Pentax M42 Screw Mount

[parabellumfoto]

Hi Guys,

Do these types of lenses fit Sony NEX and other modern mirror less cameras?

Also what are Pentax lenses like quality wise?

[buerokratiehasser]

well you need something to adapt it with - usually a ring contraption

mirrorless/43 with their small flange distance can basically adapt anything.
m42 can be adapted to nearly anything (save nikon I believe)
mirrorless thus can take Minolta non-AF/MC/MD, nikon, whatever, that Sony/M-AF can't without losing IQ due to glass correction lens or losing infinity (and even the glassless adaptors for MD are rare and expensive)

so, well, for mirrorless you might want the absurdest mount ever you can get a cheap adaptor for, to use these lenses no one else can use - but m42 work fine and often aren't that expensive

Pentax sounds nice in zeroth estimate but it all depends on the details (I have zero experience with pentax lenses)

HOWEVER, make sure that it's not just the mount that is "Pentax". M42 is sometimes called "Pentax screw mount", "PE" or just "Pentax" for hysterical reasons (and because there's a Pentax non-screw mount too)

[parabellumfoto]

Thanks for reply.

I have an opportunity to buy a bag of fungus infected lenses. I will save my money and effort for something more worthwhile.

[TrueLoveOne]

....buying a bag of fungus infected lenses CAN be very interesting.... all depends on what type (brand / model) they are....

[Basilisk]

Super Takumar SMC 50mm F1.4 on M42 is a great fast lens, particularly the 8 blade aperture version. Other Taks have a good reputation too.

[Aanything]

I have some m42 super/super-multi-coated/SMC takumars. None of them was less then good, with some outstanding ones (imho).
I would reccomend: 3.5/28, 3.5/35, 1.8/55, 1.9/85 and 2.5/135, together with the older preset ones, such as the tele takumar 5.6/200.

[kuuan]

Takumars are great lenses!
and most are fairly easy to open and clean. If one never has done it's a challenge though, be sure to start with the most common / cheapest one

[luisalegria]

Almost all the Takumars (including Super-, Super Mult-Coated and SMC) are at least in the top 50% of comparable lenses, and many of even the common ones are in the top 25% or better.
Oddly enough the turkeys in the Takumar line are rather uncommon.

Takumars are generally quite easy to disassemble and clean. The mechanical designs are elegantly simple. I always go for fungused lenses because they are very often bargains. Some are a total loss, but surprisingly few. But if you aren't comfortable with disassembly and cleaning, don't bother.