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Sharpest M42 lenses
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PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 9:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
y wrote:
All versions of Asahi Macro Takumar 50/4 or 100/4 are very sharp. I would also include Soviet macro lenses like - Industar-61 L/Z 50/2.8 or Volna-9 50/2.8.
Especially the Volna is really good. I got mine for 60 euro, never used. But up to approx. 100 for a mint copy is a good deal IMHO.


PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm (Red MC)

I bought this one for its sharpness for macro.

This is at closest focus, uncropped at f8. On m4/3 the FOV is ca 95mm wide at this setting.



This is on full frame at f16 with a Marumi +3 achromat supplementary on the front to get close enough.



PostPosted: Mon Apr 09, 2018 3:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kds315* wrote:
newst wrote:
caspert79 wrote:
kds315* wrote:
Zeiss Jena Pancolar 1.8/80mm and Biotar 1.5/75mm
Pentax Ultra Achromatic Takumar 4.5/85mm


The Pentax for sale right now, it's a steal Wink

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ultra-Achromatic-Takumar-85mm-4-5-M42-UV-IR-photography-complete-set-w-filters/112922762871?hash=item1a4ab89e77:g:~O4AAOSw86Jac1We


Yes, I know, I sold him that lens set once Wink






I agree about the Pancolar 80/1.8 and the UA Takumar. I was about to write that I sold that one to Klaus, but that one was a different, not sequential number. The Vivitar Series 1 90/2.5 is another good lens I have used in m42.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 7:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sorry for bumping this old thread, Currently I am using Helios 44_2 and I would like does it is sharpest lense for M42? Thanks


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 8:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
jackmortain wrote:
Sorry for bumping this old thread, Currently I am using Helios 44_2 and I would like does it is sharpest lense for M42? Thanks


I don't think it’s particularly sharp. I think the sharpest M42 lenses I tried are:

Auto Mamiya Sekor 55mm f/1.8 (SX version also, but needs modification)

Carl Zeiss MC Sonnar 135mm f/3.5

Auto Mamiya Sekor 50mm f/2

Super Multi Coated Takumar 85mm f/1.8

I usually test my lenses pretty thoroughly on 42+ mp and can confidently say that these are really sharp. The first three can be found for little money.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
No mention on flektogon 35mm 2.4? I thought it would be on the top list


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 4:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Sharpest M42 lenses Reply with quote
gazoo wrote:
What are the sharpest M42 mount lenses that you know of?

No longer in focal length than 120mm please.

I bought the SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8 based on a recommendation on this forum and it is amazing. "Gimme more" as they say.


Vivitar MC Macro 55mm f/2.8 (Komine) with M42 mount. But there is a drawback - ugly bokeh.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
jackmortain wrote:
Sorry for bumping this old thread, Currently I am using Helios 44_2 and I would like does it is sharpest lense for M42? Thanks


I have a Helios 44-2. The Yashinon I mentioned earlier (1st page) definitely trumps it. As coincidence would have it, I bought both from a pawn shop for $10 each.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 5:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Of the SMC Takumars, the 55/1.8 is the king, the 105/2.8, 35/3.5 are not far behind


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Carl Zeiss 35mm Distagon f/2 ZS is the sharpest M42 lens I've used.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
KEO wrote:
The Carl Zeiss 35mm Distagon f/2 ZS is the sharpest M42 lens I've used.


It might be the most expensive m42 lens in today's Market? (35mm FL)


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
titrisol70 wrote:
Of the SMC Takumars, the 55/1.8 is the king, the 105/2.8, 35/3.5 are not far behind


Sorry to disagree! Smile

IMHO and experience, the Sharpest Takumars are S-M-C 1:1.8/85, Super 1:1.4/50 (8-elements), S-M-C 1:1..4/50, S-M-C 1:4/100, and S-M-C 1:4/150

Also. the Takumar 1:2.8/105 (oldest version), and Super-Takumar 1:2/35 (fat version) are sharper than their later S-M-C versions with different optics.

