Old Yashinon-lenses are not often mentioned in discussions about which M42 SLR-lenses to get. Well, not as often as Takumars and Carl Zeiss anyway. I think this might be bacause they are underrated, or maybe just not as common. Many might associate them with the Contax/Yashica-mount of later Yashica lenses. But there are some great stuff for your M42 camera or adapter if you’ll take a look…

The purchase
I bought a Yashica J-7 here in Sweden with this lens on it. It is the camera I reviewed on YashicaForum and entered in EpicEdits $50-dollar camera challenge. Both the camera and lens are in great shape, no marks and great lenses. It has yellowed a bit but I haven’t noticed any impact on my images.

Yashinon-DX 50mm f1.7 m42

Maybe not the best saturation (it was a gray day, though), but sharp and very interesting bokeh. Here at f2, if I remember it correct. Today my C/Y->EOS adapter arrived, so now I can try my ML-lenses and compare. I see a test of 50mm-lenses in the not to distant future :)

Yashinon DX 50mm/1.7 berries