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PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 12:57 pm    Post subject: Russian lenses Reply with quote
I am about to buy some Russian lenses (unexpected money Very Happy )

I am going for Jupiter 37 135mm, Mir 37 mm and Mir 20mm

Problem is there are different versions.

Jupiter 37A compared to 37AM. I know is the coating but I really like the Olympic vesion and that is the 37A.
Mir 37mm. 1B compared to 1V?
Mir 20mm 20M/3,5 compared to 47M/2,5.

I would really like to have some advice here. Thanks.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 1:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Russian lenses Reply with quote
lahnet wrote:

Jupiter 37A compared to 37AM. I know is the coating but I really like the Olympic vesion and that is the 37A.


There are four Jupiter-37 versions:

Jupiter-37A
Jupiter-37AM
MC Jupiter-37A
MC Jupiter-37AM

The multicoated versions have the MC before the Jupiter name
The M after the A is instead for "modern" and is apparently referred to a redesign of the barrel and mechanical parts. I say "apparently" because, except for the different colours in the writings, I can not notice any difference in the AM versions from the A versions.

Quote:
Mir 37mm. 1B compared to 1V?


The MIR-1B does not exist, it is a western misspelling of the original Cyrillic B letter which corresponds to our V
So you have
MIR-1 the original M39 version of the lens
MIR-1V the modern version

Quote:
Mir 20mm 20M/3,5 compared to 47M/2,5.


The MIR-20M and MIR-47M are two different 20mm lenses.
The MIR-20M is a f/3.5, the MIR-47M is a f/2.5


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:15 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well explained, Orio.

I'd like to add that there are also f2.8 versions of the MIR-47 and that there is a MIR-64K that also boast 20mm f2.8.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
There are some more versions of the mir-1 2.8/37mm, but the optical design is the same:

Mir-1:
with aluminium barrel, usually marked with the grand prix symbol in M39. Register distance is 45.2 (instead of 45.5 for M42) - the reason why many m39-m42 adapters have problems with focusing to infinity.

Mir Automat - only for Kiev

Мир-1B (or Mir-1V for export):
There are two versions with different barrel for M42. No difference in handling and optical design.

Мир-1Ш (translated Mir-1sh):
Also two versions for M42, they seem to be the same as the Mir-1B versions. Someone wrote me that these are versions for schools and photographic circles - often seen in the former USSR.

I have a Мир-1Ш and a Mir-1V - no difference in the results at all, I can recommend them both.

Michael


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 2:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes very well explained,, thank you.

So, now I know about the different models, but what would you recommend when it comes to quality?

Jupiter MC or not MC. Can anyone see if this is the MC version?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150154903900&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005

Mir 20M or 47M. I will not need to shoot f/2.5 often. So i guess it comes to IQ from f/4.

Mir 1V (M42) Only one model.

Edit: Thanks Michael

Last edited by lahnet on Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:22 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I've got both versions MC and non-MC, and couldn't find any differences in performance, I'm afraid.
But it is perhaps because my non-MC-version is in a much better condition than my MC-version. I am not even sure if the coating is still "alive" in my MC. Wink

And I have not really used the lens in flare-provoking situations. Embarassed

So, from my experience, I would say go for the cheaper one and/or the one in better condition.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
lahnet wrote:


Jupiter MC or not MC. Can anyone see if this is the MC version?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150154903900&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=005


No it's the single coated A version. The older of them all. But it's the Olympic version (see the Mosckva 80 logo), so a bit of collectioner's item.

I personally don't see much difference between the single and multi coated versions of the J-37
I am perhaps of the impression that the AM copies might be very slightly better than the A copies (regardless of multiC), but it can well depend on the uncontrollable copy variation factor.

Quote:
Mir 20M or 47M. I will not need to shoot f/2.5 often. So i guess it comes to IQ from f/4.


I only tried the MIR-47 shortly, because my copy was defective, but it seems to me to be quite different from the MIR-20.
The MIR-47 seemed to me more of a neutral character lens, with slightly better sharpness and a lot better distortion.
The MIR-20 is quite a contrasty lens, the 20mm equivalent of the Helios-44. It has super dense colour saturation. On the negative side, it's not super sharp and it has a lot of distortion, that does not make it recommendable for shooting architecture. But on natural landscapes, such as sea scapes, it will be excellent.

Quote:
Mir 1V (M42) Only one model.


My copy of MIR-1 is sharper than my copy of MIR-1V, but this also can depend on copy variation factor.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 5:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
This is something that also surprised me and that I have seen several times: cleaning marks often do not have a negative effect on the lens performance.


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 7:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
If not use opposite sun, not effect at all any cleaning marks or scratches


PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 10:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
katzer wrote:
About the mir 1, I would reconsider it for the Mir 24.

A tad wider, a full stop faster (and it is very sharp wide open), can focus very close to a subject (almost like macro).

I have both


so do I

Quote:
the 24 is better in every aspect.


Yep, my experience too. The Mir-24M is quite rare on Ebay but well worth waiting for. I would advise you set up a search and be prepared to wait for a while.


Also the J-37A Olympic lens in the link is just a few numbers away from mine. I'm delighted with my copy and I've never bothered to think about buying any of the later versions.


PostPosted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 8:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Borges wrote:

Mir Automat - only for Kiev


Mir-1 Automat & Mir-20 Automat - only for Kiev-10 (15)
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