The Primagon is a shiny beauty from former DDR Meyer-Optik. It's a 35mm wide angle (certainly for its time) and with a maximum aperture of f/4.5, it is also relatively slow by today's standards. This lens has a M42 mount (there apparently also is an Exakta version) and bears the "1Q" symbol, indicative for "good quality".

Aperture range: f/4.5-f/22
Minimum focussing distance: 0.4m
Aperture blades: 10

You can take a look at the Primagon's dedicated gallery.

Some images:

The Helios-103 was produced in 1981-1985 by Arsenal in Kiev (Ukraine). It is a moderately fast lens (f/1.8) and can be seen as the successor of the Jupiter-8M, of which the productions seems to have stopped in 1981.

This lens can easily be found for next to nothing. You can find a decent copy for €10 and a mint one for the double of that.

There exist a few versions of the Helios-103. SovietCams differentiates between version 1 and version 2 (V1 and V2, PT2605 and PT260 respectively) based on the body design. However, I've also seen versions with Latin script instead of cyrillic letters (e.g. camera A110 in Princelle, p209). There is also a late Helios-103 version, branded "MENOPTA", from the early 1990s.

Princelle lists this lens as A190; SovietCams catalogues it as PT2605 and PT2610.

Aperture range: f/1.8-f/22
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 9

Helios-103 53mm f/1.8, version 1 and 2 (right and left, respectively)

Helios-103 53mm f/1.8, version 1 - dedicated gallery

Helios-103 53mm f/1.8, version 2 - dedicated gallery

FED cameras are well-known made-in-USSR Leica derivatives. There are five common models (FED-1 to 5) and each model has a plethora of variations. The camera that I present here is an early FED-3.

There are two main variations known of the FED-3, viz. the first version with advance knob (FED-3a) and a second version with advance lever (FED-3b). This camera is of the earlier type. Another subcategorization is made based on the engraving in front: single language cyrrilic script (ФЭД-3) or dual language engraving (ФЭД/FED-3). The early versions, like this camera, only have single language cyrrilic script.

You can read more details regarding the differences between all the version on the website of SovietCams. According to their categorization system, this camera is one of the ~40.000 PE0615 cameras released by Kharkov (cf. serial number 2057983).

Robot cameras are well known to collectors of photographic equipment. The history of the Robot began in Germany in the 1930s with the introduction of the Robot I camera. It used a 24x24mm square film format instead of the common 24x36mm. Lenses for the Robot cameras were made by Zeiss and Schneider-Kreuznach.

The lens that I show here is made by the latter. It is built, literally, like a tank. Even though it is a small lens, it must weigh at least as much as the NEX camera! The red triangle (∇) indicates that the lens is coated. To use this lens on the NEX, I mount it on a Robot screw mount to L39 adapter, which I use on a standard L39 to NEX adapter. There also exists a Robot bayonet version, which is different from the Robot screw mount and which requires its own adapter! Verify this very well before you decide to buy!

The picture quality of this lens is not stellar, but it breathes pure vintage. It suffers/benefits a lot from light bloom.

Aperture range: f/1.9-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 0.75m
Aperture blades: 15

You can take a look at the Xenon's dedicated gallery on my website.

Some real-life examples, both shot at f/11:

Some Boring Lens Tests (FLT.III):

Out-of-focus rendering (pictures taken at minimum focussing distance):

f-stops: f/1.9 - f/2.8 - f/4 - f/5.6 - f/8 - f/11 - f/16

The Nikon 75-150mm f/3.5 Series E is a fine lens. The picture quality is certainly better then what other Series E lenses deliver. It is rather compact and easy to handle. The only drawback that I have encountered with this lens is zoom creep.

The serial number (3045297) indicates that this lens is the last version (there were 4 versions) and allegedly has less problems with zoom creep then the previous version.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/32
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 7

Some impressions:

The collapsible Industar-50 lenses were made by 3 factories: KMZ (Krasnogorsk), KOMZ (Kazan) and LZOS (Lytkarino). The KOMZ version(s) is somewhat uncommon, but the KMZ and LZOS lenses are not difficult to find.

