Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
10-22-2019, 09:51 AM - 1 Like   #1
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Sir Nameless's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Mass a chew sits
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 574
M42 - Why or Why Not?

I have one manual lens in K-mount. I find that I like the rendering (it has that special 3D something that makes pictures especially pleasing) and I like the fact that it makes me slow down and think more than a fully automatic lens.

I'm toying with the idea of adding more primes in key focal lengths to my arsenal. I know there are other K- and M- type lenses out there, but I'm wondering if I should also consider M42 lenses?

What are some good reasons to use an M42? What are some reasons to avoid them?

I already understand that you need an adapter, and you don't need to use stop-down metering (so they're easier in that respect than the bayonet type manuals).

I'd be interested in something in the 24-28 mm (K28 /3.5 is on my radar) range and maybe something in the short-tele range. I'm after the magic rendering. And not spending a lot.

10-22-2019, 09:57 AM   #2
Seeker of Knowledge
Loyal Site Supporter
aslyfox's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Topeka, Kansas
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 24,563
can't help with the M 42 question, I only own K mounts

but if you are interested in 28mm lenses, you may want to look at this thread

DSLR fun with 28mm: Club for any 28mm lens - PentaxForums.com

plenty of examples of different lenses

don't know if any m 42 lenses have been used though

_____________________

M 42 lenses

https://www.pentaxforums.com/lenssearch/?mount%5B%5D=M42&inproduction=0

found this review [ I have the PK/A version ] discussing the M version

QuoteQuote:
Lens Review Date: January 10, 2015 I can recommend this lens: Yes | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 10

Pros: Fine and well built lens in the K mount, colors, sharp
Cons: K mount, it needs stop down with green button
Sharpness: 10 Aberrations: 10 Bokeh: 10 Handling: 10 Value: 10 Camera Used: k3

Jan. 15, 2015 Update:

I got this same lens in PKA, so I will be posting photos of it. I will also describe the difference it makes not having to use the green button for stopping down.
------------------------------------
I have had this lens for more than three years. This is a great lens, I bought it when I could not find the Pentax K28/2.8. Finally, i found the Pentax K, but after few months, I sold it and kept this nice lens. Not because it is shaper than the Pentax K28/2, but because I like the result better. I also have it in the M42 mount under Vivitar. will be posting photos soon.

Read more at: https://www.pentaxforums.com/userreviews/kiron-28mm-f2-mc.html#ixzz636UcfRA9

revew has photos taken with the Viivtar M 42

Last edited by aslyfox; 10-22-2019 at 10:11 AM.
10-22-2019, 10:12 AM   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
paulh's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 33,091
There is something special about the rendering and handling of some the Takumars and other screwmount lenses. Totally subjective, I know - but I and many others love them. Drop in on the Takumar Club if you need more convincing


Takumar club - PentaxForums.com

Last edited by paulh; 10-22-2019 at 10:28 AM.
10-22-2019, 10:19 AM   #4
Pentaxian
swanlefitte's Avatar

Join Date: May 2015
Location: Minneapolis
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,068
The bad is changing lenses takes time and the fit to camera makes them suck water in in rain.
The good is many great cheap deals. They feel great. With the A/M switch it's like stop down metering if you need wide open light to focus and frame.

10-22-2019, 10:29 AM   #5
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
stevebrot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Vancouver (USA)
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 42,007
QuoteOriginally posted by Sir Nameless Quote
M42 - Why or Why Not?
Why? Because we can!

Why not? Because if used on other than an M42 film body, they are a royal pain as far as work flow. Full manual aperture and even using the A/M switch simply |multiple expletives deleted|. (Insert a note of indulgence here for native pre-set aperture lenses where usage, even when adapted to another mount, is generally fast and intuitive, assuming the mechanism is in good repair and adequately lubricated.)

To qualify the above a bit, I have several M42 lenses that I acquired specifically for rendering qualities that I deemed desirable despite any inconvenience in actual use.


Steve

Last edited by stevebrot; 10-22-2019 at 10:35 AM.
10-22-2019, 10:31 AM   #6
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
sergysergy's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 5,155
Focusing in most Takumars is sooooo smooth
10-22-2019, 10:35 AM   #7
Pentaxian




Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Jersey C.I.
Posts: 3,574
For myself, my pre-existing collection of primarily Fujinon M42 prime lenses was one of the reasons I moved from Fujica to Pentax. I would not have been able to justify (even if I could afford) the expense of replacing the various wide-angle, wide-aperture and specialist lenses I'd accrued in the previous 20-30 years and, for what I want, my 16mm fish-eye or my 35mm f/1.9 (to name just two) continue to produce the results


Using second-hand M42 prime lenses has allowed me to expand my horizons to places I would only have dreamed of had I restricted myself to more modern lenses! What price "triplet bokeh" if it wasn't for the ubiquitous Domiplan?


On full-frame, some of the older lenses may show their limitations, especially in the corners of the frame, but in our modern world of APS-C sensors these limitations are frequently barely noticeable!


Do try to find a "genuine Pentax" M42-PK adaptor, I know they're overpriced these days, but they are so significantly superior in machining tolerance to many of the cheap alternatives you can fit and remove them without a tool, just using a fingernail!


Good luck

10-22-2019, 10:37 AM   #8
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
WillWeaverRVA's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Richmond, VA
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 1,069
I feel like value for money and rendering are the two biggest perks of using M42 lenses. I have a 135mm f/3.5 Takumar that I picked up for cheap and it's super sharp on my K-3.
10-22-2019, 10:37 AM   #9
Pentaxian
dsmithhfx's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Toronto
Posts: 5,123
QuoteOriginally posted by stevebrot Quote
Why? Because we can!

