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Purchasing a M42 Camera Body - Which?
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
I'm surprised there's so much support for Zenits an Prakticas; in my experience even the best models of those have relatively small and/or dim viewfinders.


I wouldn't be so quick to discount zenits and prakticas. The viewfinder isn't everything. In fact, sometimes the simple matte screen on the early ones are quicker to focus and better for macro shooting.


PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
themoleman342 wrote:
I wouldn't be so quick to discount zenits and prakticas. The viewfinder isn't everything. In fact, sometimes the simple matte screen on the early ones are quicker to focus and better for macro shooting.


I'm not saying the Zenits and Prakticas are particularly bad, I just don't think they are particularly good at anything. It is true that sometimes a plain matte focusing screen is best, e.g. if the effective aperture ends up being too dim for prisms to work, but even so many Zenits in particular have poor viewfinder coverage (hard to frame properly). The Prakticas I have (MTL-5B and a couple of others) all have split-prism focusing screens, but they are quite inferior to other cameras.

(In favour of the Praktica I must admit that many of them have nice ergonomics with the shutter release placed in the front at an angle instead of on the top. Still, they are relatively large and heavy compared to some of the Japanese cameras like Fujicas and Spotmatics, which I think have the best overall feel of vintage M42 bodies.)

Still, for macro use I'd pick something with a “waist-level” viewfinder; matte screen and a much more comfortable viewing position for most macro work. For example the Edixa Reflex Ba and Exa 1b both have interchangeable viewfinders and can be fitted with either a waist-level finder or a pentaprism. The Edixa in particular is a very nice camera of high quality, and not too expensive.

Alternatively, some cameras like Yashicas have mirror lock-up, which can be very handy for high magnification macro work.

In the end, none of the cameras listed here are particularly expensive, so I wouldn't personally recommend a Praktica or Zenit as a first M42 camera for someone looking to use it (more than to “collect” a vintage curiousity or to deliberately shoot with “lo-fi” gear). I think it's likely that a first-time user will not appreciate the viewfinder regardless of its potential merits in specialist macro work, and some might even be discouraged from shooting with vintage cameras altogether if they end up being unable to focus and/or compose pictures properly due to a poor viewfinder. So, while viewfinder certainly isn't everything, I'd say it is important.

(My first M42 film body was a Zenit-11 that I got pretty much for free along with a Helios-44M-4 I wanted, but to date I've never felt like putting any film through it because of the ghastly viewfinder. I have shot a few rolls with the Praktica MTL-5B and honestly it's not too bad, but I still wouldn't recommend it.)


PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 9:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Arkku wrote:
I have shot a few rolls with the Praktica MTL-5B and honestly it's not too bad, but I still wouldn't recommend it


Everyone has is taste. It is true that Praktica cameras aren't appealing to some, they're square, heavy , some might say ugly, but hey. They have the basics for taking pictures, with no gadgetery. Microprism focusing is very fine for me, shutter is good placed, and i don't need batteries to make it work ( Praktica L black ). as stated below, its the lens that counts in the end.

i have also more technically advanced cameras , but i take pleasure to shoot with the PL. Besides its not very appealing to thiefs , that's a very good point too Very Happy


PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 10:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
hexi wrote:
i have also more technically advanced cameras , but i take pleasure to shoot with the PL. Besides its not very appealing to thiefs , that's a very good point too :D


Heh, true, and if someone tries to steal it you could probably use the Praktica as a weapon. ;>


PostPosted: Thu Aug 13, 2009 11:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Heh, true, and if someone tries to steal it you could probably use the Praktica as a weapon


The zenit would work better in this case. Laughing
I have so many, I probably could throw a couple at the thief as they ran...


PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Attila wrote:
Yes , we know your Fujica collection. I saw an ST901 in shop too. Is it same recommended one ?


This isnt my camera, I lifted it off another site. But the black cameras look AWSOME!



ST 901 is a nice camera. I posted some specs below.

Rubberized cloth focal plane. 20~1/1000 sec. continuously variable speed, (Automatic Electronic Shutter). B, 1/60, 1/125, 1/250, 1/500, 1/1000 sec. (Mechanical Shutter). Lockable at AUTO with provision for fractional exposure control (2 stops over and under in 1/3rd stop progression).
Viewfinder Fixed pentagonal prism, 0.96x magnification, 92% field of view (effective picture size with 1:1.8 f=55mm lens).
Focusing Three-way: split-image, microprism and ground glass.
Eyepiece shutter Built-in finder eyepiece shutter for shielding the finder from stray light.
Mirror Quick return.
Exposure

Meter
TTL full aperture average light metering. Aperture-preferred automatic exposure. Meter activated by shutter release button. Provision for stopped-down metering. Silicon photocells coupled to FET-LSI circuitry. Photocells located on both sides of the view finder eyepiece.
Coupled Range EV-3-18 (ASA 100 f1.4 20 sec. ~ f16 1/1000 sec), adjustable to ASA 25~3200
Power Source One 6V alkali-manganese or silver battery (Eveready No. 537 or No. 544).
Film Advance
Single-stroke lever advances film and cocks shutter. Lever returnable to starting position from any winding position. 20° latitude provided by lever tip.
Frame Counter Automatic reset, additive.
Film Rewind Hand crank
Flash Synchronization FP, X, Hotshoe
Lens Mount Praktica screw mount, 42 Æ, 1 P mm
Dimensions 133 x 92 x 91 mm (with f/1.8 lens)
Weight 830g (with f/1.Cool lens), 630g (body alone)


PostPosted: Fri Aug 14, 2009 6:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
themoleman342 wrote:
Quote:
Heh, true, and if someone tries to steal it you could probably use the Praktica as a weapon


The zenit would work better in this case. Laughing
I have so many, I probably could throw a couple at the thief as they ran...


If we clubbed together, we could probably hire a helicopter and take out the thief from above, as well as a 50 yard radius - ZENIT SHOWER! Laughing
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