Soviet lenses club

utak · 07-19-2016, 06:24 AM - **6 Likes**

The exhaust pipe of a Norton Commando, taken with a Helios 44-3

...and on both sides of the fence, using the same lens..

Cuthbert · 07-19-2016, 01:05 PM - **2 Likes**

Tair 11A in Farnborough:

Praktica BX20 (with adapter) and XP2+.

Helios 1984 · 07-19-2016, 07:47 PM - **1 Like**

Helios 44M-4 f/2 @ f/5.6
Here's a White-lipped snail, just for you guys :-)

**paulh** · 08-13-2016, 11:49 AM - **1 Like**

Industar 50-2

adriano210 · 08-13-2016, 01:33 PM

industar is a great lens

**paulh** · 08-14-2016, 07:39 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by adriano210

industar is a great lens

Thanks, and yes it is. Once you get past the quirky operation, it can deliver some nice images

Here's the color version:

g026r · 08-14-2016, 04:30 PM - **6 Likes**

Fiddling around with the Jupiter-37A this month for the "Single Challenge" group. Some shots:

Last edited by g026r; 08-14-2016 at 04:43 PM.

AldaCZ · 08-22-2016, 09:05 AM

Helios 44k-4 at K30 open

butangmucat · 08-23-2016, 11:31 AM - **3 Likes**

Picked up a Mir-1B in good condition today. A well-balanced normal lens on my MILC body.

**GUB** · 08-26-2016, 03:55 AM - **4 Likes**

Tair 300-A on my K01 stopped down a little. The NZ pigeon is a large quiet bird probably about the size of a small duck.

butangmucat · 08-26-2016, 10:44 AM - **2 Likes**

The perfect lens to get the feel of being smashed by a train while keeping myself safe (crop sensor).

**kernos** · 08-28-2016, 01:54 PM

I discovered m42 when my k30 aperture control block died out of warranty. Lots of fun since. One thing that I've really enjoyed is the MIR 1B with macro extension tubes. The inherent sharpness is still there in focus, but the oof gets dreamy. This is a link to 8 photos made with the MIR on extension tubes including one that is probably brushing an insect antenna. Ignore the EXIF for focal length as I sometimes forgot to switch focal length when I switched lenses.
Mir 1B Macros | Flickr

**goatsNdonkey** · 09-01-2016, 02:38 PM

Reading some of the posts in this thread and the East German lens club thread, got me curious about some of these interesting lenses known for sharp centers, when wide open, and interesting bokeh. Consequently, I started watching several of these lens types on the auction site. Lots of times the prices would be reasonable, then zoom up. Or, they didn't zoom up much, but the shipping charge from Russia, or the Ukraine, or somewhere else was pretty high to begin with.... I wasn't in a hurry, though, so there was no problem.

Then, recently, I found one on 'bay, not in my usual m42 lens search, but in the film slr section, because it was a Helios 44-2 2/58mm attached to a Zenit B! And it was in Texas, just a few states south of here, so the shipping wasn't high. Lens, body, and original case were under $25. The package arrived today. The camera has hardly any signs of previous use, and seems to work fine...except that the shutter curtain is sluggish especially at B and 1/30 sec, not necessarily closing all the way each time. Since it works fine at higher shutter speeds, I'm wondering how much of the stiffness is from just being in storage for most of its life. I'm trying a roll of film in it, now, so we'll see if I get any uneven exposures, way overexposed on one side of the frame.

The B is like the Zenit E, except there is no internal meter. Mine looks just like the third example on this webpage: Soviet and Russian Cameras - Zenit-B, -BM, -BE2
According to that page, it probably would have been made between 1968-1977. The body serial number is No69104090 -- can anybody tell any other interesting details based on that?

The Helios 44-2 2/58's serial number is N0552046. I was surprised the lens body was plastic, or bakelite, or some other non-metalic material, making it light compared to a similar sized and aged Takumar. Initially, I cleaned the lens and put it on my K110D for a few test shots. It seems to work great. And if you shoot it wide open, you don't have to remember to twist the preset actuating ring before exposure! After those shots, and about ten on film with the Zenit (so far), I'm starting to remember how to use a preset lens. A little later today, I'll post a few of the digital posts with the Helios, my official debut as a member of the club!

Topsy · 09-01-2016, 05:05 PM

Are you sure it's not a metal body?! I don't own a 44-2 (yet

) but I hardly can imagine it's not some kind of metal?

Anyways, I wish you lots of fun with the lens and camera!

**goatsNdonkey** · 09-01-2016, 05:45 PM

Originally posted by Topsy

Are you sure it's not a metal body?! I don't own a 44-2 (yet

) but I hardly can imagine it's not some kind of metal?

Anyways, I wish you lots of fun with the lens and camera!

It could be some super lightweight alloy, I guess. Maybe somebody else has a 44-2 with a close serial number and of the same composition and who knows what it really is.

