M42 lenses and other exotic camera lenses

[masp]

Do you use them on your DSLRs? And which ones give the best bang for the buck? I've been reading lately about how some M42 lenses can offer very high optical quality for the dollar if you can find them used.

Of course you may have to set focus and exposure manually, which might be harder on entry level DSLRs if they do not have depth of field preview. Have you tried these lenses and what are they like?

[Fortytwo]

I used to have a couple of M42 Carl Zeiss lenses from the DDR. They were pretty good considering what I payed for it. So, anything from CZ is recommended by me...

[masp]

What's the DDR? Sounds like a camera system but I guess it could be Deutsche Demokratische Republik.

Also, where is a good place to shop for such lenses? Can you find good deals online, or are you better off looking locally?

[Fortytwo]

I mean Deutsche Demokratische Republik. That's where they used to make the old M42 lenses. It usually states so on the lens as well as an indication it's one of the old original ones.

I usually buy them online, there are plenty of them still out there. If that isn't a testament to how increably well they were build, I don't know what is...

[masp]

If you don't mind me asking, how much have you paid for your M42's so far and which ones have the best optical quality? Sounds like this might a much better deal for starting out, if you don't mind lack of AF (and maybe metering too?).

Anyway it sounds fantastic. It's even good for the environment (excluding shipping).

[Fortytwo]

Prices can vary a lot. So you'll need to know what to look for. Some lenses are incredibly cheap. Like Zeiss Triotar lenses. But they tend to be really soft. On the other hand, a good Zeiss Sonnar might go for over $200. But those are incredibly sharp and well build.

A good place to start might be the famous Zeiss-Tessar lenses. They are relatively cheap and offer incredible contrast (due to their simple design) and are usually very sharp. Prices here vary around $40 to $100 for the really rare ones. Sonnars tend to be a little bit more expensive. You might also find some very nice Biotars for resonable prices.

Beside Zeiss, there are so many out there, it's hard to tell. Some might be really cheap (like an Industar 50-2) and be really good. Other might cost more, but aren't that good. Most of the russian stuff is worth looking into. Lenses by Voightlander or Zeiss usually don't dissapoint (except that Zeiss Triotar perhaps).

Avoid the cheap telephotolenses with 300mm or more, they are ****. Also stay clear of mirror lenses, unless you know what to use them for. Most of these cheat telephotolenses are converted telescopes and only function properly when used as such. They are not suited to be used as a normal telephoto lens. I can write an entire assay on how and when to use a mirror lens. Maybe I will some day...

[benoit c]

you should also have a look on M42 Takumar lenses, originaly designed for Asahi pentax. 50/1,4 super takumar is an outstanding lens. price can vary a lot, but it can be found at about USD100 or so.

[Barefoot]

I have the Super-TaK 50mm 1.4 and the 135mm 3.5, but no adapters to mount them on anything other than the SpotMatic that I bought them with. Both are wonderful pieces of glass.

[thoughton]

I've been through a few M42 lenses in the last few years, including the Super Takumar 50/1.4, SMC Takumar 85/1.8 and SMC Takumar 135/2.5. I eventually decided they were too flippin' heavy though (all-metal construction means they weigh a quite a bit more than modern lenses) and sold them to finance my latest camera. Takumar prices have been going up a lot in the last 3 years or so which also helped my decision to sell, I sold all 3 of the above lenses on ebay for approx 300% of the price I paid for them (also on ebay).

M42 lenses also turn up in charity shops occasionally, more than modern lenses do anyway! I picked up a Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Oreston 50/1.8 for £3 last year. Also a Pentacon 135/2.8 and 30/2.8 as a bundle for about £40. The Pentacon 135 was a lovely lens, 15 aperture blades for some lovely bokeh and mad starbursts. Again, extremely heavy though, so I eventually put it on ebay for 99p - it sold for £135!

Currently my only M42 lens is an old Soviet 100mm approx f2 night vision lens which doesn't have an aperture. I keep it because it's got this insane field curvature which gives a sort of telephoto lensbaby effect which I love.