Flipping the front lens element on Industar

Laci Toth · Jul 16, 2021

Hi all,

I saw so many interesting photos taken with Helios 44 with a flipped front lens element. The soft focus effect and the bokeh are just beautiful.
As I don’t own one but have an Industar 50-2 50mm f3.5 at home I’m wondering if any of you have done it before and does it work like in the case of the Helios?

RLangham · Jul 31, 2021

I have a spare one but no easy way to test this short of spending film on it. Seems reversible enough, if you're careful.

AgX · Jul 31, 2021

The Helios is a Douple-Gauss type of lens, the Industar a Tessar type. Thus very different in design.

The only common of both is being of soviet make.

removedacct1 · Jul 31, 2021

AgX said:
The Helios is a Douple-Gauss type of lens, the Industar a Tessar type. Thus very different in design.

The result with a flipped Industar wouldn't be the same as the Helios 44, as mentioned, these are entirely different lens designs.

Laci Toth · Jul 31, 2021

Thank you everyone!
Since then I found a Helios 44-M and a Zenit 12XP in an unused condition at the local flea market for bargain (approx. $20) I couldn’t really believe it.
So I flipped the front lens element and went out shooting and it’s lovely.
Despite this I might flip the Industar’s front lens as well just to see what would I get.

AgX · Jul 31, 2021

In any case tell us the results on the Industar.

removedacct1 · Jul 31, 2021

AgX said:
In any case tell us the results on the Industar.

+1

Laci Toth · Jul 31, 2021

Okay, will do it next week and get back to you with the results.

Laci Toth · Aug 8, 2021

Okay, I’ve done it. Sorry I can’t provide any photos as I’m really busy these days but I try to explain it. So I flipped the front lens element which resulted in a very close focus ability; the front of the lens almost touched the subject and it had a sort of fish eye effect. It was really cool I think. I couldn’t really focus on further than that, everything was blurry.
When I flipped the rear lens element it had a very interesting effect when focusing to infinity. The center of the frame was blurry, sort of double image but the rest was in focus except the very edge of the frame. When focusing closer the center of the frame became sharper and the double effect was gone but the rest resulted in soft focus. I’m on it to take photos and upload them here after scanning but it will take a while but will do it just to be proper.

AgX · Aug 8, 2021

The effect of flipping the front lens is not that surprising as in Tessar type lenses the position of the front element has strong effect on focus, what at many cameras was used for mechanically benefitial focus setting.
The effect from the rear group is very interesting.

John Earley · Aug 9, 2021

Eagerly awaiting your photo posting!

Flipping the front lens element on Industar

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