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Coyote23
Joined: 24 Feb 2023 Posts: 21
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:38 am Post subject: Looking for a sturdy manual M42 body - Fujica? |
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Coyote23 wrote:
Hi there!
Looking for my first (and only) film camera, that will serve in family holidays for when I want to get some film developed, to use with my M42 lenses like Fuji EBC stuff, Takumars, Rikenons and Helioses.
It has to be reliable, meaning no electronics to mess up as I am not in a country with readily available SLR labs....
Metal parts, metal shutter and solid mechanics.
Don't mind if it's fully manual if it's reliable and proven and easy to service when needed with ebay parts.
I have up to 150$ but of course if there is a 50$ one that would be great
I am kind of a Fuji fanboy and have Fujifilm APS-c bodies that will look good on the shelf next to a Fujica, maybe Fujica made an m42 camera that fits the above?
Or... how about an old Zenit-E ussr body?
Thanks ! |
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philslizzy
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4743 Location: Cheshire, England
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2023 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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philslizzy wrote:
in between the Fujica and the Zenit theres a lot of cameras. I imagine any Pentax Spotmatic would be most people's choice. The Fujis use a proprietary aperture coupling system which would make then low on my list of useful bodies _________________ Hero in the 'messin-with-cameras-for-the-hell-of-it department'. Official. |
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kansalliskala
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Posts: 5036 Location: Southern Finland countryside
Expire: 2016-12-30
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2023 6:02 am Post subject: |
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kansalliskala wrote:
Zenits are not very reliable. Actually if a Zenit body looks unused, it probably does not work.
Chinon, Cosina and many camera shop brands like Porst etc are ones I would look. _________________ MF: Kodak DCS SLR/c; Samsung NX10; OM-10; Canon T50
Zuiko 28/3.5, Distagon 35/2.8; Yashica ML 50/2;
Zuiko 50/1.4; S-M-C 120/2.8; Zuiko 135/3.5; 200/5;
Tamron AD1 135/2.8, Soligor 180/3.5; Tamron AD1 300/5.6
Tamron zooms: 01A, Z-210
Yashicaflex C; Київ 4 + Юпитер 8, 11; Polaroid 100; Olympus XA; Yashica T3
Museum stuff: Certo-Phot; Tele-Edixon 135; Polaris 90-190; Asahi Bellows; Ixus IIs
Projects: Agfa Isolette III (no shutter), Canon AE-1D (no sensor),
Nikon D80 (dead), The "Peace Camera"
AF: Canon, Tokina, Sigma Video: JVC GZ-MG275E |
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Minolfan
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 30 Dec 2008 Posts: 3437 Location: Netherlands
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Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2023 11:49 am Post subject: |
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Minolfan wrote:
Fujica made really good M42 camera's. The later camera's have a special bayonet.
My M420oldies are all still good working. Fujica 705 or 801 are good choices IMHO.
Nothing wrong with the 55mm 1.8 they are often equipped with either.
The cheap 55mm 2.2 is somewhat odd, with chances for soap bokeh. |
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titrisol70
![Level 1 Level 1](rating1.gif) Joined: 14 Dec 2021 Posts: 177 Location: State of Denial
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Posted: Mon Aug 07, 2023 1:33 pm Post subject: |
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titrisol70 wrote:
Pentax Spotmatic is probably the most common and easier to find in working condition
If you don't want electronics, the SL (no lightmeter) is for you. That is all the electronics those cameras have
Chinons are also built like tanks, and very capable.
Fujicas, Mamiyas, and Yashicas are good cameras as well. _________________ Pentaxian and proud
Cameras: Spotmatic, I and F, Pentax ME, MESuper, ME-F, P30t, K-x, MZ-5, Mz-7 // K100D, Kx, K5IIs, K3-iii
M42 Asahi Optical Co., Lenses:
Super Takumar 1:4.5/20, 1:3.5/28, 1:1.8/55, 1:1.4/50 (7-element), 1:3.5/135
Super-Multi-Coated Fisheye-TAKUMAR 1:4/17
Super-Multi-Coated TAKUMAR 1:3.5/28, 1:3.5/35, 1:1.8/55, 1:1.4/50, 1:2.8/105, 1:3.5/135, 1:4/200
Super-Multi-Coated Macro-TAKUMAR 1:4/50
Lots of M, A, F, FA, DA series lenses |
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Alun Thomas
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 20 Aug 2018 Posts: 650 Location: New Zealand
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 11:40 pm Post subject: |
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Alun Thomas wrote:
I think the best choice would be the Cosina EC or one of its many rebadgings, such as the Chinon memotron cameras. They have aperture priority auto exposure with any M42 lens. If it's not an auto aperture lens you just set the aperture to your desired value, and then press the shutter. The metal bladed shutter on these models should also give great longevity and accuracy. Models of the same camera were also sold by Argus and Revuenon among others.
Another excellent choice would be the Mamiya DTL 1000 or 2000 cameras. Of all the models with a stop down metering feature, the one used by Mamiya is possibly the most elegant, no reaching around the front of the camera to fumble around and press some button, it's on the shutter advance control. |
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RAS61
Joined: 29 Jul 2012 Posts: 3
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 2:35 am Post subject: |
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RAS61 wrote:
The Spotmatic is nice, but I think the Fujica ST801 is nicer - better features and build quality, and much more likely to find a working and accurate meter (a real Achilles heel for older Pentaxes, haven't seen one yet that wasn't dead. Personally I'd look for a nice SV w/o a meter over a Spotty). And many folks consider the ST801 the high water mark for a body with M42 lenses; do some research and decide for yourself |
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stevemark
![Level 4 Level 4](rating4.gif) Joined: 29 Apr 2011 Posts: 3900 Location: Switzerland
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Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: Looking for a sturdy manual M42 body - Fujica? |
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stevemark wrote:
Coyote23 wrote: |
Hi there!
