Lens Set Designer

20 mm / F3.5 – MIR 20

• Focal length: 20 mm
• Aperture: F3.5
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 0,18 m

When you first take the lens, the convex front lens, which has a wide edging that resembles a lens hood, attracts very much attention.

Features of the MIR 20 3.5 / 20 lens:

The focus of the lens is very smooth. Due to the fact that the front lens forms a kind of lens hood, the focusing ring remains clamped between the camera body and the «blend». The focus ring rotates 320 degrees, thus providing a very precise focus for sharpness. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate, and the lens unit with the front lens moves about half a centimeter from the camera.

The aperture of the lens is only F / 3.5. But the wide-angle is often used for landscapes, and there is no need for a large aperture.

The MIR 20 3.5 / 20 lens shows the depth of field for each aperture value. «Infinity» near the lens begins with 2 meters on the focus scale.

There are different versions of MIR 20 3.5 / 20, some do not support the installation of filters at the front of the lens, some use light filters that are installed near the rear group of lenses.

The lens is very well assembled. Iron and glass.

MIR 20 3.5 / 20 is an ultrawideguide, the focus ring has to be twisted very rarely, and in 90% of cases the lens is focused on infinity.

An unusual feature of MIR 20 3.5 / 20 is the minimum focusing distance, which is only 18 centimeters. This is a very good indicator, you can experiment with the prospect, taking off small objects, flowers, etc. The MIR 20 3.5 / 20 lens has one of the shortest focusing distances among the lenses of this class.

On the crocheted chambers, ultra-wide-angle lenses, MIR 20 3.5 / 20 including, lose their «over wide-angle» and become the usual «wide-angles». Of course, on full-frame cameras MIR 20 3.5 / 20 will be of much greater interest.

MIR 20 3.5 / 20 – an interesting vintage lens, gives excellent sharpness in the center, loses sharpness around the edges of the frame. One of the few Soviet lenses, which creates a really wide viewing angle on the crozed cameras.

28 mm / F3.5 – Mir 10A

Lens MIR 10A 3.5/28

• Focal length: 28 mm
• Diaphragm: F3.5
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 0,2 m

Lens MIR 10A 28 mm F 3.5 has a large diameter front lens, lenses with single-layer clearing. The lens is heavy, well brought down, inspires confidence.

Features of the MIR 10A 3.5/28:

The lens is from the film camera, which means that it will fit both full-frame and modern digital SLR cameras.

The lens is manual, which means that you only have to focus manually.

The lens has a diaphragm preset ring, it is very easy and convenient to use.

There are all the necessary depth-of-field indicators, distances to the focus object, the aperture value. This is an integral part of the old lenses.

The front cover is screwed in, and not snapped.

The MIR 10A 3.5/28 lens has a very, very short close-up distance. Only 20 cm. At this side of the lens is very peculiar.

The focus ring rotates almost all 360 degrees. With this, the front lens does not rotate, and the lens trunk lengthens by 2 cm. When focusing, the entire lens unit moves.

The lens is not luminous. The maximum aperture value is F / 3.5. For a wide-angle lens this is not critical.

When closing the diaphragm, its 6 petals form not an ordinary «nut», but an interesting «star».

The MIR 10A 3.5/28 lens is an interesting wide-angle fixed lens. I do not advise you to use it on the crooked cameras. The lens has a very small minimum focusing distance and produces a very sharp picture.

37 mm / F2.8 – Mir 1B

Lens MIR 1B 2.8/37

• Focal length: 37 mm
• Diaphragm: F2.8-F16
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 0,7 m

The MIR 1B 2.8/37 lens is very small and compact, on the lens there are three control rings. The focus ring has a pronounced similarity with the nut due to the sharp edges.

In 1958, Mir-1 (under M39) won the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Brussels, and in 1959, Mir-1 was awarded the Diploma of the 2nd degree of the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR. The lens was copied with Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm F2.8.

Features of the MIR 1B 2.8/37:

Like any other old Soviet lens – MIR 1B 2.8/37 is made of glass and metal, because it will serve for a very long time, but with a neat treatment – forever.

The MIR 1B 2.8/37 lens perfectly fits both the full frame and the crocheted cameras, and other smaller formats. This is important, because many lovers of Soviet optics use it on the crocheted digital SLR and mirrorless cameras, and after the upgrade to the full format they will be able to continue using this lens.

The lens has a diaphragm preset ring. An irreplaceable thing for manual lenses.

Interesting wide-angle lens with good sharpness and softness of the picture.

The MIR 1B 2.8/37 lens is really sharp, but the picture is soft, which is quite a big rarity. The lens becomes very sharp at 5.6, keeps the side and back light, which is important for photographing landscapes.

58 mm / F2 – Helios 44-2

Lens HELIOS 44-2 2/58

• Focal Length: 58 mm
• Diaphragm: F2
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 0,5 m

The HELIOS 44-2 2/58 lens has a diaphragm preset ring. With it, you can select one of the fixed values: F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. Unlike the preset ring, the diaphragm setting ring rotates smoothly and with it you can set any intermediate value. The smooth motion of the diaphragm setting ring is useful when shooting video. The diaphragm consists of 8 petals, which form a hole in the form of regular polyhedron.

The focus ring rotates 270 degrees; the stroke of the ring is smooth. Manual hitting is quite convenient. During focusing, the front lens does not rotate, only the frame rim is elongated.

In the center of the image, the lens is sharp enough even on F / 2.0. On the closed diaphragms, the edges and corners of the image come to normal. Like other lenses of the HELIOS-44 family, version 44-2 spins the background (the legendary «twisted bokeh» of Helios). Such a lens can be actually a genuine thing.

