Best digital for M42

[themoleman342]

After looking through this forum I still have not come up with a strait answer (maybe there isn't one) as to what digital SLR would be 'best' for m42. My qualifications for "best" are simple, though maybe not attainable: full frame so the focal length I bought them for originally still applies, doesn't require potentially dangerous modification, and infinity focus is still applicable. I really don't care about special features, only something with a good sensor that will match or better 35mm quality. Any advice would be great!

Thanks in advance
~Marc
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35mm: zenit B + zenit 122 + praktica FX + sears (ricoh) TLS - chinon 2.8/28mm, mir 10A 3.5/28, pentacon 3.5/30, mir-1 2.8/37, mamiya/sekor 1.4/50, simlar 1.5/50 (ltm m39 - macro work), tessar 2.8/50, domiplan 2.8/50, industar 50-2 3.5/50, takumar 2/55, sears 1.4/55, helios 44-2 2/58, hanimex macro zoom 3.5/28-80, tair 11A 2.8/135, jupiter 21m 4/200

Med Format: Ikoflex II - triotar 3.5/75

Large Format: 4x5 Custom Pinhole - Wide Angle 75mm

[A G Photography]

To my knowledge if you want full frame there's only the Canon EOS 5D or 1Ds that can answer to all your requests. Nikon D3 has too long flange distance from the sensor.
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Alessandro

My Blog about Italian Cuisine and Photography
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DSLR: Nikon d80, Olympus e410
SLR: Chinon CX, Fujica ST605n, Nikon f601, Pentacon FM, Praktica FX, Praktica FX2, Voigtlander VST1, Yashica FX-3, Zeiss Contaflex
RF: Altissa Altix, Zorki Ie, Kiev 4b
Medium Format: Pentacon Six TL, Zeiss Ikonta 520/2, Mockba 4, Voigtlander Bessa I, Agfa Isolette II, Agfa Isola
Large Format: Cambo SC 4x5, Rodenstock Sinaron 150/5.6, Rodenstock Rodagon 150/5.6, Schneider Kreuznach Symmar 180/5.6
Lenses
Nikkors: 28/3.5 AIS, 35/2, 50/1.8, 50/2 H, Micro 55/3.5, Micro 60/2.8, 85/1.8, 135/3.5 AI, 200/4 NAI, 18-55/3.5-5.6, 28-80/3.5-5.6, 55-200/4-5.6
CY: Distagon 28/2.8, Planar 50/1.4, Yashika 50/1.7, Sonnar 135/2.8
CZJ m42-Exakta: Flektogon 20/4, Flektogon 35/2.8, Tessar 40/4.5, Tessar 50/2.8, Pancolar 50/1.8, Pancolar 50/2, Biotar 58/2, Biotar 75/1.5, Sonnar 135/3.5, Sonnar 135/4, Triotar 135/4
CZJ P6: Flektogon 50/4, Flektogon 65/2.8, Biometar 80/2.8, Biometar 120/2.8, Sonnar 180/2.8
Meyer-Pentacon: Orestegon 29/2.8, Pentacon 29/2.8, Lydith 30/3.5, Primagon 35/4.5, Helioplan 40/4.5, Domiplan 50/2.8, Primotar 50/3.5, Oreston 50/1.8, Primoplan 58/1.9, Orestor 100/2.8, Trioplan 100/2.8, Helioplan 135/4.5, Orestor 135/2.8, Pentacon 135/2.8, Primotar 135/3.5, Primotar 180/3.5, Telemegor 180/5.5, Orestegor 200/4, Pentacon 200/4, Orestegor 300/4, Telemegor 300/4.5, Telemegor 400/5.5
Schneider-Kreuznach: Curtagon 28/4, Curtagon 35/2.8, Xenon 50/1.9, Xenar 50/2.8, Tele Xenar 135/3.5, Tele Xenar 200/4
Russians: Mir-I 37/2.8, Volna-9 50/2.8, Industar-50 50/3.5, Industar-61 50/2.8, Helios 44 58/2, Helios 44-2 58/2, Helios 44-M-4 58/2, Volna-3 80/2.8, Helios 40 85/1.5, Jupiter 9 85/2, Jupiter 11 135/4
Others: Chinon-Tomioka 55/1.4, Helios 28/2.8, Isco Iscotar 50/2.8, Konica Hexanon 40/1.8, Ludwig Meritar 50/2.9, Schacht Travegon 35/3.5, Schacht Travenon 135/4.5, Sekor 55/1.8, Sigma MF 28/2.8, S-Takumar, 28/3.5, S-Takumar 50/1.4, S-Takumar 55/1.8, S-Takumar 55/2, Steinheil Quinar 135/2.8, Steinheil Culminar 135/4.5, Vivitar 135/2.8, Voigtlander Ultron 50/1.8, Yashica Yashinon DX 50/1.4, Zuiko MC Auto-W 28/2.8

