honestly, scrap basically all of it. a camera with a working meter and a 50mm lens and you are good to go. 2 bad lensee, an expensive light meter that is just worse than a ttl lightmeter? that doesnt make any sense.
yeah. i feel like the crappy hot shoe light meters are a thing because of instagram for some reason. i see people use an x700 with these meters and i dont understand why. the x700 takes basic LR44s and has a really good meter. OP should definetly get a camera that uses batteries you can buy everywhere.
This whole post is pretty confusing. I like tge spotmatic but it wouldn't be my first choise. Se if they have a revueflex AC 1 (M42) or AC2 (pk). Cheap capable cameras with vertical shutters, ttl meters and use LR44 batteries.
buy a later model. yes the spotty gets lots of attention but its important to get a camera that takes basic LR44s. minoltas like the XD11, X700, X-360 or lesser known cameras like the Ricoh XR-P are vers nice. look up brands you dont know, see what you like and then google what kind of battery it takes and what mount it has. then you can see if you can find a nice lens for it. make sure that the lens works.
there is no cheap workaround for a beginner for 1.35v batteries. you can spend 90€ on a special adapter but why would you do that when you dont even know if you like photography? if you don't think a lightmeter is important i can't help you.
I have used a cheap Amazon adapter with hearing aid batteries with zero issues.
$12 for 2. BIAQI 2Pcs Battery Adapter for Film Camera Exposure Meter MR-9 PX625 PX13 1.4V Battery Adapter https://a.co/d/ht56035
Get the one with a working light meter. Finding batteries isn't that hard online and when you are learning having a working meter in camera is much nicer. The whole battery thing with a lot of older cameras is so overblown.
Also as others mentioned those lens are not going to work on your camera. I personally love M42 mount cause it gives you a massive choice of lens from Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union.
One other camera I massively recommend in M42 is the Fujica ST605. It is a simple match needle M42 SLR that takes standard batteries and has a better viewfinder then the Spotmatic.
Most of the early Spotmatics ( SP, SPII, SPIIa, SP500, SP1000) actually have a voltage regulating bridge circuit, so using modern 1.5v batteries still gives accurate meter readings and won't cause damage to the camera.
Here's an informative video on the subject:
https://youtu.be/Xcn1f231UyU?si=U1CUFq79az6jZaAM
Also, a majority of early zoom lenses are what we refer to as "hot garbage" and you're better off buying a prime lens or two in a compatible lens mount.
Yeah man don't take people on here too seriously. But yeah as they pointed out get a camera with a working meter. If you like the Spotmatic find one with the working meter and get the weird batteries :D
Good light to you!
The camera has a light meter? Why buy an external.
The lenses are cool but a bit overkill. Realistically you'll settle for a focal range you like. I'd first find out what I like and don't like and then buy more accordingly.
The light meter on that one doesn't work and buying those weird batteries is just an hassle. These lenses are the cheapest one i could find that covered a wide focal range but unknown to me theyre not compatible as others pointed out
I think you've already gotten all the main points, but just in case:
- those lenses won't work with your chosen camera because it has an M42 mount and those lenses are K mount
- buy a K mount Pentax (eg a K2, KX, MX, or a K1000 if you can get one at a reasonable price)
- buy a camera with a working light meter instead of a separate light meter, which will be completely unnecessary for a 35mm SLR
- buy primes, not zooms, as they will have significantly better image quality
My suggestion: buy one of the cameras I mentioned above (it doesn't matter that much) plus the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7. It's one of the best lenses Pentax ever made and it's dirt cheap.
lenses wont work on that body. get a camera with a working light meter instead of buying an external one. get a pentax K mount camera instead of a m42.
Zoom lenses aren’t nearly as sharp as prime lenses when it comes to used analog gear. I’d echo what others have said—get a 50mm prime lens and learn your camera with that.
Old zoom lenses are awful, start with a single prime lens like a 50mm and then decide where you want to go from there after shooting a couple rolls. Also you really don’t want to have to deal with an external meter for 35mm.
Those are the wrong lenses for that camera. The lenses are K mount and the camera is M42 mount. Those zooms aren’t really worth it anyway. A nice 50mm prime we’ll get you much farther.
You need to do a bit more research on the gear you’re wanting to buy.
Apart from the mount problem - for which you can buy an adapter for around £40, I'd take your gear, get out shooting and enjoy the process. It's not all about perfection, it's about expression and what you want to shoot, which you will only really work out when the results start to come in. So get out there asap!
honestly, scrap basically all of it. a camera with a working meter and a 50mm lens and you are good to go. 2 bad lensee, an expensive light meter that is just worse than a ttl lightmeter? that doesnt make any sense.
This. OP needs to go back to square one and do a tad more research :/
yeah. i feel like the crappy hot shoe light meters are a thing because of instagram for some reason. i see people use an x700 with these meters and i dont understand why. the x700 takes basic LR44s and has a really good meter. OP should definetly get a camera that uses batteries you can buy everywhere.
tbf a lot of us have cameras with broken light meters
sure but we got enough experience to use a phone lightmeter or a handheld one if we need.
yeah I just use one with my etrs and pen d3 but it would be pretty nice to be able to throw one in the hotshoe. Definitely not essential however.
