35mm lens for m42

Neil Grant · Apr 16, 2017

..an obvious choice would be the Flektogon 2.4 - it's got it all: close focus, compact, fast and optically simple. Unfortunately now becoming a bit expensive. Are there any alternatives? Anyone tried a Soligor CD 35 f/2 ?

Helios 1984 · Apr 16, 2017

There is the Mir-1 37mm f/2.8, it has a little bit less of everything and work with preset rings but cost only 1/4 of the price.

Paul Howell · Apr 16, 2017

I have both the Pentax SMC 35 3.5 and 2.0, both are excellent, don't have the Soligor CD 35, have a few other CD lens in Konica and Miranda mounts, as good as Vivitar S1 lens, CD stands for computer designed, the CD lens I own have better build than non CD Soligors. Chinon, Cosina and Ricoh made 35 2.8 in a variety of mounts, I have used the Ricoh 35 2.8 rebranded Sears, it was a decent performer, at F8, as good as my Pentaxs. Hard to find an likely costs more is the Fuji 35 2.8 and F2.

Bill Burk · Apr 16, 2017

I have had the Pentax SMCT 35 3.5 and the Super-Takumar 35 2.0 (67mm filter) and the SMCT 35 2.0

Though I felt the 3.5 did not meet my wants, I've heard that others are quite happy with this lens. The price should be low as they have never been an "expensive" lens.

The older 35 2.0 was my favorite lens, possibly due to the emotions evoked by some of my favorite pictures which it made possible. It got stolen so I always have wanted to replace it. Whether or not it's true, I always felt it was "rectilinear" while the others had some "barrel" distortion. These are fairly easy to find in the $150 to $200 range (not much more than I paid in 1981).

The newer 35 2.0 wasn't what I wanted, I just bought the wrong one by mistake. I thought I saw some "barrel" distortion so I gave it away. My bizarre logic was if I kept it I wouldn't go hunting for the old one with the 67mm filter thread, the one I really wanted.

Hatchetman · Apr 16, 2017

Takumar 28mm f3.5 is a great lens if you would consider a little wider.

darinwc · Apr 18, 2017

The Super Takumar 35mm f3.5 is spectacular, small, super sharp, and well made.
The later 35mm f2 with the smaller front element is pretty bad, or at least the one I had was.
I've heard the one with the larger front element is better, but it has a 67mm filter I think.

Another alternative may be the Kiron/Vivitar 35mm f2??

But then again, just get the Takumar!

kobaltus · Apr 18, 2017

Neil Grant said:
..an obvious choice would be the Flektogon 2.4 - it's got it all: close focus, compact, fast and optically simple. Unfortunately now becoming a bit expensive. Are there any alternatives? Anyone tried a Soligor CD 35 f/2 ?

Yes, alternatives exist. But as flektogon 2,4, they'll become expensive, if we'll talking too much about them.

Toyo · Apr 18, 2017

I have a few of 35mm lenses in M42 that are very good.
I am happy to recommend these:
Meyer Primoplan 35mm f4.5
Yashinon DX 35mm f2.8
Super-Takumar 35mm f2
MIR-1 37mm f2.8
Cheers
Tom

flavio81 · Apr 18, 2017

Neil Grant said:
..an obvious choice would be the Flektogon 2.4 - it's got it all: close focus, compact, fast and optically simple. ?

I was going to suggest that lens... I own it and it's great.

However the alternatives are the Pentax S-M-C Takumars. They are better built than the Carl Zeiss Jena lenses! Even better built than most Canon and Nikon lenses! A S-M-C Takumar has nothing to envy to other lenses, save perhaps for some Leitz lenses.

OR you can search eBay for used Praktica cameras to see if one of them comes with an attached Flektogon "under the radar".

flavio81 · Apr 18, 2017

PS: The russian MIR-1 is very awkward to use, with its rotating aperture dial, and also being a preset lens. And it flares like crazy!

Hatchetman said:
Takumar 28mm f3.5 is a great lens if you would consider a little wider.

+10000

This is a gem of a lens, one of the best 28mm lenses i've used. I have a mint copy and it's great!
Note that there are two versions. I have the second (smaller front element) version.

4season · Apr 18, 2017

Also consider Sigma Mini-Wide (also sold under other names including Quantaray). Focuses very close, sells for just about nothing. Seems well-made, though on mine, the rubber grip on the focusing ring had lost some elasticity and was slipping, so I cemented it into place.

dynachrome · Apr 21, 2017

I have a few of the 35/1.9 Vivitar lenses in M42 mount as well as others in other mounts. The older M42 cameras do not have very bright finders so the extra speed is helpful for focusing. Other 35mm lenses that have in M42 mount include: Carenar 35/2.8, Soligor T4 35/2.8, Vivitar T4 35/2.8, Vivitar TX 35/2.5, Vivitar TX 35/2.8, Noflexar 35/3.5, Vivitar 35/2.8 Fixed Mount (37 and 22), Mamiya SX 35/2.8, Rikenon 35/2.8, 35/3.5 Takumar (Super, S-M-C-T several), Fujinon 35/2.8 (2), Yashinon 35/2.8 (2). I'm sure I left out a few. The Noflexar is interesting because it has close focusing. I think I also have a 35/2.8 Rikenon for the Auto TLS EE.

emacs · Apr 21, 2017

I'm a fan of my EBC Fujinon 35mm f/2.8, and I've lusted after the f/1.9 of the same focal length, but you might need to pair it with a Fujica body so that the aperture indexing tab doesn't interfere with the mount.

Harry Stevens · Apr 22, 2017

I bought a dirt cheap second hand no brand M42 35mm ZODEL lens in the 1980s from Jessops for my Zenith EM,made in Japan and I like it a lot and all for £4.00.

35mm lens for m42

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