Mir 10a 28mm 3.5

[digitalandfilm]

I thought it would be nice to do a quick review of the adapted, manual lenses I have accumulated in the past 3 months.

The seven lenses are:

• Mir 10a 28mm F3.5
  
• Mir 1b 37mm F2.8
  
• Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm F3.5 MC
  
• Carl Zeiss Jena 35mm F2.4 Flektogon
  
• Carl Zeiss Jena 50 F1.8 Pancolor
  
• Carl Zeiss Jena 50mm Tessar F2.8
  
• Jupiter 9 85mm F2
  

The first lens to be reviewed is the Mir 10a 37mm F2.8

I attached the photo's of the lens, and noted the unusual iris of the lens in photo #3. This lends itself towards making some unusual "sheriff star" bokeh and flare.

Some shots from today:













This lens is *heavy* and substantial.. feels like it was made from an artillery shell, and takes a 67mm lens filter.

Here's examples found on flickr of that unique bokeh/flare:







This lens is not as sharp as the CZJ Flektogon, but the unique bokeh and portrait-softening attributes make it a good addition.

[Basilisk]

Some nice photos - fun with the star bokeh. My 6 leaf iris on the flektogon 35 f2.4 has an odd shape around f2.8 which resolves to a rounded hexagon at f4. It only seems to affect highlights, the rest of OOF is smooth enough.
http://forum.mflenses.com/userpix/20133/6716_f2point8_1.jpg

Latching on to this thread - keep the reviews coming. I have recently rekindled an interest in these Eastern European gems (my first SLR in about 1980 was a Praktica MTL3, with a standard pentacon 50.)

[RSalles]

Congrats for the nice piece of glass. I never saw a flare like this you showed, it's quite different. I found this lens rendering sharp enough for most of our day-by-day landscape shots, but it flares! The Mir 1B also has some flares, but not with the star shaped one, it's almost unpredictable, i think, where the lens flare will fall. For 0º toward sun shots it's best to choose another lens.
How much can i expect to pay for a good copy of this MIR?

[]s,

Renato

[kendo1]

They should go for about £50 in good condition.

US sites are mainly about $100, though I've seen them for $195ish.

Just checked Ebay UK, 8 for sale from £69 to £165, most with filters and case.

[RSalles]

Thanks kendo1, I'll keep an eye on it.
BTW, i think i had understood the crazy bokeh of this lens, looking at the shape of the diaphragma space between the blades :



Any clue about how does it hits or not the big mirror of the Canon full frame cameras?

Renato

[Attila]

Excellent idea , look forward your review from each lenses.

[mballx]

i like it