Simple MF questions

[FScott]

I was hoping one of you MF favoring folks (Condyk, Buze, etc...) can answer a couple of simple questions on manual focus lenses on an EF mount camera (20D for me).

Using a standard m42 to EF adapter I assume there is no automatic aperture stop down at shutter release (seeing as how the canon does not have a mechanical linkage). Is the procedure then to focus with the lens wide open and then to stop down the lens for the exposure? I assume aperture priority AE is still allowed. Do you meter with the lens stopped down or wide open? How well does this work in practice? I assume this is much much better for still shots than for anything that is moving. I've wanted to try this and thus have been prowling for a pentax smc 50 1.4 and a Zeiss Jena 135 3.5 but all the interest seems to make them hard to come by and I hate ebay. Are there other lenses that aren't too expensive or too popular that I should find to start out with? I'm looking for excellent optical quality in a medium wide to mediium tele prime. Also are all m42 to EF adapters created equal? Thanks!

p.s. I looked at the manual focus forum:

http://oomz.net/mf/

But it is a bit tough to get started...

-- Scott.

[condyk]

Buze, Bottom Bracket, et al are the Masters of MF, I am a mere artisan! Buze's forum has much info and people are helpful. Search for stuff there.

You can use AV or full Manual. Set the fstop on the lens using the ring, focus and shoot. Check the histogram, adjust and shoot again if you need to. Fast lenses are nice and bright in the viewfinder so it really does help with focusing. The slower they are the harder to focus. You can get a focus screen replacement but won't necessarily help with slow lenses.

The M42 adaptors can be different but just buy one and try. I don't reckon it's a big deal. They are cheap. BTW I have the 1.7 Pentax and it's awesome. They are easier to find than the 1.4 and smaller. Only buy mint unless you like to fiddle. Pay a tad extra for the right one rather than a bit less for a scrappy one. Mine are K Mount so very hard to get adaptors and expensive. I'd stick to M42 if you can. Ebay, SH shops, SH sections of camera shops, online suppliers are all options. I got mine off eBay.

The 1.4 50mm and 3.5 135mm are both well up there as stellar lenses, along with the Flek 35mm. First two are both my joint favourite lenses ever used ... including my three ex L's! Like my food I prefer my photography slow and if are of similar temerament then so will you ;-)