My starfield comparison of S-M-C 1:1.4/50 and S-M-C 1:1.8/55 on Canon 5D classic showed no differences I could discern other than FOV.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 03, 2022 9:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
memetph wrote:
the Auto Sharponar MC 50mm f1.7 ( radioactive version).


I'd like to try one of these.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for that, astro is a whole different field in which I haven't dabbled into. I see differences between the 55/1.8 and 50/1.4 even within the generations but havent try them in a full starfield.
I guess there might be a little variation between samples.
The 105/2.8 I have is a transition example (between Super and SMC) and is awesome.

I didn;t mention the macros (50/4 and 100/4) or anything above 120mm as per the OP; but yes the 150 is very sharp.

visualopsins wrote:
titrisol70 wrote:
Of the SMC Takumars, the 55/1.8 is the king, the 105/2.8, 35/3.5 are not far behind


Sorry to disagree! Smile

IMHO and experience, the Sharpest Takumars are S-M-C 1:1.8/85, Super 1:1.4/50 (8-elements), S-M-C 1:1..4/50, S-M-C 1:4/100, and S-M-C 1:4/150

Also. the Takumar 1:2.8/105 (oldest version), and Super-Takumar 1:2/35 (fat version) are sharper than their later S-M-C versions with different optics.

My starfield comparison of S-M-C 1:1.4/50 and S-M-C 1:1.8/55 on Canon 5D classic showed no differences I could discern other than FOV.


PostPosted: Fri Nov 04, 2022 2:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Tamron 90mm 1:2.5 52B/52BB is very sharp and can be fitted with an m42 adaptall mount. The Kiron/Lester A. Dine 105mm 1:2.8 is even sharper according to the internet and is also found in m42.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
D1N0 wrote:
The Tamron 90mm 1:2.5 52B/52BB is very sharp and can be fitted with an m42 adaptall mount. The Kiron/Lester A. Dine 105mm 1:2.8 is even sharper according to the internet and is also found in m42.


I have both of these lenses, and I put them through an extensive head-to-head test. I too bought into the Internet lore regarding the Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro, and eagerly paid more than I should have for it. The Tamron I've owned for over 30 years and I no longer remember what I paid for it.

I tested the above two macros, plus I added in a 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor The results? The Tamron was extremely sharp even wide open, the Nikkor was almost as good, and that much lauded Kiron came in a distant 3rd. Honestly, I was disappointed. I thought the Kiron would fare much better, Kind of the big surprise for me was just how sharp that old 60s version of the Micro-Nikkor was.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
cooltouch wrote:
D1N0 wrote:
The Tamron 90mm 1:2.5 52B/52BB is very sharp and can be fitted with an m42 adaptall mount. The Kiron/Lester A. Dine 105mm 1:2.8 is even sharper according to the internet and is also found in m42.


I have both of these lenses, and I put them through an extensive head-to-head test. I too bought into the Internet lore regarding the Kiron 105mm f/2.8 macro, and eagerly paid more than I should have for it. The Tamron I've owned for over 30 years and I no longer remember what I paid for it.

I tested the above two macros, plus I added in a 55mm f/3.5 Micro Nikkor The results? The Tamron was extremely sharp even wide open, the Nikkor was almost as good, and that much lauded Kiron came in a distant 3rd. Honestly, I was disappointed. I thought the Kiron would fare much better, Kind of the big surprise for me was just how sharp that old 60s version of the Micro-Nikkor was.


The Kiron never really impressed me to be honest, especially at wider apertures.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2022 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
This reviewer ( http://makingnottaking.blogspot.com/2010/02/105mm-trio-another-comparison-soon-to.html ) also concludes the wide open sharpness of the Kiron is less than that of the Series 1 90mm 1:2.5 (Bokina) Which can also be found in m42, but rarely since it is a sought after lens. The Tamron is found easily, The Komine made Vivitar 90mm 1:2.5 that goes 1:1 is also more common, but just decently sharp.

