Using Cable Release with Auto M42 Lenses on Zenit EM

s162216

s162216

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Samuel
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Hi,

I am thinking of getting a cable release for my fairly ancient Zenit EM as I like taking macro shots using an auto teleconverter with it. The problem is that at the moment I am restricted to only using my Helios-44M 58mm lens as it has an auto/manual aperture switch, meaning I can use the timer on the camera as it does not stop down with any auto lenses. What I would like to know is if I will have the same problem using a cable release, i.e whether it will stop the lens down when I trigger it or not as I thinking of doing some astrophotography with my auto 28mm but obviously if it does not stop the lens down then I won't be able to use it.

Reading around I have heard of double release cables being used with M42 cameras, one for the shutter, one to stop down, but I don't think that my camera supports this as I can't see anywhere to attach the stop down cable although this may have only been for auto bellows as that is all I have seen pictures of it being used on.
 
I think those double cable releases are only for bellows use, and they screw in to the front of the bellows unit which has a lens stop-down mechanism. They don't screw into the lens. So no :(
 
So will a cable release work with my camera at all? By pushing the button half way down stops down the lens and pushing it all th way opens the shutter so it must have to stop it down to take a picture.
 
Zenith EM has auto aperture stop-down. So it will work with a cable release as normal.

If you have a lens with an auto stop-down aperture, and the mechanical coupling is retained through whatever accessory you use, eg teleconverter, tubes whatever, it will work. The problem with bellows is that the mechanical coupling is broken so it has to be reestablished with a duplicate mechanisim in the front mount, activated by a double cable release.

Does that answer your question?
 
I'll confirm Richard's post above. I used to use my EM with a sniper grip and 400mm lens. The Sniper's trigger was cabled to the shutter button and the half press stopped down the lens with the full travel activating the shutter.

Bob
 
O.k thanks that answers my question. I just don't want a repeat of what I did using the self timer, I did not know that it would only work with manual lenses, so I ended up taking three landscape slides on a tripod that of course came out completely white almost as I was using my auto 28mm lens.
 
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