M42 lens advice.

akcron

akcron

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Paul
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Hi all.

I have just bought a Canon 600D and have been given a m42 converter and my Dad has given me a couple of his old lenses. a 28mm 2.8 and a 50mm 1.8 Pentacon.

I just wondered if anyone had any tips or tricks to using them, one person told me they always overexpose another that they underexpose.

So basically was just looking for a basic guide to using them on my 600D, i will have a look around the net but usually there is someone on here that has the knowledge.

Thanks for any help.

paul.

P.S. Tp love the new forums :>)
 
My old 450D always overexposed by a couple of stops when using manual lenses, but my 7D doesn't for some unknown reason. My advice would be to use the histogram to achieve the correct exposure. Manual lenses are a bit of a learning curve, but well worth the effort in the end, plus you have a couple of nice lenses to start with.

PS: One thing I forgot to mention. Once you have got used to using manual lenses, try reverse mounting the 28mm on the front of the 50mm and it will give you a very usable, lightweight macro set-up.
 
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Also

Not sure which adaptor you have but If you buy M42 to EF adaptors - buy ones with the extra flange that presses in the wee pin on the lens. That way the lens won't be stuck on the widest aperture.
 
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You could also try looking at forum.mflenses.com - that's a dedicated manual lens forum, and several members here are also over there.

I use several m42 lenses, plus some other mounts (e.g. qbm) that I use with EOS cameras. Your camera wants to meter with the lens wide open, then stop down to your chosen aperture as it takes the picture and will compensate for the difference. Unfortunately, with a manual lens it doesn't know the maximum aperture (unless you have a programmed EMF chip adapter) and it can't control the aperture for metering and taking the shot. The result is that it tends to over-expose and the over-exposure tends to increase as you stop down the lens from wide-open. At least in my experience (using a 40D).

Two solutions present themselves:
  • Meter separately and set everything manually, either using an automatic lens and then switching to the lens or using Sunny 16/UEC or using a lightmeter; or,
  • Learn how the lenses respond (or guess, shoot, chimp, adjust) and dial in the required exposure compensation which you can then use in M or Av modes (you can't get automatic exposure with Tv using a manual lens).
As to dinners post above, if your lenses have an A/M or Auto/Manual switch, setting it to M or Manual will allow you to change the aperture without a flange holding the aperture pin down. If you don't have this switch on the lens you'll need a flanged adapter, or you'll need to shim or glue the aperture pin down.


Oh, and the bad news.. once you get hooked on manual lenses you'll find that it's addictive. You'll be watching the counters in charity shops looking for the bargains..
 
I use quite a lot of M42 lenses on a Sony A700, and I generally find that I overexpose by one stop most of the time. However, if I am using extension tubes, then I tend to underexpose by one or two stops, particularly where the subject is very bright compared to the background.
As Alastair points out, they are addictive once you start using them, and for some reason the numbers which you own inexplicably increase:)
So, just put the lens on and start using it, not forgetting to set your camera to full manual on focus and exposure. Use all the apertures and keep "chimping", something which I have found essential with MF lenses.
The Pentacons are really good lenses (I have the 50 1.8), as are other makes - Pentax Super Takumar, Zeiss etc.

Andy
 
Haven't had exposure problems with the 300 tair, but I remember the 135mm I had that the dodo has now used to let a lot more light in than the camera expected.
Just shoot and zoom in on the pic after... CA or really bright, up the speed, lower the iso as required...

It is addictive though.

Assuming the signatures came across with the new forums, should be a link to the pics I took in there...
 
First apologies for my slow reply i have been away and could not get the TP app to work on my phone since the new forums started.

Thank you all for the replies, i am really looking forward to using theses lenses especially with video as i think they are spot on for that purpose.

Again sorry for the delay.
Paul.
 
my a77 has been fine with apature mode and manual lens.
I've even used auto and been ok :-O
a broke lens can be interesting too...
 
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