Russian LTM lens

[Eric Rose]

Ya I know they aren't close to Leica optics, but the cost isn't anywhere close either. Does anyone have any first hand knowledge as to functionality? Sharpness, contrast etc. All I'm interested in is the stuff you would see on an 11x14 print.

The two focal lengths I am looking at are 50mm and 135mm. If I could get a Canon or Nikon 50mm I would be very happy tho.

 

[hbc]

ERIC I HAVE USED RUSSIAN LTMS ON MY BESSA R AND ON A FED 3B WICH BY THE WAY IS A GOOD CAMERA. OFCOURSE THEY ARE IN NO WAY EQUAL TO LEICA LENSES BUT FOR $30.00 YOU CANNOT BEAT THEM AND THEY CAN BE PRETTY GOOD IF YOU FIND THE RIGHT ONES, I HAVE USED THE 35MM JUPITER12 A ZEISS COPY I BELIEVE, THE 50MM JUPITER 8 THE ONE I HAVE IS GREAT CONIDERING I PAID $25.00 FOR IT AND A 90MM JUPITER 9 WICH IS NOT BAD. BUT I THINK SHARPNESS IS OVER RATED SOME TIMES ANY WAY WHEN I WHANT IT I USE MY 4X5 OR 8X10. 35MM IS WHAT IT IS HOW MANY OF ROBERT FRANKS OR LOUIS FAURER OR EVEN CARTIER BRESSON GREAT PICS WERE TRULY SHARP.ITS THE SUBJECT THAT MATTERS IMHO.

 

[victor]

eric...
why not the voigtlander... any of their lenses i have used is outstanding, and they are very cheap. not leica, but not very far.
i think that there is still no 135mm of those but u have few 50mm models.

 

[marcello.brussard]

The optical quality of russian lenses varies greatly from sample to sample. With some luck you might find a good one. Try, if possible to avoid samples that have been disassembled. The 135 is probably the weakest lens of the lot. I would suggest looking for the 90 mm.

 

[Ole]

The one Russian lens I have is the "Elmarski" that came with my FED-2. My entry in the anniversary gallery was taken with that. It seems to me to be very good?

I'm considering whether to buy a Russian 20mm or a new Voigtländer 21mm. But since the price seems to be about the same I think I'll go for the new one...

 

[marcello.brussard]

The russian 20 mm is really overpriced and in any case you have no guarantee that you will get a good one. All the consideration above hold true for those lens who have a price in the 25-50 Euro range (35-50-90-135 mm), but not for a lens offered at 200 Euro.

 

[Ole]

The Russian is good - I know that. I've tested it. If the price were anywhere near the price of my camera there would have been no competition. So I'll see what price I can negotiate for a Voigtländer...

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Ole, I own a 20mm Russar and finder. It is a good lens.

Is the lens on your FED 2 an Industar 61 or one of the other Industars or Jupiters? If they haven't been abused, they are all decent performers, but Industar 61's with the Lanthanum element are particulary good.

 

[Ole]

Is the lens on your FED 2 an Industar 61 or one of the other Industars or Jupiters?

Frankly I don't know. It's marked FED (in cyrillic letters, of course), and is a copy of the collapsible Elmar 50mm/f:3.5. What that tranlates to in Industar terms I don't know - but the quality was a pleasant surprise for someone who's using APO-Lanthar, Zeiss Planar and Schneider Xenar on LF!

 

[marcello.brussard]

It should be an Industar 22 (50 f/3,5).

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Ole, since it is a collapsible lens, it is probably an Industar 22.

There were some FED 2s that look a lot like the FED 4 & 5 (and like some of the FED 3s). That model FED 2 had a fixed mount (not collapsible) Industar 61 lens. I have one of these cameras in my collection.

 

[JohnRobertson]

Fed produced their own collapsible lenses, the Industar 22 and later Industar50 collapsible were supplied with Zorki cameras. Fed also produced their own 28mm and 105mm lenses. (Source Russian and Soviet Cameras by Jean Loup Princelle) My own Industar50 is excellent I use it on a Fed2 and Bessa R2.

 

[JohnRobertson]

Further to my last post to confuse things futher Fed factory did produce the Industar 61 lanthanum glass lens (an f2.8 ) which was supplied with later Feds but not Zorkis. Feds were never supplied with f3.5 Industar as original equipment. (source-Russian and soviet Cameras by Jean Loup Princelle) I have posted a photo taken with my own collapsible Industar 50.

 

[Ole]

Since this I've bought a 21mm Voigtländer lens at a lower price than I've ever seen a Russar.

