M42 adapter problems on a Nikon

I've gotten the bug to mess around with old glass on my Nikons. I have a Nikkormat FT3, an F100 and some D*&%$@^! that I won't name. I bought an M42 adapter (with an element to give me infinity focus) and tried a few M42 lenses. Most were really bad, especially wide open. Clean 50mm f1.4 Super-Takumars were horrible. I tried several samples, and all were extremely lacking in contrast and sharpness. Super-Takumar 135mm f3.5 was better, but if I can't use WA or 50mm, it's not worth it to me. Since Super-Takumars have such a great reputation, I am left wondering if it isn't the adapter. The element has 2 refections in it when you look at it in bright light. They're both neutral color, so I think this means that it has 2 elements and it's uncoated, but I may be wrong.

Adapters without glass elements are available, but you lose infinity on a Nikon, which I'm not willing to do.

I tested with mostly Takumars because I had some available, but I really want to mess around with M42 German glass. I did try a Steinheil Munchen 35mm f4.5 Culminar and it also was horrible outside.

Any suggestions or others with similar problems? :confused:

The problem is indeed the adapter. It is a single minus lens that works as a very cheap and inadequate telextender.

The only solution is to buy an M42 camera. Used Pentax M42 cameras sell for $30 - $200 or so, though at the low end they will likely need a pretty major overhaul what with all the dried up 50 year old grease.

Also fully agree that the main problem is the adapter and that a Pentac Spotmatic (or similar) should be picked up for using M42 lenses.

A note, the Steinheil Culminar, while decent, certainly isn't outstanding (many Steinheils are though). Old German M42 glass was often made to several price levels, so you'll find a company like Steinheil making lenses ranging from mediocre to excellent.
The Zeiss Jenas are almost universally good, as are Schneiders. ISCOs have excellent optics, but their ergonomic/practical use has often left me cursing.

Thanks guys. I have an old K1000, though I much prefer my Nikons. Does the M42 adapter for K mount work well? It doesn't have any glass like the Nikon one does.

GeorgeDexter said:

Thanks guys. I have an old K1000, though I much prefer my Nikons. Does the M42 adapter for K mount work well? It doesn't have any glass like the Nikon one does.

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It works "well" optically, but doesn't have any diaphragm automation/transmission meaning that it will be something of a PITA to use in practice.

For what Spotmatics are going for now, I'd recommend one, especially as they also overcome some of the K1000's shortcomings (though not the full-aperture metering Spotties like the ES, ESII and F, since several M42 German lenses can't mount on those).

GeorgeDexter said:

Thanks guys. I have an old K1000, though I much prefer my Nikons. Does the M42 adapter for K mount work well? It doesn't have any glass like the Nikon one does.

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Yes, the Pentax made m42 adapter on K-mount Pentaxes works really well. Well worth picking up a ME Super (has Av mode and about $40 for a good specimen) to use m42 lenses with.

Just make sure you get a bona-fide Pentax Branded adapter, the knock-off cost only a little less but tolerances are not as good, sometimes they don't come off the camera easy or the lens won't line up proper with the DOF scales at 12 o'clock position.

Also there is a type of adapter that has a flange, these don't give infinity and are only good for macro or lens hacking.

I used the ME Super/adapter arrangement with German and Russian lenses and am very satisfied with the results and arrangement.

Rol_Lei Nut said:

It works "well" optically, but doesn't have any diaphragm automation/transmission meaning that it will be something of a PITA to use in practice.

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The spotmatics did not have any diaphram automation either, did they?
They were stop-down metering. How is that different from using them on another camera with an adapter?

In the case of Spotmatics and other M42 cameras, "auto-diaphragm" means that the camera closes the diaphragm when the shutter is fired (with the lenses which allow that).

You stop the diaphragm down for metering. Then you can turn the meter off and the diaphragm reopens (for focusing, framing, etc.), to then close "automatically" again when you release the shutter.

With an M42-K adaptor, the set diaphram stays set, so if you're using, say, f/11, you either open the ring manually, to then close it (exactly) to f/11 again after focusing and just before you shoot, or you take your chances focusing and framing at f/11....* ;-)

AFAIK, the only cameras M42 lenses can be used on with adapters while keeping the "auto-diaphragm" function are the Rolleiflex SLRs, but that opens a whole new can of worms...

* Sorry, keep adding caveats, but things aren't as simple as they seem. Older M42 lenses are often full manual (the M42-K scenario I just described) or "pre-set" (meaning shutting the lens down at the last moment to the desired aperture is assisted by some type of ring or lock). In those cases, a Spotmatic really would have no advantage over an adapter.

In general, using an 'adapter' to fit a Brand X lens on a Brand Y body has a high probability of being problematic.

The one success I had was in using Nikkor lenses on a Konica body. This worked because the physical diameter of the Konica bayonette was much larger than the physical diameter of the Nikkor bayonette - as a result, the adapter allowed the Nikkor lenses to sit further back into the body so that it was possible to achieve infinity focus without a supplementary lens. Obviously, there was no automation.

On a Nikon you cannot focus to infinity either with that 'adaptor'

I have lots of fun putting M42 lenses on my Canon T90 -- works perfectly without any additional lenses in the adapter because Canon SLRs have narrower lens mount - to - focal plane distances. Infinity focus not a problem. Motor drive, spot metering, etc. I enjoy setting a focus and getting in close, firing off some shots. Works great.

I prefer to use my M42 lenses with my Spotmatics.

Pretty sure you can't use any other lenses than Nikon lenses on your Nikon camera without a rear element. It's a common problem.
Canon, on the other hand, is HIGHLY adaptable.

I am using an M42 to EOS adapter on Rebel Ti and I am quite happy with the weight and range. A good combination.

Thanks folks, I just found a CZ Jena 50mm f2.8 Tessar on a broken Praktika body for free! I just might have to pick up a cheap non-Nikon body to use it on.