help me choose a good m42 camera

[milosz]

Pentacon Super...it is not cheap though...

 

[Ian Grant]

Pentacon Super...it is not cheap though...

. . . . . and rather rare

Ian

 

[A_T]

I like the Fujica ST cameras. The meter uses still easy to find LR44 batteries while most other 1970s M42 cameras use an obselete type. Often they can be found with nice leather eveready cases too.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I've always been curious how the Sekor lenses hold up compared to the Pentax stuff. The ones on my Mamiya press seem to work fairly well.

Some were rebadged for Rollei I think. Same lenses different label.

 

[Polybun]

Some were rebadged for Rollei I think. Same lenses different label.

I see a hell of allot of view camera guys grabbing the ones with shutters and sticking them on their view cameras, thats for sure. I just wonder if their screw mount stuff is as good as the press stuff. I have a 2.8c (out on loan) and if remember right has sekkor glass. I've always been happy with that camera thats for sure!

 

[dynachrome]

A Good M42 Camera

I have a bunch of M42 cameras but I can't say I really like any of them that much. When I use M42 lenses it is usually with an adapter in a Minolta X-700 or a Canon F-1. The X-700 will have a grid screen and the F-1 will have the LD grid screen. The 21/3.8 Vivitar lens is actually a decent picture taker but any camera which has a microprism or split image (or combination) focusing aid will make it difficult to focus. My 21/3.8 is a T4 lens so it will fit many different cameras with the right adapter. I have seen fixed mount versions of this lens but I don't know if they had the Vivitar name.

My best M42 camera is probably a Spotmatic II. It's in decent general condition but needs seals and a CLA. I like the Mamiya 500DTL because I prefer the method it uses to meter stopped down to the method used by the Spotmatic II or my Vivitar 220SLs. My other M42 cameras include a Chinon, a Yashica and a Ricoh TLS 401. The Bessaflex is essentially the same as the Nikon FM10, Vivitar V4000S, Canon T60 etc. If your lens is not a T4 model then getting an adapter for using M42 lenses on a K body and then buying a Vivitar K mount body would be an inexpensive way of using the lens. The problem is that you will not have auto diaphragm operation. For that you will need an M42 body. The Mamiya 500DTL and 1000DTL cameras are nice. The Ricoh TLS401 is heavy as lead. A Spotmatic F is very nice but you will still need to use stop down metering with your 21.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

The Fujinon 605n is a small camera. With a large 21mm lens (I had a 21mm Flektogon on mine) it had an uneven heft. The same camera with a tiny 35mm or 50mm lens was very nice, small enough to fit into a winter coat pocket.

My 21mm lens was married to a GAF L-ES, a physically large camera body. Good viewfinder, decent meter. It felt pretty well-made. It was a better match, at least size-wise.

There are particular Mamiya m42 cameras that are prone to being inoperable, the ones with the 1/1000sec shutter I think are fragile. The Yashica Supers (I think the original Super, not the TL) were built like tanks but the meter was very basic (thick needle that traveled like 5 degrees, very narrow). The Yashica Super-TL's are nice but out of the two i've seen, the electronics in one were weak. They use these wheat grain lamps for the meter that do not age well. The shutters are electronic-copals I think though and are about as accurate as anything you'd find.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I'll add to the Spotmatic recommendations: Tough. reliable, fairly compact and lovely to handle.
Also batteries are not an issue as small voltage differences won't affect the meter's accuracy.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

I've always been curious how the Sekor lenses hold up compared to the Pentax stuff. The ones on my Mamiya press seem to work fairly well.

Mamiya made (most of) the lenses in Rolleiflex mount which were sold as Rolleinars or Voigtländer AR. These seem to be the same optically as their M42 series.
I've tried most; they are very good (though not quite as good as the Zeiss equivalents, of whom they were the cheaper alternative).
A slug-out with Pentax would probably not produce a clear winner, with some small case by case wins...

 

[TheDreadPirateRobins]

Spotmatic.

As for the battery issue, I usually set the ISO one notch lower than the film speed I am shooting and that takes care of the underexposure I would otherwise get from the built-in light meter.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Sorry, yet another post... ;-)

The Spotmatic F's full-aperture metering only works with the appropriate Pentax (Takumar) lenses.

Another reason not to go for the Spotmatic F, ES, ESII is that some (mostly German) lenses won't mount properly.

Spotmatic light meters use a bridge circuit: It should make no difference if you use 1.35 or 1.5 volt batteries.

 

[titrisol]

Get a Bessaflex! The ultimate M42 camera.
If that does not work, get a Spotmatic either a II or an F are the most advanced.

 

[Ian Grant]

Rol_Lei Nut, my German M42 lenses worked perfectly with my Spotmatic F, I used a 29mm Meyer (Pentacon), 135mm Sonnar, and also borrowed a Flektagon a couple of times.

Ian

 

[Polybun]

Mamiya made (most of) the lenses in Rolleiflex mount which were sold as Rolleinars or Voigtländer AR. These seem to be the same optically as their M42 series.
I've tried most; they are very good (though not quite as good as the Zeiss equivalents, of whom they were the cheaper alternative).
A slug-out with Pentax would probably not produce a clear winner, with some small case by case wins...

Thats cool to know actually.

I'm going to back him up on the spotmatics. I have a clean SPII i scored from goodwill for $30. Sure, i put another $125 into it for a new light meter and full cla job but its clean, looks factory fresh, makes all the right noises, and has been my "take to work" slr. Its been through 2 bicycle crashes, one fist fight, and is also usually over my shoulder while i'm out bmx street riding. The only problem it ever has is that when it is bashed kind of hard, the mirror flips into the up position. Releasing the shutter and re-cocking the shutter clears it right up. You loose a frame on the film and nothing more.

 

[Rol_Lei Nut]

Rol_Lei Nut, my German M42 lenses worked perfectly with my Spotmatic F, I used a 29mm Meyer (Pentacon), 135mm Sonnar, and also borrowed a Flektagon a couple of times.

Ian

My 25mm Flektogon wouldn't fit and either a Meyer 100mm or my Schacht 90mm screwed in with great difficulty, catching on things (I imagine also doing no good to the camera's aperture simulator). There was also another lens (I think either the P6-M42 adapter or the 200mm 2.8 Sonnar) which wouldn't fit.
Can't check since the only Spotmatic I now have is a SP1000, my high-risk situation camera.

I didn't say ALL, but some definitely don't fit....

 

[darinwc]

Well I just paid for a Pentax Spotmatic F with a 50mm f1.4 Tak and a 28mm f2.8 (prob off-brand), looks like it may also include some extention rings and hoods. Hopefully I will get it by the weekend so I can take it out for a spin.