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varexar 135mm f2.8
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:17 pm    Post subject: varexar 135mm f2.8 Reply with quote
Hello,


I just received a few manuel lenses. After serching the net I found this forum.

1. Meyer optik Görlitz Oreston 1.8/50mm (m42) on a Practica ltl

2. A Zenit M3 with a Helios44 - 2/58 (looks like m39)

3. A varexar 135mm f2.8 (m42) especially for this lens I find no information at all. Does somebody has information on this lens?

4. A bellows M42.

5. Finally a Minolta F ROKKOR-QF 1:5.6, f200mm
But this could be a projection lens or its missing some parts.

Information would be much appreciated!

Guido


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:26 pm    Post subject: Re: varexar 135mm f2.8 Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Hello,
I just received a few manuel lenses. After serching the net I found this forum.
1. Meyer optik Görlitz Oreston 1.8/50mm (m42) on a Practica ltl
2. A Zenit M3 with a Helios44 - 2/58 (looks like m39)
3. A varexar 135mm f2.8 (m42) especially for this lens I find no information at all. Does somebody has information on this lens?
4. A bellows M42.
5. Finally a Minolta F ROKKOR-QF 1:5.6, f200mm
But this could be a projection lens or its missing some parts.
Information would be much appreciated!
Guido


hi Guido, are you Italian perhaps?
About your lenses:

1) that is a standard 50mm lens in M42 mount for Praktica cameras. The quality should be good, on the same level at least or probably even better than the successor (Pentacon 1.8/50)

2) The Helios-44-2 is an excellent standard lens (58mm), perhaps the best model amongst the many versions of Helios-44 that were produced over the years. I don't think it's M39, I think it is more likely to be a M42, but I let Borges reply better on this one, he is the expert of the Helios-44s

3) Varexar - never heard, sorry!! Sounds like an alien name in a Barbarella movie! Wink

4) bellows for M42 - they will be very useful to turn your normal lenses into Macro.

5) Manual Minolta - I have no experience of them - the common reputation generally ranges from good to very good.

That is as far as I can help.
Welcome to the group!


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Orio,

Thxs for the swift reply, no Im Belgian but were I was born live lots of Italians, i gues my parrents liked the name!

have met some people from Rome today, small world LOL.

Strange this varexar 135 f2.8 looks like an old high quality lens. strange that I can find nothing about it on the net.

Might be that the helio has a adapter 39 to M42 on it because its mounted on an Old Zenit camera.

have to examine it carefully. The lot needs cleaning urgently, could not see any fungus, so thats okay.

I have a Pentax Ist Ds with m42 adapter. The meyer 1.8 50mm seems to be exellent in macro setup.

Guido


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:38 pm    Post subject: Re: varexar 135mm f2.8 Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Hello,


I just received a few manuel lenses. After serching the net I found this forum.

1. Meyer optik Görlitz Oreston 1.8/50mm (m42) on a Practica ltl

2. A Zenit M3 with a Helios44 - 2/58 (looks like m39)

3. A varexar 135mm f2.8 (m42) especially for this lens I find no information at all. Does somebody has information on this lens?

4. A bellows M42.

5. Finally a Minolta F ROKKOR-QF 1:5.6, f200mm
But this could be a projection lens or its missing some parts.

Information would be much appreciated!

Guido


Hi Guido, There are so many 135mm f2.5 reseller, its really difficult to find. Almost every country or say every supermarket chain (atleast) in US used to market these lenses with their own brand. 28mm, 50mm and 135mm were the most common focal length, they used to target (along with 200mm).
I have both positive and negative experience with these brands. But my experiance says, most of f2.8 were OK to good stepped down. Haven't seen any bad copy in f2.8 world. F3.5, if you want, go ahead with vivitar, no one can beat in price and great quality.

You didnt mention about your camera.. Minolta mount lenses can not be fit to any other camera mount except Sony. If its projection lens, you can use the elns with bellows. Usually projection lenses have 39mm thread. Get M42->M39 converter, and use the bellows as focusing mechanism. Sometimes, you can get really good dreamy results.

Welcome to this dream world... Cheers..


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Might be that the helio has a adapter 39 to M42 on it because its mounted on an Old Zenit camera


Hello Guido!

I don't think it is possible to fit an M42 lens onto an M39 camera. The last Zenit camera with M39 mount was the 3M as far as I know. The Zenit E started out with M39 but then was the first Zenit camera with M42 mount. Someone might correct me!

PS I hope you're not watching the same bellows set as me Smile


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I'm at work now (don't tell my boss I'm on this forum) So I can't check the Zenit, but years ago I had a Pentax spotmatic F so I know the M42 size, this sure is smaller.

The varexar 135 f2.8, feels heavy and looks like a high quality lens, just does not feel like a lookalike.

Anyway a few days cleaning and ill post some pics from thes items.

Had them for free so this can't go wrong.

Guido


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Welcome to you Guido! Thank you for joining us!


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hello there, as a quick and dirty M39 to M42 adapter wrap some self amalgamating tape, or electricians tape around the M39 then wind it into the M42 thread.


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi Guido!

I don't know the Varexar, but I have got a "Super Varexon 3.5/200" which is not a bad lens.

Carsten


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Indeed,

I double checked, it was a typing error it is a varexon 135mm F2.8.


