Pentax to Leica M

[bonjac]

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Thanks again, folks. Hadn't really thought about a problem with zone focusing on a 50MM (effectively 67mm) lens. I am really new to this but like to experiment. Not sure I understand the difficulty with zone focusing at 67mm. Totally my ignorance but if anyone could explain, I would appreciate it. Since I started this thread, I have acquired an adapter, m42 to m, and will be experimenting with it. No doubt, the zone focus problem will become apparent. More to come. Jack

[Ruhayat]

A nuisance about the lenses being upside down ! But do you get correct infinity focus?

 

Interestingly, that never crossed my mind because I don't do landscapes with the m42 lenses. I tested it on my Ricoh GXR just now - nope, it doesn't do infinity.

 

As for the upside down problem, I had the same on my Lumix ones for screw lenses. They aren't Fotodiox brand either. Happily, the flanges are retained by a number of small screws which can be loosened off to allow rotating it to get the proper alignment. Maybe yours has the same facility. If so, you will need a very small screwdriver:)

 

Cool! I will try this and see. The Fotodiox adapter I have for m42 to m4/3 also mounts incorrectly. Sideways, this time.

[Ruhayat]

Thanks again, folks. Hadn't really thought about a problem with zone focusing on a 50MM (effectively 67mm) lens. I am really new to this but like to experiment. Not sure I understand the difficulty with zone focusing at 67mm. Totally my ignorance but if anyone could explain, I would appreciate it. Since I started this thread, I have acquired an adapter, m42 to m, and will be experimenting with it. No doubt, the zone focus problem will become apparent. More to come. Jack

 

On most manual lenses it's quite easy to know your focused zones. Set an aperture. Then, look at the focusing scale on the lens, find the aperture you have just set - it will give you the range that will be in focus. Different focal lengths will have different ranges.

 

With longer lenses zone focusing is harder because the area in focus will be shallower. I circumvent this on 50mm lenses by shooting at f4.0 minimum, and keeping the distance more than 3 metres. At f2.0-2.8 and less than 3 metres, the area in focus can be just a few inches thin.

[Ruhayat]

Another option, buy an old Pentax Spotmatic! They are no bigger/heavier than an M body and you won't have any problem focussing.

 

I don't see the point in making life difficult just for the sake of it.

 

True. I used to have a Pentax MX and it's actually smaller than the M7. The mirror sounds like the crack of a gunshot, though, and is one good reason to shoot m42 lenses on M bodies.

 

M7 vs MX: 28mm comparison by Ramayana X., on Flickr

[Ruhayat]

or if you want digital buy a Pentax digital with a M42 adapter.

 

If going this route, I highly recommend the Pentax K5. Quietest shutter of most current DSLRs, almost as quiet as my old Olympus E1.

 

Though the OP should be aware that finding good m42 adapters to even native K mount cameras that will mount the lenses properly is still quite hard. I went through 3 of them for my K5 from different suppliers and they never mounted straight on. I finally got the lenses to mount dead on with a second-hand original adapter from Pentax. But even then some lenses would still list 1-2 degrees to the left!

[bonjac]

To all:

 

Thanks, again. Really learning a lot from you folks and your willingness to help a newbie.

[bonjac]

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And a 9cm f4 Elmar will probably cost less than the Pentax adaptor! Or you could buy a separate rangefinder (one of the old Leica ones) to use with the Takumar.

 

I took this advice and found a Telex rangefinder ($10). Mounted it on my camera and it is great. Tells me the distance with which to set the lens and the results are quite good. I'm happy!