[ChrisLilley]

Given your requirements for full frame and for infinity focus on M42, doesn't the choice basically come down to the Canon 5D or the Canon 1Ds series?
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Camera (ˈkæ mə rə), n. Device for taking pictures in bright light
There are 10 kinds of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don’t. Key: Ai-P, Ai, Ais, Ai'ed, pre-Ai
Camera: Nikon D40, DK-21M eyepiece, ML-3 remote MF lenses: Nikkor 20mm f/4 non-AI | Nikkor 28mm f/2.8 AiS late model | Арсенал (Arsenal) Мир-24Н (Mir-24N) 35mm f/2 | Cosina Voigtländer Ultron SL II 40mm f/2.0 | Nikkor-S.C 50mm f/1.4 non-AI | Nikon 50mm f/1.8 E | Micro-Nikkor 55mm f/2.8 AiS | Vivitar Series 1 (Kiron) 70-210 f/3.5 | Zoom-Nikkor 80-200 f/4.5 Ai | Nikkor 135mm f/2.8, Ai'ed 1976 model | Арсенал (Arsenal) ТЕЛЕАР-Н (Telear-n) 200mm f/3.5 | Nikkor 300 mm f/4.5 Ai (full equipment list)

[themoleman342]

Are there ones with lesser crop factors? I just would hate to see some of my work to fill focal length gaps go to waste.

I apologize for my lack of knowledge concerning the digital SLRs...I never had the money to buy one all at once so I stayed with film (which I love)...but that era will probably be over within the next decade or so. So I figured I'd start researching now.
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35mm: zenit B + zenit 122 + praktica FX + sears (ricoh) TLS - chinon 2.8/28mm, mir 10A 3.5/28, pentacon 3.5/30, mir-1 2.8/37, mamiya/sekor 1.4/50, simlar 1.5/50 (ltm m39 - macro work), tessar 2.8/50, domiplan 2.8/50, industar 50-2 3.5/50, takumar 2/55, sears 1.4/55, helios 44-2 2/58, hanimex macro zoom 3.5/28-80, tair 11A 2.8/135, jupiter 21m 4/200

Med Format: Ikoflex II - triotar 3.5/75

Large Format: 4x5 Custom Pinhole - Wide Angle 75mm

[A G Photography]

[themoleman342]

Thank you so much for the quick responses! I will certainly research the canons now!
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35mm: zenit B + zenit 122 + praktica FX + sears (ricoh) TLS - chinon 2.8/28mm, mir 10A 3.5/28, pentacon 3.5/30, mir-1 2.8/37, mamiya/sekor 1.4/50, simlar 1.5/50 (ltm m39 - macro work), tessar 2.8/50, domiplan 2.8/50, industar 50-2 3.5/50, takumar 2/55, sears 1.4/55, helios 44-2 2/58, hanimex macro zoom 3.5/28-80, tair 11A 2.8/135, jupiter 21m 4/200

Med Format: Ikoflex II - triotar 3.5/75

Large Format: 4x5 Custom Pinhole - Wide Angle 75mm

[F16SUNSHINE]

Hello Marc

My experience with DSLR's is with canon so far. I am quite happy with both cropped and full frame. If I was only to use M42 I sure would consider a Pentax however. The price is the most reasonable for the feature set provided (including IS in camera and sensor cleaning). Pentax uses a 1.5 crop factor. It is interesting to use a crop camera at times. The greater DOF can actually become an asset (as well as a liability) depending on the situation. Also you will be working with the "sweet spot" on most lenses. So you see there is good reason to keep the door open to crop cameras as well. Good luck in your search. My guess is now that you started looking. You will have a DSLR in hand quite soon.

[Athiril]

Canon 5D is getting cheap now, around the $2k US mark from some places... its going to have a $300 rebate soon too

I'd recommend Canon full frame or not, since you can adapt M42, Pentax K, Olympus OM, Nikon F, the list goes on.

[Thirrouard]

[Blunderstein]

There are other full frame cameras on the way. The upcoming Sony body, often referred to as the "A900", will be full frame. It is expected this fall.

Most likely Sony will introduce other full frame cameras as well.
I'm one of many Sony/Minolta users who wait eagerly for whatever comes after the A900. Hopefully, it will be a less expensive.

Perhaps Pentax has similar plans as well.

[Nesster]

This fellow Mike Cash shoots nearly exclusively with M42, Takumars to be specific. He just bought a K20D Pentax and has some surprising news: the camera works a lot better with the Taks than his older K100D - the viewfinder is much brighter and the exposure is much better!

