vintage prime lens suggestion for basic m42 SLR

[blockend]

There was also the earlier M39 mount Industar used on the Zenit C which is the lens Helios was referring to.

Ian

I have two of those, mistakenly sent (and refunded!) as M39 rangefinder Industar lenses. Completely different register, obviously, and they won't focus properly. I don't have a Zenit C to try them on, and doubt there's a 39mm SLR-to-anything adapter. Also own three M39 Industar rangefinder variations, including the 61 LD. Lovely lenses IMO, I prefer them to the Jupiter 8 (Biotar?) lenses. If they came with Western nomenclature they'd carry much fancier price tags.

 

[gorbas]

doubt there's a 39mm SLR-to-anything adapter

Yes, there is, 1$ M39 to M42 adapter and then you can use this lens on any M42 SLR

 

[GarageBoy]

Fuji EBC lenses perform well, especially for the price

 

[onre]

Yes, there is, 1$ M39 to M42 adapter and then you can use this lens on any M42 SLR

...almost. M42 flange distance is 45,46 mm and Zenit M39 flange distance is 45,2 mm. If you don't need to ever focus to infinity, this does not matter.

 

[gorbas]

...almost. M42 flange distance is 45,46 mm and Zenit M39 flange distance is 45,2 mm. If you don't need to ever focus to infinity, this does not matter.

Yes, you are right. My camera technician had to address this issue while cleaning and modifying Helios 40 in M39 SLR mount to be used on regular M42 camera body. IIRC before modification it focused on max 10-15 meters. In the same time my original Helios 44 in M39 SLR mount with M39 to M42 adapter on Pentax Spotmatic F reaches infinity focus at 4m (checked on 2 different cameras and compared with original SMC Takumar 1.4/50). So there is some room to play with those lenses and super affordable M39-M42 adapters. Enjoy!