Best M42 Camera Lenses of 2026
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M42 camera lenses are a popular choice among photographers due to their versatility and compatibility with various camera brands. These lenses are designed to fit cameras with a screw mount and offer a wide range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto. M42 lenses are also known for their quality optics, producing sharp images with minimal distortion. Many vintage M42 lenses are still in use today, and some photographers prefer them over modern lenses for their unique character and aesthetic. With a wide variety of options available, M42 lenses are a great choice for photographers looking to expand their lens collection.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
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Top 10 M42 Camera Lenses
Unbekannt Zenit Helios-44-2 Helios 44-2 58mm 58 mm 1:2 - M42 M 42
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens
The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens is an excellent choice for those looking for a high-quality lens that won't break the bank. With a 50 millimeter focal length and maximum aperture of f/1.8, it's great for portraits, action, and nighttime photography. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.15 feet (0.35 meter) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x. It also features a stepping motor (STM) for near silent, continuous move Servo AF for movies and smooth AF for stills. It's compatible with Canon EF mountings and is a great choice for both crop and full frame cameras.
OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko 40-150mm Lens
The OM SYSTEM 40-150mm Lens offers a versatile focal length that ranges from 40mm to 150mm, making it ideal for capturing a variety of subjects, from portraits to distant landscapes. With a maximum aperture of f/4-5.6, you can achieve clear images even in moderate lighting conditions. This lens features high-speed autofocus, ensuring that you can quickly and accurately lock onto your subject, which is especially useful for action shots. Additionally, its angle of view from 30 to 8.2 degrees allows for creative framing, helping you to compose your shots just the way you envision them.
OM SYSTEM Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Silver
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G Lens
The Nikon 35mm Lens is a DX format F mount lens that offers a 44-degree picture angle for Nikon DSLR cameras. This lens has a 52.5mm focal length equivalent and a maximum aperture range of f/1.8 to 22. The lens construction consists of 8 elements in 6 groups and has a silent wave motor AF system. It accepts screw-on filters and is compatible with DX and FX in DX crop mode. The rear focusing and manual focus override provide you with the ability to adjust your focus as needed. This lens is not zoomable. With the Nikon 35mm Lens, you can capture stunning portraits, landscapes, and everyday shots with ease. The wide aperture range allows you to shoot in low light conditions without sacrificing image quality, and the silent wave motor ensures quiet and accurate autofocus.
TTARTISAN 250mm f5.6 Reflex Lens for M42 Mount
Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Lens
The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G Lens is a fast, compact and upgraded prime lens with a focal length of 50mm, ideal for both FX and DX format DSLRs. It features an exclusive Nikon Silent Wave Motor (SWM) and an M/A focus mode switch. The newly developed optical system with an aspherical lens element ensures edge-to-edge sharpness, while the maximum reproduction ratio is 0.15X. This lens is optimized for both formats and has a non-zoomable design.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens is a portable electric zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds cameras with a 3x zoom range that covers landscapes to portraits. With close focusing down to 7.87 inches, this lens is perfect for capturing sharp images of small subjects. You can remotely control the zoom with a smartphone app, and an auto-closing lens cap is available as an optional accessory.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 EZ Lens is a portable and collapsible electric zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds Cameras. It provides a 3x zoom range, allowing you to capture everything from landscapes to portraits. The lens has a close focusing distance of 7.87 inches, and remote control of zoom is available through a smartphone app. Additionally, an optional auto-closing lens cap is available for added convenience.
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 IIR Black
The Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm F3.5-5.6 IIR Black, also known as the Olympus 14-42mm Lens, is a versatile camera lens designed for the Micro Four Thirds System. This compact lens offers a 3x zoom range, allowing you to capture everything from wide landscapes to detailed portraits. With its collapsible design, it is easy to carry around and perfect for travel photography. The lens features 7 aperture blades, which create a circular aperture diaphragm for natural background blurring, resulting in beautiful bokeh effects. It also boasts a nearly silent auto focus system, making it suitable for both still photography and movie shooting. Additionally, the lens has a close focusing distance of just 9.84 inches, allowing you to capture stunning close-up shots. With its impressive features and excellent performance, the Olympus 14-42mm Lens is a great choice for photographers of all levels.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What lenses use M42?
M42 lenses include a variety of options such as the Chinon 200mm f/3.5, Ohnar 300mm f/5.6 Mirror Lens, Pentacon 135mm f/2.8 Electric and Ugly, Schneider 50mm f/2.8 Xenar, and Schneider-Kreuznach 35mm f/4 Radiogon, among others. These lenses are known for their compatibility with M42 screw mounts and offer different focal lengths and aperture options.
2. Are M42 lenses still made?
While M42 lenses were popular in the past, they are no longer being actively produced. KMZ, a camera manufacturer, continued producing M42 SLRs in the 21st century, but the majority of M42 lenses available today are older models from various manufacturers.
3. What cameras use M42 screw mount?
Several cameras used the M42 screw mount, including the Contax S line, original Praktica, Asahiflex, and Praktina FX. These cameras allowed M42 lenses to be easily screwed into the body, offering simplicity and compatibility for photographers.
4. Are all M42 lenses compatible?
Most M42 lenses are designed to be compatible with all SLR cameras. This means that M42 lenses from well-known manufacturers should be compatible with newer cameras. However, it's always a good idea to double-check compatibility before purchasing or using an M42 lens.
5. How do I know if my lens is M42?
Identifying an M42 lens is relatively easy. Look for a screw thread, as M42 lenses do not have bayonet mounts. Additionally, there is usually an aperture pin located on the rear of the mount, which stops the aperture down. These features are characteristic of M42 lenses.
6. What is the difference between M39 lens and M42?
The main difference between M39 and M42 lenses is the flange focal distance. The Zenit M39 mount has a slightly shorter flange focal distance than the M42 mount, which means that a Zenit M39 lens on an M42 adapter may not achieve infinity focus. However, this can be easily fixed by setting the lens to infinity and closing the aperture down.
7. Can you adapt M42 to EF?
Yes, you can adapt M42 lenses to Canon EF/EF-S mount cameras using adapters like the Vello LA-CEF-M42. These adapters ensure a secure attachment of the M42 lens to the camera body and allow for infinity focus, enabling proper functionality when shooting at long distances.
During our m42 camera lense research, we found 16 m42 camera lense products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 179,539 customer reviews through our big data system to write the m42 camera lenses list. We found that most customers choose m42 camera lenses with an average price of $255.17.
The m42 camera lenses are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of m42 camera lenses, including Unbekannt, Canon, OM SYSTEM, Nikon, TTARTISAN. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 11 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Alan Eaton is a seasoned writer whose expertise is in anything related to electronics, such as headphones, monitoring equipment, computer, and so on, built over a 15-year career in the technology industry. Working in the trade during his youth, he accumulated a great deal of knowledge about machinery.