M42 mount variations

[GrahamS]

By its construction the lens is definitely for an early Zenit camera (they later switched to M42), won't work on any LTM rangefinder. I'm thinking someone tried to use the lens on another SLR, and just couldn't make it work.

PF

Are you saying that there was a M39 mount Zenit SLR?

[alexvaras]

Yes, there are, they can be used in LTM but rangefinder it won’t work and only close focus will do.

https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Zenit

[Julio1fer]

• Are you saying that there was a M39 mount Zenit SLR

Indeed! The most common was the Zenit 3M. I used one of those for 14 years…

[GrahamS]

• Are you saying that there was a M39 mount Zenit SLR

Indeed! The most common was the Zenit 3M. I used one of those for 14 years…

Yes, there are, they can be used in LTM but rangefinder it won’t work and only close focus will do.

https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Zenit

Thanks for the info and the education, Alex and Julio. I now have one on my wishlist.

[titrisol]

It seems that those Zenit-M39 lenses need an extension tube to work on LTM cameras; but can be used in M42 cameras since the flange distance is the same
http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Zenit

Very interesting, thanks Julio

[PFMcFarland]

Sorry for getting back to this so late, Graham, but you have it figured out. It didn't take long before the nice folks at Zenit realized what a mess they created by recycling the LTM thread for an SLR mount.

PF

[GrahamS]

Sorry for getting back to this so late, Graham, but you have it figured out. It didn't take long before the nice folks at Zenit realized what a mess they created by recycling the LTM thread for an SLR mount.

PF

Thanks Phil, I have relegated this lens to the back of the shelf so as to avoid confusion.