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M42 / Pancolar 50mm f/1.8
SHUTTERFILE REFERENCE DATASHEET · M42 · SF-M42-014
Pancolar 50mm f/1.8
Jena's fast fifty. Zebra-trim examples from the first years carry thoriated glass and the yellow cast that comes with it; later multicoated versions do not. Close focus to 0.35m embarrasses its rivals.
50mmFOCAL LENGTH
f/1.8MAX APERTURE
6e / 5gOPTICS
49mmFILTER
BRANDCarl Zeiss Jena (DDR)
MOUNTM42
PRODUCTIONc. 1965-1990
MIN FOCUS0.35 m
THORIATED GLASS
Some examples of this design test mildly radioactive; most do not. Yellowed glass is the tell, and a week of indirect UV light largely clears it.
Some examples of this design test mildly radioactive; most do not. Yellowed glass is the tell, and a week of indirect UV light largely clears it.
Before you buy
- Aperture blades: dry and snappy. Oil on the blades is the mount's most common disease and a real repair cost.
- Look through the glass at a light: haze, fungus threads, and balsam separation all announce themselves. Cleaning marks on front coatings matter less than sellers fear.
- Focus ring: smooth, even resistance end to end. Grit or a loose helicoid means a reluble at minimum.
- Thoriated designs yellow with age. A week of indirect UV largely reverses it; factor the cast into what you pay.
- Auto/Manual switch and pin function: the stop-down pin should move freely and the switch should actually stop down.
Find one for sale
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Buy this lens on eBayListings for sale, all conditions
Adapters for this mount
M42 adapters for modern mirrorless bodies
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