Best M42 Camera Lenses of 2025

Alan Eaton Avatar
Alan Eaton
Last Updated: Jan 3, 2025

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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

TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens Cover #TOP 1
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.8
PENTAX SMC Takumar 200mm Lens Cover #TOP 2
PENTAX SMC Takumar 200mm Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.7
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens Cover #TOP 3
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens
ftb score rating icon 9.5

Top 9 M42 Camera Lenses

#TOP 1

TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens

TTARTISAN
240926-75mm F1.5 M42
Black
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens Cover
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Swirly Bokeh Full Frame Camera Lens Large Aperture Lens Compatible with M42 Mount Camera Lens (Black)

The TTArtisan 75mm Lens is perfect for photographers seeking a unique artistic touch. Its special design creates a swirly bokeh effect, helping your subject pop against a dreamy background. With a large f/1.5 aperture, you can capture stunning images even in low-light scenarios, while achieving a beautiful shallow depth of field. The manual focus feature gives you precise control, allowing you to focus on the details that matter most. This lens merges classic aesthetics with modern technology, making it a valuable addition to both professional and enthusiast photographers' gear.

What We Like
Swirly bokeh effect
Large f/1.5 aperture
Manual focus control
Compatible with M42 mount
#TOP 2

PENTAX SMC Takumar 200mm Lens

PENTAX Super Multi-Coated SMC Takumar 200mm F4.0 F/4.0 M42 Screw Mount MF Lens
PENTAX SMC Takumar 200mm Lens Cover
PENTAX Super Multi-Coated SMC Takumar 200mm F4.0 F/4.0 M42 Screw Mount MF Lens (S/N:8325912)#55862

The PENTAX Super Multi-Coated SMC Takumar 200mm F4.0 Lens is made in Japan and has a screw mount. This MF lens is perfect for SLR film cameras, allowing you to capture high-quality images with ease.

What We Like
High-quality lens made in Japan
Screw mount for SLR film cameras
Manual focus allows for more control over image capture
#TOP 3

TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens

TTARTISAN
100mm F2.8 M42
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens Cover
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Full Frame Bubble Bokeh Lens Camera Lense Compatible with M42 Mount Camera Lens

The TTArtisan 100mm Lens offers a unique soap bubble bokeh effect, providing you with stunning images that stand out. This lens balances sharpness and artistic blur, making it ideal for capturing beautiful nature and portrait shots. It is designed for M42 mounts but can be adapted to fit other mounts, giving you flexibility in your photography. The clicked aperture allows for easy adjustments, even in low-light conditions, so you can focus more on your creativity and less on technicalities.

What We Like
Unique soap bubble bokeh
Flexible mount compatibility
Easy aperture adjustments
Balanced sharpness and blur
#TOP 4

Industar 50-2 50mm F3.5 Lens

Industar
Industar 50-2 50mm F3.5 Lens Cover
Industar 50-2 50mm F3.5 Russian Lens for M42 Mount Cameras for Micro 4/3 Olympus Pentax

The Industar 50-2 Lens is a versatile 50mm F3.5 lens designed for M42 mount cameras, including Micro 4/3 models like Olympus and Pentax. This used lens is in good condition with a clean and clear glass, ensuring that your photos will be sharp and vibrant. You can feel confident in your purchase as it comes with a one-year warranty, providing peace of mind. Whether you’re capturing portraits or landscapes, this lens offers great functionality for both amateur and professional photographers alike.

What We Like
Good condition
Clean and clear optics
One-year warranty
Versatile for different cameras
#TOP 5

TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens

TTARTISAN
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5
Black
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens Cover
TTartisan 75mm F1.5 Swirly Bokeh Full Frame Large Aperture Camera Lens, Compatible with M42 Mount Cameras

The TTArtisan 75mm Lens is designed to elevate your photography with its stunning swirly bokeh effect. This artistic feature allows you to create captivating images where the background appears to rotate around your subject, making your photos stand out. Its M42 mount ensures compatibility with a variety of camera brands, giving you the flexibility to use it with your preferred equipment. The f1.5 large aperture excels in low-light situations, allowing you to capture clear, vibrant images even in challenging conditions. Additionally, it offers a shallow depth of field, enhancing your subject's prominence in every shot.

