Russian optics - advice needed

[DigiChromeEd]

Since joining this forum and reading through the threads I've become increasingly interested in Russian optics and how good a lot of people say they are. As they are relatively cheap I'd like to buy a few to use on my Spotmatics but don't know where to start. Could someone maybe advise on a few to start with? Thank you.

[ManualFocus-G]

Well you deffo need a Helios 44 of some sort! These are pretty easy to come by and can be had from anything between £5.00 - £15.00 on ebay. EDIT - forgot you already have this one

Next perhaps a Jupiter 9 85/2 for about £60?

Then I reckon a chrome 135/4 Jupiter 11 is in order, it's a good looking lens alright! These can be had for £30.00 - £50.00. Or if you are a bit better off, get a TAIR 11A

Finally, for something wider, how about a Mir 1?

[DigiChromeEd]

[ManualFocus-G]

Yep, 37mm

[Poolhall]

Yes Mir 1 is 2.8/37mm a Flektogon copy, the Mir-1 is m39 -1B is m42. I would also recommend the Jupiter 37A 3.5/135, a sonnar copy, as well as the fine choices from Shrek, and the Mir 24 2/35 its dearer than a Mir-1 but a very sharp and fast wide lens

[ManualFocus-G]

My Mir 1 is actually M42 Whether it's an early MIR 1B, and thus labelled differently (like the Helios 44 nothing), I'm not sure...

[Poolhall]

Sounds ok to me there are m42 Helios 44 as well, as both mounts were in production at the same time. The 44-2 and -1B designations were brought in to make it easier to distinguish one from another apparently so I would not be surprised if there were a few m42 Mir-1's knocking about- mine is chrome and m39 but someone removed the serial number for whatever reason.

[rbelyell]

i absolutely echo the jupiter 9--its a perfect focal length on full frame, and close to a 135mm on a dslr, and its fast and just a great portrait lens. its a lens, like the helios, that you can use virtually any time. it would be my number 1 next choice.

also heartily agree on ANY mir: you can find all in m42. i have the 35mm/2.0 and its one of my favorites; and ive seen just wonderful shots on this forum with the less expensive 37mm.

might i also suggest the incredibly cheap, but very atmospheric industar pancake 50mm/3.5--its so small and yet so surprisingly contrasty and sharp--i have a recent thread on it with some photos. i got mine for less than $15usd.

[sichko]

[sichko]

[mflex-on]

[rappelbums]

Don't forget the Jupiter 21 4/200!

The Jupiter 37 is a great 135 mm lens very sharp wide open with round bokeh also stopped down.

My version of the mir 1 is sharp only from f8 on, maybe a lemon.

Helios 58mm generally is a great lens, the different versions have a different character regarding number of aperture blades an coating. Handling is also different, there are preset, automatic and non automatic versions.

[martinsmith99]

How about an Industar 61L/Z (like the one I recently outbidded Shrek on).

It doesn't suffer the flare like the smaller Industar does and is a fraction faster (and bigger).

[Poolhall]

Mflex

[ManualFocus-G]

I seem to remember that the Mir 1 lacks the close focus of the Flektogon however.

[egidio]

Mir-24 is awesome lens iqwise. But its only russian lens I have that is not heavy and metal, looks like new nikon lenses.

[martinsmith99]

[larsr]

What I have understood is that the Mir-1 was originally made in the M39 mount for Zenit cameras, but later made, along the Kiev-10 mount, in also the M42 mount, both in silver/"white" and black finish.

The claim about the Mir-1 being a soviet copy of the Flektogon seems to hold some water, but I presume it was rather a redesigned implementation of the original Flektogon (Soviet source)

[rbelyell]

[Mal1905]