The mighty Orion 15!

Huss · Dec 21, 2021

Just ran a roll through an MP using the legendary Orion 15 28mm f6. To the uninitiated, it is what the Leica Summaron 28 f5.6 wishes it was... (for $3000 more).

Like the Leica, it vignettes wide open. Unlike the Leica, the aperture is fiddly to change as it is inside the lens barrel i.e inside the filter thread. I just set it wide open (!) at f6 and leave it there, as I wanted the full signature of this lens to come out. Zits n' all.

All shots @f6, Arista 100 in DF96. Excuse the developing streaks - my fault for using a double stack dev tank and the inversion method. It's been a couple o months since I developed film and forgot that the top roll does not come out well doing this.

albada · Dec 22, 2021

Beautiful photos. You have the knack.

Huss · Dec 22, 2021

albada said:
Beautiful photos. You have the knack.

Thanks!

abruzzi · Dec 22, 2021

I have the lens in Kiev/Contax mount, and yeah, its definitely a keeper (pretty much all the FSU lenses made for Kiev mount are excellent lenses in my experience.)

Huss · Dec 22, 2021

abruzzi said:
I have the lens in Kiev/Contax mount, and yeah, its definitely a keeper (pretty much all the FSU lenses made for Kiev mount are excellent lenses in my experience.)

I deliberately went for back-lit and into the sun shots to show how it copes in difficult lighting situations. Where it has issues - as with almost all my lenses! - is when the sun is just out of image. Then it flares.
The only place where the Leica Summaron is better IMO is haptics. Optically I prefer the Orion.

I just sold this lens as I prefer the CV 28 3.5 (also LTM) just for the aperture ring position. But then again I just leave the Orion set at F6 and work around that - the bonus being it will show its character fully there.
Either way, I'm in the process of whittling down gear and don't need two 28mm LTMs!

Timmyjoe · Dec 22, 2021

Sweet shots Huss. Not heard of that lens before.

Best,
-Tim

Huss · Dec 22, 2021

Timmyjoe said:
Sweet shots Huss. Not heard of that lens before.

Best,
-Tim

Honestly it is the stand-out Soviet lens IMO. Some Soviet lenses are nice but would not be your first pick. But the Orion 15 is the destination lens in its class.

Hardest part is getting one in decent shape!

Huss · Dec 23, 2021

Leica M-A w/ the Orion 15:

Huss · Dec 23, 2021

Huss · Dec 23, 2021

It's a great lens. Now I wish I kept it!!!

ruilourosa · Dec 24, 2021

Ok... Double, triple, quadruple stack... All work ...

Its the s#itty dev fix ...
Monobath is always a risk...

I find russian lenses nice for their price and vintage although i much prefer their medium format ones...

Huss · Dec 24, 2021

ruilourosa said:
Ok... Double, triple, quadruple stack... All work ...

Its the s#itty dev fix ...
Monobath is always a risk...

No, I messed up. I used double stack before w DF96 w no issues. I did not agitate correctly.
A poor workman blames his tools.
An AMAZING workman blames himself!
;p

Arthurwg · Dec 24, 2021

Huss said:
I just sold this lens as I prefer the CV 28 3.5 (also LTM) just for the aperture ring position.!

Voigtlander?

Huss · Dec 24, 2021

Arthurwg said:
Voigtlander?

Yes. CV = Cosina Voigtlander

Huss · Feb 5, 2022

I got this lens back as for some reason the way the LTM thread is cut it does not correctly fit onto an LTM camera! I tried it on mine, and it screws in most of the way but not all the way because it hits some resistance and neither I, nor my unfortunate buyer, was willing to force it!
But, it fits perfectly onto an LTM-M adapter, and works perfectly with M mount cameras. I think this was a fortuitous occurrence as I should not have sold it!

Leica M3 DS, Orion 15 28mm f6, Arista 100, Cinestill DF96

Huss · Feb 5, 2022

Leica M3 DS, Orion 15, Arista 100

Larry Cloetta · Feb 5, 2022

Huss, when you put it up for sale I thought it was a mistake. Ergos are a bit weird, but really nice lenses. Mine fits on all my Barnacks without issue, so I don’t think the problem with yours is inherent to all of them. Maybe just needs some time with a thread chaser?

Huss · Feb 6, 2022

Larry Cloetta said:
Huss, when you put it up for sale I thought it was a mistake. Ergos are a bit weird, but really nice lenses. Mine fits on all my Barnacks without issue, so I don’t think the problem with yours is inherent to all of them. Maybe just needs some time with a thread chaser?

it's weird, it fits perfectly on all my LTM-M adapters, but on an LTM camera it looks like there is too much threaded mount! Like it is too long.

Crazy how light this lens is.

AZD · Feb 6, 2022

Huss said:

Usually shots from behind of people walking are pretty meh… We’ve all tried it at some point, right? But I gotta say, this one made me laugh and look harder. Must’ve left his satchel behind that day. Nice work.

Huss · Feb 6, 2022

AZD said:
Usually shots from behind of people walking are pretty meh… We’ve all tried it at some point, right? But I gotta say, this one made me laugh and look harder. Must’ve left his satchel behind that day. Nice work.

Thanks, yeah the Book of Mormon jammed into his derriere is what caught my eye!
FYI that was shot from my skateboard as I rolled by - zone focus for the win!

AZD · Feb 6, 2022

Triply (that’s a word?) impressed now for 1) nice catch, 2) zone focus win, and 3) skateboarding with an M3. If I tried that those nice young men would be helping me off the pavement.

But yeah, you gotta remember I probably live in (or near) their home town. I can spot a Mr. Mac suit and Van Heusen shirt in half a heartbeat, from any angle. The book location really makes the shot.

Huss · Feb 7, 2022

AZD said:
Triply (that’s a word?) impressed now for 1) nice catch, 2) zone focus win, and 3) skateboarding with an M3. If I tried that those nice young men would be helping me off the pavement.

But yeah, you gotta remember I probably live in (or near) their home town. I can spot a Mr. Mac suit and Van Heusen shirt in half a heartbeat, from any angle. The book location really makes the shot.

Thanks. I took this one a few minutes later after I stalked them. I wanted to make sure I got the Book Of Mormon sharp. But I don't think it makes it better. Either way, they pulled the long straw for their Mission to be at the beach!

The mighty Orion 15!

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