stabilized mirrorless bodies for mounting my M42 lenses?

conradj · 05-12-2018, 03:10 PM

i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses, as i'm sure many of you do as well, and they don't get much attention. Was wondering if there are relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies for which i could get M42 adapters and put these dusty hunks of glass to good use.

i was looking at the Canon EOS M100, except it isn't stabilized. It's nice and small tho with a good sensor.

You know, something with a liveview screen that has focus peaking. Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass.

Wasp · 05-12-2018, 03:22 PM

The new Fujifilm X-H1 has in-body stabilization and M42 adapters are available for the X mount. It is not cheap, though.

**BigMackCam** · 05-12-2018, 03:50 PM

There are numerous bodies available, but if you want the full character of those lenses as they were originally intended to be used, I'd suggest a full-frame sensor body. To keep the budget down, that really means a Sony A7. It's not stabilised, but if you keep the shutter speed above 1 / focal length, you should be fine. If not, raise the shutter speed even higher. I don't have the steadiest hands either, and using that rule I can still capture sharp photos without any obvious signs of shake.

If you want cheaper still, you're looking at an APS-C or smaller sensor, and possibly something without a viewfinder. If that's acceptable, then any of the Sony NEX cameras could be an excellent choice. Plenty of used models around to choose from, and as a result the prices are pretty competitive - but the image quality is very good indeed. You could even add a "speed booster" / focal length reducer and get almost-full-frame field of view, albeit with some impact on image quality away from the centre of the frame. Again, the reciprocal rule applies on shutter speed, but for APS-C it's 1 / focal length x 1.5 (to compensate for the x1.5 crop).

surfar · 05-12-2018, 04:05 PM

Originally posted by conradj

Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass.

Well if you use the cheap speedboost/focal reduce adapters the crop is 1.4x which is less that the Canon crop.This give one lens 2 FLs and speeds which at times may be an advantage.
Olympus IBIS is pretty good,Panasonic is reasonable...

conradj · 05-12-2018, 04:09 PM

Actually, i'm leaning towards no viewfinder. You know, a single focal length, manual focus point and shooter. As long as it has focus peaking and is fairly small, i could retire my P&S cam.

**BigMackCam** · 05-12-2018, 04:22 PM

Originally posted by conradj

Actually, i'm leaning towards no viewfinder. You know, a single focal length, manual focus point and shooter. As long as it has focus peaking and is fairly small, i could retire my P&S cam.

In which case, you're almost certainly looking at an APS-C body.

For APS-C, note that the field of view from your lenses will be cropped (since the sensor is cropped from size those lenses were designed for). As such, 50mm will feel more like a short-tele / portrait lens... 28 to 35mm is good for general use... for wide angle, you'll need to be looking at 24mm or wider lenses.

I mention this because most people that have accumulated a bunch of old lenses without specifically looking for wide angle models will typically have focal lengths from 28mm upwards. If that describes you, bear in mind that you won't have wide-angle capability unless you add a 24mm or wider lens, and the prices of those tend to be higher than the more common models from 28mm upwards.

**david94903** · 05-12-2018, 04:35 PM - **2 Likes**

I'd suggest the Pentax K-01 with a Pentax Mount Adapter K. The K-01 is a great camera body. I haven't used it with any M42 lenses but I have used it with the FA31, and it really shines.

Fenwoodian · 05-12-2018, 04:50 PM

.
Surprised that no one's mentioned the Pentax K1. Full frame, excellent IBIS, and it's used price is down to the $1200 - $1300 range these days...

I only use MF lenses on my K1. I focus using live view and a Zacuto viewfinder. I've never used the K1's optical viewfinder. So you might say that I've never used my K1's mirror and use it as a mirrorless camera.

I have many M42 lenses that I use on my K1.

K1 + M42 = Fun, and terrific image quality!

surfar · 05-12-2018, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by conradj

You know, a single focal length

Originally posted by conradj

i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses

So which one?

**david94903** · 05-12-2018, 04:52 PM

Originally posted by Fenwoodian

.
Surprised that no one's mentioned the Pentax K1. Full frame, excellent IBIS, and it's used price is down to the $1200 - $1300 range these days...

I have many M42 lenses that I use on my K1. Fun, reasonably lightweight, and terrific image quality!

It's not mirrorless, nor cheap. Two requirement from the OP.

Fenwoodian · 05-12-2018, 04:56 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by david94903

It's not mirrorless, nor cheap. Two requirement from the OP.

Sorry, I guess I missed the part where he told us his budget. Where did he say that again?

surfar · 05-12-2018, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by conradj

relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies

Pen olympus bodies will be the first to look at(speed booster adapter)

JohnBee · 05-12-2018, 05:08 PM

Sony A7 III would seem like a good choice

Originally posted by conradj

i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses, as i'm sure many of you do as well, and they don't get much attention. Was wondering if there are relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies for which i could get M42 adapters and put these dusty hunks of glass to good use.

i was looking at the Canon EOS M100, except it isn't stabilized. It's nice and small tho with a good sensor.

You know, something with a liveview screen that has focus peaking. Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass.

surfar · 05-12-2018, 05:11 PM

Originally posted by JohnBee

Sony A7 III would seem like a good choice

"relatively cheap".???

**UncleVanya** · 05-12-2018, 06:41 PM

I really like the Panasonic GX-7. It has IBIS a 16mp sensor and it does have viewfinder but it is reasonably small and not super expensive.