With the cheaper / lesser bodies, such as the K100D, you're really limited to f/4 or wider to get any decent focus vision. Apparently the K20D fixes that. The other thing, with the Pentax bodies, you can go stop-down auto metering in the Av mode. That is, focus wide open and then stop down to where you want... the camera sets shutter speed. Only with the older body, you'd have to dial in exposure compensation, or cover the electrical contacts with some foil. Mike says the K20D fixes this too.

The generic lesson here: for a DSLR a bigger and brighter view finder is better, and these usually come with the more expensive bodies.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/nesster/sets/72157601067248451/

[Richard_D]

There are strong rumours about a Samsung full-frame being near release, so it might be worth holding off a month or two
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Richard

The interesting bit:

Nikkors: 20mm f2.8 AIS, 24mm f2.8 AIS, 28mm f2.8 AIS, 35mm f2 AIS, 50mm f1.4 AI, 50mm f1.48AI, 50m f2 AI,
55mm f3.5 AI'd, 105mm f4 AI, 135mm f2.8 AI'd, 135mm f3.5 AI'd, 200mm f4 AI'd .
Nikon E Series: 100mm f2.8 .
Soviet Nikon Mount: Zenitar 16mm f2.8, Arsat/arax/photex 85mm T&S f2.8 .
Other: Asahi Super Takumar 55 mm f2 (M42) ,Tamron 300mm f5.6 SP, Tamron 500mm f8 SP.

DSLR: Nikon D700. 35mm SLRsNikon FE, Pentax S1a.
TLR: Rolliecord II.
Sub-Minature: Pentax Auto 110, 18mm f2.8, 24mm f2.8, 50mm f2.8.

More to come...

[LucisPictor]

The 1.3crop Canons really could be an alternative, esp. if you can find a nice used one.
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There are two kinds of people in the world: those who divide the world into two kinds of people, and those who don’t.
"Schnäppchenjäger" | "KAPCTEH" | "Karusutenu" | "Carsten" | T-shirt?
Cams in use: EOS 40D, EOS 350D, EOS 50e, EOS 500, Spotmatic SPII, EXA I & 1c, Zenit EM; Oly 35RC,Minolta Hi-Matic E & F, Ricoh 500RF, Yashica Electro 35 GS, FED-3b and some others...
Lenses in use: Asahi Pentax: 2.8/28;3.5/35;1.4/50;1.7/50;2.8/105;3.5/135;28-80 | Canon (AF):1.8/50;17-85;75-300 | Former GDR: CZJ Flek 4/20; Pentacon 3.5/30; Pentaflex 1.8/50; CZJ 2.8/50; CZJ 4/135; Pentacon 4/200 | Fujinon: 43-75 | Hanimex: 3.5/23; 4/100;80-200 | Hoya: 25-42;80-205 | Leica: Elmarit-R 2.8/35 | Mamiya: 1.8/55 | Minolta: 1.7/50 | Nikkor: 2.8/24;2/35;2/50;1.2/55;1.8/85;3.5/135 | West German: Ludwig 2.9/50; Meyer 2.8/100; Will 4.5/105; Schneider 3.5/135;Enna 3.5/135; Zeiss 4/135;Isco 4/135; Enna 4.5/240 | Olympus: 3.5/28;1.4/50;3.5/135 | Rikenon: 1.7/50;35-70 | Rollei/Voigtländer: 1.4/55;1.8/50 | Russian: Peleng3.5/8; Zenitar2.8/16; MIR2.8/37; Volna2.8/50; Industar2.8/50; Industar3.5/50; Industar3.5/5cm; Helios2/50; Helios2/58; MIR38 3.5/65; Volna2.8/80; Jupiter2/85; Kaleinar2.8/100;Tair2.8/135; Jupiter3.5/135; Jupiter4/135; Telear3.5/200; Jupiter4/200; Tair4.5/300;RF: Jupiter2.8/35;Industar2.8/53 | Sigma: 28-85;28-105(AF);17-70(AF) | Soligor: 28-105;35-200;70-220 | Tamron: 2.5/24;2.5/135;60-300;70-210 | Tokina: 28-105;80-200;12-24(AF);70-210(AF) | Vivitar: 3.5/17;2/24;2/28;2.5/28;2.8/28 | Yashica: 2/5cm | Other Japanese: Cosina3.8/20; Albinar2.8/28; Porst1.8/35; Beroflex 8/500; Spiratone28-200; Maginon70-210
Green are the lenses I shoot the most.
More? http://forum.mflenses.com/viewtopic.php?t=65

[Blunderstein]

[Richard_D]