First time using M42 lenses

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maximust

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Max
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And everything seems to be overexposed.

I have bought 2 Soligor (35mm 2.8 & 135mm 2.8) lenses and would like some basic tips on how to ensure I can get better shots with them. or at least shots which are exposed right.

on the lenses themselves I am using the lowest aperture as am shooting portraits and want that effect but all seems a bit bright.

any help would be appreciated.

Max
 
What ISO are you shooting at? It's possible that with using the largest aperture your camera has reached it's fastest speed which is still slower than the speed actually required at large apertures. Any samples so we can see lighting conditions EXIF data etc?
 
I have never used M42 before so am totally new to manual work.

One of the shots is too dark. the other is too light with the flash on to try and improve and see what the result was.

These were taken a few minutes ago in sunshine.

DSC04858.jpg


DSC04859.jpg


Thank you for any help
 
The first one looks exposed roughly right on my screen. Maybe half a stop too dark, but nothing you can't fix in PS afterwards. Looks like you nailed the focus from here too, good job. The main issue with shooting M42 lenses (I guess you're using a Canon?) is that the camera gets no information from the lens about how far away the subject is or what aperture the lens is using, so the camera has to set the shutter speed entirely from what it's meter is telling it. Sometimes this can result in slightly under or over-exposed images. When shooting with my old M42/Nikon mount lenses on my Canon I've learnt which lenses need what exposure compensation to expose correctly, some need - and some need +. Nikons are a bit more difficult as I believe the camera needs to communicate with the lens to meter properly leaving you with only fully manual mode, rather than the priority modes you can shoot in with Canon.
 
I am using Sony

My camera seems to mostly say MM + 2 when using the lenses.

I am using Manual mode in Sony and cant see where to adjust the exposure in this mode.

Thank you all for the comments.
 
String said:
I think a read of the manual might help you...
Click to expand...

I do lots of that and also bought a separate guide to the camera which I have read but doesn't really touch on that. and doesn't explain M42 use on the camera.

was merely asking for an experienced user to help, not somebody to state the obvious, that's all.

Max
 
Manual mode should be applicable regardless of the lens you use. I use manual focus lenses via an adaptor on my Olympus and use manual mode quite successfully. My maual tells me very clearly how to use manual mode. Seems very sad that yours does not.
 
Presumably the camera has no way of closing the lens aperture.

If the lens has an auto-manual switch, then maybe you could use manual stop-down metering. Not sure with that camera.

Trying to make old lenses work on a modern digital is never ideal, or easy. Which is why they can be picked up so cheaply.
 
What are you setting your shutter speed to? If you've set your aperture and iso to how you want them, adjust your brightness by twiddling with your shutter speed.
 
Max, when using FD (manual) lenses on my Canon 450D, I always set the camera to "P" (programme) mode and that always achieves the correct exposure. You will still have to focus manually, give it a try, nothing to lose.:)
 
When I use manual lenses on my Canon I use Aperture Priority or Manual mode.

In aperture priority the camera does not register the aperture of the lens as there are no electronics - however it does set the correct shutter speed according to the light passing through the lens.

In manual I either use the internal meter, or more often than not I use my weston hand held light meter.
 
HoppyUK said:
Presumably the camera has no way of closing the lens aperture.

If the lens has an auto-manual switch, then maybe you could use manual stop-down metering. Not sure with that camera.

Trying to make old lenses work on a modern digital is never ideal, or easy. Which is why they can be picked up so cheaply.
Click to expand...

Unless the camera body is a native m42 mount, you won't get stop down metering even if the lens has a m/a switch, the only downside of m42 lenses on a digi body
 
antihero said:
Unless the camera body is a native m42 mount, you won't get stop down metering even if the lens has a m/a switch, the only downside of m42 lenses on a digi body
Click to expand...

You sure about that? On my Canon, using a LensBaby with a fixed aperture which is effectively the same thing, on Av the camera will simply run the appropriate shutter speed for correct exposure.

I would have thought that you would get the same thing on a Sony. It means viewing and shooting at the same aperture of course.
 
HoppyUK said:
You sure about that? On my Canon, using a LensBaby with a fixed aperture which is effectively the same thing, on Av the camera will simply run the appropriate shutter speed for correct exposure.

I would have thought that you would get the same thing on a Sony. It means viewing and shooting at the same aperture of course.
Click to expand...

Doh...got my knickers in a twist on that one, what I meant was...

If you have an m42 lens with a manual/auto switch, and it is mounted on a digital body, the auto position on the lens is pretty much useless as there is nothing on the camera that can stop the lens down to the set aperture (and it will just shoot wide open).
 
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