Performance of the Industar-10

Nikanon

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2009
Messages
433
Location
Chugwater, Wyoming
Format
35mm RF
I thought I would post this since I had difficulty finding information about this lens and how it performs on a leica screwmount body. As a disclaimer, my lens appears to be at least post 1947 when the lenses started being coated and having a standard aperture progression (3.5 - 4- 5.6 - 8 -11 - 16), so perhaps there is some standardization that was applied to it to function properly on Leica bodies. A lot of the information that I have read about these lenses is that their flange distance was slightly longer on FED bodies than on Leica bodies, even though they have the same thread pitch and diameter, leading to backfocus. If this problem exists on this lens, it is not visible, at least not in my sample. So essnetially it looks like getting one of these in decent shape and a later edition of even the early Industar-10 can give very good results and work fully on a leica body for much less than an Elmar. I do have to say although it feels nice and has about the same weight as the real Elmar, the focus tab dosent always lock, the aperture may need cleaning to move properly, and the distance scale is likely inaccurate. I cleaned out this lens and relubricated and adjusted everything, so its in great shape, and luckily has a multicoating and does pretty decent with color. Attached are two pictures I took with this lens at f3.5 to check to make sure the focus was accurate and it is. The one with the sign is about 10-12 feet away, the newspaper box is about 4-5 feet away. In conclusion, it may be worth it to try this lens if you are simply looking for a small collapsible 50 to put on a screwmount that you can slide into your back pocket for a good price!
 

Attachments

  • 91630008.jpg
    252.6 KB · Views: 472
  • 91630001.jpg
    244.8 KB · Views: 564

Ko.Fe.

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2014
Messages
3,209
Location
MiltON.ONtario
Format
Digital
The only reason to have this lens for me was due to Bessa R. It is shortest lens among all three collapsible I-50. It is build nice as well.
Optically I-22 is better choice for same price tag.
 

Gerald C Koch

Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
8,131
Location
Southern USA
Format
Multi Format
A few years I accessed a website that contained a list of all the Russian made lenses. Included were also resolution values. The Russian lenses were made in a different factory from the camera bodies. They are actually better quality than the camera bodies. My favorite is the Industar-61L/D, f/2.8. A lanthanum glass lens. Tack sharp and yes it is radio-active. Looks and works fabulously on my Bessa-R. The Orions are also good and are faster at f/1.8.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

darkosaric

Member
Joined
Apr 15, 2008
Messages
4,568
Location
Hamburg, DE
Format
Multi Format
The only reason to have this lens for me was due to Bessa R. It is shortest lens among all three collapsible I-50. It is build nice as well.
Optically I-22 is better choice for same price tag.

Can Industar's be collapsed on Bessa R without problems?
 
OP
OP

Nikanon

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2009
Messages
433
Location
Chugwater, Wyoming
Format
35mm RF
It is hard to make bad 50mm lens, every I tried so far were at least very good .

I only really look to get visible results, but yes you're right, even at f3.5 it should be pretty good on principal alone. I only got this lens as a supplement to my 50mm f2 Collapsible summicron so that I could have one lens that could truly make the camera pocketable without a problem when you wanted it, and so I didnt want to spend even $200 on an elmar just to have it as a secondary lens, I would say this Industar has fulfilled all my needs!
 

georg16nik

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Messages
1,101
Format
Multi Format
I-10 - yes. After 10, not fully.
I-10 is mechanical copy of Elmar. I-22 and I-50 are different and tube is longer.

I-10 is not mechanical copy of Elmar - they might looks about the same from outside, but similarities ends there.
Open I-10 and Elmar, see it for yourself.
 

02Pilot

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2011
Messages
321
Format
Multi Format
Yes, the Elmar and FED 50/I-10 have the aperture in different locations; optically they are similar (four element/three group) but not identical.

I agree with the OP that this is a worthwhile lens. The compactness is really the main attraction; on a small body that allows it to collapse fully, you just can't beat it for a portable LTM setup. Even other collapsibles - Summar, Summitar, Summicron - add considerably to the size and weight of the package. I normally have mine mounted on a Leica IIIc.
 

georg16nik

Member
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Messages
1,101
Format
Multi Format

The FSU Orion 15 is actually ƒ/6 28mm - quite slow for 28mm wide angle...
Perhaps you think about the Helios 103 53mm ƒ/1,8 for Kiev, which is quite all right lens.
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…