Mir 1B 37mm: question for the experienced?

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Slowing down on my lens buying now, want just a couple more and the collection will be complete - for a while at least Smile

Have fallen in love with Russian optics, on the strength of my Jupiter 9 and Helios 44-2. So I'm thinking of the Mir 1B 37mm. Anyone any idea how much these should go for, and whether there's any advantage of buying the older Grand Prix version over this one?

Click here to see on Ebay

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

OK, a few warnings:

- this seller does not respond to my emails it's 5 days now. Luckily, I have not paid her yet;

- the MIR-1 and MIR-1V do not clear the Canon 5D mirror - I don't remember now which camera you have, anyway this can be useful information.

- I have the MIR-1V and it's a nice lens, very saturated colours. But sharpness wise I find the MIR-24 (available in M42 or Nikon mounts) superior, and a better buy for the following reasons:

- sharper (at the same aperture values)
- slightly wider (35mm instead of 37mm)
- one stop faster (f/2 instead of f/2.8 )
- multi-coated

Of course, it also costs about double the price. But if you ask for one lens to use and not only for collection, I would choose the MIR-24.

On the other hand, the MIR-1V is so cheap that you can buy one and still also buy the MIR-24.

(Note that what looks like a "B" is really a "V" in the Cyrillic alphabet, so the correct name of the lens is MIR-1V)

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Take it , this is a good price at buy it now. I have grand prix version silver and this black too, no difference or the black is better. Anyway I not like them much I shoot with Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f2. 4 MC or Nikkor 35mm f1.4 in this range.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

This price is OK, I don't know about the seller.

The MIR-1B used to be my favourite "35mm" lens (although it is 37mm) I liked it even more than my Tak 3.5/35 (although this is also a really good lens) and a lot more than my Porst 1.8/35 (although very fast) and my Soligor 2.8/35 (not bad either).
But now it's the second best, the No.1 position is held by my Nikkor-O 2.0/35.

Anyway, the MIR-1B is a great lens. I'm sure you would love it.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Pay a little more and buy a Nikkor or a Mir 24 this is my conclusion.Take a look at mflenses.com/gallery many Nikkor , MIR lens galleries there.
You can see the prices at mflenses.com price guide menu.

Borges · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Moers, Germany

I have bought two times from this seller. Although it sometimes took a few days if he answered mails, everything went fine. And, most important, the lenses were in a perfect state as described.

The price is, regarding that it is an unused lens from stock, very fair (as usual from this seller). Personally I'm a big fan of this lens. It's optical design is based on the Flektogon like the most "mir's". The designers were very proud of it, because they managed to produce a lens of this optical quality without the use of crown glass as it was necessary for the Flektogon (see http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/history/volosov-lenses.html#p457 with google or another translator).
It's my sharpest lens of this focal length even compared with some modern canon lenses for digital. The preset function makes it easy to use. And the color rendering is wonderful - I can fully recommend it. My Mir-24M can't reach this quality.

Michael

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

This thread is a nice example why need to buy lenses much as you can Smile

from same lenses we have different opinions. A lens good or not very subjective, best if you take it and if you not like it you can sell it anytime.

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Thanks for all your advice, everyone! I'll have a think and will decide in the next day or so...

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

That's a nice portrait, Erez, very joyful, I like it.

pilant · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 138 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

I've got one, it's a very good lens.

But.....I hate its focus ring, it's too thin and very difficult to turn it because its shape is polygon.

Anyway, no doubt at all, it is a great lens and can create great pictures.

This pic. was taken by my Oly E500 with MIR-1B(V)

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

peterqd · Expire: 2014-01-04

The Mir-1V was my first 35mm lens. Since then I've also bought a Mir-24M 2.0/35, a Flek 2.4/35 and a S-M-C Tak 3.5/35. One day I'd like to do a proper test to compare all four, but my feeling is the Mir-1V comes third for sharpness behind the Mir-24 and the Flek. The Tak is pretty poor, I think this might be bad example.

On a full-frame film camera the sharpness of the Mir-1V noticeably declines towards the edges much more than the other two at comparable apertures, but remember on a crop sensor DSLR this is not seen. Also the minimum focus distance is quite long, about 1 metre. On the plus side, I love the pre-set ring, the beautiful little 10-blade iris for lovely out-of-focus highlights and, as said before, the classic rich colours of Russian lenses.

On the whole I'm glad I bought it (and I paid more than this offer), so I'd say go for it.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

My Tak 35mm f3.5 also was poor quality lens, I am afraid this is the lens itself, my Nikkor 28mm f3.5 also pretty crap worst Nikkor what I ever have.

Borges · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 646 Location: Moers, Germany

An older example taken with Mir-1sh :

Michael

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Ok thanks ! Let we see..

pilant · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 138 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Arrived today in perfect condition. Strange thing is, though, that after buying it, I saw another one (the Grand Prix version) in perfect optical condition going for just ?6. So I now have two. The older one is a little more stiff, so maybe I'll use it learn how to lubricate old lenses...

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Congrats! Please share with us your opinion!

Puplet · Joined: 09 Aug 2007 Posts: 410

Thanks again for all the advice - and, Katzer, for sharing those lovely portraits. I eventually bought the listed lens - and then I found another, the Grand Prix one, for just ?6...

Tried the newest copy on the beach yesterday: the colours and saturation seem excellent but I'm not sure - maybe I was tired - but this lens didn't seem very inspiring to me...

I like the circular flare though Smile