recommend a tessar formula m42 normal lens, please ...

[fish4570]

... for my spotmatic. any that do not cost arm AND leg?

my super takumar 55/2 does not have the tessar touch, even wide open. too contrasty, methinks:

[Orio]

The Tessar is not a low contrast lens per se.
It depends on the coating.

[Keysersoze27]

For cheap+quality get one from the 1950s , CZJ 2.8/50 or CZJ 3.5/50 .
Since you don't what them to bee too contrasty try to avoid the red T ones ...

[no-X]

Alu T-tessars aren't much contrasty...

Anyway, tessars formula was developed as high-contrasty sharp lens. It has only 4 inner air/glass surfaces, so multi-coated tessars are the most contrasty lenses lenses ever made. I like S-M-C Macro Takumar 50/4 - tessar formula + MC.

But if you need something with not so high contrast, try alu tessars 50/2.8 or meyer primotars. They are not expensive and not too contrasty. Even "better" would be uncoated pre-war tessars.

[fish4570]

ok, so i am not asking the proper question. if not tessar formula, what? i am looking for a normal "portrait" lens? how about my helios 44-2 wide open?

[Orio]

Nox put it right, Meyer lenses are usually low-medium contrast, good quality, and relatively affordable (although recently some of them raised a lot in price).

[martinsmith99]

For lower contrast, I go to my older lenses. The E.Ludwig Meritar triplet is good for that, but may not be pleasing wide open.

[no-X]

fish4570: here's an example taken by my pre-war uncoated Tessar 135/4.5 (the same RAW, 4 different options)...




if you search for fast 50mm lens with not so high contrast, you could be happy with Meyer Primoplan 58/1.9

[fish4570]

nice, no-x ...