What We Like
Unique swirly bokeh effect
Wide compatibility with cameras
Excellent low-light performance
Shallow depth of field
#TOP 6

Industar 61 L/Z 50mm F2.8 Russian Lens M42

industar
Industar 61 L/Z 50mm F2.8 Russian Lens M42 Cover
Industar 61 L/Z 50mm F2.8 Russian Lens M42

Industar 61 Lens is a high-quality camera lens manufactured by Industar. Known for its sharpness, this lens is built based on the optical scheme of Tessar, earning the nickname "Eagle Eye" among photographers. It excels in macro photography when used with a macro-ring, delivering exceptional results. With good contrast transfer and resolution, this lens ensures sharpness even at the edges of the frame. The lens features a sturdy metal construction, guaranteeing its durability for many years to come. Whether you're capturing close-up details or shooting a wide landscape, Industar 61 Lens offers excellent performance and versatility for photographers of all levels.

What We Like
Sharpness
Macro photography
Good contrast transfer
#TOP 7

TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens

TTARTISAN
EAUS-TA00039
Black
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 Lens Cover
TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 f/2.8 Bubble Bokeh Full Frame Lens Compatible with M42 Mount Cameras

The TTArtisan 100mm Lens is designed to enhance your photography with its unique bokeh effects. It produces a distinctive soap bubble bokeh, which features bright edges around the bokeh balls, adding a creative touch to your images. This lens strikes a balance between sharpness and artistic flair, making it perfect for capturing stunning nature and portrait shots. Additionally, its full-frame design means it can cover medium format sensors, and the faint vignetting can contribute to a more artistic look. With a clicked aperture, adjusting settings while shooting at night becomes easy and intuitive.

What We Like
Unique soap bubble bokeh
Sharpness and artistic balance
Full-frame compatibility
Easy aperture adjustments
#TOP 8

TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens

TTARTISAN
EAUS-TT00068
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens Cover
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Swirly Bokeh Full Frame Lens with 58mm Lens Filter F1.5 Large Aperture Compatible with M42 Mount Camera Lens

The TTArtisan 75mm Lens is designed for M42-Mount cameras and modern models with an adapter. Its unique optical design creates a soft, swirling bokeh effect, making your subject pop against a dreamy background. The classic design adds vintage charm, with beautiful flares that enhance light and shadow in your photos. Additionally, the f/1.5 large aperture allows you to capture sharp images even in dim lighting, giving you the flexibility to shoot in various conditions.

What We Like
Swirly bokeh effect
Large f/1.5 aperture
Classic vintage design
Low-light performance
#TOP 9

TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens

TTARTISAN
F7515-B-M42
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens Cover
TTArtisan 75mm F1.5 Lens for M42 Mount Swirly Bokeh Full Frame Lenses for Screw Mount Cameras can be transferred to All mirrorless and SLR mounts Camera

The TTArtisan 75mm Lens offers a unique swirly bokeh effect that can enhance your photography by adding a creative touch to your images. With its large F1.5 aperture, you can capture stunning shots even in low-light conditions, allowing for more flexibility in various settings. The clicked aperture ring provides precise control over exposure, making it easier for you to adjust settings as needed. Additionally, this lens features all-metal construction, ensuring durability and a premium feel, which gives you confidence while shooting with both modern and vintage cameras using an adapter (except Nikon F mount).

What We Like
Swirly bokeh effect
Large aperture for low light
Precise aperture control
Durable all-metal build
Buying Guide Image

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.

Editor's Notes

During our m42 camera lense research, we found 16 m42 camera lense products and shortlisted 9 quality products. We collected and analyzed 3,955 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 $178.17.

The m42 camera lenses are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of m42 camera lenses, including TTARTISAN, Pentax, Industar. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 56 consumers with an average rating of 4.8.

Written by
Alan Eaton Avatar

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.