What are the drawbacks of using old M42 or T-mount lenses on a modern mirrorless camera?
Asked 11/7/2015
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I’m using an older 400mm f/6.3 T-mount lens on a Sony a6000 and am considering a Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 in M42 mount. Manual focus aside, what image-quality compromises should I expect from older adapted lenses compared with modern lenses on a mirrorless body? I’m mainly asking about optical performance rather than autofocus or EXIF support.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
10y ago
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I did experiment with different manual lens (in total of 23 M42 lens of various makes and f numbers) and I can say a few things about manual lens, these are:
Older lens doesn't have many modern coatings such as anti-flare which is very important in night photography. If you like flares, then no issues here.
Older objectives may have lower have lower light transmission ratio as well. This has to do with resolution of the lens (in mega pixels).
As far as Bokeh is concerned, older lens may have better Bokeh (I like Bokeh from Asahi Takumar lens better than my Canon AF lens)
Some manual lens may have yellow color tint (especially those radioactive ones, I know some Takumars). You need to correct color tints in the software or leave these objectives in sunlight for some days or weeks.
I have many manual lens, they works great for portraits or shooting movies, for others I don't use them as it is great hassle to focus manually (especially lower f number lens which I like). Once the moment is gone, it is gone.
Helios is a good lens and also has nice Bokeh. If you can find Ashahi Takumar, even better.
Originally by user10718. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user10718
10y ago
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Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—older adapted lenses can work well on mirrorless cameras, but there are some common tradeoffs versus modern optics.
Main drawbacks:
- coatings: many older lenses have simpler coatings, so they can be more prone to flare and lower contrast, especially with strong light sources or night scenes.
- transmission/contrast: even if the f-number is the same, some older lenses may transmit light less efficiently and appear less punchy.
- color cast: some vintage lenses can show a yellow tint; this can usually be corrected in post, and certain lenses may clear somewhat with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
- consistency: sample condition matters a lot with older lenses, since age, haze, fungus, or wear can affect results.
Possible upsides:
- character: many people like the rendering and bokeh of vintage lenses, sometimes more than modern lenses.
- adaptability: mirrorless bodies are especially good for using M42 and T-mount lenses because adapting them is straightforward.
So the downside is usually less technical perfection—more flare, lower contrast, possible color tint, and copy-to-copy variation. The upside is distinctive rendering and low cost. If you like the results you’re getting and accept manual focus, there’s no inherent problem using them.
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