This lens is produced by LZOS in 1960.  Princelle lists it as Lz10.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 8

It was commonly mounted on the Zorki-5 and Zorki-6. I have already seen a few varieties of this lens, e.g. serial number variations (N° vs N) and engraving styles (e.g. 5cm. vs. 50/3,5). Perhaps that, on a rainy day in winter, I will try to catalogue all known LZOS varieties :-)

This copy bears the П-mark, indicating that it was coated. It has 8 aperture blades, which stands in contrast to the 10 aperture blades of the KOMZ Industar-50. I have a KMZ Industar-50 as well (not yet published on my blog); it also has 8 aperture blades.

The ARG-file I use with exiftool for this lens: industar50lzos_6002087.txt

-n
-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=6002087 Π (LZOS)
-XMP:Lens=Industar-50 5cm f/3.5 Π (M39)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=3.5
-EXIF:FocalLength=50
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=50
-EXIF:FNumber=3.5

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

The Industar-50 is a lens with quite a long history. Its production started in the early 1950s by KMZ (Krasnogorsk) but was continued by LZOS (Lytkarino). These Tessar-design collapsible lenses were made mainly for the Zorki-5 and -6. In the late 1950s, there also appeared a very popular rigid version of the Industar-50 for RF and pancake versions for the M39 Zenit SLR cameras. The Industar-50-2 is a pancake-type lens for M42 and appeared earlier in my blog.

The lens that I present here is a collapsible Industar-50 made in Kazan. Like its "Made in Kazan" Industar-22 brethren, it's not very common.

Princelle lists this lens as Kz20.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 10

The serial is engraved on the rear. I don't know how many versions there exist of this lens. Perhaps the serial for lenses made in 1960 also start with 60xxxx, like for the Kazan Industar-22? So far, I've only seen 4-digit serial numbers. This lens has serial number 6500. Also interesting to note is the П-mark, which is in black instead of the usual red.

The ZK Zorki (ЗК Зоркий) 5cm f/2 was one of the forerunners of the Jupiter-8. ЗК stands for Sonnar Krasnogorsk. The early models were assembled by KMZ, not yet in Arsenal. Also, KMZ assembled the early versions partially or completely from materials they sacked from the Carl Zeiss factories of Jena and Dresden. I can't say which parts of my particular lens are "Made in Germany", but the picture quality of this lens is quite good and is a bit better then the 1950s Arsenal-made Jupiter-8 lenses that I own (read my blog entry: the Arsenal Gang).

Princelle lists this lens as K520; SovietCams as PT3525

Aperture range: f/2-f/22
Minimum focussing distance: 0.9m
Aperture blades: 9

The serial indicates that the lens was made in 1950. It also bears the П-mark, indicating that the lens was coated.

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery on my website

An example of this lens:

NEX-5 + ZK Zorki 5cm f/2 (ISO200, f/11, 1/250s)

Some Boring Lens Tests (FLT.II):

flare at f/22

Out-of-focus rendering (pictures taken at minimum focussing distance):

f-stops: f/2 - f/2.8 - f/4 - f/5.6 - f/8 - f/11 - f/16 - f/22

The ARG-file I use with exiftool: zkzorki_5cmf2kiev_5002234.txt

-n
-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=5002234 Π
-EXIF:LensModel=ЗК ЗОРКИЙ 5cm f/2 Π (Киев)
-EXIF:maxaperturevalue=2
-EXIF:focallength=50
-EXIF:focallengthin35mmformat=50
-EXIF:fnumber=2

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files. The code will show up as "ЗК ЗОРКИЙ 5cm f/2 Π (Киев)" in LR4.

The Mir-1 (МИР-1) is a wide-angle lens for SLR. It was made for M42 and M39 mount cameras. There also exists a version for the Kiev-10, which uses a special bayonet. Its design is derived from the Flektogon.

The first lenses were produced by KMZ around 1955 (Princelle K1620). They surface infrequently on ebay and often command higher prices then the later versions made by ZOMZ (Загорский оптико-механический завод) in Zagorsk. The early lenses also bear the П-coating label on the lens front plate. Every MIR-1 lens produced after 1958 bears a "GRAND PRIX Brussels 1958" inscription, referring to the prize the lens won at the 1958 world expo in Brussels.

