[ismaelg]

Hello,

I recently acquired a Spotmatic body, but I don't have any M42 screw mount lens. My first thought was to get a dirt cheap non-working lens for display purposes only, but that has proven quite hard to find. The body, while a bit tired still may have some life in it. I'm still interested in a non-working lens for display, but I would like to use the camera. But the truth is it will not get used much. So it doesn't makes much sense to spend a little fortune in those mint Super Takumars.
So I've been browsing the marketplace and Ebay for a suitable M42. I'm seeing these INDUSTAR-50-2 ( 3.5/50mm ) russian lenses on Ebay. With shipping from Russia to the USA they are in the $25 range.
Has anybody used them? Any comments or recommendations?

Thanks,

The industar 50-2 is a tiny, tiny lens... it is smaller than the Pentax pancake. Difficult to focus because of the tiny focus ring and is a 3.5 aperture lens.

For a cheap, but very good lens for your display/use of the camera I would recommend the Helios 44M or any of the 44- variants.... It is not only looks good on the camera but it is a great lens for the money. At F2 it is a great portrait shooter.

They usually run about the same as the industar 50-2


I have both of them and the Helios is one of my most used lenses on my K20d.

Here is a shot of it on a camera.

[Sudhakar]

$25 bucks for that industar is too much. It is not worth. I got it for $4 bucks; picked up from the flea market. I heard lot about helios, I am also looking for it.

[ismaelg]

Thanks for the information!
I just ordered a Helios-44-2. I thought the 44 was the focal lenght but it is actually 58mm focal lenght. 49mm filter size so I have no idea what the 44 means if anything

Thanks!

[deadwolfbones]

Note that the 44-2 is great optically, but it's a preset lens. If you've never used one before you're in for a learning experience.

[pingflood]

I have an Industar 50/3.5 here. It makes for nice low contrast subtle tones, and is a lot of fun to use.

[ismaelg]

Note that the 44-2 is great optically, but it's a preset lens. If you've never used one before you're in for a learning experience.

I have never used a preset lens. I only have a vague idea of how it works so I'm aware of the challenge ahead. If it comes to worst I'll ask the forum for guidance

Well, why wait? How does it works?

Thanks,

[estudleon]

The industar 50/3,5 has a great center shapness at F/8-11. By far better sharpness than any helios 44 (not so good boketh) I saw lot of macro pics taken with the industar and tubes, and they are excelents. A cheap macro lens. If you didn't it yet, try.

[deadwolfbones]

I have never used a preset lens. I only have a vague idea of how it works so I'm aware of the challenge ahead. If it comes to worst I'll ask the forum for guidance

Well, why wait? How does it works?

Thanks,

Essentially, there are two aperture rings. One sets the minimum aperture you can use, and the other rotates freely between that minimum and wide-open. So, say you set the first ring at f/11... you can then choose an aperture anywhere between f/11 and f/2, but you can't go to f/22. This is done so that you can set the aperture you actually want to use, then change the aperture to f/2 to focus (brighter viewfinder), and then swing it back to the set minimum to shoot.