M42 screw lenses

jimper · Apr 1, 2010

I have a Mamiya 35mm SLR from I think the early 1970s. I bought it in the late 1970s with the sekkor lens (45-55 prime, I forget exactly) plus a 200mm Optimax lens. The camera is now out of hibernation after a 25 year winter and I wondered if there were any other interesting lenses about that I might play with. Any recommendations?

Steve Smith · Apr 1, 2010

Not sure about interesting but I picked up some M42 lenses at a boot sale a while ago. I have a Carl Zeiss Jena DDR Tessar 50mm f2.8 and (I think) a Cosinon 35mm f2.8 and a Fujinon 55mm f2.2. I think I have a Miranda 28mm and a Tokina 135mm as well somewhere. I will have a look when I get home.

If you would like any or all of these you can have them for the postage cost as I will never use them.

Steve.

Excalibur2 · Apr 1, 2010

BTW Steve thanks again, have done the seals on my OM20.

regards Brian

ricksplace · Apr 1, 2010

jimper said:
I have a Mamiya 35mm SLR from I think the early 1970s. I bought it in the late 1970s with the sekkor lens (45-55 prime, I forget exactly) plus a 200mm Optimax lens. The camera is now out of hibernation after a 25 year winter and I wondered if there were any other interesting lenses about that I might play with. Any recommendations?

This is the golden age for screw mount lenses. You can get incredible deals on ebay. Lenses that cost several hundred dollars when new can now be bought for pennies on the dollar.. You can build a stable of lenses for less than $100.

dbuckle · Apr 1, 2010

The Pentax Takumar lens are excellent. I have about 6 of the 50mm and 55mm. It's fun to watch for bargains and picking up lens. You will likely want a 85mm or around 100 for portraits. Landscapes a wide lens 28mm are cheap, wider lens get more expensive and a little harder to fine. Have fun.

elekm · Apr 1, 2010

The Vivitar Series 1 lenses also were available in M42. On the other end of the price scale, some of the new Carl Zeiss lenses are available in M42, including the f/1.4 50mm Planar. Very pricey, for sure.

But as others have noted, you can build a collection of fine glass for a pittance.

One other thing, be sure to replace those foam seals on your camera.

eSFotos · Apr 1, 2010

Look for some Carl Zeiss Jena lenses. Some are really good, like:
Flektogon 35mm F2.4 MC
Pancolar 50mm MC
Sonnar 135mm F3.5 MC

Some Russian beauties?
Volna 9 50mm F2.8
Jupiter 9 85mm F2.0
Tair 11A 135mm F2.8
Jupiter 21M 200mm F4.0

One stage I had about 100+ M42 lenses. Now I have offloaded most except these (plus a few more). These are top notch lenses with characters.

Steve Smith · Apr 1, 2010

I had a 135mm Sonnar in the batch of stuff I bought. I keeping that one!

Steve.

M42 screw lenses

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