Smallest 35mm body?

[mabman]

I's not as small as the ME Super but The Canon EOS Rebel XS is way lighter. Even with a small zoom it seems a bit lighter than the ME Super body only. I don't have an MX but I think the Me/Me Super/Super Program are all the same size as the MX. The TINY button to unlock the mode dial drives me nuts and is part of why a Chinon CP5s will be my backup K mount and the Me Super and the Super Prog will get sold. The Chinon is compact,but not quite as small.

Was the Spotmatic the smallest Screw mount? I recall hearing that Fujica had a real compact M42 mount body.

Not sure about native M42 cameras, but M42-to-K-mount adapters are pretty cheap these days (I got a generic one from B&H for ~$15), so if you're OK with manual operation of the M42 lens you can put them on your favorite K-mount cameras - I do this with my ME Super and get the added bonus of aperture priority if I want it (and manually manipulate the lens aperture).

I know what you mean about the dial button on the ME Super - however, I've found I've gotten used to it, and usually use aperture priority anyway, so I usually just end up using the dial to set to Lock when I'm done with it.

 

[elekm]

Never mind -- I just compared the Exa with the Pentax MX, and it looks like the MX is slightly slightly wider but shorter and not as thick.

You have to be careful with the M42=>K adapters. Some don't permit infinity focus. I found this out the hard way.

 

[mabman]

Correct. Apparently from my reading prior to purchasing one the difference on some adapters is that the M42 threads don't recess all the way, which on one hand makes it (supposedly) easier to unmount the adapter without extra tools, but leads to infinity focus problems as you say.

I've had no problems with the generic adapter from B&H, but it does require a small (included) "wrench" to unmount it. Apparently the official Pentax adapter also focusses properly and doesn't require any tools to unmount, however, they are hard to get - I called Pentax US directly and was told they are in short supply and high demand, and were only produced every couple of months, and there was a long waiting list.

But, given the common availability of K-mount cameras, esp. for the me the ME Super with its aperture priority features and its size, I think it's a good trade-off (my M42 mount lenses are manual-only anyway, so no loss for me there).

 

[elekm]

A friend of the family had one of Pentax adapters (without the tool), so I gave them $25. I have one of the adapters bought from eBay that doesn't allow infinity focus.

The tool simply let you lift the adapter out of the camera body. A small screwdriver or nail file also works.

It's nice to be able to use the M42 lenses on K mount bodies.