only you can answer. We can suggest about 5 other brands and 20 other models but have no clue what your using it for, how much you have to spend, etc. For example, if money is no issue get a M4-6 Leica, that will be small. Cheap, M42 Pentax gear is probably the best for less. A Nikon FE2 would be a smart choice because it's lenses will work on a DSLR, but most old lenses work on mirrorless Sony's anyway. Always plan ahead and buy equipment that will be put to use, then get out and use it.

BTW...If shopping for a M42 Pentax, avoid models older than the Spotmatic F because batteries are no longer made for them (with expensive exceptions) and 75% of the time the light meters don't work. Nikon's and Minolta's seem to hold up with time better. Minolta XD-11 or the cheaper XG-9 were great bodies with great optics.

 

[darinwc]

Eh, my understanding is that the spotmatic had a voltage regulator circuit, do you can use 1.5 volt batteries in the and get property exposures. But use the silver oxide versions. Their voltage is more stable.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Eh, my understanding is that the spotmatic had a voltage regulator circuit, do you can use 1.5 volt batteries in the and get property exposures. But use the silver oxide versions. Their voltage is more stable.

Close, they use a bridge circuit which nulls the current flowing through the meter. Fairly insensitive to supply voltage, aging of the CDS cell is the only error factor to worry about - check for linearity. My SPF and SP1000 are fine. The lens cap is the "off" switch.

 

[Neil Grant]

This is really a question only you can answer. We can suggest about 5 other brands and 20 other models but have no clue what your using it for, how much you have to spend, etc. For example, if money is no issue get a M4-6 Leica, that will be small. Cheap, M42 Pentax gear is probably the best for less. A Nikon FE2 would be a smart choice because it's lenses will work on a DSLR, but most old lenses work on mirrorless Sony's anyway. Always plan ahead and buy equipment that will be put to use, then get out and use it.

BTW...If shopping for a M42 Pentax, avoid models older than the Spotmatic F because batteries are no longer made for them (with expensive exceptions) and 75% of the time the light meters don't work. Nikon's and Minolta's seem to hold up with time better. Minolta XD-11 or the cheaper XG-9 were great bodies with great optics.

...it needs to be an m42 SLR for the 'vintage' lenses I have acquired. The thread was prompted from the observation that my lenses were 'dwarfed' by the Chinon M1 camera I have (Domiplan- working again since de-oiling, and Lydith are almost the size of rangefinder lenses), and something smaller would give a compact outfit. I've seen another Chinon - CM3 - were these any good? Looks small!

 

[RichardJack]

The Spotmatic F uses M42 lenses, and a #76 battery which is easily found, it's still as small as the other Spotmatics and if your lucky you might find one with a split-image focusing screen. Since it's a newer body your adapt to find one in better condition that a SP1 or SP2 and still under $100. The workmanship is better than a Chinon. If small is important, buy a mirrorless digital body and a M42 adapter, your images will be better than anything you could expect from film.