And then yesterday I placed a low bid for 13 (?) collapsible FED, Industar-22 and Industar-50 lenses - and won. So if anyone wants to try a collapsible Russian, I have a few spare

 

[Eric Rose]

I would love to get my hands on a Voigtlander 21, drool drool.

 

[Ole]

I would love to get my hands on a Voigtlander 21, drool drool.

Droolworthiness has never been a factor in choise of lenses for me, but this one has it

It reminds me of why I've always refused offers to try (or even handle) Leica and Contax cameras: I know I would be unable to give them back.

 

[Ole]

Well, I've gone and done it now

I'm now the owner of 6 FED 50mm/3.4, 3 Industar-22 50mm/3.4, and 4 Industar-50 50mm/3.5. Anyone need one?

Not to mention the Bessa-L I bought to fit my Colour-Skopar 21mm on to... No, I'm keeping that!

 

[livemoa]

Ole I could be interested in one, any ideas on quality?

 

[Denis P.]

Ole, I think I might try one of those, if available.
Are those LTM or Contax/Kiev mount?
I guess LTM, if they fit FED. I might try one of those on my Zorki 4, if any of those will fit.

Thanks,

Denis

 

[Ole]

Are those LTM or Contax/Kiev mount?
I guess LTM, if they fit FED. I might try one of those on my Zorki 4, if any of those will fit.

They are all LTM. I have no idea of the quality of the ones I just received, except for a quick visual check of the exterior. The FED lens I bought with my FED-2 camera is very good, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality.

I've put one of each on the camera to test the fit. On some of them there's a srew head on the infinity lock which is a little too thick, I intend to take a Dremel to them. They could all do with a good cleaning as well, which I'll do as soon as I get round to it.

I have no idea what the difference between the three types are. There are some external differences, with all of them out it's easy to see which is which. The "working parts" (lenses) look all the same at first glance.

I used to have a picture taken with the FED in the anniverary gallery, I'll put it back in my personal gallery.

 

[Denis P.]

They are all LTM. I have no idea of the quality of the ones I just received, except for a quick visual check of the exterior. The FED lens I bought with my FED-2 camera is very good, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality.

As for Russian RF gear/optics quality, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised with my Kiev 4 and its Jupiters (J8 and J12) - see my photo.net Kiev 4 folder. The scans are rather poor, but i just *love* the bokeh on some photos.
And I'm quite pleased how the Kiev 4 operates - rather smooth and quiet.

Next, I'm planning on getting a Fed 2

 

[rjr]

It should be an Industar 22 (50 f/3,5).

And it should not fit a FED2... the tab hits the camera front. Unless it is an I-10?

Roman

 

[Ole]

And it should not fit a FED2... the tab hits the camera front. Unless it is an I-10?

Roman

That seems to be the main difference between FED lenses and Industar-22's. On some (but not all) of the Industar lenses the focusing tab hits the camera front just before infinity focus. I'm tempted to grind them down a bit...

So it seems the FED lenses are slightly different mechanically from the Industar ones.

 

[rjr]

That seems to be the main difference between FED lenses and Industar-22's.

Well, I believe both weren´t designed for the FED2... the FED-Industars and KMZ-Industars were meant for the LeicaII-Copies like a FED1 or a Zorkii1, not the later FEDs.

On some (but not all) of the Industar lenses the focusing tab hits the camera front just before infinity focus. I'm tempted to grind them down a bit...

With grinding it down you´ll probably losen the tab.

Ole, may I suggest something else? Your lens is a KMZ-Industar22, whats the production year?

I have a I22 from the early 1970s here - a friend bought that for his Bessa R, got stuck with a problem and gave it to me as a gift. The problem? A nerd cut of the Tab which now allows mounting it to later FEDs but leaving it without a mechanical stop from unscrewing it.

What about exchanging the two parts - you get the "FEDed" ring, I get a functional one and we both can use it with our cameras... It seems to weight less that 20g which would allow me to send mine via "Europabrief" - a letter. Everything else would be prohibitive in terms of shipping costs.

Best,
Roman

 

[Ole]

What about exchanging the two parts - you get the "FEDed" ring, I get a functional one and we both can use it with our cameras... It seems to weight less that 20g which would allow me to send mine via "Europabrief" - a letter. Everything else would be prohibitive in terms of shipping costs.

Best,
Roman

Roman,
if you look a few posts back you'll see that I had "6 FED 50mm/3.4, 3 Industar-22 50mm/3.4, and 4 Industar-50 50mm/ 3.5" (they should of course all be f:3.5). This in addition to the one that came wiht my FED-2.

I'll send you a functional FED lens for a tenner, or a scratched one for the postage