Some more Nikon-M42 questions

[mrQQ]

Hello,

I'm using a wide variety of M42 lenses with my Nikon D80 and glass adapter. I have few questions:

1. Did anyone else notice, that Nikons focus confirmation light seems to lie? I always need to focus just a tiny bit further than the light, to get perfect focus. Does this mean that my new soon to come focus screen will lie too?

2. Has anyone seen a M42->Nikon adapter which would enable matrix metering on bodies lower than DXXX?

3. Has anyone seen a M42->Nikon adapter which would be able to use auto-aperture pin of auto m42 lenses?

Thanks

[Esox lucius]

I recommend you do a forum search for Nikon M42 and other relevant keywords.

1. No, mine is spot on on all Nikon bodies I use. It can be a lens issue, user error, setup, issue with the body, misplaced focusing screen... front/backfocusing is a long subject to sort out without further information and access to the camera body in question. Also bear in mind that the size and "target area" of your D80 focus confirm points vary, the center for example differs from the others.

2. It's not an adapter issue, the lower-end Nikon bodies just won't matrix meter with adapted lenses. Higher-end Nikon bodies do, I can shoot in aperture priority mode with my D3 and M42 lenses.

3. To the best of my knowledge, no such adapter exists as the aperture control on Nikon bodies is not compatible with the aperture control mechanism on semi-auto M42 lenses.

[kds315*]

ad 2) there a people who chip adaptors or short tubes to allow matrix metering. New, much smaller chips are available now. Check nikongear.com for more info.

[mrQQ]

where exactly do I check nikongear at? :/

[sichko]

[mrQQ]

[Esox lucius]

A quick search on http://www.nikongear.com revealed this http://nikongear.com/smf/index.php?topic=6671.0 and other relevant topics on how to chip them for metering.

The reason why it isn't a more common solution is probably that on F-mount you'll need a glass adapter for infinity and that eats detail to some extent. Furthermore, F-mount users have a vast abundance of inexpensive AI-converted, Ai and Ai-S lenses to choose from. When you can use almost any Nikkor made after 1959 there is not so much need to look for inexpensive primes made for other mounts.

[Orio]

I concur with Lucius.
Old Nikkors are probably the best price/quality combination available on Ebay.
There is a wide choice and so Nikon camera users can find all they need.

Then maybe there is some Nikon users who also wants to try other lenses for fun instead of just need.
To them however I would advice to buy a used cheap Canon or Olympus camera body for that purpose,
instead of getting frustrated at not being able to focus those lenses to infinity on their Nikon cameras.

[patrickh]

Orio's advice is very sound
I have the D200 and a range of nikkors, but I was intrigued by the different "character" of many of the manual lenses shown here. Eventually I opted to buy a Canon 40D for non-nikon lenses (and non-Canon since I hate their abusive attitude to their loyal followers). I love the flexibility and quality I can get with this combination


patrickh

PS Yes I put my nikkors on the Canon too!

[mrQQ]

Nikkors are still more expensive then russian M42s.

That link on nikongear only confirms that it doesnt work. I was kinda hoping there are solutions. I guess not.

[sichko]

[Esox lucius]

[Orio]

In my modest experience, I have always found that to use an acceptable lens that is compatible with the native register distance is preferable to using a great lens that requires an optical adapter.
But that's just me...

[Esox lucius]

We who use bodies that can meter with M42 lenses don't experience it, but compatible register distance still won't solve the "no matrix metering" issue on many camera bodies.

On a D3 I can shoot in aperture priority mode with M42 lenses, but on a D70 I am left with exposure validation from my LCD/histogram.

[Orio]

[Esox lucius]

I totally agree I was just replying to mrQQ's wish for matrix metering on lower end bodies.