First DSLR (K-30) - Legacy glass or no?

**boriscleto** · 03-02-2013, 08:36 AM

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Originally posted by Arvid

I am in search of M42 glass, too. Lets say I was looking at an online auction and there is little to no information, except for a few pictures. I guess if a serial number of a lens mounted to a Zenit-E starts with 73... (made in 1973), it is safe to say it has an M42 mount already, right?

Only the very early Zenit Es were M39. By 1971 they were all M42, the 44-2 was introduced sometime around 1969.

Arvid · 03-02-2013, 08:41 AM

Thank you for confirming that. I dug in a little on these useful links that you provided and it seems that you'd have to be rather "lucky" to get an M39 Helios (or Zenit).

**boriscleto** · 03-02-2013, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Arvid

Thank you for confirming that. I dug in a little on these useful links that you provided and it seems that you'd have to be rather "lucky" to get an M39 Helios (or Zenit).

There seem to be quite a few M39 Helios 44s on eBay, but they are all shipped from Eastern Europe...

**RKKS08** · 03-02-2013, 01:30 PM

@ apfhex

Quote:

(and the 44K-4 which I gather doesn't require an adapter but harder to find

You can increase your chances if you also search for a ZENIT am2. This one has a K-mount and was delivered with the Helios 44K-4 as a kit lens. That's where I got mine from - a German-Russian immigrant offering a "broken Zenit am2", not realizing the higher value of the lens, which really looked as if it was unused.

**boriscleto** · 03-02-2013, 01:51 PM

Originally posted by RKKS08

@ apfhex
You can increase your chances if you also search for a ZENIT am2. This one has a K-mount and was delivered with the Helios 44K-4 as a kit lens. That's where I got mine from - a German-Russian immigrant offering a "broken Zenit am2", not realizing the higher value of the lens, which really looked as if it was unused.

KMZ Zenit AM2 Prototype with PK Bayonet | eBay

**RKKS08** · 03-02-2013, 03:55 PM

They are crazy (and I hate to see the seller is a German company, offering it specially for the US - it is only on ebay.com, not on ebay.de). I wonder about the "prototype". It looks exactly like mine, just mine was an export model, no cyrillic lettering on the front plate (S/N 95001374).

However, functioning Zenit am2 cameras are indeed rare (most of them stopped working). Plastic body feeling cheap and unreliable electronics.

iceshiel · 03-03-2013, 06:55 PM

I just bought and received a Helios 44-2. It is so much fun I've neglected my Limited glass since I got the Helios. It is not the best lens I have but the pictures it produces has a certain imperfect character that I can't quite explain.

Yes manual focusing can be frustrating but it slows down the process and makes each shot a calculated and deliberate composition.

Most legacy glass don't cost that much. Go for it. You will have so much fun.

Sagitta · 03-03-2013, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by iceshiel

Most legacy glass don't cost that much. Go for it. You will have so much fun.

Heck, you don't even have to have them on your camera, you can just use them like legos!

(Hello, my name is Jody and I have a problem. I have another third again as many lenses attached to various bodies as placeholders. I just sent off an order to eBay for a dozen rear caps since most of mine came without.)

**jatrax** · 03-04-2013, 06:44 PM

Originally posted by Sagitta

Heck, you don't even have to have them on your camera, you can just use them like legos!

So are you using the lenses as front caps for the cameras or the cameras as rear caps for the lenses...................

03-03-2013, 08:41 PM	#53
Sagitta Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maine Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,081	Originally posted by iceshiel Most legacy glass don't cost that much. Go for it. You will have so much fun. Heck, you don't even have to have them on your camera, you can just use them like legos! (Hello, my name is Jody and I have a problem. I have another third again as many lenses attached to various bodies as placeholders. I just sent off an order to eBay for a dozen rear caps since most of mine came without.) Last edited by Sagitta; 03-04-2013 at 06:55 PM.

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03-02-2013, 08:36 AM	#46
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Originally posted by Arvid I am in search of M42 glass, too. Lets say I was looking at an online auction and there is little to no information, except for a few pictures. I guess if a serial number of a lens mounted to a Zenit-E starts with 73... (made in 1973), it is safe to say it has an M42 mount already, right? Only the very early Zenit Es were M39. By 1971 they were all M42, the 44-2 was introduced sometime around 1969.

03-02-2013, 08:41 AM	#47
Arvid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 168	Thank you for confirming that. I dug in a little on these useful links that you provided and it seems that you'd have to be rather "lucky" to get an M39 Helios (or Zenit).

03-02-2013, 08:55 AM	#48
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Originally posted by Arvid Thank you for confirming that. I dug in a little on these useful links that you provided and it seems that you'd have to be rather "lucky" to get an M39 Helios (or Zenit). There seem to be quite a few M39 Helios 44s on eBay, but they are all shipped from Eastern Europe...

03-02-2013, 01:30 PM	#49
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	@ apfhex Quote: (and the 44K-4 which I gather doesn't require an adapter but harder to find You can increase your chances if you also search for a ZENIT am2. This one has a K-mount and was delivered with the Helios 44K-4 as a kit lens. That's where I got mine from - a German-Russian immigrant offering a "broken Zenit am2", not realizing the higher value of the lens, which really looked as if it was unused.

03-02-2013, 01:51 PM	#50
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,473	Originally posted by RKKS08 @ apfhex You can increase your chances if you also search for a ZENIT am2. This one has a K-mount and was delivered with the Helios 44K-4 as a kit lens. That's where I got mine from - a German-Russian immigrant offering a "broken Zenit am2", not realizing the higher value of the lens, which really looked as if it was unused. KMZ Zenit AM2 Prototype with PK Bayonet \| eBay

03-02-2013, 03:55 PM	#51
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	They are crazy (and I hate to see the seller is a German company, offering it specially for the US - it is only on ebay.com, not on ebay.de). I wonder about the "prototype". It looks exactly like mine, just mine was an export model, no cyrillic lettering on the front plate (S/N 95001374). However, functioning Zenit am2 cameras are indeed rare (most of them stopped working). Plastic body feeling cheap and unreliable electronics.

03-03-2013, 06:55 PM	#52
iceshiel Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 40	I just bought and received a Helios 44-2. It is so much fun I've neglected my Limited glass since I got the Helios. It is not the best lens I have but the pictures it produces has a certain imperfect character that I can't quite explain. Yes manual focusing can be frustrating but it slows down the process and makes each shot a calculated and deliberate composition. Most legacy glass don't cost that much. Go for it. You will have so much fun.

03-04-2013, 06:44 PM	#54
jatrax Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Washington Cascades Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,991	Originally posted by Sagitta Heck, you don't even have to have them on your camera, you can just use them like legos! So are you using the lenses as front caps for the cameras or the cameras as rear caps for the lenses...................

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