I looked up the designs for the Kiron, Tamron and Bokina. The Kiron I can't place very well. Tamron looks like a double gauss with added rear elements, Bokina has traits of a Sonnar. Couldn't find one for the 1:1 90/2.5 Vivitar but I now it is a classic double gauss.




PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tamron 90/2.5, vivitar/tokina 90/2.5 and the leica 100/2.8 all sharing a very similar approach in their design: double gauss lens groups(6e in the front) is used for focusing while the last two fixed elements are used as a compensator group to correct for aberrations when the lens is focused at close distance.



PostPosted: Sun Nov 06, 2022 6:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
kiddo wrote:
KEO wrote:
The Carl Zeiss 35mm Distagon f/2 ZS is the sharpest M42 lens I've used.


It might be the most expensive m42 lens in today's Market? (35mm FL)


It's up near the top, I'd guess. Other Zeiss ZS lenses would be the contenders. I don't know whether the 35 1.4 has a ZS version, but that would be more expensive.

There are a fair number of old collectible lenses that can top it too, of course. It's not that expensive.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Tamron 2.5/90mm certainly is the sharpest "vintage" M42 lens I'm aware of (not talking about more modern Zeiss M42 glass from around 2005). No visible CAs on 24MP FF, and even wide open nearly perfect corners. Impressive indeed.

My best vintage M42 normal lenses (much better than eg the hyped 1.4/50mm Super Takumars, including the 8L version) are

Mamiya 1.8/55mm
Fuji 1.8/55mm

The latter is remarkably good over the entire FF field at f1.8, the former excels when stopped down. Be aware of different computations for the Mamiya 1.8/55mm; they perform differently (tested with several copies of each version). I have written about that here at MFlenses before.

S


PostPosted: Sun Dec 18, 2022 7:57 pm    Post subject: Re: Sharpest M42 lenses Reply with quote
D. P. wrote:
gazoo wrote:
What are the sharpest M42 mount lenses that you know of?

No longer in focal length than 120mm please.

I bought the SMC Takumar 55mm F1.8 based on a recommendation on this forum and it is amazing. "Gimme more" as they say.


Vivitar MC Macro 55mm f/2.8 (Komine) with M42 mount. But there is a drawback - ugly bokeh.


This is indeed a sharp lens. It has (much) better corner performance than the micro-Nikkor ai(-s) 55mm f/2.8. I think the Nikkor is a bit better in the center wide open, but this difference disappears once stopped down.


PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 4:08 pm    Post subject: Re: Sharpest M42 lenses Reply with quote
gazoo wrote:
What are the sharpest M42 mount lenses that you know of?


Look no further than the mighty, biggest, strongest, most skilled japanese manufacturer: Asahi Optical.

Some of the Super-Multi-Coated Takumars are as sharp as you could need them to be, particularly:

28/3.5
35/3.5
55/1.8
135/3.5

There are also some very sharp M42 lenses from Mamiya (SX) line and Fuji optical, but you'll have to do some research.

Carl Zeiss Jena lenses, too, i had the 35/2.4 and 135/3.5 in MC version and they were as sharp as they could be (stopped down).


PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
stevemark wrote:
My best vintage M42 normal lenses (much better than eg the hyped 1.4/50mm Super Takumars, including the 8L version) are

Mamiya 1.8/55mm
Fuji 1.8/55mm


This has been my experience as well - that they're both extremely good.

I liked these two so much I have multiple copies of both. It helps that they're inexpensive, of course.


PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2022 8:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Mamiya is a sharp lens even wide open . Unfortunately its bokeh is very busy.
I find my CZJ Pancolar 50 1.8 and my Ricoh 55 f1.4 ( Tomioka) sharp.
The Voigtlander Rollei Ultron Planar 50 1.8 is very sharp . I have QBM versions but it exists in M42.
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