Home

Please support mflenses.com if you need any graphic related work order it from us, click on above banner to order!
SearchSearch MemberlistMemberlist RegisterRegister ProfileProfile Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages Log inLog in

A Word about Russian Serial Numbers
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
View previous topic :: View next topic  


PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
iangreenhalgh1 wrote:
I'm sure there will be some lemons, but I also think they are less common than some people say. Out of 20-odd Russkies I've only had very good or excellent copies.

I've never seen an unsharp Tessar, pretty simple lens to make, I wonder if a technician overhauled it if it would become a good performer? There are reports of Russian lenses that were improperly assembled and technicians being able to transform their performance simply by correcting the assembly issue. A Mir-26B with an improperly inserted spacer comes to mind, it was overhauled and became a great performer.


Ian, I've dismantled two FSU lenses for cleaning. 450/10 RF-5, 210/4.5 Industar-51. Sloppy threads, no spacers. I-51s aren't highly esteemed by the large format community. I'm not the only person to have got a clinker.

I have two other ex-FSU lenses, 100/2.5 Uran-27 and 105/2.8 Era-7 that I've never taken apart. Opening them doesn't seem easy and there's no pressing reason to try so I can't report on how well their barrels were machined.

I don't know whether you noticed 'em, but some years ago a number of Orion 1a (200/6.3 Topogon types) lenses came to market. All had defective glass.

And a while ago while looking for something else I stumbled across a report on an attempt to use FSU mapping cameras and lenses. The report wasn't good, the lenses' elements weren't well-centered.

Cheers,

Dan


PostPosted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I really can't comment on large format lenses because I've only experience of Ross Xpress ones, all my Soviet lenses are RF or SLR 35mm types.

The LF Soviets do sound quite bad though, your experience with them sounds like the polar opposite of my experiences with the 35mm Soviets.


PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Can anyone verify this?
It may be true, but a lens repairman from Hungary tells me that is not so.
The russian numbering schemes have changed through the years and at best are confusing and vey inconsistent.
It kind of does not sound right for the "000" case as there are just way too many tripple zero lenses available on e-bay.
The double zero is somawhat questionable as well, as not all party members were photographers and again there is a lot of double zerolenses on e-bay theese days.
I guess it sounds great and would make me feel good as I have a lot of triple and double zero lenses in my possesion, but I am really sceptical about this explanation of leading zeros.


PostPosted: Wed May 01, 2013 2:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
zoozig wrote:
Can anyone verify this?
It may be true, but a lens repairman from Hungary tells me that is not so.
The russian numbering schemes have changed through the years and at best are confusing and vey inconsistent.
It kind of does not sound right for the "000" case as there are just way too many tripple zero lenses available on e-bay.
The double zero is somawhat questionable as well, as not all party members were photographers and again there is a lot of double zerolenses on e-bay theese days.
I guess it sounds great and would make me feel good as I have a lot of triple and double zero lenses in my possesion, but I am really sceptical about this explanation of leading zeros.


I think this argument has gone back and forth a couple of times with no clear indication which one is right or wrong. I have picked up a lens with SN00xxxxx + an Zenit E combo recently on the bay which appear to be part of an export batch to the outside of USSR. Many have swore by better quality control for lens with leading zeros, from my copy I have not seen any evidence contrary to it.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 1:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, got massive fsu fever so ended up here. Two months ago i bought myself a crystal camera with bellows and an m39 helios 44 with serial 000xxx. I was quite shocked when i saw it so i payed the asking price of €85,- for the set right away, i had it shipped to a friend since i'm abroad untill februari so i havn't actually tested it (i do mostly video, getting back into film photography again).

Now i got lucky again: I don't know the serial number, but i snatched another 13 blade helios for a price i'm ashamed of naming here. If they both perform equally i'll probably be selling one of them, and probably the one that gets me closer to a new camera...

Now my question is ofcourse how much the 000xxx would be worth, or as we say here 'how much the nut will spend on it', as this could perhaps even be a collectible?

Furthermore i plan on collecting and comparing as many different 44 preset models as i can get, just for the fun of it. Now my 000xxx has yellow coating, is it correct that i've seen some 13 bladed ones with purple coating aswel? I can't wait untill i've held them all and i can let go of it again, i'm ][<this close to autism right now.

cheers!


PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 8:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Maxwest wrote:
Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, got massive fsu fever so ended up here. Two months ago i bought myself a crystal camera with bellows and an m39 helios 44 with serial 000xxx. I was quite shocked when i saw it so i payed the asking price of €85,- for the set right away, i had it shipped to a friend since i'm abroad untill februari so i havn't actually tested it (i do mostly video, getting back into film photography again).

Now i got lucky again: I don't know the serial number, but i snatched another 13 blade helios for a price i'm ashamed of naming here. If they both perform equally i'll probably be selling one of them, and probably the one that gets me closer to a new camera...

