Any other must have Russian medium format lenses?

**barondla** · 11-12-2020, 09:20 PM

Love the Arsat 30 fisheye on the 645Z. Any other lenses stand out as much?

Thanks,
barondla

Bob L · 11-13-2020, 01:06 AM - **2 Likes**

Not strictly "Russian" but the later version (multi-coated) of the Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar in Pentacon Six mount makes a very decent portrait lens and the Carl Zeiss Jena 120mm f/2.8 Biometar does a decent job too.

torashi · 11-13-2020, 06:29 AM - **1 Like**

I've seen a lot of Russian projector lenses being adapted to medium format. But that's a rather deep rabbit hole to dive into.

w2ck · 11-14-2020, 06:18 AM - **1 Like**

Hi,

Here you go!

Not my photo, but one I found on another forum whenever rabbit holes are mentioned.

Stan

**rdenney** · 12-07-2020, 08:32 PM - **1 Like**

Still catching up.

Yes to the CZJ MC-Sonnar 180/2.8. Not so excited about the 120 Biometar.

If you really need a shift lens, yes to the Arsat 55/4.5 PCS. Don’t expect to make gigantic prints for up-close viewing.

Yes to the Pentacon Six bellows. Mount a copy lens in a drilled P6 body cap.

The 80mm CZJ Biometar is a classic 5-element Planar (like the western Planar used by Hasselblad and Rollei in the day), but I’m not sure it’s better than either of the Pentax 75’s. It is a different look.

The 60mm Schneider Curtagon (for the Exakta 66 Mk. III, a Kreuznach lens from the 90’s) is a legendary unicorn. The brand is “Joseph Schneider” but it’s a Kreuznach lens from the time Mannesman owned them, as I recall. If you find one, decide you hate it and must discard it. I’ll provide the trash can. The Schneider 80/2.8 Xenotar is probably better than any other 75/80 in an easily adaptable mount. Also rare. Even more rare is the 55mm Super-Angulon shift lens. I’ve seen and handled the Xenotar and Curtagon, but I’ve never laid eyes on the SA. There was a myth that Joseph Schneider made a 40mm Curtagon, but nobody I know has ever seen one. These are not Russian lenses, but post-unification western lenses, and were priced accordingly.

Rick “adapters installed on the fisheye and the 180 Sonnar by default” Denney

11-12-2020, 09:20 PM	#1
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Any other must have Russian medium format lenses? Love the Arsat 30 fisheye on the 645Z. Any other lenses stand out as much? Thanks, barondla

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11-13-2020, 01:06 AM - 2 Likes	#2
Bob L Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: La Vienne (86), France Posts: 223	Not strictly "Russian" but the later version (multi-coated) of the Carl Zeiss Jena 180mm f/2.8 Sonnar in Pentacon Six mount makes a very decent portrait lens and the Carl Zeiss Jena 120mm f/2.8 Biometar does a decent job too.

11-13-2020, 06:29 AM - 1 Like	#3
torashi Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Medellín Posts: 1,322	I've seen a lot of Russian projector lenses being adapted to medium format. But that's a rather deep rabbit hole to dive into.

11-14-2020, 06:18 AM - 1 Like	#4
w2ck Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Albums Posts: 442	Hi, Here you go! Not my photo, but one I found on another forum whenever rabbit holes are mentioned. Stan

12-07-2020, 08:32 PM - 1 Like	#5
rdenney Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NoVA Posts: 635	Still catching up. Yes to the CZJ MC-Sonnar 180/2.8. Not so excited about the 120 Biometar. If you really need a shift lens, yes to the Arsat 55/4.5 PCS. Don’t expect to make gigantic prints for up-close viewing. Yes to the Pentacon Six bellows. Mount a copy lens in a drilled P6 body cap. The 80mm CZJ Biometar is a classic 5-element Planar (like the western Planar used by Hasselblad and Rollei in the day), but I’m not sure it’s better than either of the Pentax 75’s. It is a different look. The 60mm Schneider Curtagon (for the Exakta 66 Mk. III, a Kreuznach lens from the 90’s) is a legendary unicorn. The brand is “Joseph Schneider” but it’s a Kreuznach lens from the time Mannesman owned them, as I recall. If you find one, decide you hate it and must discard it. I’ll provide the trash can. The Schneider 80/2.8 Xenotar is probably better than any other 75/80 in an easily adaptable mount. Also rare. Even more rare is the 55mm Super-Angulon shift lens. I’ve seen and handled the Xenotar and Curtagon, but I’ve never laid eyes on the SA. There was a myth that Joseph Schneider made a 40mm Curtagon, but nobody I know has ever seen one. These are not Russian lenses, but post-unification western lenses, and were priced accordingly. Rick “adapters installed on the fisheye and the 180 Sonnar by default” Denney

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