Yashinon 50mm lenses?

So I'm looking for a new 50mm lens for my M42 camera. I've heard and seen that the Auto Yashinon 5cm/f2 is quite a rad lens but it's rather uncommon. From what I gathered the Tominon 5cm/f2 is exactly the same as the Yashinon and the Auto Takumar 5.5cm/f2 is very similar. All these lenses are hard to find, at least it seems so.

So, here is my question:
Other Yashinon 50's, I mean the DS's and DX's - how do they hold up compared to the famous 5cm version? Or perhaps I should consider other options? I'm thinking of Fujinon 55mm/f1.8, Auto Chinon 55mm/f1.7 and the Cosina 55mm/f1.4. Thanks for the feedback

Do you know any bad double Gauss 50/55mm lens?

I'm a big fan of the 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar. These are really common—you can find them for about $30–$50 and they usually come with a Spotmatic included in that price!

Dali said:

Do you know any bad double Gauss 50/55mm lens?

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The term bad already is difficult: what one calls bad, the other calls merit...

One may read about lenses and their peculiarites and when several people report the same and give proof one may regard it as given fact.
I have seen really low resolution photos from 50mm F 1.2 lenses full open. I have seen photos from a Zeiss 50mm F1.8 with extreme edge unsharpness unless strongly stopped down.

But I have also compared a well-reputed 50mm 1.4 lens against a cooke triplet, and I prefered the triplet...

What I meant to say: collect information on lenses. If by several indepentant reports you gained an impression choose on what you consider a merit and then just try it out, best in comparison with other lenses you got. On that very job you got in mind. Today most of us are able to acquire several lenses for a few Euros, out of which in the past one alone was something to just dream of.

A lens is a complex tool, and aside of plain MTF data there are about half a dozen other criteria of importance.

I have a Yashinon DX 50 1.7 and quite like it. Seems quite sharp to me.
I didn’t test or compare it, I just use it.

Jeff L said:

I have a Yashinon DX 50 1.7 and quite like it. Seems quite sharp to me.
I didn’t test or compare it, I just use it.

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+1

The Chinon standard lenses are superb their other lenses particularly WA's aren't.

Yashica M42 lens always had a good reputation, you may find a lens on its own costs as much as complete camera and lens though. I bought a nice Pentax SV with the meter and 55mm f1.8 Super Takumar for £20 ($24) earlier this year at a Camera Fair and the lens has the full aperture coupling for the Spotmatic F.

People are selling fast 50-55mm M42 lenses often with an adapter for use on Digital cameras, this has distorted their true value. Why don't you subscribe here and place a Wanted advert, it's a good way of finding what you're after.

Ian

A quick search of completed ebay.co.uk sales, a Yashica TL0Electro 50mm Yashinon and Pentacon 29mm, case and separate light meter just under £18, another TL Electro Yashinon 50mm f1.7 just under £7.

There's cameras listed now with Yashinon lenses that woon't go for much more, then check the prices for lenses on their own. I bought a CZJ 58mm f2 Biotar last year now these are cult lenses it came with a Praktina FX body for £35 this was from a reputable dealer, the lens is near mint and sold alone worth over £100.

Ian

AgX said:

A lens is a complex tool, and aside of plain MTF data there are about half a dozen other criteria of importance.

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To give just one example:
Any Pentacon 50mm yielding about twice the max. image scale of an Auto Yashinon 5cm/f2 just by this may win in the eyes of some users.

The last photos I took of my father were with a Spotmatic IIa and a 50/1.4 Yashinon DS-M. When you get past contrast, resolution and flatness of field you get into areas like out of focus rendition and color cast. The DS-M lenses were Yashica's last versions and had their latest coating to that time. I think I have two 50/1.4 DS-Ms as well as 50/1.7 and 50/1.9 versions. I like them. Are other M42 lenses of that focal length range better or worse? It depends on what you're looking for. I don't really care for the Yashica M42 mount cameras but I have purchased some just to get the attached lenses. I also have pre-DS-M Yashinons which I mosty use on Spotmatics and sometimes on Mamiya SX series cameras. With the exception of the 55/1.2 models, most M42 Yashinons are reasonably priced. My favorite Yashinon? The 80/3.5 on the Yashica Mat 124G which I used in High School and college. I loved that lens. The problem with that camera was the mechanics. I eventually sold it and got a Minolta Autocord. The lens on the Autocord wasn't any better than the Yashinon but it was much more sturdy mechanically. I had to use a hand held meter with the Autocord. I have thought of getting the earlier but better made Yashica Mat or Yashica Mat 124 models but by now I have many Mamiya and Bronica SLRs. Try a Yashinon. You might like it.