Princelle lists my copy as Zg50.

Aperture range: f/2.8-f/16
Minimum distance focussing: 0.7m
Aperture blades: 10

I have seen this lens in silver and in black finish; with Latin and cyrillic script; with factory labels of KMZ, ZOMZ and Valdaï. My copy is Zg50, silver version with Latin script, produced by ZOMZ in 1969 (cf. serial number). Quality wise, this lens is not bad, but I don't really like the combination with the NEX-5. This is just a subjective personal preference though.

You can take a look at the Mir-1's dedicated gallery

The ARG-file I use with exiftool: mir1-37f28.txt

-n
-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=6901784
-EXIF:LensModel=Mir-1 37mm f/2.8 (M42)
-EXIF:maxaperturevalue=2.8
-EXIF:focallength=37
-EXIF:focallengthin35mmformat=37
-EXIF:fnumber=2.8

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

The Jupiter-8 (ЮПИТЕР-8) has quite a history. Many versions have been produced. Sometimes, the changes were limited to a cosmetic upgrade, but at other times, the lenses were redesigned (for instance, the redesign of Jupiter-8 to Jupiter-8M). The first Jupiter-8 lenses with Kiev/Contax mount were produced by KMZ (Krasnogorsk) when the Great Patriotic War had ended. Contax parts sacked from the Zeiss factories were donated to the Arsenal factory in Kiev and the production of Kiev-cameras was started in 1947. However, the first Arsenal-fabricated Jupiter-8 lenses date from 1954.

Three Arsenal Jupiter-8 versions are known (following SovietCams):

• PT3560: first version (1954-1956), metal aperture ring (previously published on my blog)

• PT3565: second version (1956-1957), black aperture ring

• PT3570: third version (1957-1959), black aperture ring, without "No" serial prefix

It you look at the comparison images, you can notice some minor differences in the aperture settings scale.

Princelle lists this lens as A160; SovietCams as PT3560, PT3565 and PT3570

Aperture range: f/2-f/22
Minimum focussing distance: 0.9m
Aperture blades: 9

The 3 versions compared. From left to right: PT3560, PT3565 and PT3570

Republished: Arsenal, 5510986, A160/PT3560 - dedicated gallery on my website

Arsenal, 5709145, A160/PT3565 - dedicated gallery on my website

Arsenal, 5808496, A160/PT3570 - dedicated gallery on my website

The adapter is made from an original Kiev-camera. I bought it from my Hungarian friend Attila. You can buy the adapter from his e-bay store. It is, by far, my favourite adapter.

Nikon's Nikkor 50mm f/2 is not a very popular lens today, for the most part because there are affordable faster alternatives in the Nikon line-up. This makes that the 50mm f/2 often can be had for peanuts, which is a good thing because it delivers very good picture quality. I've used this lens quite a lot on a D80 for panoramic photography (stitching).

This lens is the Ai-version (3736297), which also is the last version produced by Nikon.

Aperture range: f/2-f/16
Minimum distance focussing: 0.45m
Aperture blades: 6

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery on my website.

The Jupiter-8 (ЮПИТЕР-8) is the Russian version of the German Carl Zeiss Sonnar f/2 (The f/1.5 Sonnar was cloned under the name Jupiter-3). It was released both in LTM (M39) and in Kiev (Contax) mount. The lens that I present is the Kiev-version.

There exist many minor variations of this lens. Production of the Jupiter-8 in Contax-mount was initiated soon after the war by KMZ, but production was moved to Arsenal (Kiev, Ukraine) and started there in 1954. This lens is the first Arsenal version and was made in 1955 (serial 5510986). This model was only made in the period 1954-1956 and was rebaptized Jupiter-8M from 1957 on.

Princelle lists this lens as A160; SovietCams has it listed as PT3560.

Aperture range: f/2-f/22
Minimum focussing distance: 0.9m
Aperture blades: 9

I am particularly fond of the Jupiter-8 for Kiev league... I obtained the adapter from my Hungarian friend Attila, another MF-lens aficionado. You can buy the adapter from his e-bay store. It is, by far, my favourite adapter.

