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LMC54

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There seems to be a bunch of M42 adapters and of various designs with different metals. I thought I would ask the King of M42 which one to buy? I would like to tryout some Zeiss lenses for fun. Who knows I might like it.

Regards,
Larry

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Seriously, can you take DPR seriously?
 
Hi Larry, pretty sure DSG would advise the "Polish black adaptor" sold on ebay by this guy: ciecio7. I have one and it works. It's a little tight, but all in focus. My advice would be to get one for each lens and not bother trying to switch one adapter from lens to lens.

BTW, a lot of the older lenses are not as telecentric as as we might like for use with a digital sensor which performs best the more perpendicular the rays are. My 35mm M42 Takumar creates green vignetting which I think might be because it is a wide lens with low angle rays at the edges. Just guessing here. A safer choice might be something longer like a 50 or 85 which might have more perpendicular rays.

A nice feature of the SD14 is that if you half press while manually focusing the M42 lens, you'll get a confirmation blink of red in the VF when the lens is focused. This works best for me focusing at full aperture, then stopping down to shoot.
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JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
 
Thanks John, I do appreciate the helpful tips, too. Great.

Regards,
Larry
JohnK said:
Hi Larry, pretty sure DSG would advise the "Polish black adaptor" sold on ebay by this guy: ciecio7. I have one and it works. It's a little tight, but all in focus. My advice would be to get one for each lens and not bother trying to switch one adapter from lens to lens.

BTW, a lot of the older lenses are not as telecentric as as we might like for use with a digital sensor which performs best the more perpendicular the rays are. My 35mm M42 Takumar creates green vignetting which I think might be because it is a wide lens with low angle rays at the edges. Just guessing here. A safer choice might be something longer like a 50 or 85 which might have more perpendicular rays.

A nice feature of the SD14 is that if you half press while manually focusing the M42 lens, you'll get a confirmation blink of red in the VF when the lens is focused. This works best for me focusing at full aperture, then stopping down to shoot.
--
JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
Click to expand...
--



Seriously, can you take DPR seriously?
 
nt
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JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
 
Must admit I use a much cheaper one (also made of brass) that works fine for the 3 x M42 lenses I have. That one at $30 with shipping seems quite expensive compared to the one I got for under $8 with free shipping, so not sure why so expensive - I'd want a lens with it for $30!

As example on fleabay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/M42-Mount-Sigma-SA-SD-Lens-Adapter-SD7-SD9-SD10-SD14-/270619694748?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item3f0230d69c

Perhaps El Birdo will advise when he spots this post. :-P

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Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
Well I just bought it. It looks like a good one. Now wondering how long it will be to get to the States from Poland.
Zone8 said:
Must admit I use a much cheaper one (also made of brass) that works fine for the 3 x M42 lenses I have. That one at $30 with shipping seems quite expensive compared to the one I got for under $8 with free shipping, so not sure why so expensive - I'd want a lens with it for $30!

As example on fleabay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/M42-Mount-Sigma-SA-SD-Lens-Adapter-SD7-SD9-SD10-SD14-/270619694748?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item3f0230d69c

Perhaps El Birdo will advise when he spots this post. :-P

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
Click to expand...
--



Seriously, can you take DPR seriously?
 
Zone8 said:
Must admit I use a much cheaper one (also made of brass) that works fine for the 3 x M42 lenses I have. That one at $30 with shipping seems quite expensive compared to the one I got for under $8 with free shipping, so not sure why so expensive - I'd want a lens with it for $30!

As example on fleabay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/M42-Mount-Sigma-SA-SD-Lens-Adapter-SD7-SD9-SD10-SD14-/270619694748?pt=Lens_Accessories&hash=item3f0230d69c

Perhaps El Birdo will advise when he spots this post. :-P
Click to expand...
Would'nt advise getting that one...Its one of the cheap Chinese made versions with no flange for compressing the AA pin thats found on the base of most M42 lenses.

I got one to try out and its noticably thinner than a proper M42-SA adapter meaning infinity wont be spot on.
Zone8 said:
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Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
Click to expand...
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DSG
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http://sigmasd10.fotopic.net/
 
Hi Zone8, the adapter you linked to does not have a flange that some say is needed to engage an aperture pin on some M42 lenses. The Polish one has such a flange. That said, the only M42 lens I've tried has an aperture pin but it seems to work the same with the pin engaged or not engaged. Maybe it's broken, alls I know is that the presence of the flange is said to be important so that's why I bought the Polish adapter.
--
JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
 
LMC54 said:
Well I just bought it. It looks like a good one. Now wondering how long it will be to get to the States from Poland.
Click to expand...
It was about 2 weeks from Poland to NYC
--
JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
 
Thanks bro.

One more thing.

I did this because I know I want a very good 20mm lens and I feel that Sigma would never satisfy me like they did with 50 1.4, 150 2.8 and the 85 1.4. I just feel they are not so keen on the wides.

So where in the heck besides Ebay can I get a Zeiss 20mm f2.8. I just don't trust Ebay. I would like one in a condition excellent or like new. Ones on Ebay look like they want too much for stuff that is in used condition and generally around 450.00.
DaSigmaGuy said:
LMC54 said:
http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Sigma-SA-SD-SD14-Sd15-M42-M-42-lens-adapter-/260652109890
Click to expand...
Thats a good choice...Thats the PMBAA (Polish Made Black Anodised Aluminium) version. Whilst its made of Aluminium instead of Chrome plated Brass, like the Japanese JTAT version, its supprisingly durable and of course its nice and light.

