M42 lens on Minolta/Sony cameras?

06/03/2007 11:25:29 PM · #1

I've known for a long time that you can get adaptors for M42 lenses to other camera brands, but only recently discovered that there are also adaptors for M42 lenses for Minolta/Sony AF cameras - either cheap ones that just have the appropriate threads, or more expensive ones like
//haodascreen.com/m42minolta.aspx that have electrical contacts too.

Does anyone have any experience in using M42 lenses on the Dynax/Maxxum/Alpha cameras?

Also can anyone point me to a quick summary about which M42 brands are generally good, and which ones are not even worth investigating? I'm aware of //m42.povlab.org/site_lenses.php but haven't seen consistent information about lens quality on there.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

06/06/2007 06:24:38 AM · #2

Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?

bod

06/06/2007 07:37:33 AM · #3

Can't tell you anything about using these lenses on Minolta cams, but can point you in the direction of dpc user

mflenses who has an excellent website MFLenses.

Asahi Pentax & Carl Zeiss glass is well worth looking out for.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

06/06/2007 12:31:42 PM · #4

I just got the Peleng 8mm fisheye, it has the M42 mount. It came with this adaptor. What exactly is your question?

Message edited by author 2007-06-06 13:06:22.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/07/2007 07:57:00 AM · #5

Originally posted by MrEd:

I just got the Peleng 8mm fisheye, it has the M42 mount. It came with this adaptor. What exactly is your question?

I was wondering how well the combination worked:
- Do you have to do anything to make the camera happy to work with MF lenses?
- Does automatic exposure work ok? Or do you have to meter manually and set an appropriate shutter speed? I assume it would have to be aperture priority (with aperture set on the lens, not with the scroll wheel).
- Any issues with lenses being too close to the mirror?
- Are there really any benefits in getting a M42-Dynax/Maxxum adaptor with the electrical contacts on it? I would have expected that the lenses wouldn't have any electronics that the camera could even talk to.

Thanks!

LoudDog

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

06/07/2007 09:13:00 AM · #6

I use a M42 on my 350D. Works great, only hard part is manual focus.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

06/07/2007 12:29:18 PM · #7

Originally posted by paddles:

Originally posted by MrEd:
I just got the Peleng 8mm fisheye, it has the M42 mount. It came with this adaptor. What exactly is your question?

I was wondering how well the combination worked:
- Do you have to do anything to make the camera happy to work with MF lenses?
- Does automatic exposure work ok? Or do you have to meter manually and set an appropriate shutter speed? I assume it would have to be aperture priority (with aperture set on the lens, not with the scroll wheel).
- Any issues with lenses being too close to the mirror?
- Are there really any benefits in getting a M42-Dynax/Maxxum adaptor with the electrical contacts on it? I would have expected that the lenses wouldn't have any electronics that the camera could even talk to.

Thanks!

1. The camera works fine with the MF lens. I just needed to turn off the 'lens check', otherwise the camera would tell me theres no lens. I'd imagine you'd have to do the same.
2. With the Peleng, I can use Aperture Priority, it'll set the shutter. I haven't tried Shutter Priority, but would have to imagine it wouldn't work because the aperture is controlled manually.
3. No issues with the lens being to close to the mirror.
4. If the lens is MF, then the contacts you speak of wouldn't work.....at least I imagine it wouldn't, since there's no contacts on the lens.

Though I haven't tested this. I have read on here, with the Peleng, you set the ring to infinity and shoot. Basically, 'Set it and forget it'. I have yet to test that theory.

Edited: See this post. It'll show how to turn off the 'lens checker' option.

Message edited by author 2007-06-07 15:34:09.