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89Y49Si · 08-06-2015, 11:18 AM

Hey everyone, I'm trying to find some info on this lens that I just bought. Really, the only reason I got it was because I had never seen anything like it. I got it from a local camera store called Westborn Camera, which is in Dearborn, MI. It's obviously manual focus since it's an M42 mount. But the weird thing is that it has two aperture rings. One to set the aperture, and then a second one to stop the lens down when after you're done focusing and composing the shot. Everything works as it should and actually takes really good pics, as long as you're not shooting into the sun. I believe it to be uncoated, or maybe one coating. It has 8 aperture blades. It has a built in lens hood, but it's obviously too short to APS-C. Serial number 11381, made it Japan. Petri Camera Co., Inc.

Some pictures.

---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 11:21 AM ----------

And the bread and butter. These were taken on my K50 in Av mode. Each picture is one stop slower, starting from f/4 moving on to f/22. I did not do any editing, these are RAW from the camera, converted to JPEG in LR. Only changing rotation to make them all level. Sorry, I was not on a tripod, so there will be some minor differences.

manntax · 08-06-2015, 11:23 AM

Looks like a keeper .. .Great lens it seems, sharp right from wide open !

**jatrax** · 08-06-2015, 11:30 AM

Originally posted by 89Y49Si

But the weird thing is that it has two aperture rings. One to set the aperture, and then a second one to stop the lens down when after you're done focusing and composing the shot.

'Preset' lenses like this were fairly common at one time. The early Takumars had this system, I have a couple in my collection. It can be a very handy system, especially if you are trying to shoot stopped down. Makes focusing a lot easier.

89Y49Si · 08-06-2015, 11:52 AM

Originally posted by manntax

Looks like a keeper .. .Great lens it seems, sharp right from wide open !

It's definitely a keeper. Just have to pay attention to the sun.

Originally posted by jatrax

'Preset' lenses like this were fairly common at one time. The early Takumars had this system, I have a couple in my collection. It can be a very handy system, especially if you are trying to shoot stopped down. Makes focusing a lot easier.

Ah, so that's what a preset lens is. It is very handy.

pathdoc · 08-06-2015, 11:59 AM

The same effect can be had in M42 lenses with a manual/auto switch. Sliding from auto to manual will cause the stop-down to the preselected aperture.

Your lens appears to be underexposing a bit at the wider apertures. This is no surprise - practically all of my Takumars do the same, and IIRC it's a well described phenomenon. Apart from that, though, you have a lovely little performer there. Nice find.

**marcusBMG** · 08-06-2015, 03:41 PM

More info here

How to use t-mount, preset lenses.

Kozlok · 08-06-2015, 07:32 PM

My Helios is preset like that. I just leave the aperture select set as small as it will go, and use the other one partially to pick my aperture on the fly, shooting in Av mode. Works fine, but I never know my aperture!

89Y49Si · 08-10-2015, 04:04 AM

Originally posted by marcusBMG

More info here

How to use t-mount, preset lenses.

Some good info in that link.

But, does anyone have any info on the lens itself, or even Petri Camera? I have never heard of them.

Ray-uk · 08-10-2015, 06:57 AM

The Petri camera company originally made some very nice cameras but like a lot of other companies they couldn't compete and went bankrupt. The Petri name was sold and appeared on quite a few cameras and lenses that were all made by other companies. Some of the early lenses were probably made by Petri and were very good but the later ones are a mixed bag from a variety of manufacturers, most of them are just average lenses but sometimes you can find one, as you have, that produces decent results.

