Super Takumar with Glasses - A test of rivals

[Nikkornos]

Get a used EOS 40D, change the focusing screen to an Ef-S super precision matte screen, buy 2 adaptors, M42 to EOS and Nikon F to EOS and you can use all your M42 and Ai/AiS lenses. I also have an EOS body, 5D full frame, and I use it only for manual focus lenses. I have Contax Zeiss, Leica R, Pentax K & M42, Olympus Zuiko OMs, Nikons Ais, Mamiya M42, Pentcon M42, and many others. The Canon EOS body is the most versatile for old manual lenses. All adaptors are cheap and do not require additional glasses.

Thanks for sharing. I only would use old Pentax lenses, so I suppose k-x is a cheaper better and faster way to go....

By the way, someone told me there are adapters that allow AF on Canon bodies using M42 lenses. That is amazing.

 

[creampuff]

This is a separate discussion actually.

I have more reason to use AF, because I am old and getting older.

If start exploring MF, one will see the short coming of AF. Since the film days, camera depends on contrast and phase difference to snap on focus. This may not be the exact point of focus, but the depth of field covers for it. When depth of field becomes very shallow, MF is the way to go. Macro is one example. The human eye/brain is a very potent combo.

There are points to add, at least 7 situations when AF will surely fail big time:

1. A messy street shot.
I always prefocus and wait for my hunted subject. If AF sure shoot the wrong focus point, or shuttle wont even release.

2. Obstacles in front of the camera. Wrong focus.

3. Buildings - especially when they are cluttered. You can pre-AF and lock, but it may run away.

4. High contrast (dragon boat racing in sunny day, hard to AF)

5. Low constrat...
This is one area all AF system will fail

6. Background consist of more than 90% of the picture.......

7. Night shots. Try that, AF will be a night mare.

Of course AF is never 100% foolproof BUT for the most part they do work, quicker and pretty accurate than eyeballing focus manually. Of the 7 situations you listed, I beg to differ on your opinion that AF wouldn't work. Using AF with macro shots is more than possible.

#1 - You can track your subject continuously with AF.C. You can set-up the camera to allow the shutter to release even if the subject is not in focus (MF) or you can use Catch-In Focus Mode where the camera is released when the subject comes into focus. You can also preset focus and use the AF button to deactivate the AF. A messy street shot poses no problems even with normal AF.S. Same applies to #3.

#2 - Depends on the obstacle. You can still AF but use Quick Shift to manually override focus instantly.

#4 - AF actually does well in high contrast situations

#5 - Depends on the subject.

#6 - So long as there are distinct lines or patterns, there should be no issues for the AF to lock focus. If you mean something like a plain even toned wall, even eyeballing focus manually can be a challenge for such a subject. A split image rangefinder focusing aid might not make it but a microprism would. Again, one can override by using Quick Shift.

#7 - I have used AF with nighshots. As long as the camera can pick out a distinctly contrasty point to lock focus, there should be no issues. Again one can override the AF.

In addition, newer DSLRs cameras now offer Live View, which is a very accurate aid to focusing and compares well to using the viewfinder.

 

[Nikkornos]

Thanks for the enlightenment

 

[creampuff]

Thanks for the enlightenment

No prob, my old eyes also failing... that's why it is AF for me.

 

[Nikkornos]

Interesting to read fellow CS who share the same sentiments in hobbies! As years go by, I tend to shun consumerism and lean more towards the underdog.
Though I'm eyeing the K7 and have been looking at its adaptability in taking m42 lenses, I begin to realise I need to relearn the Pentax lingo... DA, FA, Limited, SMC etc.

Hi Six-Ghz,

Here are some notes from a HK friend. Pentax is the recommended system for the A mode and range finder. There are some notes you want to take note.

For point number 1, I already killed a Takumar 50mm F1.4 using a Canon.

說到轉接，最好轉的當然是「任你插到爽」的Canon。加上5DII的全幅吸引力，很多人都會選擇Canon來轉。但是就M42鏡頭來說，Canon有2個致命的缺點。

第一個，就是反光板的問題。5DII的反光板，是向前弧形的翻起來，會有一個扇形的運動路徑。而反光板翻起來的時候，大概距離接環只有不到5mm的距離。也就是說，一些鏡尾突出接環較多的鏡頭，反光板會狠狠地拍下去。Canon的反光板有多脆弱，不需要小弟多做說明。重點是鏡尾的後玉如果被撞到，很可能會造成難以修復的刮傷。

第二個，則是Canon的色彩問題。Canon的色彩有很明顯的偏向性，配合 M42老鏡那種每一顆都不同調性的特色，會需要在後期進行很多的色彩調整，拍起來會很煩。

而對M42轉接最友善的系統，則屬Pentax了，不需晶片接環就有A模式跟合焦提示，可以手動輸入防手震焦段，還可以玩陷阱對焦。但是Pentax沒有全幅機，這是美中不足之處。還有一個不小的問題，便是Pentax的色彩偏青黃色的暖調，而且普遍偏濃。上大姑媽鏡頭色彩會非常漂亮，但是如果使用德頭，會壓住德頭特有的風味，不太好控制。

Alpha系統方面，首先當然是2台擁有巨大觀景窗的平價全幅，這絕對是完全發揮老鏡頭能力的好機。Alpha系統或許是和蔡司合作的原因，色彩調性偏藍，非常適合裝德系鏡頭來表現。不過也不是極端冷調，就算上了偏黃的大姑媽鏡，一樣能表現出其特質，反而拍人的時候還能適當壓制住肝病色。