Its never as nice a fit as the JTAT version but at half the price you cant complain.

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DSG
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http://sigmasd10.fotopic.net/
Click to expand...
--



Seriously, can you take DPR seriously?
 
Hi DSG, what's the deal with that pin? My Super-Takumar 35 (non-SMC) seems to operate the same whether the pin is engaged or not, with the auto aperture slider/switch on or off. Is it broken or do I not know what I'm doing with it, or something else?

And as long as I have your attention, that same lens produces strong green vignetting on my SD14. Any way to mitigate that or should I just try some other lenses?

Thanks,
--
JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
 
I got mine a few years ago. Think the one I had came with a glue-in piece to compress the pin - but it just kept falling out. At that time, were not many around anyway, let alone the Polish or other dearer one.

It has worked fine - like you, no need to press in the pin as lens iris worked manually OK. Never found any Infinity focus problem - always focus manually anyway, so well used to that and if was thinner - would in effect focus PAST Infinity, so would see the correct focus in viewfinder. The only problem would come with a thicker one that prevented the lens focusing as far away as Infinity. Most lenses (well, Zooms) focus past Infinity anyway - presumably (like the old mirror lenses) to allow for heat expansion and suchlike.

At the low cost price, I would personally give one a try and if found suitable, would be cheap to get 3 for 3 lenses and leave in place.

Anyway - hope you get on OK. I must confess I do not use my M42 lenses much - I also have a Tamron 70-210 zoom with a Pentax-K Adaptall mount that works fine on the SD9 and SD14 but again, I find the high quality from my original 15-30EX and 24-70EX lenses leaves nothing to be desired in terms of sheer image quality.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
JohnK said:
that same lens produces strong green vignetting on my SD14. Any way to mitigate that or should I just try some other lenses?
Click to expand...
Jolon has posted a utility to cope with that - see his post and I repeated his post (as could be lost down the page) about his utility to remove the green edges effect.

--
Zone8

The photograph isolates and perpetuates a moment of time: an important and revealing moment, or an unimportant and meaningless one, depending upon the photographer's understanding of his subject and mastery of his process. -Edward Weston
http://www.photosnowdonia.co.uk/ZPS
 
I know the 20mm f4 flektogon is better than the f2.8, but never tried'em.
The one always recommended is the 135mm f3.5!
LMC54 said:
There seems to be a bunch of M42 adapters and of various designs with different metals. I thought I would ask the King of M42 which one to buy? I would like to tryout some Zeiss lenses for fun. Who knows I might like it.

Regards,
Larry

--



Seriously, can you take DPR seriously?
Click to expand...
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/aguadeloco
 
I've never noticed any green edges with my 17mm Tamron SP but perhaps I don't look hard enough...

I have the Polish black anodised adapter too and it's fine in my experience - only issue being that some auto Takumar-type lenses catch a bit on the aperture pin flange. This is where being aluminium helps - mount and dismount the lens on the adapter a few times (off-camera) and the level (being nice hard steel) will shave off the offending tiny fraction of the flange and the mount fine. The aperture pin is still depressed by the flange since there's plenty of clearance. I had this minor issue on my SMC Takumar 85/1.8, been using it without a hitch ever since.
 
I didn't know this and I can't get it to work. Is it the green round dot in the VF, next between the shutter speed and the flash indicator?
JohnK said:
A nice feature of the SD14 is that if you half press while manually focusing the M42 lens, you'll get a confirmation blink of red in the VF when the lens is focused. This works best for me focusing at full aperture, then stopping down to shoot.
--
JohnK
Take a picture, it'll last longer.
Click to expand...
 
swedishnerd said:
I didn't know this and I can't get it to work. Is it the green round dot in the VF, next between the shutter speed and the flash indicator?
Click to expand...
Yes, the green dot lights when the camera believes focus has been reached. It has been said that you need to have put a Sigma lens on the camera at some point since the last time the camera was turned on in order to activate the focus confirm feature; I haven't confirmed this directly, but I have certainly seen the focus confirm feature work with manual lenses.

Robert
 
a20010494 said:
I know the 20mm f4 flektogon is better than the f2.8, but never tried'em.
Click to expand...
I have the 20/4 flektogon. It is not incredibly sharp (at least, mine isn't) and is prone to green corners on the SD14, but it is very cool-looking on the camera, so it has that going for it -- and may explain my irrational fondness for it.

Example, with green: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2311682246/sizes/l/

Example with somewhat less green: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2956496300/sizes/l/

I've started to try it out a bit on the 15, and the green corner issue may be somewhat improved -- it has not been present or has been considerably reduced in the few shots I've taken -- but I have no idea why that would be and I'm not sure I believe it yet.

My favorite M42 lens so far of the batch I've tried is the Carl Zeiss Jena 35/2.4. Perhaps I've just been fortunate in my choice of subject, but it just seems to produce winners.

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2271528890/sizes/l/

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2270732763/sizes/l/

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2975056567/sizes/l/

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/3136682810/sizes/l/
a20010494 said:
The one always recommended is the 135mm f3.5!
Click to expand...
I'd like to try that one. I have the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar and have had some good luck with it, although I have found that contrast really drops when shooting against the light.

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/2793666385/sizes/l/

Example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbrazile/3692143649/sizes/l/

Robert
 
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