07-19-2016, 07:47 PM - 1 Like	#3183
Helios 1984 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Saint-Constant, Québec Posts: 747	Helios 44M-4 f/2 @ f/5.6 Here's a White-lipped snail, just for you guys :-) Last edited by Helios 1984; 07-19-2016 at 07:58 PM.

08-23-2016, 11:31 AM - 3 Likes	#3189
butangmucat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 709	Joining the Club with Mir-1B Picked up a Mir-1B in good condition today. A well-balanced normal lens on my MILC body.

08-26-2016, 10:44 AM - 2 Likes	#3191
butangmucat Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 709	Mir-1B Once More The perfect lens to get the feel of being smashed by a train while keeping myself safe (crop sensor).

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07-19-2016, 06:24 AM - 6 Likes	#3181
utak Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2012 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 928	The exhaust pipe of a Norton Commando, taken with a Helios 44-3 ...and on both sides of the fence, using the same lens..

07-19-2016, 01:05 PM - 2 Likes	#3182
Cuthbert Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,740	Tair 11A in Farnborough: Praktica BX20 (with adapter) and XP2+.

08-13-2016, 11:49 AM - 1 Like	#3184
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,252	Industar 50-2

08-13-2016, 01:33 PM	#3185
adriano210 Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dublin Posts: 60	industar is a great lens

08-14-2016, 07:39 AM - 1 Like	#3186
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,252	Originally posted by adriano210 industar is a great lens Thanks, and yes it is. Once you get past the quirky operation, it can deliver some nice images Here's the color version:

08-14-2016, 04:30 PM - 6 Likes	#3187
g026r Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,074	Fiddling around with the Jupiter-37A this month for the "Single Challenge" group. Some shots: Last edited by g026r; 08-14-2016 at 04:43 PM.

08-22-2016, 09:05 AM	#3188
AldaCZ Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: North Bohemia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,251	Helios 44k-4 at K30 open

08-28-2016, 01:54 PM	#3192
kernos Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 456	I discovered m42 when my k30 aperture control block died out of warranty. Lots of fun since. One thing that I've really enjoyed is the MIR 1B with macro extension tubes. The inherent sharpness is still there in focus, but the oof gets dreamy. This is a link to 8 photos made with the MIR on extension tubes including one that is probably brushing an insect antenna. Ignore the EXIF for focal length as I sometimes forgot to switch focal length when I switched lenses. Mir 1B Macros \| Flickr

09-01-2016, 02:38 PM	#3193
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,727	Reading some of the posts in this thread and the East German lens club thread, got me curious about some of these interesting lenses known for sharp centers, when wide open, and interesting bokeh. Consequently, I started watching several of these lens types on the auction site. Lots of times the prices would be reasonable, then zoom up. Or, they didn't zoom up much, but the shipping charge from Russia, or the Ukraine, or somewhere else was pretty high to begin with.... I wasn't in a hurry, though, so there was no problem. Then, recently, I found one on 'bay, not in my usual m42 lens search, but in the film slr section, because it was a Helios 44-2 2/58mm attached to a Zenit B! And it was in Texas, just a few states south of here, so the shipping wasn't high. Lens, body, and original case were under $25. The package arrived today. The camera has hardly any signs of previous use, and seems to work fine...except that the shutter curtain is sluggish especially at B and 1/30 sec, not necessarily closing all the way each time. Since it works fine at higher shutter speeds, I'm wondering how much of the stiffness is from just being in storage for most of its life. I'm trying a roll of film in it, now, so we'll see if I get any uneven exposures, way overexposed on one side of the frame. The B is like the Zenit E, except there is no internal meter. Mine looks just like the third example on this webpage: Soviet and Russian Cameras - Zenit-B, -BM, -BE2 According to that page, it probably would have been made between 1968-1977. The body serial number is No69104090 -- can anybody tell any other interesting details based on that? The Helios 44-2 2/58's serial number is N0552046. I was surprised the lens body was plastic, or bakelite, or some other non-metalic material, making it light compared to a similar sized and aged Takumar. Initially, I cleaned the lens and put it on my K110D for a few test shots. It seems to work great. And if you shoot it wide open, you don't have to remember to twist the preset actuating ring before exposure! After those shots, and about ten on film with the Zenit (so far), I'm starting to remember how to use a preset lens. A little later today, I'll post a few of the digital posts with the Helios, my official debut as a member of the club!

09-01-2016, 05:05 PM	#3194
Topsy Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 625	Are you sure it's not a metal body?! I don't own a 44-2 (yet ) but I hardly can imagine it's not some kind of metal? Anyways, I wish you lots of fun with the lens and camera!

09-01-2016, 05:45 PM	#3195
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,727	Originally posted by Topsy Are you sure it's not a metal body?! I don't own a 44-2 (yet ) but I hardly can imagine it's not some kind of metal? Anyways, I wish you lots of fun with the lens and camera! It could be some super lightweight alloy, I guess. Maybe somebody else has a 44-2 with a close serial number and of the same composition and who knows what it really is.

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