Best of the M42's?

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Is there a list somewhere online that reviews the best of the M42 lenses, from all different manufacturers? I've read Karen Nakamura's page of course, but the amount of lenses in this format is dizzying.

Alternately, perhaps some of you can share your favorites.

 

[feenej]

Yeah, here is the website, tho it looks like it may take a lot of reading to figure out what are the best.

http://m42.artlimited.net/index.php

 

[Benjamin Marks]

The Pentax SM lenses are so good, particularly in light of their price:

I have a 24/3.5, a 35/2, a 50/1.4, an 85/1.9 a 105/2.8 and a 200/4. I have been using these on a Canon 5D with an adapter. All metal construction, high-quality machining -- they do not tend to be the fastest lenses, taken as a class, but the image quality is fine. It is just crazy how inexpensive these lenses are, given the quality of their construction; I think that the 50/1.4 is positively Leica-like -- just my humble opinion.

Ben Marks

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

Yeah, here is the website, tho it looks like it may take a lot of reading to figure out what are the best.

http://m42.artlimited.net/index.php

Yowza, that's what I was after.

Benjamin, there seem to be many different versions of the 50/1.4, and some supposedly have an element that turns yellowish over time? How can you tell which are the best-made, and have the most useful coatings?

 

[Benjamin Marks]

Yes, this is true re yellowing. Both the 50/1.4 and the 35/2. I have heard many stories about what causes this; radioactive thorium glass is one of the hypotheses. One "cure" for the yellowing is said to be to place the lens in full sunlight for several days with the sunlight entering the lens through the rear element; this may help the yellowing although I can't see this changing the radioactive nature of the lens element in question. On B&W film, the yellowing will act like a contrast enhancing filter; in color, it may impart a color cast - probably fixable in PS.

 

[rolleistef]

The SMC Takumars are known to be the best M42 lenses ever. Some are better than others though.
The 50/1.4 is said to be as good as a summicron, and owning a 55/2 I can tell they do have a leica-ish look. I've also got the 135/2.5 first version but it is a little soft. The second version is very sharp but costs 150€.
The 85/1.8 is above expectation but is also very expensive.
Fujica lenses are also very good.

 

[feenej]

That's cool. I wish I had a radioactive lens, then I'd be scintilating.

 

[tbarker13]

These Takumar lenses were one of the big reasons I chose a Pentax K10D as my SLR to along with my M8. So far, I have added the 50/1.4 and 85/1.8. I'm just now getting into them, but they both seem quite nice.
The 85/1.8s seem to be one of the more expensive of the Takumars, in the $300-plus range.

 

[oftheherd]

The SMC Takumars are known to be the best M42 lenses ever.

...

Fujica lenses are also very good.

The Takumars are known to be good, and are known to be favorites. I don't know I would agree with them being the best. I can vouch for Fujica lenses.

Their sale prices on ebay seem to bear that out. I just reluctantly watched a 100mm lens go beyond what I thought I could justify paying. It went for well over $100.

I also saw a 50mm f/1.6 go for about $36 something, even with admitted fungus. Actually, I'm surprised it didn't go for more, even with fungus. It was the first of that focal length and f/stop in M42 I had ever seen or heard of.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

How about the Zeiss ones? Are they as good as their M lenses?

 

[radiocemetery]

Here is a Korean site about M42 with lots of pictures posted from Pentax, Zeiss, Fuji, FSU, etc., lenses. Check this one out.

http://64.233.179.104/translate_c?hl=en&u=http://www.pentaxclub.co.kr/

Steve

For English speakers like me try this link on the same website.

http://www.pentaxclub.co.kr/bbs/zbo...&sc=on&select_arrange=headnum&desc=asc&no=189

 

[rolleistef]

Zeiss lenses in M42 were made in GDR : Carl Zeiss Jena (CZJ). They're rather good and some are very much sought after such as the 200/2.8 or 135/2.8. The 50/1.8 Pancolar is nice as well as the Tessar 50/2.8. Most are multi-coated (made in the 60s-80s). But they might not be as good as their modern western counterpart of course.
Here's a site you might find interesting.
http://www.praktica-users.com/lens/mlenses.html

 

[shadowfox]

IMHO, the CZJ lenses are the true fun in owning an M42 kit. Watch for the Biotar 58/2. My favorite.

 

[Windscale]

One can also use the CZJ medium format lenses by attaching their special ring.

 

[squirrel$$$bandit]

I bought one of these Industar pancakes...mint, $35 shipped...gotta love that action...

 

[dll927]

Gee, when I saw this thread, I thought it was about LEICA M4-2's. Of which I happen to have one. Turns out it means M-42 screw mounts, a long-common lens mount. Why can't these companies sort out their model designations??