M42->MAF Adapter With Focus Confirmation

Since this adapter is quite popular and interesting accessory i have decided to help James here with a bit of free advertising (a small banner is added to our free beaner rotator on the left).
Hopefully, this thread will also serve for any Q&A if needed.

I hope dyxum members won't mind having these banners in our forum but i feel obligated to "abuse" dyxum traffic and help a bit those who are working to make our system even better.


M42->MAF Adapter With Focus Confirmation

This M42-MAF electronic adapter has an electronic component that communicates with Minolta AF/Alpha SLR bodies in the same way as compatible lenses. When the camera is powered on, it reports data from the adapter to the body. Using the adapter, focus confirmation will be shown in the viewfinder and Anti-Shake/SSS will be effective (providing correct focal length information has been selected).

**       Preset Lens data (Only valid for Multiple Data Adapters)
1.        Switch off camera, mount the adapter and MF Lens
2.        Switch on camera – by multiple half-press and releases of the shutter button within 10 seconds you can select one of 4 focal length/aperture combinations (in order, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/2.8 & 200/3.5).
3.        If you want to reset to the adapter at any time you should turn off the camera and repeat step 2

**       Operation
1.        Mount the adapter to camera body, set AF/MF switch to MF. Turn on camera.
2.        by multiple half-press and releases of the shutter button within 10 seconds you can select one of 4 focal length/aperture combinations (in order, 50/1.4, 85/1.4, 135/2.8 & 200/3.5).
3.        There are two ways to set aperture, you can set aperture value same as real Len’s aperture, then you can record right aperture value in Exif . the process steps are:
a)       Fully open the MF Lens aperture.
b)       Set the aperture value to the one you want.
c)        Half press shuttle button and adjust focus, the focus confirmation LED will light when in focus.
d)       Press AEL lock for a measured value.
e)       Set MF Lens aperture same as you set in step b).
f)        Take picture.
4.        The other way is very simple. Just set body’s aperture in minimum value. In this way, they will not record correct aperture in Exif. The steps are:
a)       Set body’s aperture to minimum value (wide open)
b)       Open the MF Lens aperture to ease focusing.
c)        Half press shuttle button and adjust focus, the focus confirmation LED will light when in focus.
d)       Set MF Lens aperture the desired value.
e)       Take picture.

**       Note：
1.        For maximum effect with AS/SSS, you should choose the same lens focal length as the MF lens being used; for instance, if you use a Takumar 50/1.4, set the Adaptor to AF50/1.4. When you use a 135/2.8 MF lens, set to AF135/2.8. If you are using a lens where the focal length is not one of the four available the effectiveness of AS/SSS may be less than optimal.
2.       Please note that rough treatment and handling of the M42-MAF adapter may effect alignment of electrical contacts.


adapter home page

The above link has been reported as not working - please try this one instead..

An older thread about this adapter can be found here

Edited by Bob J - 30 August 2010 at 20:47

Trick -
how to get "focus trap" with your m42 lenses and James' adapter:

*Set your fire priority to focus priority instead of shutter priority within your camera config
*Set the camera to AF (yes, unfortunately the AF pin will make some grinding noise)
*Press shutter button, and keep it pressed
*Focus
*The shutter will only fire when the focus is correct

I admit that I still struggle in selecting the right data set sometimes. If the aperture isn't set to wide open on the camera you have no way of immediately knowing which data set you are on as you scroll through them with half pushes of the shutter release button. But my experience is that if I rotate the front wheel to set the camera to max aperture it closes the time window for data selection and locks into which ever one you're on. So then I have to unmount, power down, power up again... Sometimes it takes me multiple tries before I get it. It doesn't help that my adapter is set for the 28/3.5, 50/1.4, 55/1.8 and 135/3.5 That means the first and last data sets have the same max aperture so it's really hard to know which one I'm on. I end up having to take a picture and check the exif to know for sure.

I am not sure I understand this post.
Is this an online manual for a product that can be bought ?
If yes, where can I buy it ?

Thanks kiklop's kindy help.
Thanks for friends' advices about the adapter since years ago.
Now the adapter with focus confirmating looks useful and powerful, there are a lot of your supports in it. Look the posts above, you give lots of skills usefully beyond my knowledge.
I'd like reply what i known about the adapter also.

Thanks again.

Edited by JamesLaoT - 08 April 2008 at 19:06

Perhaps we should merge James' old sales thread and this thread. Also, it might be a good idea if James kept all of his Dyxum sales posted in the first post just so the members here who order can keep track of their order without constantly emailing/PM'ing James. Kind of like this
--------------------------------------------
Single ID Chip: $XX
Single ID Chipped M42 Adapter: $XX

Multi ID Chip: $XX
Multi ID Chipped M42 Adapter: $XX

memberXXX - [60/1.1]+[50/1.4,85/2,135/2.8,200/4] shipped
memberXXX - [50/1.4,85/2,135/2.8,200/4] shipped
memberXXX - [60/1.1] shipped
memberXXX - [60/1.4] pending
memberXXX - [35/2] pending

Arkku wrote: Yes, I recommend everyone order an adapter with a different aperture for each focal length, even if it doesn't exactly match your lens. Or at the very least arrange the order of settings so that no two consecutive ones (which include first and last) have the same aperture.

I wasn't given the option of changing the order of data sets, and I wouldn't think it wise to intentionally select a max aperture that doesn't match the lens.

Since I really only use 3 of my M42 lenses, I've wondered if it wouldn't be easier to simply get a single lens adapter for each of them, with the appropriate data for each.