防手震及合焦提示方面，Alpha系統就要靠晶片轉接環來處理了，而且要配合焦段，會比較貴。但是比起完全不能防手震的Canon來說，已經是個優勢。

反光板不需擔心，Sony FF機的反光板，是用支架向正上方「抬」上去的，基本上向前翻動的幅度極小，目前沒有任何一顆M42鏡頭會打到屁股。APS機種更不用擔心，反光板小，打不到。

Olympus/Panasonic的4/3或m4/3，也是什麼都可以插的，M42當然沒問題。不過只取中間一小塊的成像，所有焦段要加倍，值不值得拿來轉接，是要仔細考慮的。

Nikon轉接M42，轉接環一定有矯正鏡片，不然無法無限遠合焦。所以通常討論 M42轉接的時候，都不關Nikon什麼事。

 

[felixcat8888]

Hi Six-Ghz,

Here are some notes from a HK friend. Pentax is the recommended system for the A mode and range finder. There are some notes you want to take note.

For point number 1, I already killed a Takumar 50mm F1.4 using a Canon.

說到轉接，最好轉的當然是「任你插到爽」的Canon。加上5DII的全幅吸引力，很多人都會選擇Canon來轉。但是就M42鏡頭來說，Canon有2個致命的缺點。

第一個，就是反光板的問題。5DII的反光板，是向前弧形的翻起來，會有一個扇形的運動路徑。而反光板翻起來的時候，大概距離接環只有不到5mm的距離。也就是說，一些鏡尾突出接環較多的鏡頭，反光板會狠狠地拍下去。Canon的反光板有多脆弱，不需要小弟多做說明。重點是鏡尾的後玉如果被撞到，很可能會造成難以修復的刮傷。

第二個，則是Canon的色彩問題。Canon的色彩有很明顯的偏向性，配合 M42老鏡那種每一顆都不同調性的特色，會需要在後期進行很多的色彩調整，拍起來會很煩。

而對M42轉接最友善的系統，則屬Pentax了，不需晶片接環就有A模式跟合焦提示，可以手動輸入防手震焦段，還可以玩陷阱對焦。但是Pentax沒有全幅機，這是美中不足之處。還有一個不小的問題，便是Pentax的色彩偏青黃色的暖調，而且普遍偏濃。上大姑媽鏡頭色彩會非常漂亮，但是如果使用德頭，會壓住德頭特有的風味，不太好控制。

Alpha系統方面，首先當然是2台擁有巨大觀景窗的平價全幅，這絕對是完全發揮老鏡頭能力的好機。Alpha系統或許是和蔡司合作的原因，色彩調性偏藍，非常適合裝德系鏡頭來表現。不過也不是極端冷調，就算上了偏黃的大姑媽鏡，一樣能表現出其特質，反而拍人的時候還能適當壓制住肝病色。

防手震及合焦提示方面，Alpha系統就要靠晶片轉接環來處理了，而且要配合焦段，會比較貴。但是比起完全不能防手震的Canon來說，已經是個優勢。

反光板不需擔心，Sony FF機的反光板，是用支架向正上方「抬」上去的，基本上向前翻動的幅度極小，目前沒有任何一顆M42鏡頭會打到屁股。APS機種更不用擔心，反光板小，打不到。

Olympus/Panasonic的4/3或m4/3，也是什麼都可以插的，M42當然沒問題。不過只取中間一小塊的成像，所有焦段要加倍，值不值得拿來轉接，是要仔細考慮的。

Nikon轉接M42，轉接環一定有矯正鏡片，不然無法無限遠合焦。所以通常討論 M42轉接的時候，都不關Nikon什麼事。

Can we have English in translation please? Some of us here cannot read Chinese characters.

Cheers . . .

 

[Nikkornos]

Oppss.. its in Cantonese actually.... let me try to Babble Fish it.

Talk about M42 adaptability, the best option could be Canon. In addition to the 5DII attraction, many people do choose the Canon models. But for M42 lens, Canon has 2 fatal shortcomings.

First, is the mirror's problem. The 5DII mirror, goes thru an arc and turns forward; it moves in a fan-shaped movement. The mirror may move about 5mm distance. That is, some mirror may kill many lenses, the mirror will scratch the back element of the lens. Also, the Canon mirror is very frail. It the mirror hit the lens, it will create an abrasion that is beyond repair.

Second, is the Canon color question. The Canon color has the very obvious character, which is counter the M42 old lens. The conflicting characteristic in color will make post processing very bothersome.

The friendliest system to M42, is Pentax. Pentax do not need the chip to provide focus confirmation and vibration reduction; you can use such facilities in M42.


But the Pentax is not a perfect machine though. The Pentax has a strong blue-yellow warm tone, and is generally very saturated. On the Takumar lenses, the color will be very attractive. But if will use the German lenses, will suppress a German unique flavor; it is not too good to control.


The Alpha system is cheap and allows full frame. It is also a good platform. It is a system that allows good use of German lens, perhaps that's why it co-operates with Zeiss. Even so, it is superb to use Tamumar lenses.

The Alpha need a on chip adapter to provide focus confirmation. And for different focal length, you need different adapter (?). This is very trouble some. But compared to Canon, it is much better because of the vibration reduction, and there is no worry on the mirror hitting the lens.

Olympus/Panasonic 4/3 or m4/3, can allow any M42 lens to be used. But the focal length is doubled, and the sensor is too small. Is it worth it needs deep consideration.

Nikon needs a correction lens to use M42, so Nikon is usually out when it comes to M42.

 

[machiavellian]

BUMP!