[lcburns]

My three favourites are:
MIR-24M 35mm f/2 - I love the colours and tones of this lens, and would buy a second one, as a backup, in an instant were one to show up for a reasonable price.

Helios-44 58mm f/2 - There are multiple versions of this one, and all have something going for them. I have four personally (silver/M39/13 aperture blades, 'normal'/M42/8 aperture blades, -44-3/M42/8 aperture blades, and 44M-4/M42/6 aperture blades). You can't go wrong for this price.

Tair-11A 135mm f/2.8 - Built like a tank and quality optics.

[Don Schaeffer]

Tell me more about screw-mount lenses. What cameras are they for?

[lcburns]

Tell me more about screw-mount lenses. What cameras are they for?

Just the method of attaching the lens to the camera, so instead of a bayonet mount you could have screw. Same idea, like the difference between screw and bayonet lightbulbs. They're used mostly with old Pantax cameras but you can buy adapters relatively cheap for your Nikon or a Canon.

[blue]

Tell me more about screw-mount lenses. What cameras are they for?

Just the method of attaching the lens to the camera, so instead of a bayonet mount you could have screw. Same idea, like the difference between screw and bayonet lightbulbs. They're used mostly with old Pantax cameras but you can buy adapters relatively cheap for your Nikon or a Canon.

Here is an adapter to mount screwmount (M42) lenses on Nikon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexaia/3360907963/

These types of things typically cost around $20-40.

Some lenses will not focus to infinity, and some will touch and damage your mirror. Some cheap adapters on eBay are not precisely machined. Good idea to ask around whether a lens your interested in is a good candidate and look for a trusted source for adapters. There are mountains of M42 lenses out there for cheap, with good optics.

Then again there are lots of nice manual Nikon lenses out there too which are more compatible.

That link I posted makes it seem as if M42 lenses will not focus to infinity on Nikon without an optical element in the adapter. That's too bad. This is not the case on Pentax mount, but perhaps the film to mount distance is the difference.

[Don Schaeffer]

Thanks very much ICB.

[Toad]

Interesting thread. I wish I had something to contribute, but I don't own any screw mount lenses.

[Don Schaeffer]

There are so many old bayonet mount lenses around. I checked. Screw mount lenses and adapters aren't cheaper.

[lcburns]

Tell me more about screw-mount lenses. What cameras are they for?

Just the method of attaching the lens to the camera, so instead of a bayonet mount you could have screw. Same idea, like the difference between screw and bayonet lightbulbs. They're used mostly with old Pantax cameras but you can buy adapters relatively cheap for your Nikon or a Canon.

Here is an adapter to mount screwmount (M42) lenses on Nikon:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexaia/3360907963/

These types of things typically cost around $20-40.

Then again there are lots of nice manual Nikon lenses out there too which are more compatible.

I like the screw mounts. Nice link and I agree, you might be better off going with those manual Nikon lenses.