topic Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D in EF & RF Lenses

How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

mayers — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 13:49:02 GMT

My friend has a 2000D with a stock lens and hes not using it much. So i wanted to give it a new life with a M42 vintage lens. Ive found a mount from KF Concept, but by Chat GPT there could be an issue with focusing, because the lens will be too far from a sensor. Do you have any expereance with adapting M42 on Canon DSLRs?

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

shadowsports — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 14:40:14 GMT

Greetings,

I would not recommend this set up. Just buy a fully compatible lens for the body, used or refurbished.

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

TomRamsey — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:27:14 GMT

The problem with some of these adapters is that they will not work on every M42 lens because the rear element protrusion can contact the mirror. Also it may not have infinity focus. I would suggest to go to a site like B&H which sells several of the adapters and read the reviews. Pentax makes an adapter for Pentax cameras that work perfectly, but that's because the designed it to work with their M42 lenses, but there are enough differences in manufacturers to create problems. The mirrorless cameras are easy to adapt because of the lack of a mirror, and shorter registration distances to allow for the adapter to fill in that distance.

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

ebiggs1 — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 16:37:53 GMT

I don’t think ever striking the mirror would be a problem but that’s the least of it. It’s a bad idea at best and best left to the hobbyist or someone just playing around with it. Certainly not a general use path forward.

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

justadude — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 19:21:08 GMT

I have various adapter plates to use my old vintage lenses on my digital camera bodies... and the M42 plate is one of them. It does turn your camera into a full manual setting (adjust aperture on the lens, same with focus). While some of my film lenses are fun to just play around with, a few (the Helios M44-4 58mm f/2 for example) are wonderful to use on digital cameras. Sample from that M42 lens on the R6 Mk ll below.

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

normadel — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:40:41 GMT

M42 lenses can successfully be adapted to (just about) ANY digital camera. That's the magical thing about them. No issues with mirror interference or infinity focus. There are still many fans of old M42 lenses because of this. Lots of them are inferior to or no better than modern lenses, but some are superior. The issue for you, mayers, is that there will be a loss of autofocus and autoexposure. Completely manual operation. Whether it is worth it for you to deal with this (if the lens is special enough to want to) is up to you.

ChatGPT is confusing you. Lens adapters to put the old Canon FD lenses on DSLRs require an optical element in them to enable infinity focus, which is a problem because the cheap lens elements have a negative impact on image quality.. Not needed with M42 adapters. I've done this, just for fun. But I got rid of my M42 lenses and threw away the adapter..

Re: How to adapt M42 lens on EF-S mount for EOS 2000D

waniw54328 — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 12:41:35 GMT

Hi, It may not have infinity focus. I would suggest to go to a site like B&H which sells several of the adapters and read the reviews. Pentax makes an adapter for Pentax cameras that work perfectly, but that's because the designed it to work with their M42 lenses, but there are enough differences in manufacturers to create problems.