Author: | | Senior Member Registered: February, 2009 Location: Lévis, Canada (Québec) Posts: 144 3 users found this helpful | Review Date: February 6, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Fun to use, very interesting bokeh, solid. | Cons: | A bit soft wide open, preset diaphragm. | Sharpness: 7
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: K-5, K-7, K10D
| | I bought this lens after reading about it on a blog; it's quite an interesting piece of glass. This Russian-made 50mm F2.8 has macro capabilities, a solid built and very good optics.
Speaking of the macro capabilities, they aren't bad, with a slightly above 1:2 magnifying ratio (based on my experience—it might be better, actually). The focus throw is very long, which is always welcome for a macro lens, IMHO.
Although soft wide open, it's pretty sharp when stopped down a bit (F4 and smaller apertures). It doesn't seem as sharp as my Pentax A 50mm F2 at F2.8, but it's quite close. Contrast is good, too, especially when stopped down.
Vignetting and distortion are not an issue except wide open, but even then, the lens performs really well.
I haven't seen much lateral CAs, but I don't use this lens a lot, so it's difficult to evaluate this aspect properly. Purple fringing can appear in some circumstances, but I only saw it occur when shooting wide open. Flare resistance is very good, thanks to a recessed front element.
Despite the lack of automatic aperture control and the presence of a "preset" diaphragm (which forces you to focus wide open, close the iris, meter, and shoot), the lens is very interesting in many ways. The iris is step-less, so you can actually get very precise DOF control if needed, not to mention the possibility of changing the aperture while recording video. The iris also has a very special shape: it starts as a round shape wide open, then closes into the shape of a 6-point star around F8 and returns to a serrated, round shape at smaller apertures.
When used at F8 on a rather close subject (shoulder portrait or closer) with a sufficiently distant background, the highlights in the background will transform into beautiful stars, making for a surprising bokeh. The effect is a matter of taste, of course, but I think it's a nice lens to use during parties (especially the holiday season). Check the following link for images of the iris special shape. http://www.xs4all.nl/~tomtiger/russcam/volnaindus.html
Finally, the build quality of this lens is just amazing. I think I could drop it on a concrete floor while climbing on a ladder and it would survive the fall with little more than an external bruise (paint loss, dent).
Overall, a nice, sharp lens with no real flaw, perfect for having some fun.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: July, 2009 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 115 | Review Date: August 25, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $35.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | small, well built, good optical quality | Cons: | a bit soft at f2.8 | | Very nice lens. Easy to handle (the lens is rather small in size) and focus. Great to photograph flowers and for close-ups. My copy is decently sharp at f5.6 and above, but even wide open sharpness is quite acceptable. Construction is solid. Great lens for the price.
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: April, 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Posts: 1,386 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: October 13, 2009 | Recommended | Price: $55.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Built, recessed lens, macro | Cons: | f/2.8, no AF | | Nice lens, nice feel to use it. Just wanted to post a starpic :-)
...on K100D
| | | | 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: May 17, 2010 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Sharp, bokeh, quality optics | Cons: | none yet | | I got this lens from my grand parents and i was pleasantly surprised that it produces such sharp pictures even wide open. It is built like a tank and in terms optic it is uses Lanthanium ( Rare earth) instead of an MC coating. Fantastic for close up and macro.
Here is a picture just the white balance has been corrected no sharpening. http://www.flickr.com/photos/46315660@N06/4528833296/ | | | | | Forum Member Registered: October, 2010 Location: Klaipeda Posts: 78 6 users found this helpful | Review Date: November 14, 2011 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: N/A |
| This Russian ZENITAR lense: Industar-61 is in many verions 61, 61A, 61M, 61L, 61L/Z(Л/З), 61m FED, 61L/D. Was manufactured in KMZ (КМЗ) and LZOS (ЛЗОС).
With M39 screw mount for ragefinger FED and M42 screw mount for Zenit cameras.
With diferent focus distance from 50mm to 55mm.
Version M was made with Auto/Manual aperiture function. http://www.zenitcamera.com/archive/lenses/industar-61.html
Industar-61 (И-61)
f2,8
52mm, 53mm, 55mm
M39 screw for Rangefinders
Industar 61-A
f2.8
52mm
M42 screw for SLR
Industar 61-Z (З-kirilica )
f2.8
52mm
M39 screw for SLR
Industar 61-M
f2.8
50mm
M42 screw for SLR
Industar 61-L
f2,8
52mm
M39 screw for Rangefinders
Industar-61L/D (Индустар-61Л/Д)
f2,8
53mm
M39 screw for Rangefinders
Industar 61-L/Z MC version (sometimes marked "MS")
Focus Distance = 50mm
f2.8
M42 screw for SLR
Multi Couted
Industar-61L/Z and Industar-61L/D (Индустар-61Л/З , Индустар-61Л/Д):
"Л" (L) with "Lantan glas"
"З" - "зеркальных фотокамер" - for SLR
"Д" - "дальномерных фотокамер" - for Rangefinders http://www.flickr.com/photos/38296788@N06/6344861702/in/photostream | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2011 Posts: 258 | Review Date: January 12, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | sharp, little, preset aperture, cheap | Cons: | not enough sharp for macro compaired to some normal 50s | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 8
Value: 8
| | Not a bad lens, but my CZJ Pancolar 50 1.8 MC is sharper even for macro purposes, I have tested them on M42 extenders. Industar have better geometry but it is so little difference.
