M42 Lenses (particularly Takumar 50mm) - couple of questions

CyBeRkId2002

CyBeRkId2002

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Hi all,

My first full manual lens arrived today (Super Takumar 50mm 1.4) from these very forums and so far it seems great! Wonderful bokeh, fairly sharp wide-open, amazingly sharp stopped down and manual focus seems to be relatively simple, even on my D90. I have a couple of quick questions.

1) The lens I have is quite yellowed (a common problem with this lens from what I have read) and wondered if anyone had any tips on getting rid of this. i have read reports, mainly from the US, about leaving it in direct sunlight for a couple of weeks/months wrapped in foil but surely this will be a problem at this time of year. Does anyone have any other suggestions or does it need to be put away/WB adjusted until next summer?

2) Can anyone recommend an M42-Nikon adapter which works well, doesn't degrade the image too much, is fairly cheap and gives infinity focus? The one I am looking at the minute is the Kood but wondered if anyone could advise any others?

Thanks,
Michael
 
UV light will bleach the yellowing so you could use an alternative UV source to the sun. Maybe take the Takumar on a trip to a tanning booth :D.

I haven't had any experience of the Kood adapter, but have read that they are OK.
 
You can't use an M42 lens on a Nikon body and retain infinity focus without introducing another optical element.

Its really not worth using it, its going to be a cheap element with a minor TC effect introduced.

Also if you have a yellowing M42 its been badly stored. Its not common problem if the lens has been looked after. All my M42's are pristine, and definitely NOT yellow!
 
Hi andy,

Do the M42 adapters with no glass element vary greatly? The one I have really limits it's focus to within a couple of meters or so, is this normal.

Also, when I mentioned the common problem with the Takumar I was referring to the hundreds (actually thousands) of results you can find when searching for the issue on google. Something to do with the decay of the radioactive compound used in making the lens. Seems pretty common to me but I would agree it's to do with how well the lens has been stored etc.
 
CyBeRkId2002 said:
Hi andy,

Do the M42 adapters with no glass element vary greatly? The one I have really limits it's focus to within a couple of meters or so, is this normal.
Click to expand...

Not really. Obviously thicker ones will limit your ability to focus outwards even further but the problem is here flange distance, which is why an element is needed to correct. In English, this means that the lens can't project an infinity image on the sensor, hence the need for an optical correction.

Unfortunately infinity image problems when using adaptors are quite common - but in this case to get to infinity, you'll need to get an M42 with an optical element as its the only way in Nikon mount.

(in Sony mount, I can use all my M42's with no problem)
 
cheers for the info... I think Canon are the same in not needing the optical element, just a shame Nikon are not the same.

I will have to consider looking into one with an optical element I think. I did see a comparison someone did on Flickr a while back comparing with and without optical element and the results actually looked quite impressive (to be honest I could barely tell the difference between the two!) so may just give one a go.
 
The problem is, buying an M42 with a correction element is starting to veer into false economy.

You could buy a Nikon 50mm f/1.4 manual focus for £50 no problem and that would fit and just work. An M42 Super Takumer is about £45-£50 then you still need to buy the M42 adaptor.

Its a shame, as you say these lenses are very nice, and it always amazes me to be able to use 45 year old lenses on modern DSLRs :)
 
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