HunterW Loc: West Virginia

Hey all,

I recently picked up a Canon A-1 (which, by the way, is a fascinating camera). All of my other lenses are M42 screw mounts. I would like to find an adaptor to go on my Canon, in which I could still use my M42 lenses. I have looked all over the web, and I only found two hits. They were both from Europe, and I do not know how reliable they are. My question is, is this type of adaptor even made? And if so, where can I find one?

Cheers!

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

You might try contacting Stephen Gandy at CameraQuest.com. CameraQuest is primary an importer/distributor of Voigtländer lenses, but his shop also carries some M42 screw mount adaptors. Be very specific regarding what you are trying to do. If Stephen has what you need or knows where you might get it, he'll be happy to help. CameraQuest is a small private business, so don't worry if his response takes a couple of days.

HunterW Loc: West Virginia

Awesome, thanks for the info! I greatly appreciate it.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

The good news is that the flange registration distances work (42mm for FD - the A-1) to M42 screw (45.46mm) so you can mount the lenses and get full infinity focus. There will be no linkage between the lens and the camera, so everything will be manual aperture control etc. I have an AE-1 and a T90, but have not tried this myself.

Here's one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/97551-REG/General_Brand_Canon_FD_Body_to.html

It is much harder to put an FD lens on a Canon EOS body effectively without intermediate lenses. It can be done, but it is non-trivial. However I have FD, M42, Nikon, Contax/Yashica lens working happily on Canon EOS APS-C cameras.

This should be easy for you, and less than $20.

Good luck

HunterW Loc: West Virginia

Exactly what I was looking for! Awesome!

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

I have a lot of M42's that I use on the Canon EOS bodies with a simple adapter that spaces the lens the proper distance from the sensor for infinity focus, the reason I can use such a simple adaptor that serves as nothing more than a spacing ring is because the registration distance of a M42 lens is 45.46mm, the registration distance for the Canon EOS body is 44mm so the adapter simply spaces the rear element when focused to infinity at 45.46mm, no additional (corrective) lenses are needed. The registration distance of your Canon A-1, if I am not mistaken it was built to use with Canon FD lenses, is 42mm so you may be able to find simple adapters such as the ones that I use for my EOS cameras to adapt your M42 lenses. In your case because you are using an old film camera your options will be somewhat limited and probably a bit more expensive than what I pay for my adapters, usually under $10. Price does not seem to necessarily equate to quality with these things, a properly milled adapter is all you need and I have yet to have a problem with the inexpensive ones that I purchase that are made in China.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

We seem to be in agreement, and B&H has them.... https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/97551-REG/General_Brand_Canon_FD_Body_to.html

When I was a kid, a long time ago, in country far, far away, B&H was Boosey and Hawkes... : https://www.boosey.com/ How times change...

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

Had I read the thread and seen your post I would not have made mine, I often am too quick to respond to the OP without reading comments first.

blackest Loc: Ireland

http://www.ebay.ie/itm/CANON-LENS-MOUNT-ADAPTER-P-M42-TO-FD-FL-BOXED-193967-/381947371478?hash=item58edd65fd6:g:RHwAAOSw9GhYkmPu

I could only find a us supplier pacificrimcamera based Salem Oregon, looks original

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

No worries, you have excellent knowledge , often times better than mine, and as far as I am concerned always add value. Reinforcing something is not always a bad thing!

Cheers

oldgeezer3 Loc: SoCal

I picked up an adapter from B&H to use Pentax M42 mount for my Canon T3i.

blackest Loc: Ireland

That adapter is readily available M42 to EOS Mount.
The Canon A1 is FD breech mount from the generation before EOS and so requires an M42 to FD mount adapter, this is less common and it seems more expensive on the plus side the registration distance ensures it is purely a mechanical adapter.
He just needs the right shaped hole :)

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

Try SRB in the UK; they make custom mounts for Nikon, Canon, yashica, Olympus; they also do Canon Fd/ M42

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

I purchased the M42 lens to Canon FD body adapter a year ago on eBay; I had to wait two or three months until one finally showed up to bid on. With eBay, for some less common items, it's really just a matter of watching and being patient. If the item exists, it will usually turn up... eventually.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

I just did a Google search and this page has many venders for this adapter - I was lucky that my A-1 was FD mount and the lens work great on my T3i - also by doing this type of search I was able to put a great Tamron 28-200 that had a Konica mount into use on my T3i- yes these lens are all manual focus but heck that makes photography more interesting.

https://www.google.com/search?site=&source=hp&q=m42+to+canon+eos+adapter&oq=Canon+M42+to+Canon+OES+adapter&gs_l=hp.1.0.0i22i30k1l2.10567.40140.0.55447.31.31.0.0.0.0.164.3734.0j31.31.0....0...1c.1.64.hp..0.27.3285.0..0j35i39k1j0i131k1j0i20k1j0i10k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.R-CykuSUTF8

Harvey