Now my question is ofcourse how much the 000xxx would be worth, or as we say here 'how much the nut will spend on it', as this could perhaps even be a collectible?

Furthermore i plan on collecting and comparing as many different 44 preset models as i can get, just for the fun of it. Now my 000xxx has yellow coating, is it correct that i've seen some 13 bladed ones with purple coating aswel? I can't wait untill i've held them all and i can let go of it again, i'm ][<this close to autism right now.

cheers!


Hi!
About your 000, it depend of how it looks. Late 000 have normal shape and diaphragm close to f16. First part of 000's have diaph to f22 and longer front ring, and are much pricey.
About the yellow coating, I believe front glass have been replaced by a newer one (from 44M or 44M4 for exemple), because first H44 got purple coating. From the first H44 to the last 44M7, they all have the same lens design, and construction of the optical block is similar, so lenses are interchangeable.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 9:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Maxwest.
Welcome aboard. Very Happy
Please complete your profile. Where are you from ?

Your first image posted didn't appear because od antispam measures.
From now on it will be ok.

About your question, you're in very good hands with Burstmox (Pierre). Like 1 small


PostPosted: Mon Nov 23, 2015 6:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
My Tair 11A is 0031XX, anyone can guess anything special about this one?


PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Olivier wrote:
Hi Maxwest.
Welcome aboard. Very Happy
Please complete your profile. Where are you from ?

Your first image posted didn't appear because od antispam measures.
From now on it will be ok.

About your question, you're in very good hands with Burstmox (Pierre). Like 1 small


Ah i see, i believe i updated it now. I'm not very good with forums or anything computer related at all, finally decided to master this forum thing as it's the place where all the smart people live... It's quite a miracle i do video work really Wink


PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
BurstMox wrote:
Maxwest wrote:
Hi guys,

I'm new to the forum, got massive fsu fever so ended up here. Two months ago i bought myself a crystal camera with bellows and an m39 helios 44 with serial 000xxx. I was quite shocked when i saw it so i payed the asking price of €85,- for the set right away, i had it shipped to a friend since i'm abroad untill februari so i havn't actually tested it (i do mostly video, getting back into film photography again).

Now i got lucky again: I don't know the serial number, but i snatched another 13 blade helios for a price i'm ashamed of naming here. If they both perform equally i'll probably be selling one of them, and probably the one that gets me closer to a new camera...

Now my question is ofcourse how much the 000xxx would be worth, or as we say here 'how much the nut will spend on it', as this could perhaps even be a collectible?

Furthermore i plan on collecting and comparing as many different 44 preset models as i can get, just for the fun of it. Now my 000xxx has yellow coating, is it correct that i've seen some 13 bladed ones with purple coating aswel? I can't wait untill i've held them all and i can let go of it again, i'm ][<this close to autism right now.

cheers!


Hi!
About your 000, it depend of how it looks. Late 000 have normal shape and diaphragm close to f16. First part of 000's have diaph to f22 and longer front ring, and are much pricey.
About the yellow coating, I believe front glass have been replaced by a newer one (from 44M or 44M4 for exemple), because first H44 got purple coating. From the first H44 to the last 44M7, they all have the same lens design, and construction of the optical block is similar, so lenses are interchangeable.


Pierre, nice to meet you and thanks for your swift reply (on this old thread). I'll attach some more screenshots, as i'm abroad a friend is holding on to it for me so i havn't actually seen or held the lens. If it is of collectable value i could ofcourse swap the front element with one of my other h44's, perhaps even the m39 one for authenticity. I see it has a f22 mark, so it looks like i'm in business. The reason i bought it was because i wanted to have a 13 blade version for when i manage to get an anamorphic adapter, since i got a huuge bargain on a 0xxx version this one should go to someone who values the piece more than me. I just like using them.. Any idea what this st would be worth?



PostPosted: Tue Nov 24, 2015 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, it's the right version you have.
I think I saw one sold at around 200$ on ebay. But I may be wrong, I'm not an ebay user for years...


PostPosted: Wed Nov 25, 2015 12:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
200 bucks eh, in that case i'll see which of the two performs better. a 0xx or 00xxxx 13 bladed can be bought for around a 100, if an extra 100 buys me better iq i'll keep it. Thanks for your help, it's hard to find such specific info about fsu lenses. I should really grab a copy of princelle of the bay.

I'm planning on comparing different helios 44-2 lenses, i'd like to have two (or more) from each factory to see if there's actually a notable difference between where the lenses come from. It's for video and it won't be very scientific, though some might be interested so ill make sure to drop it somewhere here aswel Smile
Post new topic   Reply to topic
Home   Manual Focus Lenses
Goto page Previous  1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Page 5 of 5