05-12-2018, 03:10 PM	#1
conradj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 188	stabilized mirrorless bodies for mounting my M42 lenses? i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses, as i'm sure many of you do as well, and they don't get much attention. Was wondering if there are relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies for which i could get M42 adapters and put these dusty hunks of glass to good use. i was looking at the Canon EOS M100, except it isn't stabilized. It's nice and small tho with a good sensor. You know, something with a liveview screen that has focus peaking. Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass.

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05-12-2018, 03:22 PM	#2
Wasp Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Pretoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,661	The new Fujifilm X-H1 has in-body stabilization and M42 adapters are available for the X mount. It is not cheap, though.

05-12-2018, 03:50 PM	#3
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,676	There are numerous bodies available, but if you want the full character of those lenses as they were originally intended to be used, I'd suggest a full-frame sensor body. To keep the budget down, that really means a Sony A7. It's not stabilised, but if you keep the shutter speed above *1 / focal length, you should be fine. If not, raise the shutter speed even higher. I don't have the steadiest hands either, and using that rule I can still capture sharp photos without any obvious signs of shake. If you want cheaper still, you're looking at an APS-C or smaller sensor, and possibly* something without a viewfinder. If that's acceptable, then any of the Sony NEX cameras could be an excellent choice. Plenty of used models around to choose from, and as a result the prices are pretty competitive - but the image quality is very good indeed. You could even add a "speed booster" / focal length reducer and get almost-full-frame field of view, albeit with some impact on image quality away from the centre of the frame. Again, the reciprocal rule applies on shutter speed, but for APS-C it's 1 / focal length x 1.5 (to compensate for the x1.5 crop).

05-12-2018, 04:05 PM	#4
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	Originally posted by conradj Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass. Well if you use the cheap speedboost/focal reduce adapters the crop is 1.4x which is less that the Canon crop.This give one lens 2 FLs and speeds which at times may be an advantage. Olympus IBIS is pretty good,Panasonic is reasonable...

05-12-2018, 04:09 PM	#5
conradj Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Photos: Albums Posts: 188 Original Poster	Actually, i'm leaning towards no viewfinder. You know, a single focal length, manual focus point and shooter. As long as it has focus peaking and is fairly small, i could retire my P&S cam.

05-12-2018, 04:22 PM	#6
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,676	Originally posted by conradj Actually, i'm leaning towards no viewfinder. You know, a single focal length, manual focus point and shooter. As long as it has focus peaking and is fairly small, i could retire my P&S cam. In which case, you're almost certainly looking at an APS-C body. For APS-C, note that the field of view from your lenses will be cropped (since the sensor is cropped from size those lenses were designed for). As such, 50mm will feel more like a short-tele / portrait lens... 28 to 35mm is good for general use... for wide angle, you'll need to be looking at 24mm or wider lenses. I mention this because most people that have accumulated a bunch of old lenses without specifically looking for wide angle models will typically have focal lengths from 28mm upwards. If that describes you, bear in mind that you won't have wide-angle capability unless you add a 24mm or wider lens, and the prices of those tend to be higher than the more common models from 28mm upwards.

05-12-2018, 04:35 PM - 2 Likes	#7
david94903 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 806	I'd suggest the Pentax K-01 with a Pentax Mount Adapter K. The K-01 is a great camera body. I haven't used it with any M42 lenses but I have used it with the FA31, and it really shines.

05-12-2018, 04:50 PM	#8
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	. Surprised that no one's mentioned the Pentax K1. Full frame, excellent IBIS, and it's used price is down to the $1200 - $1300 range these days... I only use MF lenses on my K1. I focus using live view and a Zacuto viewfinder. I've never used the K1's optical viewfinder. So you might say that I've never used my K1's mirror and use it as a mirrorless camera. I have many M42 lenses that I use on my K1. K1 + M42 = Fun, and terrific image quality!

05-12-2018, 04:51 PM	#9
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	Originally posted by conradj You know, a single focal length Originally posted by conradj i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses So which one?

05-12-2018, 04:52 PM	#10
david94903 Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Rafael, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 806	Originally posted by Fenwoodian . Surprised that no one's mentioned the Pentax K1. Full frame, excellent IBIS, and it's used price is down to the $1200 - $1300 range these days... I have many M42 lenses that I use on my K1. Fun, reasonably lightweight, and terrific image quality! It's not mirrorless, nor cheap. Two requirement from the OP.

05-12-2018, 04:56 PM - 1 Like	#11
Fenwoodian Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,874	Originally posted by david94903 It's not mirrorless, nor cheap. Two requirement from the OP. Sorry, I guess I missed the part where he told us his budget. Where did he say that again?

05-12-2018, 05:01 PM	#12
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	Originally posted by conradj relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies Pen olympus bodies will be the first to look at(speed booster adapter)

05-12-2018, 05:08 PM	#13
JohnBee Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Newrfoundland Photos: Albums Posts: 4,667	Sony A7 III would seem like a good choice Originally posted by conradj i've got a bunch of old M42 lenses, as i'm sure many of you do as well, and they don't get much attention. Was wondering if there are relatively cheap, stabilized (i'm pretty shaky), mirrorless bodies for which i could get M42 adapters and put these dusty hunks of glass to good use. i was looking at the Canon EOS M100, except it isn't stabilized. It's nice and small tho with a good sensor. You know, something with a liveview screen that has focus peaking. Don't really want to go M4/3 because then i'll have a bunch of even more telephoto glass.

05-12-2018, 05:11 PM	#14
surfar Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mid nth coast,nsw Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,141	Originally posted by JohnBee Sony A7 III would seem like a good choice "relatively cheap".???

05-12-2018, 06:41 PM	#15
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,409	I really like the Panasonic GX-7. It has IBIS a 16mp sensor and it does have viewfinder but it is reasonably small and not super expensive.