Why not? Because if used on other than an M42 film body, they are a royal pain as far as work flow. Full manual aperture and even using the A/M switch simply |multiple expletives deleted|. (Insert a note of indulgence here for native pre-set aperture lenses where usage, even when adapted to another mount, is generally fast and intuitive, assuming the mechanism is in good repair and adequately lubricated.)

To qualify the above a bit, I have several M42 lenses that I acquired specifically for rendering qualities that I deemed desirable despite any inconvenience in actual use.


Steve
I was very disappointed on finally acquiring a K1000 (for free, it has to be said), to discover that Pentax totally bodged the m42 lens experience for that mount.


Rollei did a far better job with their SL-mount (bayonet), accessing the stop-down pin of adapted m42 lenses in exactly the same manner as native m42 bodies (I know because I have an SL35 I used and abused for about 20-years, and stuck m42 lenses on it).

At least I was able to acquire an adaptall mount and share a couple of lenses between my several m42 bodies and the k1000.
10-22-2019, 10:49 AM   #10
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
MossyRocks's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Minnesota
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 2,978
I have a bunch of M42 lenses mostly because up until 2 years ago I will still exclusively using my spotmatic f. I like those lenses and know how they work. I still keep the 200/4, 135/2.3, 28/3.5, and 17/4 in my back and for every day shots they all work fine. At some point I will probably replace the 28/3.5 and 17/4 with something else newer, faster and sharper for astro shooting but will still keep them as I still use my spotmatic.
10-22-2019, 11:05 AM - 1 Like   #11
Senior Member




Join Date: Jun 2017
Posts: 232
There are certainly lots of M42 lenses that will give you a unique rendering that you won't see on more modern lenses. From my collection the Takumar 200mm f3.5 and 35mm f2.3 are lots of fun to use and give a special look. I also enjoy the extra input involved in using a pre-select lens, and the manual focusing on the 200mm f3.5 is a tactile pleasure. I don't have personal experience with any of the wider lenses, but my understanding is that the wider Takumars aren't that special. Perhaps there are other brands that are better choices in the 24 to 28mm range. There are two downsides using the M42's. First, flare resistance is generally much worse than newer coated lenses. Second, it's a pain to switch between M42 and K mount lenses when you're out in the field.
10-22-2019, 11:43 AM   #12
Pentaxian




Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Appingedam
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 3,084
I only have a super takumar 28/3.5 and I love it. It has an adapter fixed to it, so changing lenses is not difficult at all. The rendering is great, as are colours. Focussing is simply addictive, sooo smooth and precise and if you're carefull about the sun in the frame, even the older coatings keep up very nicely. And they can be had for democratic prices.
10-22-2019, 12:10 PM   #13
Pentaxian
reh321's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: South Bend, IN, USA
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 23,128
I have an eight-element 50mm and a 35mm; they live in my camera bag, with adapters attached, but I hardly ever use them. I generally find those lengths inconvenient to use with APS-C cameras, but beyond that I find prime lenses awkward to use because perspective and framing are chained together.
10-22-2019, 12:18 PM - 2 Likes   #14
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
luftfluss's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: NJ
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 11,595
My own history with Taks is mixed. I've had 2 copies of the 24/3.5, and while I enjoyed the color rendition, particularly green, the rest of the optical properties failed to impress. The Fish-Eye 17/4 had nice color and contrast and sharp in the center, but I just didn't enjoy using it (perhaps APS-C sapped the fun out of it). The 55/1.8 was good but uninspiring. I found all of the Tak 200's to be at least good, my favorite being the amazing 200/3.5 but the little jewel 200/5.6 not far behind. As @Qman noted, the focusing action is quite pleasing.

Of the non-Tak m42 lenses, the Helios 44M-4 (58/2) is cheap and fun and has a cult following, as does the Jupiter-9 85/2 to a lesser degree.

A really interesting 24mm is the Tamron Adaptall-2 01BB 24/2.5. The corners never get particulary sharp, but the center has a smooth/sharp vibe wide open and is a good lens for shooting things, as opposed to landscape-ish stuff.




And for a short tele everyone knows that the Adaptall-2 52BB 90/2.5 Macro kicks glutes...

Last edited by luftfluss; 10-22-2019 at 07:30 PM. Reason: typo
10-22-2019, 12:22 PM   #15
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
boriscleto's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: North Syracuse, NY
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 16,464
Because the 8-element Super Tak 50/1.4 is a M42. And the Helios 44m, And the SMC Tak 55/1.8. And the S-M-C Tak 35/3.5.
Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
200mm, aperture, check, choices, domiplan, experience, f3.5, k-mount, lens, lenses, look, lots, m42, pentax lens, pleasure, pm, post, range, reasons, slr lens, takumar, takumar club, thanks, type
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale - Sold: 3rd Pty M42, Helios-40-2, 28, 35, 85, 135, 200 and 450mm, M42-EF & M42-Nikon MightyMike Sold Items 80 12-29-2017 02:58 PM
For Sale - Sold: 3rd Pty M42, 70-150mm, 135mm F2.8, 200mm F3.5 M42-K, M42-EF & M42-Nikon Adapters MightyMike Sold Items 72 12-26-2016 09:37 AM
M42 135 2.5 vs K mount? Why is the m42 so much more? GarageBoy Pentax SLR Lens Discussion 28 05-26-2016 04:10 AM
Not one, not two, not three, not four, but a wedding where half attendees are bob. LeDave Photographic Industry and Professionals 12 05-16-2016 03:40 AM
Camera mount for Pentax M42 Auto Bellows? (NOT about M42-K adapter) baj Pentax Camera and Field Accessories 9 10-24-2011 10:42 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:13 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top