More info here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petri_Camera

89Y49Si · 08-10-2015, 07:50 AM

So then that gives me somewhat of a timeline for when this lens was produced. Somewhere between '62 and '77. Not bad, not bad. I really need to put it through the paces to see what kind of shots I can get.

pathdoc · 08-10-2015, 07:51 AM

08-06-2015, 11:18 AM	#1
89Y49Si Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Taylor, MI Posts: 98	Petri 200mm f/4 M42 Mount Lens Hey everyone, I'm trying to find some info on this lens that I just bought. Really, the only reason I got it was because I had never seen anything like it. I got it from a local camera store called Westborn Camera, which is in Dearborn, MI. It's obviously manual focus since it's an M42 mount. But the weird thing is that it has two aperture rings. One to set the aperture, and then a second one to stop the lens down when after you're done focusing and composing the shot. Everything works as it should and actually takes really good pics, as long as you're not shooting into the sun. I believe it to be uncoated, or maybe one coating. It has 8 aperture blades. It has a built in lens hood, but it's obviously too short to APS-C. Serial number 11381, made it Japan. Petri Camera Co., Inc. Some pictures. ---------- Post added 08-06-15 at 11:21 AM ---------- And the bread and butter. These were taken on my K50 in Av mode. Each picture is one stop slower, starting from f/4 moving on to f/22. I did not do any editing, these are RAW from the camera, converted to JPEG in LR. Only changing rotation to make them all level. Sorry, I was not on a tripod, so there will be some minor differences.

08-10-2015, 07:51 AM	#11
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	More on Petri: Petri - Camerapedia

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08-06-2015, 11:23 AM	#2
manntax Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,972	Looks like a keeper .. .Great lens it seems, sharp right from wide open !

08-06-2015, 11:30 AM	#3
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by 89Y49Si But the weird thing is that it has two aperture rings. One to set the aperture, and then a second one to stop the lens down when after you're done focusing and composing the shot. 'Preset' lenses like this were fairly common at one time. The early Takumars had this system, I have a couple in my collection. It can be a very handy system, especially if you are trying to shoot stopped down. Makes focusing a lot easier.

08-06-2015, 11:52 AM	#4
89Y49Si Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Taylor, MI Posts: 98 Original Poster	Originally posted by manntax Looks like a keeper .. .Great lens it seems, sharp right from wide open ! It's definitely a keeper. Just have to pay attention to the sun. Originally posted by jatrax 'Preset' lenses like this were fairly common at one time. The early Takumars had this system, I have a couple in my collection. It can be a very handy system, especially if you are trying to shoot stopped down. Makes focusing a lot easier. Ah, so that's what a preset lens is. It is very handy.

08-06-2015, 11:59 AM	#5
pathdoc Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 6,381	The same effect can be had in M42 lenses with a manual/auto switch. Sliding from auto to manual will cause the stop-down to the preselected aperture. Your lens appears to be underexposing a bit at the wider apertures. This is no surprise - practically all of my Takumars do the same, and IIRC it's a well described phenomenon. Apart from that, though, you have a lovely little performer there. Nice find.

08-06-2015, 03:41 PM	#6
marcusBMG Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: North Wales Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,870	More info here How to use t-mount, preset lenses.

08-06-2015, 07:32 PM	#7
Kozlok Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Albuquerque Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,148	My Helios is preset like that. I just leave the aperture select set as small as it will go, and use the other one partially to pick my aperture on the fly, shooting in Av mode. Works fine, but I never know my aperture!

08-10-2015, 04:04 AM	#8
89Y49Si Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Taylor, MI Posts: 98 Original Poster	Originally posted by marcusBMG More info here How to use t-mount, preset lenses. Some good info in that link. But, does anyone have any info on the lens itself, or even Petri Camera? I have never heard of them.

08-10-2015, 06:57 AM	#9
Ray-uk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Kent Photos: Gallery Posts: 159	The Petri camera company originally made some very nice cameras but like a lot of other companies they couldn't compete and went bankrupt. The Petri name was sold and appeared on quite a few cameras and lenses that were all made by other companies. Some of the early lenses were probably made by Petri and were very good but the later ones are a mixed bag from a variety of manufacturers, most of them are just average lenses but sometimes you can find one, as you have, that produces decent results. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petri_Camera

08-10-2015, 07:50 AM	#10
89Y49Si Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Taylor, MI Posts: 98 Original Poster	So then that gives me somewhat of a timeline for when this lens was produced. Somewhere between '62 and '77. Not bad, not bad. I really need to put it through the paces to see what kind of shots I can get.

Petri 200mm f/4 M42 Mount Lens

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