| | | | New Member Registered: January, 2012 Posts: 1 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: June 14, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $60.00
| Rating: 8 |
Pros: | Price, sharp, little, macro,preset aperture. | Cons: | a soft at f2.8 | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 9
Value: 8
| | A good lens for its price. A soft at f2.8, but for macro, in my opinion it is not necessary. Very sharp with a 5.6. Good quality performance and optics. I use it on Pentax K-x.
Industar + macro-ring 21mm
More photo https://picasaweb.google.com/113830004396908134834/Industar_61LZ?authuser=0&feat=directlink | | | | Forum Member Registered: May, 2012 Location: New York Posts: 52 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: October 12, 2012 | Recommended | Price: $80.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | Sharp, Contrast, IQ, Resolution | Cons: | Preset Aperture, F2.8 | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
| | I own the single coated (non-MC) version of the lens. Very interesting lens, image quality is very good, love the contrast, especially on B&W. So far enjoying it. Handles well, not fast enough for indoors though.
Lens focuses at 30cm, however it's not true macro, at least not with true 1:1 magnification (not even 1:2).
| | | | Veteran Member Registered: June, 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Posts: 3,348 2 users found this helpful | Review Date: November 16, 2014 | Recommended | Price: None indicated
| Rating: 7 |
Pros: | Solidly built, step-less aperture selection, built in hood, sharp | Cons: | No auto/manual switch, low contrast | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 4
Value: 8
Camera Used: Pentax K-30
| | I received this lens as gift from my relatives in Russia. It was a bit dirty and I think there's a light coating of fungus on the inside of the rear element.
This lens is surprisingly sharp, even when wide open. Any perceived softness in the image is due to the very thin depth of field. Stop down to f/5.6 and more and you can get very sharp images from edge to edge depending on your subject matter. Modern lenses like the FA 43mm Limited and the D FA 50mm f/2.8 Macro will be sharper. You will not be disappointed with this lens though.
My copy has low contrast for some colors, like red. Other colors like blue, green, and yellow come across very vividly. Don't be afraid to play with the contrast, saturation, and vibrancy levels. Think of it as having selective contrast.
This is a completely manual lens and that makes it hard for moving subjects. After focusing with the aperture wide open you will then need to manually rotate the aperture selection ring to the desired setting. Only then you can press the shutter button. It sounds simple but try doing this while chasing kids or a pet and you'll get blurry images.
The aperture ring is step-less. You can smoothly select any aperture between f/2.8 and f/16. I wish there was a Auto/Manual switch along with this step-less aperture ring. That would speed up the picture taking process. The step-less aperture blades have an interesting sawtooth pattern when partially closed down. Out of focus points may look bizarre. The bokeh is just OK.
The front element is deeply recessed into the lens body so no hood is necessary. This does make for a heavier lens though.
It's an interesting lens that exceeded my expectations for being a Soviet era product. I would have appreciated an Auto/Manual switch. It's still a fun lens worth seeking out. Let's end this small review on the best note possible - with a picture!
IMGP3062 by Never Off, on Flickr
| | | | Junior Member Registered: February, 2014 Location: Nissedal (Goblin Valley) Posts: 38 1 user found this helpful | Review Date: April 22, 2016 | Recommended | Price: $40.00
| Rating: 10 |
Pros: | It looks very cool! | Cons: | None | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax K-5 IIs
| | This lens is a Tessar design. Pentax uses the same design in the 50mm macro up to the 1980s. Very sharp in the center. Very cool and star shaped bokeh at f.8.0. Very classical bokeh at wide open. No CA what so ever. It can not compete with the SMC 55 f.1.8 in sharpness, but what a fun lens to use.
| | | | Junior Member Registered: January, 2013 Location: Radom PL Posts: 31 | Review Date: November 14, 2020 | Recommended | Price: $50.00
| Rating: 9 |
Pros: | small and light, star bokeh, sharp, quallity (steel & glass) | Cons: | low availability | Sharpness: 8
Aberrations: 8
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 9
Camera Used: Pentax K-5 IIs
| | The lens is good alternative for other 50mm prime lenses. It's very sharp and have interesting star bokeh effect. I use it for portraits and macro photography with intermediate rings.
[IMG]IMGP2402 by Michal D, on Flickr[/IMG]
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