Thinking about an 85, leaning m42

So my kit is 14,24,50,135. I like the idea of trying an 85 as this past Christmas had some good portrait opportunities and it may fit in my setup nicely. I would also say I don't feel like I am lacking in my current kit at all, so I really truly do not really want the obvious sigma art option. Also, if this is such a specific lens, I am thinking the best glass I can get for what I want and don't need to waste money on is an m42 mount.

Is anyone using the new Helios 40-2 85 1.5? I see they re released it, and it can be had for $350. This is about $200 more than the Jupiter 85/2 which is also on my radar, but from the examples I have seen, the Helios is more to what I am looking for, but at basically $400 I would be dumb to not get the sigma art, and now I have defeated the purpose of the only reason I was going to get something I don't really need, but may enjoy. If I get a sterile chart champion 85, it would be the art, but I would rather be sub $200 used and personality, so m42 is perfect. Is there any lenses I am missing that fit this that maybe are not as popular but are 2 or faster and have a personality to them? The Helios is perfect, but just hard to swallow at more than $250....

In research I am adding the Olympus and takumar smc to the list. Maybe the wacky bokeh will get old from Helios?

In other words, you are search for an 85-ish lens to play with, at no more than $X used.
And X = ?

I probably didn't explain what I am asking well. I don't really have a price. I mean, I am not entertaining a ziess 85 so I guess in that regard I have a ceiling, but X has a direct coralation to what I get in terms of value using the sigma as a ceiling. A "punt" to me would be nothing at all or the sigma 85 art, I am equally as meh about either of those options. Yes the art looks like a super sharp and proper lens, and yes getting nothing saves me from more material things I don't need and a few bucks to boot, but neither option seems overly exciting. So I would rather make it more fun than just getting a sigma art and get a wonky (not in a bad to me way) 85 with a some personality, flaws and all, for much less if possible, hence why an m42 immediately came to mind. I am filling an artistic desire, not a kit need need. So I asked in case there were other Helios like options I am unaware of that may fit the bill. The Jupiter 9 makes the most logical sense for my whim, the Helios is more perfect except it is painfully soft/one trick pony and a fair bit of money for that because it is so hyped. So since I don't like to make regrettable glass decisions i am just asking to make sure I am turning over all the stones.

I think with the advent of mirrorless that any decent MF 85mm (whether it be m42 or another mount) will not be super cheap. Most should be cheaper than buying new.

Here are a couple of forum posts that might be useful, just from a quick google search
from DPReview
from manualfocus.org

I only have the Helios 44-2 (58mm f/2) which I got for next to nothing, but it has a very similar character to the 40-2.
Fun to play with the weird bokeh, however it can be nasty more often than not.

I'd skip the Jupiter-9: it's cheap but you get what you pay for. Save that money for a good lens.
You should be able to find a Leica Summicron-R 90/2 (E55 non-APO) for about $500. That's a good lens with classical Mandler rendering.

CheshireCat wrote in post #18228509
I'd skip the Jupiter-9:

I've got a Jupiter 8 on my Kiev 4 and I'd love to mount that on my EF bodies but its not an easy job. Its a very nice lens IMHO.

Vendee wrote in post #18228598
I've got a Jupiter 8 on my Kiev 4 and I'd love to mount that on my EF bodies but its not an easy job. Its a very nice lens IMHO.

I don't know the Jupiter 8 rendering, but as far as I know, it's a 50/2 lens in M39 mount.
You simply cannot adapt it to EF, unless you are happy with very limited focusing distance.

I have a sigma art 50 and a Pentax asahi 50 for fun (Very nice cool rendering and bokeh) otherwise I would get the Helios 44 and maybe I will just do that to scratch the itch. I feel like at $500 I should just get the sigma 85 and have an optically superior lens with af that is new and nice. I didn't realize that mirrorless has driven the m42 market but they are all more than I recall from last time I looked into them about 4 years back. The appeal of the quirky renderings is lost at a certain price point, that is for sure.

De gustibus non disputandum.

Just keep in mind that for $500 you are definitely not getting the Sigma Art lens you mentioned in your original post, but the previous EX DG HSM version which is known to have issues with AF precision (which goes without saying, is critical at 85/1.4).

The samyang 85 f1.4 can be routinely picked up for 200 second hand. Can make amazing images with very nice bokeh

CheshireCat wrote in post #18228668
I don't know the Jupiter 8 rendering, but as far as I know, it's a 50/2 lens in M39 mount.
You simply cannot adapt it to EF, unless you are happy with very limited focusing distance.

No, it originally had a Contax type bayonet mount for the Kiev but then was made in M39 screw mount for the Fed and Zorki rangefinders. But you are right..... getting it on an EF body isn't worth the bother.

CheshireCat wrote in post #18228729
De gustibus non disputandum.

Just keep in mind that for $500 you are definitely not getting the Sigma Art lens you mentioned in your original post, but the previous EX DG HSM version which is known to have issues with AF precision (which goes without saying, is critical at 85/1.4).

No I mean at the point of spending even $400 I would just get the art because if I am in it for $400 I may as well be in it for the $1000 or whatever with a stellar lens. But back to my purpose of posting this, I don't need an 85 so I don't want to go that route as I see it as more of a rarely used specialty length for me. Frankly, I see it as being the same as my 135 as far as use/purpose and I love the 135 and it's rendition and I think a super wacky version of that at 85 is what intrigues me at this FL more than a chart quality lens.

I will look at the samyang. Also saw some vivitar samples that looked really nice but that is a rough lens to find used. I am sure there is something out there. I think the Jupiter is my bail out.

Nick3434 wrote in post #18229049
I will look at the samyang. Also saw some vivitar samples that looked really nice but that is a rough lens to find used. I am sure there is something out there. I think the Jupiter is my bail out.

I always avoided Samyang primes because of the inferior color rendition. The Jupiter also sucks in that regard, but being an old lens, it can be excused. Do you like black & white ?

A lot actually. As I said, I don't want a chart champion/technically perfect lens at this FL, regardless of the date of manufacture, I wanted a quirky 85 in all its inferiority glory that gives it a different look. I think I am going to just get the Helios and stalk as good a deal as I can on it with the Pentax/Jupiter as a backups also stalking deals on and jump on whatever presents itself where I can sell it at minimal loss if I am not happy.