A real-life example:

ISO400, f/2

You can also take a look at the dedicate gallery on my website.

The Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 was produced by KMZ (Красногорский механический завод) in the 1970s-1980s. It is quiet a chunck of glass really... There also exists a multicoated version (MC Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7, which should not be confused with the MC Zenitar-M 50m f/1.9) and there are variations with Latin scripts. The Zenitar-ME1 50mm f/1.7 is a rather uncommon lens that has only two aperture blades.

The presented lens is listed by Princelle as K1694:

Aperture range: f/1.7-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 0.45m
Aperture blades: 6

The lens also has an A-M switch, very usefull if you don't have a good M42>NEX adapter... Some images of this lens in combination with the NEX-5:

Picture quality of this lens is quite decent. Sharpness is OK, especially in the center; the bokeh is buttersmooth. There is some chromatic aberration wide open. I like this lens especially for B/W-photography. Some examples:

f-stops: 1.7 - 2 - 2.8 - 4 - 5.6 - 8 - 11 - 16

You can find more examples in Boring Lens Tests FLT.1 ;-)

Some "real life" examples:

NEX-5 + Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 (ISO400, f/1.7, 1/2500s)

NEX-5 + Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 (ISO400, f/11, 1/250s)

NEX-5 + Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 (ISO400, f/1.7)

More examples can be found in the dedicated gallery on this website.

The ARG-file I use with exiftool: zenitarm50mmf17.txt

-n
-XMP:SerialNumber=803418
-XMP:Lens=Zenitar-M 50mm f/1.7 (M42)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=1.7
-EXIF:FocalLength=50
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=50
-EXIF:FNumber=1.7

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

The list of all variaties of the Industar-22 may seem endless... There are rigid versions, collapsible ones, black faceplate, white faceplate, serial engraved on the rear, etc. Somewhere in this endless list (see e.g. sovietcams) there is a pair of collapsible twin lenses produced by KOMZ (Казанский оптико-механический завод) in Kazan, Russia.

Kazan produced in total 4 types of the Industar-22 lens, to know:

• collapsible Industar-22 with a 4 or 5-digit lens serial engraved on the rear (Princelle Kz10, SovietCams PT5770)

• collapsible Industar-22 with date prefix in the serial number (7 digits), engraved on the back (Princelle Kz10, SovietCams PT5775)

• rigid Industar-22 for enlarger (Princelle Kz15, SovietCams PT5785), published earlier on my blog

• rigid Industar-22 for enlarger (Industar-22У) (SovietCams PT5790)

I will present the two collapsible Industars, i.e. PT5770 and PT5775).

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 10

The П-mark (Просветление, which can be translated as "enlightenment") indicates that coating was applied.

The first lens I present is the collapsible Industar-22 PT5770 with a short serial engraved on the rear:

The second lens is the collapsible Industar-22 PT5775 with a date prefix engraved on the back:

Dizygotic twins:

There are a few minor differences between the two version. PT5770 (short serial) has an arrow (▲) engraved on its aperture ring, while PT5775 has a thick line (|). Also, the focussing scale is slightly different: 1,25 - 1,5 - 1,75 - ... for PT5770 and 1,2 - 1,5 - 1,7 - ... for PT5775.

The ARG-file I use with exiftool for PT5770: industar22komz_13572.txt

-n
-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=13572 Π (KOMZ)
-XMP:Lens=Industar-22 50mm f/3.5 Π (M39)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=3.5
-EXIF:FocalLength=50
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=50
-EXIF:FNumber=3.5

The ARG-file I use with exiftool for PT5775: industar22komz_509635.txt

-n
-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=509635 Π (KOMZ)
-XMP:Lens=Industar-22 50mm f/3.5 Π (M39)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=3.5
-EXIF:FocalLength=50
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=50
-EXIF:FNumber=3.5

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

The Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 Ai was produced from 1977 to 1981, during which 28395 copies were made. I like this lens especially for its size. It's easy to carry around and while the quality of the images it shoots is not stellar, it certainly isn't bad. Furthermore, using this lens on a crop camera makes it a 35mm equivalent.