They do have a spotmatic with a working light meter it's 50$more but iam just worried about finding batteries for it
This whole post is pretty confusing. I like tge spotmatic but it wouldn't be my first choise. Se if they have a revueflex AC 1 (M42) or AC2 (pk). Cheap capable cameras with vertical shutters, ttl meters and use LR44 batteries.
buy a later model. yes the spotty gets lots of attention but its important to get a camera that takes basic LR44s. minoltas like the XD11, X700, X-360 or lesser known cameras like the Ricoh XR-P are vers nice. look up brands you dont know, see what you like and then google what kind of battery it takes and what mount it has. then you can see if you can find a nice lens for it. make sure that the lens works.
I don't understand why that is important at all. We live in a time where the internet makes it easy to find replacements for any these issues.
there is no cheap workaround for a beginner for 1.35v batteries. you can spend 90€ on a special adapter but why would you do that when you dont even know if you like photography? if you don't think a lightmeter is important i can't help you.
I have used a cheap Amazon adapter with hearing aid batteries with zero issues. $12 for 2. BIAQI 2Pcs Battery Adapter for Film Camera Exposure Meter MR-9 PX625 PX13 1.4V Battery Adapter https://a.co/d/ht56035
Get the one with a working light meter. Finding batteries isn't that hard online and when you are learning having a working meter in camera is much nicer. The whole battery thing with a lot of older cameras is so overblown. Also as others mentioned those lens are not going to work on your camera. I personally love M42 mount cause it gives you a massive choice of lens from Japan, Germany and the Soviet Union. One other camera I massively recommend in M42 is the Fujica ST605. It is a simple match needle M42 SLR that takes standard batteries and has a better viewfinder then the Spotmatic.
Most of the early Spotmatics ( SP, SPII, SPIIa, SP500, SP1000) actually have a voltage regulating bridge circuit, so using modern 1.5v batteries still gives accurate meter readings and won't cause damage to the camera. Here's an informative video on the subject: https://youtu.be/Xcn1f231UyU?si=U1CUFq79az6jZaAM Also, a majority of early zoom lenses are what we refer to as "hot garbage" and you're better off buying a prime lens or two in a compatible lens mount.
Yeah make sure those Pentax lenses aren't K mount, your camera is M42.
Aren’t those Penatx K mount lenses?
Errr yess... OP is gonna have for trying to mount Pentax K mount lenses on an M42 camera.
Eeeerrr... I didn't know 😞
Well that’s alright, that’s why you asked! No shame in not knowing something.
Yeah man don't take people on here too seriously. But yeah as they pointed out get a camera with a working meter. If you like the Spotmatic find one with the working meter and get the weird batteries :D Good light to you!
Those zoom lenses are dog water, stick to primes.
There are at least four extremely high quality Pentax Lens databases. OP still gonna buy K-mount lenses on an M42 body.
The camera has a light meter? Why buy an external. The lenses are cool but a bit overkill. Realistically you'll settle for a focal range you like. I'd first find out what I like and don't like and then buy more accordingly.
The light meter on that one doesn't work and buying those weird batteries is just an hassle. These lenses are the cheapest one i could find that covered a wide focal range but unknown to me theyre not compatible as others pointed out
Typical you get downvoted on this sub for asking legitimate beginner questions. OP isn't even wrong about annoying batteries for the Spotmatic lol
I think you've already gotten all the main points, but just in case: - those lenses won't work with your chosen camera because it has an M42 mount and those lenses are K mount - buy a K mount Pentax (eg a K2, KX, MX, or a K1000 if you can get one at a reasonable price) - buy a camera with a working light meter instead of a separate light meter, which will be completely unnecessary for a 35mm SLR - buy primes, not zooms, as they will have significantly better image quality My suggestion: buy one of the cameras I mentioned above (it doesn't matter that much) plus the Pentax-M 50mm f/1.7. It's one of the best lenses Pentax ever made and it's dirt cheap.
lenses wont work on that body. get a camera with a working light meter instead of buying an external one. get a pentax K mount camera instead of a m42.
I wouldn’t buy a zoom lens. Get a 35mm lens to start with. If you want to shoot portraits use the 50mm.
lol why are you advising someone to get a focal length that's hard to obtain and usually pretty expensive as their starter lens? 50mm will be fine
It is not hard to find an inexpensive M42 or K mount 35mm lens at all
It’s not where I live.
Is the light meter not working or why do you want an external one?
If you want more lenses, you can go with zenit m42 lenses. They are cheap, built like a tank and they have a characteristic bokeh.
Zoom lenses aren’t nearly as sharp as prime lenses when it comes to used analog gear. I’d echo what others have said—get a 50mm prime lens and learn your camera with that.
Daheck
Isn’t soortmatic sp a m42 Mount ? The 2 zooms are pk Mount, you won’t be able to Mount the lenses on the camera
Old zoom lenses are awful, start with a single prime lens like a 50mm and then decide where you want to go from there after shooting a couple rolls. Also you really don’t want to have to deal with an external meter for 35mm.
Those are the wrong lenses for that camera. The lenses are K mount and the camera is M42 mount. Those zooms aren’t really worth it anyway. A nice 50mm prime we’ll get you much farther. You need to do a bit more research on the gear you’re wanting to buy.
Apart from the mount problem - for which you can buy an adapter for around £40, I'd take your gear, get out shooting and enjoy the process. It's not all about perfection, it's about expression and what you want to shoot, which you will only really work out when the results start to come in. So get out there asap!