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I have learnt my lesson now. The experience with my first old Russian Helios 44K-4 manual lens was just glorious. It arrived in great shape, forced me to stop using any or all of the various auto camera functions, and allowed me to learn a little about the exposure triangle. I love this lens.
So, now to my second lens... This time it was a budget priced Tair-11A in “excellent working condition”. Shipped all the way from deepest darkest eastern Europe – one of the old Soviet states. Well, clearly excellent working condition means detached oily aperture blades and old, stiff helicoid grease.
The local camera repair shop won’t touch it, and the original eBay seller appears to be on an extended holiday and is not checking his email. Thank goodness it was cheap. Well, not so cheap now. I have found a guy in Ukraine that repairs these old lenses at a very low cost, and have shipped it to him this morning. I would have had a go myself, but would not have known what to do with all of the left-over screws and bits. I don’t love this lens. Maybe after we get to know each other better?
So, the lens will ultimately work out to be around the price of a good second hand Pentax prime lens – but the bokeh is going to be great. Well, that’s what I tell myself to make the pain go away.
I think I am cured of the old Russian lens bug.