Favorite M42 mount 35mm SLR

[David Lyga]

Hold on, tenaciously. (And then some.) - David Lyga

 

[Ian Grant]

Definitely a Spotmatic F, I still have one as well as an early Spotmatic.

Ian

 

[Xmas]

I've only got a Cosina CSL - cloth shutter electronically timed, split image center, microprism doughnut & ground outer each usable for focusing, easy to use does not use battery (but needs silver cell) until you stop down or use the shutter - real cheap.

Not as nice as a K1000 or OM1 though.

 

[Ian Grant]

Alpa Si 2000

excellent f/1.4 55 mm lens
auto exposure aperture priority 2 to 1/2ooo sec shutter speed with vertical metal fp shutter
viewfinder blind for long exposures.
heavy machined brass body to lessen camera shake
ASA range 25 to 3200
over and under exposure compensation dial
full aperture metering

I'd forgotten the Chinon CE II Memotron sold also as an Alpa with very minor cosmetic changes, the Chinons were surprisingly good cameras and their standard lenses amongst the best available at the time.

Ian

 

[E. von Hoegh]

Well, I have only two m42 bodies, a Pentax H1a and a Yashica TL Super. Of the two I prefer the Yashica mainly for the mirror lockup feature - and the price of $2.15 with a Yashinon DX 50/2 lens that is excellent. I'd say the build quality is about equal, but a sample size of two is hardly significant.

 

[wblynch]

Olympus FTL

 

[David Lyga]

I actually think that the Olympus bodies were overrated. Cute, small, but not as robust.

And von Hoegh, don't count on the Yashica TL Super being as well made as that H1a. I might be wrong in your specific case, but, overall, I think not. - David Lyga

 

[miha]

My first real camera was a Yashica TL electro-X. The Yashinon 50mm f/1.4 crumbled. It was my first and last f/1.4 lens. Still miss it.

 

[wblynch]

Question is Favorite not Best or Most Robust

Another favorite of mine in any Mamiya/Sekor

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I actually think that the Olympus bodies were overrated. Cute, small, but not as robust.

And von Hoegh, don't count on the Yashica TL Super being as well made as that H1a. I might be wrong in your specific case, but, overall, I think not. - David Lyga

I've been inside both of them. No real difference. Neither of them are a patch on a Nikon F, which I have also serviced.

 

[hudson]

I'm really in love with my Spotmatic SP. It has a great weight and balance and is just a fun camera to shoot with. Also like the lenses...currently using a SMC Takumar F/1.8 55mm which does the job.

 

[narsuitus]

What is your favorite M42 mount camera and why??

Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I don't know how I missed it two years ago.

My favorite M42 mount cameras:
Fujica ST705 with 50mm f/1.4 Fujinon lens
Asahi Pentax Spotmatic with 50mm f/1.4 eight-element Takumar lens

My reasons:
rugged
reliable
Reasonable cost
Batteries needed only for light meter
Accepts large variety of lenses
High quality optics
Focus ring rotates in same direction as Nikon F lenses
Aperture ring rotates in same direction as Nikon F lenses


Black M42 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[Peltigera]

My favourite M42 camera is my Pentax SV. I rather like my SP1000 as well but do not use the meter - I much prefer a hand-held meter.

I have just purchased a Pentacon F (to be tested with film today) which could well take over as my favourite s it feels excellent in the hand.

Sent from my A1-840 using Tapatalk

 

[cuthbert]

Thanks for resurrecting this thread. I don't know how I missed it two years ago.

My favorite M42 mount cameras:
Fujica ST705 with 50mm f/1.4 Fujinon lens
Asahi Pentax Spotmatic with 50mm f/1.4 eight-element Takumar lens

My reasons:
rugged
reliable
Reasonable cost
Batteries needed only for light meter
Accepts large variety of lenses
High quality optics
Focus ring rotates in same direction as Nikon F lenses
Aperture ring rotates in same direction as Nikon F lenses


Black M42 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I have both cameras, my favourite are the Spotmatic F with SMC tak 50mm f1.4 and the ST705W (705 with few improvements) with the Fujinon 50m f1.4.

To be honest I prefer the Fujinon 55mm f1.8 to the f1.4 because it doesn't vignette, but it's minimal...the Fujica has few advantages in comparison to the Spotmatic: a centre weighted lightmeter with gallium cells is the most important one.

 

[Paul Howell]

Chinon CE 3 and CM 3, the CE has aperture auto exposure with standard one pin lens, has a rather feeble winder, about 1.5 to 2 FPS. The Chinon 1.9 Marco, was told at the time that it is based on the Kern Swiss.

My other favorite M42 is a Pentax SF1 with adapter, meters in aperture preferred and manual modes in stopped down metering, I cut down a Miranda split image screen to fit.

 

[hudson]

nice cameras - I need to resist the urge to go shopping!