This by far is the most expensive ($150CAD) M42 lens I have purchased, but initial test shows that this lens is very sharp wide open. It's too bad the focusing ring is very tight, and the minimum focusing distance is 2 meters (7 feet). Of course, with a long and heavy lens like this, it's a challenge shooting hand held.

This lens has a very limiting magnification ratio. You would expect a 200mm lens would give you better magnifications on close up pictures, but it does not. I often have to use an extension tube to get decent macro.

[Update: June 12, 2005]

I took the lens to have the glass cleaned, and the focusing ring re-oiled. It's now much easier to focus than before, and no more dust inside the lens! The four flower pictures were taken today at some one's garden near the Woodbine Beach.