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Magic Russian Lenses?
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 7:56 pm    Post subject: Magic Russian Lenses? Reply with quote

I own, or have owned, the following Soviet lenses:

Volna 9 ( 2 copies )
Mir-24m
Mir-1b
Helios 44-3 ( 5 copies )
Helios 44-2
Helios-44m
Helios-77m-4
Zenitar-m 50mm f1.7
Jupiter 9

I love the Mir-24m, Helios 44-3, and Volna 9, and consider them almost
magical lenses. My question is this, what other Soviet era lenses
do forum members recommend for their sublime, almost magical, qualities?
( Besides the Helios 40-2 which I could never afford.) Thanks.


Last edited by Jeff Zen on Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:08 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Mir 20m has incredible color saturation which is somewhat difficult to find in a 20mm wide-angle.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 8:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tair 11-A ?


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I consider the Tair-11a one of the best 135mm's for M42 mount, very sharp even wide open and renders a nice BG. If you can't afford Helios 40 then go for Cyclop, it's a magical lens (provided you like soft focus and strange bokeh Razz).


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Helios-40 8,5cm M39
Jupiter-9 8,5cm RED P Contax, Leica mount
Jupiter-12 35mm RED P f2.8 Contax, Leica mount
Jupiter-9 85mm f2 silver SLR
Tair3-S
Tair-11A
Tair 133mm alu
Kaleinar 100
VEGA 90,120


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try any of the 135mm: Jupiter 11, Jupiter 37, and the Tair 11. The Jupiter 21M is also an interesting lens, although it's pretty large and heavy.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Laurentiu Cristofor wrote:
Try any of the 135mm: Jupiter 11, Jupiter 37, and the Tair 11. The Jupiter 21M is also an interesting lens, although it's pretty large and heavy.


+1


PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 1:26 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'd recommend the Jupiter 21M as well, I think that focused reasonably close it does have some magical quality in the rendering. It can strain the neck though. The Tair-3s makes the Jupiter look compact but it is very capable at resolving


PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 8:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tair11 is great.

Does it have to be Russian? The Meyer Trioplan is one not to be missed for character when use wide open.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I can only speak of Russian lenses I've used extensively.

Mir-1B 37mm f/2.8
Jupiter-37A 135mm f/3.5
Jupiter-11A 135mm f/4
Helios 44-2 58mm f/2
Industar-61L/Z 50mm f/2.8
Industar-50-2 50mm f/3.5
Jupiter-8 50mm f/2.0

All great lenses, with wonderful colour rendering and attractive bokeh!

I also have other Soviet lenses but haven't tested them yet properly but I expect much of them.
Lenses like Tair-3C, Telear-H, Jupiter-9, Jupiter-12 etc.

All in all, I don't think that there are bad Soviet lenses, all of them seem to be very nice and give more than usable results on digital cameras.
Even if some of them are a bit inferior to their German counterparts, they can achieve wonderful results and are all worth a try.


PostPosted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks everybody! I greatly appreciate your advice.

I've decided on the Jupiter 37A. The Tair 11a prices I've seen are too high for me right now.


PostPosted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 11:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Little known, but MC Kaleinar-5H (100/2.Cool is a superb lens. Difficult to find in good condition (soft coatings prone to scratching), it renders extremely smooth images. Other than that, Zenitar 16/2.8, Peleng 17/2.8 and 8mm fisheyes are great regardless of origin. Mir-10A is interesting, at least (28mm/3.5). MC Mir-20M is great (20mm/3.5).


PostPosted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Attila wrote:
Laurentiu Cristofor wrote:
Try any of the 135mm: Jupiter 11, Jupiter 37, and the Tair 11. The Jupiter 21M is also an interesting lens, although it's pretty large and heavy.


+1

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