Zenitar's M 50mm f/1.7 — a fast Soviet M42 standard prime for the Zenit range.
The Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 is a Soviet fast standard prime made for M42 screw-mount cameras, the M designation marking the screw-mount version. It was a normal lens for the Zenit range, offering a brighter f/1.7 aperture than the more common f/2 Soviet standards.
This is a manual-focus M42 screw-mount lens with a 50mm focal length and a maximum aperture of f/1.7. Focus and aperture are set by hand on the barrel and it is a compact all-metal standard prime with an automatic diaphragm. Exact element figures are not asserted here beyond the verified focal length and aperture, in line with the accuracy standard.
As a fast standard the 50mm f/1.7 is a flexible everyday lens for portraits, street and general work, with the bright aperture giving low-light capability and shallow depth of field. Soviet standards of this type render smoothly with pleasant character, and the extra speed over f/2 versions makes it a useful all-round normal lens.
Used copies are inexpensive and common. Inspect for haze, fungus and cleaning marks, confirm the aperture blades are dry and the diaphragm actuates, and check focus feel. As a native M42 lens it mounts directly on screw-mount film bodies, and an M42 adapter allows use on mirrorless cameras for characterful standard-lens work.