I like this lens most for shooting into the sun. It's well corrected for flare and it is fairly easy to obtain a star-shaped sun.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/22
Minimum distance focussing: 0.3m
Aperture blades: 7

You can also take a look at its dedicated gallery.

The Takumar 105mm f/2.8 exists both in Super and in Super-Multi-Coated designation, but apparently both have the same optical formula. In my experience, it's not a bad lens, but it is a whee bit to soft for me wide open.

Aperture range: f/2.8-f/22
Minimum distance focussing: 120cm
Aperture blades: 6

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery or at my complete Gallerie de gear.

I use the following dedicated ARG-file with exiftool: stak105f28.txt

-n
-XMP:SerialNumber=3864873
-EXIF:LensModel=Super-Takumar 105mm f/2.8 (M42)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=2.8
-EXIF:FocalLength=105
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=105
-EXIF:FNumber=2.8

This works with LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

This is the fifth and last Takumar to add to my collection. Again, there are different versions of this Takumar, though there are no optical differences betwheen the Super and the Super-Multi-Coated Takumars. There also exists a faster version (f/2.5) of this lens.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/22
Minimum distance focussing: 150cm
Aperture blades: 6

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery or at my complete Gallerie de gear.

I use the following dedicated ARG-file with exiftool: stak135f35.txt

-n
-XMP:SerialNumber=4455094
-EXIF:LensModel=Super-Takumar 135mm f/3.5 (M42)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=3.5
-EXIF:FocalLength=135
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=135
-EXIF:FNumber=3.5

This works with LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

Time to look at another Russian beautie :)

Today's model was born in 1958 in the KMZ plant in Krasnogorsk, which also fathered the Zorki and Zenit brethren. The Industar-50 (ИНДУСТАР-50) has many incarnations. In its first life, starting in 1953, the Industar-50 was a collapsible lens, very much like the leicafamous Elmar, but already during the 1950s reincarnated as a rigid lens. Several types of the rigid version have been described. This shiny aluminium beauty is one of the more common types. Princelle lists it as K440.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/16
Minimum focussing distance: 1m
Aperture blades: 8

The П-mark (Просветление, which can be translated as "enlightenment") indicates that coating was applied.

You can also take a look at the Industar-50's dedicated gallery or at my Gallerie de gear.

The ARG-file I use with exiftool: industar50f35rig_5808420.txt

-n-ex
-XMP:SerialNumber=5808420
-EXIF:LensModel=Industar-50 5cm f/3.5 Π (M39)
-EXIF:maxaperturevalue=3.5
-EXIF:focallength=50
-EXIF:focallengthin35mmformat=50
-EXIF:fnumber=3.5

This works for LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

The 50mm f/1.4 Takumars are highly regarded by most of its users. Decent sharpness, buttersweet bokeh, and usually available at a good price. Again, several versions exist. The lens that I have is the Super-Multi-Coated version, introduced in 1971.

Aperture range: f/1.4-f/16
Minimum distance focussing: 45cm
Aperture blades: 8

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery or at my complete Gallerie de gear.

I use the following dedicated ARG-file with exiftool: smctak50f14.txt

-n
-XMP:SerialNumber=6167723
-EXIF:LensModel=Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (M42)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=1.4
-EXIF:FocalLength=50
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=50
-EXIF:FNumber=1.4

This works with LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.

Another Takumar hits my blog :)

Many models of this lens have been produced. This lens is a Super-Multi-Coated Takumar, the last version produced.

Aperture range: f/3.5-f/16
Minimum distance focussing: 45cm
Aperture blades: 5

This lens has a good reputation but its maximum aperture (f/3.5) limits its use somewhat. On the NEX-5 it has a FoV of about 50mm.

You can take a look at its dedicated gallery or at my complete Gallerie de gear.

I use the following dedicated ARG-file with exiftool: smctak35f35.txt

-n
-XMP:SerialNumber=6827868
-EXIF:LensModel=Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 35mm f/3.5 (M42)
-EXIF:MaxApertureValue=3.5
-EXIF:FocalLength=35
-EXIF:FocalLengthIn35mmFormat=35
-EXIF:FNumber=3.5

This works well with LR4 and NEX-5 RAW-files.