A Word about Russian Serial Numbers

themoleman342 · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 925 Location: U.S.A.

After reading through a great deal of the previous posts I noticed that there was a little discussion over the serial numbers of Russian lenses that start with 0, 00, or 000. As part of the yahoo zenit camera group we've come around to this topic more than once. I didn't know if anyone knew what they really meant so these were our findings. Alain Berry, a French ZCG group member gave these insights (translated by Martin Luerkens - another ZCG member):

000xxxxxx factory test (study) models (prototypes etc) mod?les d'études
d'usine (prototypes etc..)
00xxxxxx preseries models reserved for members of the communist party
and "VIPs" (reservés aux membres du parti communist et haut
responsables en pré-série)
0xxxxxx reserved for factory syndicat leaders (réservés aux
responsables syndicaux d'usines)

They are in fact all pre-production models. They are generally considered higher quality optics due to the fact that there is stricter quality control (which is disputed among Russian gear), they are produced in lower numbers with greater care, and they are not presented to the general public. A great many members, with multiple copies of the helios 44-2, have invariably found the best to be the one with the 0xxxxx serial number. Whether there is really any difference between which pre-production model is the better has yet to be tested.

I always look for the lenses with pre-production serial numbers because there’s that chance that they might be better than those of mass-production lines.

Anyways I hope this was of some value
~Marc
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I've been doing a lot of abstract photography lately, extremely abstract. No camera, no lens, no film, I just think about it.

~adaptation of a joke told by the American comedian Steven Wright.

Orio · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 18168 Location: West Emilia

Thanks Marc. This is an EXCELLENTLY INFORMATIVE contribution!!!!!

I have myself a few Russians beginning with zero numbers and in fact I was wondering how could that be possible for a lens bearing the writing "Made in USSR" to have a serial number implying a build in the year 2000! Laughing

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Maxim · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 284 Location: Poland 52°N 17°E

Thank you, Marc - that's interesting! I didn't know about this fact before Smile

I have a Russian portrait lens, Tair-11A with 004548 serial number... look at the photo:

Thanks once again,
Hubert
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Regards,
Hubert
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LucisPictor · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2007 1:08 pm Post subject:

Wow, this is a very nice lens that you have, Hubert!
The Tair-11A is said to be great and then this is a VIP-version. Shocked

Take good care!

Thanks for the info, Marc
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Maxim · Joined: 27 Oct 2007 Posts: 284 Location: Poland 52°N 17°E

LucisPictor - this Tair is in good hands, I use it with respect and care Smile

I have also an original leather case (looks like the Thermos flask) and set of filters. I am interested when my copy was produced...
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Regards,
Hubert
E-300 + ZD 14-42 + Tessar 5cm/3.5 + Mamiya 55/1.4 + Primoplan V 58/1.9 + Biotar 5.8cm/2 + MC Helios 44M-6 58/2 + Trioplan 100/2.8 + Trioplan V 100/2.8 + "Olympia" Sonnar 180/2.8 + ЮПИТЕР-6 180/2.8 + Telemegor 400/5.5
www.galeria.kw.pl

Orio · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 18168 Location: West Emilia

Funny, my Tair11A also begins with a double zero (004891). Very Happy

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Lens sana in corpore sano
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My Photography Blog (in Italian and English)

Read list of equipment HERE

kuuan · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 1026 Location: now: Delhi, India

themoleman342 · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 925 Location: U.S.A.

In the case of the Mir 47k, it may be that the lens was produced in 2000 rather than being a pre-production model.
_________________
I've been doing a lot of abstract photography lately, extremely abstract. No camera, no lens, no film, I just think about it.

~adaptation of a joke told by the American comedian Steven Wright.

kuuan · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 1026 Location: now: Delhi, India

that would make sense..but considering that the lens looks VERY heavily used, as do all the 'old' camera stuff to be found in camera shops in Vietnam, I doubt that it is 'only' 9 years old
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Mal1905 · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 1162 Location: Dublin, Ireland

Xpres · Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 612 Location: UK

I wonder if there is any evidence for the '0' serial number stories? There seem to be an awful lot of '0xxx...' about.....
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Jeff Zen · Joined: 17 Jun 2009 Posts: 51

djmike · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Posts: 518 Location: Taiwan

My J-37A starts with 84xxxxx, J-9 with 83xxxxxx.
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Pancolart · Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts: 240

I am glad i found this debate. I have this very nice silver MIR-1. Coating has very strong purple color.

Serial number: 004221.

Can someone recognize producer from the photo (interesting symbol for coating).

themoleman342 · Joined: 21 Oct 2007 Posts: 925 Location: U.S.A.

Despite having the KMZ symbol, I had heard that the mir-1s were not actually produced by them, only assembled in the early days (1950s). It was only after that that some larger companies such as zomz and vologda took on full-scale production and started using their own logos.

Quite a rare piece; a very nice find!

~Marc
_________________
I've been doing a lot of abstract photography lately, extremely abstract. No camera, no lens, no film, I just think about it.

~adaptation of a joke told by the American comedian Steven Wright.