Biometar 80mm and Volna 3

[pulatom]

Hi, I want to buy a standard lens for P6 and I wonder which one of these is better. Is the Volna an exact copy of Biometar (like Biotar 58mm/Helios 44), or there are some differences in the optical formula? I love the Helios-like bokeh of Biometar and wonder if it'll be the same with the Volna.

[std]

Biometar and Vega should be better than Volna. The Volna is not a bad lens - apart from having issues with flare. If the sun gets in the frame you will get a very low contrast and rainbow flare.

Check this thread.. http://forum.mflenses.com/volna-or-vega-t34475.html
Inside there are links with the lens schemes.

[themoleman342]

I think the vega would render an image closer to what the biometar would. The biometar draws a very nervous, busy bokeh in the right, or I suppose wrong, situation. I always found that the volna kept things a bit smoother all-round.

You may have seen this already but I think the first examples posted show the nervousness that the biometar can create: http://www.flickr.com/groups/pentaconsix/discuss/72157625929869398/
I've never seen the Volna do something quite like that. The Vega may, I haven't tested my copies enough.

As far as flare issues, there seemed to be a lot of copy variation with the Volnas. Some are better than others in that respect. Some are also sharper from wide-open. It may be the luck of the draw...

[rbelyell]

i would vote volna as well. i had both, liked both, but found the volna both more appealing and less expensive. at least with my copies, the volna appeared sharper.

[IAZA]

hmmm,, interesting

[themoleman342]

[pulatom]

Wow, and I thought that Volna is closer to Biometar in terms of bokeh than Vega . I'll probably go for a Bm then, Vega may be a little to long for me (that 10% makes some difference after all).