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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

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Anyone know this lens?
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:50 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:50 am
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I just got it from a friend who dirves new cars to Kazhastan:


I think it was used in making soviet adult films with 16 mm film cameras. The only text I found there was: День смеха. Anyone have some information about this?


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:02 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:02 am
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Wow!!! It certainly looks like something that would be used in an adult film Embarassed

Babelfish tells me that 'День смеха' translates as 'Day of the laughter' - which may suggest that it was used for the provision of adult-related video-based entertainment Shocked

Seriously though, I have no clue what it is - but it's very impressive looking.


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:03 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:03 am
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You've actually found one of KGB's most secret tools: a crystal ball with a photo attachment. Way back in the 50's and 60's, the KGB experimented with parapsychological techniques. With this apparatus, and with the aid of a trained clairvoyant, it was possible to look into the future and take pics of it.

The project was soon discarded as it showed a future without KGB and without Communism.


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:03 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:03 am
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Hi , the upper part looks like an enlarger condenser ! Strange hybrid ... Very Happy

Last edited by Helios on Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:06 am; edited 1 time in total


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:05 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:05 am
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There's definitely a hint in the 'День смеха' and its translation - not to mention today's date Wink


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:03 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:03 am
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LMAO


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:28 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:28 am
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It looks like a hybrid with a uber huge fisheye fix into a small Helios 58mm lens ! LOL


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:55 am
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 11:55 am
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Um, what date is it today? Laughing

Fantastic creation kansalliskala. Gave me a chuckle. I thought it may be a Helios 44 variant.


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:12 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:12 pm
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I seem to recognize the elusive April Fish lens (also called Poisson d'avril in French), a fisheye telephoto with macro capability. The particular geometry of this lens made it possible to shoot the motion picture Show me Your Glorious Samovar, a cult movie filmed in 16mm on location in Kazakhstan.

Thanks to kansalliskala for posting a picture of this rare lens.

Cheers!

Abbazz


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:32 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:32 pm
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Spotmatic wrote:
You've actually found one of KGB's most secret tools: a crystal ball with a photo attachment. Way back in the 50's and 60's, the KGB experimented with parapsychological techniques. With this apparatus, and with the aid of a trained clairvoyant, it was possible to look into the future and take pics of it.

The project was soon discarded as it showed a future without KGB and without Communism.

I think the main reason it was dropped was that it was able to peer into the Chairman's bedroom and provided much hilarity of the wrong sort.


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:56 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:56 pm
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congrats! must be a super fish eye, and @ F2 it's quite fast


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:59 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 12:59 pm
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poilu wrote:
congrats! must be a super fish eye


Laughing
very appropriate Wink


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:05 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:05 pm
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Is this what they call "lens porn"? Very Happy


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:51 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 1:51 pm
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I know!!!

I saw this before.

Not a lens. It's a pokemon!! Laughing


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:10 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 4:10 pm
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Sh.. I was fooled.
Exactly one year before, I was offered a prototype of this lens for $ 4,567 and managed to get it for $ 4,321 ( a real bargain).
They told me it was the only prototype existing.
Now you have got the same.
I can offer it to you for half the price I paid.
Then you have got two prototypes.
... and it is true, it works fine for adult-related video-based entertainment.

Cool Exclamation


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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:36 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:36 pm
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Put it in the sun with the thorium tak underneath and the yellow will be gone in no time , or sell it on the bay as a deadly lens fungus killer! Very Happy


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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:32 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:32 pm
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No-one recognized the middle part of the "lens". You are all so digital .. Cool


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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:29 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:29 pm
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Ah, a developing tank. I had no clue what it was even though I own one.

Was I right with the Helios guess?


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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:51 pm
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Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:51 pm
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martinsmith99 wrote:
Ah, a developing tank. I had no clue what it was even though I own one.

Was I right with the Helios guess?


The Helios has to be right. Probably specifically the Helios-44M.


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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:49 am
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:49 am
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Yes it was parts of 44M, processing tank and enlarger diffusor. Next year I'll make a Zenit 122K Digital but no-one remembers it the anymore then ..


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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:31 pm
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:31 pm
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I'm pretty late here, but I nevertheless had a good laugh. Thanks!


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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:03 pm
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 5:03 pm
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Reminds me of this:

http://www.nadir.it/pandora/ZEISS.htm


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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:34 pm
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Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 9:34 pm
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Made my day . Very Happy . Maybe I'll start feeding my lenses the blue pill. Seriously, an intriguing find. Congrats.
cheers,
gil


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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:55 am
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:55 am
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Recycling!


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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:27 am
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Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 7:27 am
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OK, you got me. Laugh 1
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