M42 SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 on Nikon Body

[mklw1954]

Someone gave me three near-mint condition M42 lenses - SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 (later 7-element version), SuperTakumar 55mm f1.8, and Vivitar (Kiron) 75-205mm f3.8 zoom.

I got a K&F Concepts adapter for Nikon F-mount, with the glass element for infinity focus. The Super-Takumar 58mm and Vivitar zoom have the rear pin and, set to manual, go on my N80 and D90 bodies with the adapter and operate well. But the SMC Takumar 50mm has a rear aperture tab that moves when the aperture ring is turned, in addition to the pin. This tab appears to prevent turning the aperture ring when mounted. In addition the focus ring cannot be set to infinity focus, which represents the maximum projection of the rear lens element back into the adapter.

Is there any modification to this lens that would make it usable? I thought maybe filing the aperture tab off would solve the aperture problem (difficult to do cleanly) but then there's the focus issue.

 

[mshchem]

Oh No. The Nikons are probably "rejecting" the Takumar . I don't know of any simple solution.

 

[ic-racer]

Pentax body

 

[Paul Howell]

As you are using Nikon Digital bodies, find an upper end Pentax digital, just not the bottom of the line bodies at they will not meter with standard K and M 42 lens. You can find a K 5 or 7 for not much money. If you decide to file off the tab,. the lens will be difficult use on a M 42 body.

 

[Bill Burk]

I think your solution should be to get Super Takumar lenses here on out.

 

[eli griggs]

Pentax m42 camera orCanon, Canon FD adapter for 'Pentax' m42 threaded lenses.

To many great lenses out there that still need homes with working cameras and photographers to the ignore these.

 

[dynachrome]

I have adapters for using M42 lenses with correct infinity focus with many other mounts but I don't see any advantage in using an M42 Pentax standard lens on a Nikon camera body. If I did not already have many Pentax and other M42 cameras and I wanted to use an SMC standard lens, I would find a Spotmatic F, send it to Eric Hendrickson for an overhaul and enjoy using the lens that way.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Someone gave me three near-mint condition M42 lenses - SMC Takumar 50mm f1.4 (later 7-element version), SuperTakumar 55mm f1.8, and Vivitar (Kiron) 75-205mm f3.8 zoom.

I got a K&F Concepts adapter for Nikon F-mount, with the glass element for infinity focus. The Super-Takumar 58mm and Vivitar zoom have the rear pin and, set to manual, go on my N80 and D90 bodies with the adapter and operate well. But the SMC Takumar 50mm has a rear aperture tab that moves when the aperture ring is turned, in addition to the pin. This tab appears to prevent turning the aperture ring when mounted. In addition the focus ring cannot be set to infinity focus, which represents the maximum projection of the rear lens element back into the adapter.

Is there any modification to this lens that would make it usable? I thought maybe filing the aperture tab off would solve the aperture problem (difficult to do cleanly) but then there's the focus issue.

why not just use one of the great Nikkor lenses that are available? Probably doesn't cost much more than tan a mediocre adapter.