M42 camera

gilstone · 26th April 2005

I want to mount Nikon lens to a M42 camera body, is there a Nikon to M42 adaptor?
Where can I buy it? Thanks.

whoelse · 26th April 2005

Yes, but the adapter cost about same as a used M42 body. Also, unlike others, Nikon adapter have a corrective optics on the adapter to compensate the len to focus to infinity.

If want, get a fujica m42 like st605/705/801 since it uses modern battery and silicon light meter cell. If not a Pentax kmount and adapter so u can use kmount and m42.

Otherwise just get the nikon adapter simple.

ricohflex · 26th April 2005

whoelse

I think gilstone asked
Nikon Lens mount on to Screw mount camera body.
Not Screw mount lens on to Nikon body.

fuwen · 27th April 2005

Not that I heard of a Nikon to M42 adaptor. Have not seen any baynoet to M42 adaptor also. Maybe technically not possible.

singscott · 27th April 2005

Originally Posted by gilstone

I want to mount Nikon lens to a M42 camera body, is there a Nikon to M42 adaptor?
Where can I buy it? Thanks.

Why?

I alway hear people want to put a greman lens to a japanese camera. Because Greman made good optic and Jap make good camera. Would interested to hear why the other way around

whoelse · 27th April 2005

Alamak! oldman liao, eye oso blur @@

Originally Posted by ricohflex

whoelse

I think gilstone asked
Nikon Lens mount on to Screw mount camera body.
Not Screw mount lens on to Nikon body.

gilstone · 27th April 2005

I guess no one would make such adaptor, no choice; I have to invest a couple of m42 lens.
By the way which m42 lens do you recommend?
Have heard that Carl Zeiss Jena is good. How about Russian optics and m42 Japanese optics?
Where to buy? 50mm, 28mm and 85mm.
Thanks.

nihraguk · 28th April 2005

pentax takumars, especially super-multi-coated or SMC versions, tend to be one of the best m42 lenses around. some carl zeiss jena lenses are good as well, but most opinions i've come across say that the pentax lenses have better build quality.

russian optics are cheaper alternatives that tend to also be slightly sub-par in terms of optical quality; though lenses like the jupiter-9 and the helios-40 are widely liked because of the different 'look' of the lens, and how their slightly 'soft' focus is more suitable for portraiture work.

i buy most of my m42 lenses on eBay - for carl zeiss jena stuff look for sellers like cupog and alex-photo on eBay; they're highly-rated by people who're into such stuff.

for 50mm especially, you can't go wrong with the pentax SMC takumar 50 f/1.4. i've heard that the carl zeiss jena pancolar 50mm is equally good, but both lenses give different 'looks' in terms of contrast, colour rendition etc.

singscott · 29th April 2005

Originally Posted by gilstone

I guess no one would make such adaptor, no choice; I have to invest a couple of m42 lens.
By the way which m42 lens do you recommend?
Have heard that Carl Zeiss Jena is good. How about Russian optics and m42 Japanese optics?
Where to buy? 50mm, 28mm and 85mm.
Thanks.

Greman or not thing. Schneider, Carl Zeiss Jena, Meyer Optic and Exakta take the pick

don juan · 1st May 2005

russian lens have poor coatings and more suitable for black and white prints. Cause the colours are usually very pale. Do not ever consider russian lens.They are inferior in quality(glass). As for CZ jena the colours are usually very warm and not suitable for some pics.Do not use a skylight filter on a CZ jena. Only use UV filter.

Keltzar · 1st May 2005

That is a very subjective comment. I have collected M42 lenses for 3-4 years now and at its peak I had several hundred of them.

The "paleness" is actually lower contrast caused by the fact that a lot of soviet lenses made before about the mid-1980s were single-coated and not multicoated (the russians/ukranians didn't have the knowledge). Yes, it's better for B&W as it is deemed more natural... but it can work for colour too if you choose the right lens for the job. It works well for potraits. I shot a wedding potraiture once with a helios 85/1.5 ... and the client swore it was the best photo of her ever taken.

German m42 lenses are not necessarily any better. I have Schneider, Carl Zeiss Jena and Carl Zeiss Oberkochen lenses made before the 1970s which are single coated. They are similar to the soviet lenses in optical quality. Even the best Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in terms of colour/contrast are the late lenses which are multicoated. But the single coated ones are great for some types of photography - apply the right tool to the right job ...

The best value lenses? Beyond doubt the Pentax Super-Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses. They are all great optically and built to last.

Most of the East and West German lenses I have had needed some degree of servicing given their age. Fortunately for me I know some basics and saved money by servicing them myself.

On average I'd say about 50-60% of the East and W. German lenses needed servicing (about the same ratio for the soviets), but only about 10-20% of the Pentax lenses. Bear in mind that these lenses are all at least 10 years old, some as old as 60 years old... so it isn't surprising. If you were kept in a cupboard for 50 years you'd be cranky too.

