Yashica M42 50mm f/1.7 -- worth $10?

[cooltouch]

I'm so confused at this point. My memory has played tricks on my again. I was thinking that the lens I'm asking about was a YUS 50mm f/1.7, but according to the listings I found on eBay, the YUS lenses are all Yashica/Contax bayonet mount, and this one is definitely M42. You see, I stopped off at a pawn shop on a whim just to see if they had anything interesting, and took a look at their lenses. They had four. Three 135mm f/2.8s, and one Yashica 50mm f/1.7 in M42. One of the 135mm f/2.8s was also a Yashica, but it was bayonet mount. So, I guess the lens designation that I'm remembering is from the one bayonet mount Yashica 135mm, but now, I haven't a clue what flavor of M42 Yashica lens it was I saw.

I have noted from browsing ebay listings that there are DS and DX M42 lenses. If DS is the older, then this is probably what I found. So, back to the subject question. Given a Yashica 50mm f/1.7 M42 lens in good cosmetic condition with clean glass and a snappy functioning iris, is it worth $10? But even more to the point, I guess, is it a good lens? I mean, I have a Helios 44M (58mm f/2), and while its bokeh isn't the best, it is certainly a sharp lens, so I don't really need another M42 50mm unless I get one that's gonna have some character that the 44M lacks, the way I see it. So if you own an M42 Yashica 50 or have used one, I'd be interested in your feedback.

[RioRico]

My Yashinon-DX 50/1.7 is certainly sharp. M42, M/A switch, 6 iris blades, 52mm filter, 230g, #5730509, and it cost me all of US$11.25 shipped. Near focus is 0.5m, about average for 50's. I just did a couple rough test shots at f/2 with the DX50/1.7 and my ML50/1.4 on my K20D, and they seem fairly comparable there, although the DX meters about 1-stop darker than the ML. (The ML is C/Y mount; I shaved its bayonet blades to get it to force-fit on my Pentax.) The DX has a noticeably different character than my Helios-44M. Yes indeed, I think it's worth US$10! If that's what it is, grab it! At worst, you could probably sell it in 6 months for 5x as much.

[calvin83]

I would say all Yashica M42 standard lens is not bad performers. You can always sell it for more than you paid if you don't like it.

[ManualFocus-G]

Oops, ignore what I said. Mine is the 50/1.9.

[kuuan]

mine is a DS
( since I have an overload of good 50mm, the Yashica is minty and I do not want it to suffer from being with me on my long journeys )
I hardly have used it, but the few pics I took struck me for being exceptionally sharp. e.g this photo of a Pancolar ( no sharpening applied )

[estudleon]

[Nesster]

Actually the Yashica M42's are divided 3 ways:
DX - the earliest, some are silver others all black. Feature an A/M switch.
DS - replaced DX, all black, missing the A/M switch.
DSM - multi coated version of DS, also missing the A/M switch.

While I don't have a DX in 50mm, these are very nicely made lenses. I have a couple of DSM 1.7/50's and I enjoy using them; there's a nice balance of sharpness and bokeh.

DSM 1.7/50, TL Electro-X, Ferrania 100

Behind the Cleaner's by Nesster, on Flickr

same, with Foma 400

mag506 1300 by Nesster, on Flickr

same, with BW400CN

Lock and chain by Nesster, on Flickr

[Univer]

Hi,

Just one or two additional points. There were earlier M42 Yashica series as well: Auto-Yashinon semi-automatics (the 50/2 is a twin of the contemporary Tominon 50/2, and an excellent lens); Auto-Yashinons (I seem to recall) without the "DX" suffix, but otherwise seemingly identical to the DX lenses; and Super-Yashinons, at least some of which were presets. There were also Yashikor M42 lenses; they represent a budget range, and don't seem to have a good reputation. I've never owned one.

Also, while several sources state that the DS series lenses lack the auto-manual switch, I own one (my only DS lens, actually) with such a swtich. And at least one MFL colleague reliably reports that some of the DSM lenses were so equipped as well.

Because (I take it) of some quirk of design or construction, the aperture mechanism of my DSM lenses is not stopped down by my flanged adapter; I had to disable the pin mechanism - a usually simple procedure which was extremely fiddly and frustrating in this case.

Note, also, that there seem to be a few C/Y mount lenses branded, oddly, "DX". Maybe this was a short production run, and there was a running change to the "DSB" nomenclature.

I'm very fond of Yashica lenses - at $10, if the lens is in good shape, I think this is a no-brainer. My favorites are the DX's, but I've had good results across all the series.

Cheers,

Jon

[cooltouch]

Thanks very much for all the replies, guys. Well, now at least when I go back there, I'll be armed with some real information.

I've noticed also that the asking prices on a YUS 135mm f/2.8 on eBay are much higher than what this pawn shop guy wants for his -- also $10. If I think I can make a few bucks off that YUS lens, I'll go ahead and get it too (the old camera dealer in me coming to the fore). Both Yashica lenses are dusty from sitting on his shelf for a long time. Next time I'm in there, I'll take a much closer look at condition. The other two lenses he has are also 135/2.8s, but obscure brands: Auto Focal (K-Mart?) in M42 and something like a Revuenon in Canon FD.

[kuuan]

[Univer]

[Nesster]

Gee, I'm glad there's still more to learn, every day thanks folks!

