FSU M Mount Lenses

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Stu W

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Two of my favorite lenses for my Pentax are the Zenitar 16mm and the Mir 21mm. Both are K-Mount, and are excellent lenses. Each cost $100 new in the box with carrying cases and filters. I'd like to see the FSU put out some M-Mount lenses. Great to buy a quality 16mm lens for 100 bucks or so. Stu
 
hah, so you would like to see the FORMER soviet union put out some M mounts. I will take my time machine out for a spin (I dont do it often, because Im afraid of accidentally killing my grandparents) and will see what I can do (😉 😉)

But really, get a nice Jupiter 8/3/9/11 or Industar, get an M adapter and you golden. Getting a good one takes some luck and CLA.
 
I wonder how your 16mm Zenitar compares to my Pentax 17mm lens. I rarely use the lens, but it is well-built lens that is sharp (in K mount).
 
Raid, I foolishly sold a Pentax 17mm as part of my Leica obsession financing operation, but at 100 bucks I had to try the Zenitar. The Zenitar is a lot easier to use as my Takumar had a screw thread so it wasn't coupled. The mechanics of the Zenitar are better than I expected. Optically , for a fisheye lens, It's fine. It is faster than the Takumar. The 21mm is a great lens, also 100 bucks. Brand new I had to remove the front element and clean it because there was a spray of fine oil on the inside surface. That done the lens was fine. I know these lenses are made for the Nikon and Canon and M42 also. I've used Jupiter lenses on my Contax and enjoy them as well. What I had in mind was a Cosina like lens lineup. I'm sure the FSU could do it. Stu
 
I'm using a 16mm Zenitar on my Leicas.

The native mount on the lens is tyhe M42 (Pentax) thread. I have a simple adaptor which I made to mount the lens on a Barnack leica at the correct registration distance for the Zenitar. I add a bayonet to LTM adaptor for the M cameras. Focus is by using the engraved scale on the lens - no big issue given the enormous depth of field of a 16mm lens. It works quite nicely.

Gandy is offering a similar adaptor for sale
 
Why bother?

Why bother?

For less than the cost of an M adapter, you can buy a FED 2 or Zorki body. I have my Jupiter lenses 'permanently' mounted on a couple of FSU cameras.

If you want a bargain, go on eBAY and look around for Carl Zeiss Jena lenses in M42 mount. The East German CZJ lenses are extraordinary inexpensive. In addition, M42 screw mount SLR bodies are a dime a dozen all over the place.
 
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Stu: I got the 17mm lens without having a Pentax K body. Now I have a small MX (or something like it). I will most likely sell this lens, unless you tell me it is a great lens.
 
Raid, I loved it. Being on a tight budget I sold the 17 because I got enough for it to almost pay for an M3 body, and only used it occasionally. It is a very well made lens however. The built in filters are a really nice feature. The MX is a great body. I have a black MX and an LX. Lose the standard focusing screen on the MX and put in a matte screen. You can also put in the super bright LX matte screen, but you would have to re-calibrate the meter. Enjoy them. Stu
 
Stu W said:
Raid, I loved it. Being on a tight budget I sold the 17 because I got enough for it to almost pay for an M3 body, and only used it occasionally. It is a very well made lens however. The built in filters are a really nice feature. The MX is a great body. I have a black MX and an LX. Lose the standard focusing screen on the MX and put in a matte screen. You can also put in the super bright LX matte screen, but you would have to re-calibrate the meter. Enjoy them. Stu
Click to expand...

Stu: I must have another camera and not the MX. is there a MV or soemthing like that. It is small and fully automatic without manual control. Must be a low level Pentax K camera. Was your 17mm lens in K mount or M42?
 
Raid, if it's aperture priority it's probably an MV, which is a real light and small camera. It's the same as the ME but without some of the extras like a self timer. The 17mm was a screw mount. I have some real nice shots I took with it last winter at the nature preserve by my house. I managed to compose some shots so that you couldn't tell it was a fisheye. Of course I took pics of the dog and cat real close up for fun. Stu
 
Stu: I think, the 17mm lens was sold more in screwmount than in K mount. Yes, the little camera is an MV, as you said above. I have just placed the 17mm up for trade here in this website. Maybe I can get something interesting offered for it.
 
Zenitar

Zenitar

HERE are four of my pictures shot with the 16mm Zenitar, mounted on a Canon FD SLR with a simple M42-FD adapter.

It's a fun lens and well-made. There's obvious distortion of all sorts, but it's worth much more than the $100 brand new sale price.
 
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