As a tribute to these "pale" lenses, Cosina/voigtlander recently released a Nokton 40/1.4 in 2 variants - one as a multicoated and one as a single-coated (primarily for the japanese market) ... the single-coated version was created from feedback by customers that single-coated lenses generated more natural images.... it is more collectible as it has been made in smaller numbers. And its almost completely sold out.

whoelse · 1st May 2005

There is one guru to ask when come to M42 len. The above explains all.

I always seek comment from keltzar and take his opinions seriously heheh.

There are some sample photo taken with many M42 lens by a philipino photographer:
http://photo.net.ph/thumbnails.php?album=904

I posted this one before.

Keltzar · 3rd May 2005

...can't seem to get into the link, but one Fillipino photographer I know who uses them for paying client work is Jay Javier. You could probably do a search for his work. He has used them with success both on film and on digital.

26th April 2005	#1
gilstone New Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 34	M42 camera I want to mount Nikon lens to a M42 camera body, is there a Nikon to M42 adaptor? Where can I buy it? Thanks.

26th April 2005	#3
ricohflex Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: sing Posts: 1,537	wrong channel whoelse I think gilstone asked Nikon Lens mount on to Screw mount camera body. Not Screw mount lens on to Nikon body.

1st May 2005	#10
don juan Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 100	russian lens have poor coatings russian lens have poor coatings and more suitable for black and white prints. Cause the colours are usually very pale. Do not ever consider russian lens.They are inferior in quality(glass). As for CZ jena the colours are usually very warm and not suitable for some pics.Do not use a skylight filter on a CZ jena. Only use UV filter.

26th April 2005	#2
whoelse Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 1,227	Yes, but the adapter cost about same as a used M42 body. Also, unlike others, Nikon adapter have a corrective optics on the adapter to compensate the len to focus to infinity. If want, get a fujica m42 like st605/705/801 since it uses modern battery and silicon light meter cell. If not a Pentax kmount and adapter so u can use kmount and m42. Otherwise just get the nikon adapter simple.

27th April 2005	#4
fuwen Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Singapore, Woodlands Posts: 1,974	Not that I heard of a Nikon to M42 adaptor. Have not seen any baynoet to M42 adaptor also. Maybe technically not possible.

28th April 2005	#8
nihraguk Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Singapore Posts: 71	pentax takumars, especially super-multi-coated or SMC versions, tend to be one of the best m42 lenses around. some carl zeiss jena lenses are good as well, but most opinions i've come across say that the pentax lenses have better build quality. russian optics are cheaper alternatives that tend to also be slightly sub-par in terms of optical quality; though lenses like the jupiter-9 and the helios-40 are widely liked because of the different 'look' of the lens, and how their slightly 'soft' focus is more suitable for portraiture work. i buy most of my m42 lenses on eBay - for carl zeiss jena stuff look for sellers like cupog and alex-photo on eBay; they're highly-rated by people who're into such stuff. for 50mm especially, you can't go wrong with the pentax SMC takumar 50 f/1.4. i've heard that the carl zeiss jena pancolar 50mm is equally good, but both lenses give different 'looks' in terms of contrast, colour rendition etc.

1st May 2005	#11
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	That is a very subjective comment. I have collected M42 lenses for 3-4 years now and at its peak I had several hundred of them. The "paleness" is actually lower contrast caused by the fact that a lot of soviet lenses made before about the mid-1980s were single-coated and not multicoated (the russians/ukranians didn't have the knowledge). Yes, it's better for B&W as it is deemed more natural... but it can work for colour too if you choose the right lens for the job. It works well for potraits. I shot a wedding potraiture once with a helios 85/1.5 ... and the client swore it was the best photo of her ever taken. German m42 lenses are not necessarily any better. I have Schneider, Carl Zeiss Jena and Carl Zeiss Oberkochen lenses made before the 1970s which are single coated. They are similar to the soviet lenses in optical quality. Even the best Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in terms of colour/contrast are the late lenses which are multicoated. But the single coated ones are great for some types of photography - apply the right tool to the right job ... The best value lenses? Beyond doubt the Pentax Super-Takumar and SMC Takumar lenses. They are all great optically and built to last. Most of the East and West German lenses I have had needed some degree of servicing given their age. Fortunately for me I know some basics and saved money by servicing them myself. On average I'd say about 50-60% of the East and W. German lenses needed servicing (about the same ratio for the soviets), but only about 10-20% of the Pentax lenses. Bear in mind that these lenses are all at least 10 years old, some as old as 60 years old... so it isn't surprising. If you were kept in a cupboard for 50 years you'd be cranky too. As a tribute to these "pale" lenses, Cosina/voigtlander recently released a Nokton 40/1.4 in 2 variants - one as a multicoated and one as a single-coated (primarily for the japanese market) ... the single-coated version was created from feedback by customers that single-coated lenses generated more natural images.... it is more collectible as it has been made in smaller numbers. And its almost completely sold out.

3rd May 2005	#13
Keltzar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: West Posts: 3,161	...can't seem to get into the link, but one Fillipino photographer I know who uses them for paying client work is Jay Javier. You could probably do a search for his work. He has used them with success both on film and on digital.