[Chetverovod]

Hi Mothballs, Volna-8 very rare lens. Take a look to new lens for cropped camera

MC Zenitar-N 1,2/50s (Nikon)

here:
???????? ???????-N 1,2/50s

Another lenses:
http://shop.zenit-foto.ru/manufacturer/krasnogorskij-zavod-im-s-a-zvereva/ob...ilter_product=

unfortunately only Russian version of the site.

[logomancer]

Google Translate is your friend. I have to say, $230 for a 50mm 1.2 lens isn't bad. I'm surprised they don't make it in K-mount, since all of their SLRs are K-mount...

[Chetverovod]

Google Translate is your friend. I have to say, $230 for a 50mm 1.2 lens isn't bad. I'm surprised they don't make it in K-mount, since all of their SLRs are K-mount...

Thank you, I am native russian

Earlier, KMZ had made versions of lenses for K-mount, but now it looks like they are doing lenses with M42, Canon, Nikon mounts only. Pentax cameras less common in Russia than Canon or Nikon.

[Na Horuk]

I never understood why Zenit doesn't have that website in English as well. It would open up a big international market. A lot of forum users don't even know about that brand of lenses, and even if they do they can't really understand the website or order products. This alone could make K-mount more lucrative for that business

[Mothballs]

Thank you, I am native russian

Earlier, KMZ had made versions of lenses for K-mount, but now it looks like they are doing lenses with M42, Canon, Nikon mounts only. Pentax cameras less common in Russia than Canon or Nikon.

I'm actually trying to convince my local store to stock Zenit items...

In any case, it's regrettable it's not in native K mount.

[Chetverovod]

I never understood why Zenit doesn't have that website in English as well. It would open up a big international market. A lot of forum users don't even know about that brand of lenses, and even if they do they can't really understand the website or order products. This alone could make K-mount more lucrative for that business

I think the main reason is that the production of lenses for cameras is not the main source of income for the Zenit. Basically they do optical systems for military applications.

[Mothballs]

I think the main reason is that the production of lenses for cameras is not the main source of income for the Zenit. Basically they do optical systems for military applications.

They can be paid to make just about anything though. If I recall, those Petzvals that go for $800 are KMZ glass. Almost makes me want to start a kickstarter to get them to make the Volna again...

[saper]

Around 3 years ago there was discussion on Russian forum penta-club.ru about ordering K-mount version of Helios 40-2 (85/1.5) from KMZ. The following information was collected:
1. [Official] No problem for KMZ to make K-mount version. There is already a prototype and they were and are producing lens with K-mount. Moreover all produced lens of same type are equal to each other except tail part which changes depending on mount type.
2. [Official] To make K-mount version for the price of Canon or Nikon version, KMZ have to produce at least 50 lens. So, KMZ asked penta-club community to find enough people ready to invest into minimal series.
3. [Insider] Quality is expected to be good though there might be some bad samples (2-3 per 100).
4. [Investigation] Lens are really made in Russia not China.
Community was unable to find enough people to order 50 lens therefore this Helios 40-2 club "activity" stuck at late 2012.

[Mothballs]

Around 3 years ago there was discussion on Russian forum penta-club.ru about ordering K-mount version of Helios 40-2 (85/1.5) from KMZ. The following information was collected:
1. [Official] No problem for KMZ to make K-mount version. There is already a prototype and they were and are producing lens with K-mount. Moreover all produced lens of same type are equal to each other except tail part which changes depending on mount type.
2. [Official] To make K-mount version for the price of Canon or Nikon version, KMZ have to produce at least 50 lens. So, KMZ asked penta-club community to find enough people ready to invest into minimal series.
3. [Insider] Quality is expected to be good though there might be some bad samples (2-3 per 100).
4. [Investigation] Lens are really made in Russia not China.
Community was unable to find enough people to order 50 lens therefore this Helios 40-2 club "activity" stuck at late 2012.

Yeah. As I said, No problem to get them to Make things, they're pretty mellow like that. It's just getting funding and enough orders.

[Chetverovod]

They can be paid to make just about anything though. If I recall, those Petzvals that go for $800 are KMZ glass. Almost makes me want to start a kickstarter to get them to make the Volna again...

Yes you are right, those Petzvals were manufactured by KMZ. As far as I know Volna-8 was produced by Arsenal (Ukrain, Kiev).

---------- Post added 01-14-16 at 11:31 AM ----------

Around 3 years ago there was discussion on Russian forum penta-club.ru about ordering K-mount version of Helios 40-2 (85/1.5) from KMZ. The following information was collected:
1. [Official] No problem for KMZ to make K-mount version. There is already a prototype and they were and are producing lens with K-mount. Moreover all produced lens of same type are equal to each other except tail part which changes depending on mount type.
2. [Official] To make K-mount version for the price of Canon or Nikon version, KMZ have to produce at least 50 lens. So, KMZ asked penta-club community to find enough people ready to invest into minimal series.
3. [Insider] Quality is expected to be good though there might be some bad samples (2-3 per 100).
4. [Investigation] Lens are really made in Russia not China.
Community was unable to find enough people to order 50 lens therefore this Helios 40-2 club "activity" stuck at late 2012.

It would be better if KMZ will produce new lenses with a unified shank "serie A" (like aJupter-37A, Jupiter-9A, Mir-1A and so on) . This shank gives a possibility to use simple adaptors for K, Canon, Nikon, M42. And would be simple to gather crowd from pentaxists, nikonists, canonists, M42ists to make an order for 50 lens.

[Mothballs]

Yes you are right, those Petzvals were manufactured by KMZ. As far as I know Volna-8 was produced by Arsenal (Ukrain, Kiev).

It would be better if KMZ will produce new lenses with a unified shank "serie A" (like aJupter-37A, Jupiter-9A, Mir-1A and so on) . This shank gives a possibility to use simple adaptors for K, Canon, Nikon, M42. And would be simple to gather crowd from pentaxists, nikonists, canonists, M42ists to make an order for 50 lens.

Yep. Arsenal is defunct last I heard as well.


T mount would be a good idea, most Russian lenses are manual control anyways...

[ScooterMaxi Jim]

Found this website while looking for a zenitar lens yesterday. Cameras and Lenses / Rugift.com I know nothing about it and I am not affiliated nor do I recommend ordering through them, but a quick look seems to indicate they carry most modern Russian lenses.
Edit : oups, link was posted above - sorry.

I ordered the 16mm FE from Rugift many years ago (back when the lens cost about half what they go for now), and everything went very smoothly. Unless something has changed, they're a great source for the full range of Russian stuff.

[micromacro]

Community was unable to find enough people to order 50 lens therefore this Helios 40-2 club "activity" stuck at late 2012.

They are on amazon and ebay. For that price I rather buy soviet, Pentax, or German old glass, not Russian copy of USSR lens.
http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Soviet-Helios-40-2-portrait-Camera/dp/B00AXUZ322

[Chetverovod]

They are on amazon and ebay. For that price I rather buy soviet, Pentax, or German old glass, not Russian copy of USSR lens.
http://www.amazon.com/Russian-Soviet-Helios-40-2-portrait-Camera/dp/B00AXUZ322

If you check the serial number on the photo of lens by your link, you can see that first two numbers "13". It means that lens was made in 2013. So it is "Russian copy of USSR lens"

[jeffshaddix]

Well, I own a Volna 50/1.8, and I too tried to chase down the 1.4 and 1.2 models. But after four years of a followed world wide saved search on eBay, no luck.

My guess is these lenses never made it to production outside of a handful of models for VIPs, but that's just a hunch.