Guido


PostPosted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 11:20 pm    Post subject: Re: varexar 135mm f2.8 Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:

I just received a few manuel lenses. After serching the net I found this
2. A Zenit M3 with a Helios44 - 2/58 (looks like m39)


Hi Guido,

I am sure this has m39slr-mount. Peters information is correct, the 3M (not M3) was the last one with m39slr mount, exept a few copies of the Zenit E. First Zenit with M42 mount was the Zenit 7.
This is confirmed for the lens. As far as I now the Helios 44 was produced only for m39slr-mount. Helios 44-2 was the first version for m42.

It is no problem to adapt m39slr to m42, but the m39slr adapter ring has to fit a little bit deeper into the m42 mount. The working distance for russian m39-slr is 45,2mm instead of 45,5mm for m42. That is the reason why there are so many people talking about problems focusing to infinity using this adapter combination. The other way round, adapting m42 to m39-slr makes no sense because of the diameter.

weblinks:
http://www.commiecameras.com/sov/35mmsinglelensreflexcameras/cameras/zenit/index.htm
http://zenit.istra.ru/archive/lenses/helios-44.html (in russian, please use an online translator like www.online-translator.com with the language of your choice)

Michael


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Indeed,

I double checked, it was a typing error it is a varexon 135mm F2.8.


Guido


OK, there is hardly any information in the web about Varexon lenses. I have looked for them myself which was a rather disappointing experience. Wink

You find some details at "forum.mflenses.com" though Wink

Still, the lens is not bad. It is not as good as my Telear 200 but better than many others. It has a solid construction and a pleasant feel.

What about the 135mm? Similar?

Carsten


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Indeed a very solid feeling, niece peace. I gave the lens a first clean and it looks fine no fungus no scratches. But the diafragma does not close, the ring clicks normally but no diafragma seen.


Guido


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Indeed a very solid feeling, niece peace. I gave the lens a first clean and it looks fine no fungus no scratches. But the diafragma does not close, the ring clicks normally but no diafragma seen.


Guido


You need to adjust from "A" (automatic) to "M" (manual).
Some lenses have a special switch for that.
Otherwise the small pin that opens the aperture blades will have to be pressed in by the camera (or the adapter).

Some lenses are automatic lenses only. There is no switch.
Try to choose one aperture and press the tiny silvery pin at the mount of the lens.

If you have an automatic only lens, you need an adapter that presses down this pin.

If this doesn't help, your lens has got a problem...

Carsten

P.S.: Before you use the bellows make sure that there is no dust inside. Otherwise you'll have some of this dust inside your DSLR and thus on the sensor.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Pressing the pin does not help either, so I presume its has an internal problem. In a few days I will have time to take a closer look.

I might open the lens myself.

The Meyer optik Görlitz Oreston 1.8/50mm works only with open diafragma on my Ist Ds, (I use the original Pentax m42 to K adapter) On the bellows it does the job but with permanently closed difragma.

Guido


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Can you pse tell me more about this sort of adapter?

Quote:
If you have an automatic only lens, you need an adapter that presses down this pin.



Guido


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Can you pse tell me more about this sort of adapter?
Guido


There are basically two kinds of M42 adapters on the market. One of them has an extra ring inside, that keeps the auto pin pressed, so that the lens "thinks" that the camera is telling it to take the photograph (and consequently close the aperture).
For many lenses, you don't need that, because they are either just plain manual (most older M42 lenses are that way), or, they have an Auto/Manual switch.
But there are some lenses that have been built for Automatic cameras only, and don't have the manual switch. With them, you can only use the adapter with the extra ring, because otherwise no matter what aperture you set, you would always shoot wide open.


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Yes, Orio's explanation is fine.
He was faster than me, again. Wink

Carsten


PostPosted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 11:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
LucisPictor wrote:
Yes, Orio's explanation is fine.
He was faster than me, again. Wink


Saturday night without my woman. Not a really good trade. Wink

But at least I can work some on my web site.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 8:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
I hava a adapter without that ring and and the Oreston 1.8/50mm is an all automatic.

De 135 2.8, wil not close the diafragma, pressing te pin or not.

This might be an opportunity to learn how to repair and open a lens.

The lens is in perfekt condition the filter ring has a serious dent.

Guido


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
The Helios44 - 2/58 (m39) is rather strange diafragma ring. The ring is at the fromt side of the lens, the ring to focus is in the back.

the diafragma is set with two rings, the first one klicks and with this you can limit the diafragma. the second ring you can set the diafragma without click, from wide open to the limit set with the first ring.

Is there a special purpose for this?

Guido


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
The Helios44 - 2/58 (m39) is rather strange diafragma ring. The ring is at the fromt side of the lens, the ring to focus is in the back.
the diafragma is set with two rings, the first one klicks and with this you can limit the diafragma. the second ring you can set the diafragma without click, from wide open to the limit set with the first ring.
Is there a special purpose for this?
Guido


Helios is a so-called "preset aperture lens". When you will become more aquainted with the Russian lenses, you will find out that many of them are built like this. And some older German lenses, too, of course.

Basically the goal is to facilitate the focusing and shooting. You set the preset ring at the aperture you want to shoot the photo at ( say, f/8 ), then you turn the other ring (the "free" ring) to wide open, in order to focus accurately. When you are done, you don't have to remove the camera from your eye in order to adjust the aperture to F/8. You just have to rotate the free ring all the other way around. It will stop at f/8, that is, where you pre-set your aperture earlier.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Of course logical, I feel stupid;

Thanks Guido


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Jigt wrote:
Of course logical, I feel stupid;


Don't. I too the first time couldn't figure out the purpose.
Now I love the preset lenses so much, that I wish all lenses were like that.


PostPosted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Ah! Yes, of course!

Problem solved! Fine!

Carsten
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