Jon, as you have the lens, maybe you can tell this guy something about it:
http://forum.mflenses.com/yashinon-ds-m-11-4-50mm-t38862.html

[Univer]

Done.

Jussi, I completely missed that post. Thanks so much for calling my attention to it.

Cheers,

Jon

[Nesster]

Cheers, Jon - I'm a bit curious myself, as On My List is the DX silver 50/1.4... it's in the section Don't Kick It Off the Shelf if One Show Up rather than Walk a Mile to Get One.

[Univer]

Hi Jussi,

I have great affection for the DX series; I love the way they look and handle, and they've given me some awfully nice images over the years.

You should be aware (you probably already are) that the DX 50/1.4 has some mirror clearance issues. Yashica itself advised users, back in the day, not to fit that lens (along with one or two other DX's) to certain of its bodies. And if memory serves, the DX 50/1.4 is the one and only 50mm lens in my collection that hits the mirror of my Pentax DSLRs at infinity. I use mine on my Panasonic G1...no issues there.

Another thing to keep an eye out for, if one does show up, is the very strange variant that's a Yashinon-DX...with a Mamiya-Sekor beauty ring. If you scroll down this page at Ron Herron's 35mm Mamiya site, you'll see one fitted to the CWP camera: a 55mm f1.8 (even though the text refers only to the 58/1.7). They don't turn up often, but they do turn up - and sometimes go unnoticed when they do.

Cheers,

Jon

[Nesster]

Yes... I have the silver DX 35/2.8 which I use very often, and a silver DX 135/2.8 which I seldom use - but I seldom use any 135 - that I bought instead of a SMC Tak 135/3.5... that may have been a bonheaded move as the two were the same price. A guy who shows up at the July 4th parade that goes down our street has a Yashica TL Electro-X with the silver 50/1.4 DX and I always feel a pang of jealousy

[newton]

The DX, DSM, ML debate was covered several times in a few prior threads because I remember studying this prior to not buying some gear. This seems to be a common question with the ultimate preference based on user and budget. It is ten bucks; that's a no-brainer but I wouldn't buy it. Good. Now some poor kid out there who wants to pick up photography gets further away from being able to do so because wealthy adults buy up all the stuff to re-sell. Poor people often kids shop at pawn shops; let them have a shot at learning photography. Stop collecting to sell and marking up stuff. It is just "evil." I have already voiced my chagrin about this and it does appear there are people who do this on this forum, no offense. Inexpensive gear was and still is an avenue for many art students to pick up photography and become awesome masters at it. There are some users on this forum that started that way. Let them and newbies have a chance at discovering this wonderful field without making the price and availability of stuff locally more out of reach. Donation to charity or art classes in high school and local colleges is a better utilitarian idea, IMHO. After you use it, you can also release it for the same or lower price you paid for it. That is goodness.

[gorbesz]

this lens looks sweet

[cooltouch]

Newton, I started this thread. And I have to say that your assumptions are erroneous. I am not wealthy. I live on a fixed income that has seen no COLA adjustments in three years. Ends no longer meet around here, and as a result, I am having to sell off personal possessions that I've acquired in times when my income was higher than it is now, just to make it to the next payday. So, when I see an opportunity where I can buy an item for an undervalued price, I will buy that item, and then resell it -- usually on eBay, but sometimes on Craigslist.

You call that activity evil. You know what? In order to properly respond to your remark, I have to get political. Which will attract moderator/administrator attention because we don't discuss political matters in the open boards. So, you get a cheap-shot in and I cannot properly respond to it.

But I will state this: you don't know me, and you assume way too much, and I would appreciate it if you keep your assumptions to yourself. You go donate your unused gear to charity. I'll do what I damn well please with mine.

[ChromaticAberration]

Such a fuss over lenses and cameras, common.

Of course we all should feel the urge to not try to get some pornographic margin of profit on stuff we bought under priced (and we liked that!) but not everyone will feel this way and that should be respected.

I would get the Yashica, if the curiosity is that big, I would do it. I would try and see if the lens was what I was looking for. Was it? Great! It wasn't? Sell it for the same amout of money you bought it for, maybe someone will enjoy the lens you didn't and you don't loose money anyway.

But then again, that is what I would do.

[Phenix jc]

Michael,
The DX 50/1.7 is one of my favorite 50mm, and one of the great, indeed.
Here's the well known review of Mattias which convinced me to try it a few years ago
http://www.retrocamera.net/review-of-auto-yashinon-dx-50mm17-m42-lens.html
The DS 50 1.4 has a wild bokeh that I love, the DX 50 1.4, a painting style bokeh
(radioactive lenses)
jc

[cooltouch]

Wow, that's a very nicely done review, JC, with some great images. I should spiff up my blog, make it look like that. So now I'm hoping that those folks have a DX.

[walter g]

I like the results of the DX version. Wouldn't mind having one to test against my DSM.
This is a quick pic, but rather late in the day. Shot is wide open ISO 400.
Shot with Canon EOS 10D.
Resized with no pp.

[mo]

newton.....I think you have been warned before about making accusations against members on this forum.
Michael sorry about that you handled it well.

[martinsmith99]

Newton - You are on thin ice. If you wish to get banned from the forum you are going the right way about it.