Looking for my first (and only) film camera, that will serve in family holidays for when I want to get some film developed, to use with my M42 lenses like Fuji EBC stuff, Takumars, Rikenons and Helioses.
It has to be reliable, meaning no electronics to mess up as I am not in a country with readily available SLR labs....
Metal parts, metal shutter and solid mechanics.
Don't mind if it's fully manual if it's reliable and proven and easy to service when needed with ebay parts.
I have up to 150$ but of course if there is a 50$ one that would be great
I am kind of a Fuji fanboy and have Fujifilm APS-c bodies that will look good on the shelf next to a Fujica, maybe Fujica made an m42 camera that fits the above?
Or... how about an old Zenit-E ussr body?
Thanks ! |
I clearly understand your need for a M42 SLR.
Are you aware that many mounts are allowing you to mount M42 lenses? Examples are ...
* Minolta SR mount (e. g. SR-T101, SR-T303, Minolta XM, Minolta XD, Minolta XG-Series, Minolta X-300, X-500, and X-700)
* Minolta AF mount (e. g. Minolta 7000 and 9000, Minolta 7000i and 8000i, Minolta 7xi and 9xi, Minolta Dynax 7 and Dynax9, and many others)
* Canon EF mount (many SLRs)
You can get the necessary adapters for about 10 EUR/USD, but you'll have to stop down your lens manually before taking an image. That's no problem if your are doing portraits (usually wide open / tele lens, and therefore no need to stop down) or landscape (enough time to stop down), but it may be annoying for family photos.
Anyway - when using more modern Minolta AF or Canon EF bodies you would save lots of money AND at the same time get a more reliable body. I'm sure it's an un-popular opinion here - but the majority of my "fully manual" vintage SLRs I get are dysfunctional (certainly the Konicas, but often also the Mamiyas and the Minolta SR-T series as well as Canons AE-1). Newer AF SLRs usually are still working (apart from the earlier Nikon AF bodies which often have shutter problems).
You can get a fully working Minolta 7000, 9000 or 7000i for next to nothing (PM me if you need one ...), and you can get the latest generation of Minolta AF bodies such as the Dynax 5 or the 500 si for very little money. The Dynax 7 would be a bit more expensive (but really versatile), and even a true professional beast such as the Dynax 9 would be within your budget!
S
Minolta X-500/X-700:
http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,132.html
http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,164.html
Minolta XD-7 (here XD-s, but that's virtually the same SLR):
http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,178.html
Minolta Dynax 7: http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,125.html
Minolta Dynax 9: http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,117.html
See what you can do with a Dynax 7 or Dynax 9: http://forum.mflenses.com/show-us-your-cameras-t78192,start,143.html _________________ www.artaphot.ch |
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kypfer
![Level 3 Level 3](rating3.gif) Joined: 27 Sep 2017 Posts: 523 Location: Jersey C.I.
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Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2023 9:40 pm Post subject: |
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kypfer wrote:
I used Fujica SLRs for many years from the '70's 'till the early 2k's and the ST801 certainly was a pinnacle of M42 design … the 1/2000 sec. shutter came in useful on occasion as well
Yes, most Fujica M42 bodies had the capability of using the unique Fujica open-aperture coupling with suitably equipped lenses, but that didn't stop them being used with stop-down metering with "normal" M42 lenses as well.
Currently I'm using an early Pentax Spotmatic SP with no problem. The metering is perfectly accurate with an appropriate zinc-air hearing aid battery fitted, though the stop-down metering did take a bit of "re-familiarisation" after so many years of open-aperture metering.
Prior to "investing" in a pack of hearing aid batteries and "adaptor" (which is just a suitably-sized rubber ring) I used my old Weston Master V meter with the SpotMatic … no batteries at all with a selenium meter
I did own a Zenit E for a couple of years in the early '70's, as an "upgrade" from a Zenit 3m … it shook itself apart in the pannier of my Harley! Whether that was the vibration of the 'bike or the poor assembly of the camera I never did decide, probably a combination of both ![Wink](images/smiles/icon_wink.gif) |
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alex_d
![Level 2 Level 2](rating2.gif) Joined: 19 Jan 2019 Posts: 365
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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2023 10:00 pm Post subject: |
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alex_d wrote:
it looks like you have m42 fuji (ebc) lenses and not x-fujinon bayonet?
most common in m42 is 55/1.8 and 135/3.5.
other are quite rare or cause you are fuji fanboy - you have collected some of those rare ones too?
options are 701 or 801. have them both but i would not put them high on the list.
901 is quite rare and with problems.
several people already mentioned: pentax sp (m42)
cosina's and other re-branded versions are maybe the best option (imo) but they are not in m42.
personaly im fan of cosina ct-1 and it's siblings (yashica, nikon, petri, vivitar, chinon?, revuenon, ...).
my sibling version is petri gx super 2000, light, quiet, basic manual operations, metal shutter
good basic meter and extra - a pentax bayonet to m42 conversion ring to use m42 lenses.
to repeat: it's a lightweight body. it's important. |
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