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Recommendations

Best first vintage lens

By the criteria below, the Pentacon auto 50mm f/1.8 leads: 50mm f/1.8 on M42, typically $45 used. Close behind: KMZ Industar-61 L/Z 50mm f/2.8 and Helios 44-2 58mm f/2. 8 lenses qualify.

How this list was built

  • Typical used value of $150 or less, so a first try is cheap
  • Adapts to at least four modern systems, so it survives a camera change
  • No thoriated glass, so there is no yellowing to correct before use

Ordering: Lower typical used value first. Values are used-market estimates, not appraisals, and each lens page states the basis for its range. Minimum focus distance, weight, and measured sharpness are not in the catalog, so no list ranks on them.

The 8 lenses that qualify

  1. Pentacon

    auto 50mm f/1.8

    50mmf/1.8M42

    Used value
    $20 to $90
    Made
    1960s-1990

  2. KMZ

    Industar-61 L/Z 50mm f/2.8

    50mmf/2.8M42

    Used value
    $25 to $100
    Made
    1970s-1990s

  3. Helios

    44-2 58mm f/2

    58mmf/2M42

    Used value
    $25 to $130
    Made
    1958-1992

  4. KMZ

    Jupiter-8 50mm f/2

    50mmf/2M39 (Leica screw)

    Used value
    $30 to $120
    Made
    1950s-1980s

  5. Minolta

    MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7

    55mmf/1.7Minolta SR (MC)

    Used value
    $30 to $120
    Made
    1968-1973

  6. Konica

    Hexanon AR 50mm f/1.7

    50mmf/1.7Konica AR

    Used value
    $40 to $150
    Made
    1965-1980s

  7. KMZ

    Mir-1 37mm f/2.8

    37mmf/2.8M42

    Used value
    $40 to $160
    Made
    1954-1980s

  8. Minolta

    MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4

    50mmf/1.4Minolta SR (MD)

    Used value
    $45 to $170
    Made
    1977-1984

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