Lens HELIOS 44-2 2/58 – one of the most common lenses of the HELIOS 44 series. The mass production of such lenses did not go for the benefit of image quality. The lens can and should be used for any creative ideas. On the crooked cameras it can serve as a good portrait lens.

85 mm / F2 – Jupiter 9

Lens JUPITER 9 2/85

• Focal Length: 85 mm
• Diaphragm: F2
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 1,2 m

The optical circuit of JUPITER 9 2/85 was copied with Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2/85. The JUPITER 9 2/85 lens is solidly assembled – all made of metal and glass. The focus ring rotates smoothly. During focusing, the front lens does not rotate, but the frame rims forward. The focus ring rotates 270 degrees. During focusing, the entire lens unit moves. The minimum focusing distance is 80 cm. The maximum ratio for macro photography is 1: 7.3. The lens can use standard filters with a diameter of 49 mm.

The lens has an installation ring and a diaphragm preset ring. The installation ring can take one of the following fixed values: F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16. The preset ring rotates smoothly and with its help you can set any value of the number F. The aperture consists of 15 petals already.

On the open diaphragm, the lens lacks any sharpness and contrast, which can be skillfully applied to create portraits. At the aperture of F / 5.6 JUPITER 9 2/85 gives normal sharpness.

Features of the JUPITER 9 2/85 lens:

A large maximum F / 2.0 aperture and a focal length of 85 mm make it easy to control the depth of the sharply-imaged space.

The lens is quite heavy.

The aperture consists of 15 petals and is ideal for shooting portraits, giving an even bokeh. Also, in creating an excellent bokeh helps an excellent Sonnar scheme for 7 elements in 3 groups.

Lens JUPITER 9 2/85 – a lens with a strong soft effect on a fully open aperture. From the aperture of F / 2.8, the lens significantly increases its sharpness. Can serve as an interesting creative lens, in particular for creating portraits.

135 mm / F3.5 – Jupiter 37A

The JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135 lens

• Focal Length: 135 mm
• Aperture: F3.5
• Minimum Focusing Distance = 1,2 m

Legend of the last century, the people’s lens – JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135. He is called a small TV or a big portrait, which corresponds to reality. JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135 is the best Soviet portrait lens on the range of 85-135mm.

Features of the JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135:

Ordinary enlightenment. But even this enlightenment avoids unnecessary glare.

Has a replaceable shank. It allows you to use a photo system with different working segments.

12 petals of the diaphragm. Therefore, it can act as an excellent portrait lens with smooth circles blurring the background (it has a good side).

Not a fixed stroke of the diaphragm ring – the ring does not have fixed diaphragm values ​​of type 4.5, 5.6, 8, but has a continuous stroke ring. This is very useful when shooting video, when you can smoothly close and open the diaphragm (and not jerky at fixed values)

Large diaphragm stroke F3.5-F22. Pretty maneuverable lens. JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135 has the function of preset aperture. To use this function, you need to remove the diaphragm ring into the camera and release it at the desired aperture value. Then the aperture will be closed only to the specified value. This is quite handy when working with manual optics – to focus on the full open diaphragm, quickly close to the desired value and shoot.

• Metal case.
• Works in minus 15 to plus 45 ° C.
• Near focus of 1.2 meters. The focus ring rotates 270 degrees.
• The diameter of the filter is 52 mm.
• The lens has 4 lenses in 3 groups.

On the fully open diaphragm F3.5, slightly soft, excellent portraits are obtained, if it is closed, then the sharpness is sufficient for all tasks.

The JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135 lens is a good lens. The lens has a nice blur of the background and excellent sharpness since the maximum open diaphragm. The JUPITER 37A 3.5 / 135 lens is one of the best Soviet portrait lenses, it is easy to install on modern digital SLR cameras with the help of a replacement shank system.

135 mm / F2.8 – Tair 11A

• Focal Length: 135 mm
• Aperture: F2.8

Minimum Focusing Distance = 1,2 m

Tair-11A is an excellent portrait lens. Very interesting with its image, a 20-petal diaphragm and a combination of aperture and focal length.

Tair-11 A is a high-speed fixed telephoto with a focal length of 135mm and a maximum aperture of F2.8. It is considered one of the best Soviet portrait lenses.

Focal length of 135mm and aperture F / 2.8 allow you to very well control the depth of field and easy to photograph with a blurred background. Blurred background is often very important in portrait photography.

As it is supposed to a solid Soviet lens, Tair-11A is made of metal and glass – nothing superfluous, but it adds to the lens a huge weight of 600 grams. In 1958, at the exhibition in Brussels, Tair-11 was awarded the highest award – “Grand Prix”.

Features of the Tair-11A 2.8 / 135:

The aperture of F / 2.8 and 135mm of focal length is the strength of Tair-11A. For the portrait, this feature is indispensable, since it allows you to select a person in the photo and remove the back and foreground, focusing on the person.

The large focal length of the lens allows you to use Tair-11 as a TV, and the TV opens completely different horizons of photography than standard lenses. The peculiarity of Tair-11A is that when focusing on the sharpness within 1.5-1.2 meters, it greatly approximates the image, thereby increasing the focal length.

Circular diaphragm – the number of diaphragm blades is 20 (twenty) shares, which is a very good indicator for shooting with the right circles in the blur zone. What kind of diaphragm you do not install – you get an even, round bokeh without any deviations.

The quality of the pictures is simply excellent, the lens is quite sharp, but at the same time it is soft for portraits. Bokeh lens is often compared with the most glorious lenses. Blur is quite unusual, soft, plastic.

Weight – the weight is large and plays the role of stabilizer of jitter. At such a large focal length, the exposure should be at least 1/135 seconds.

The advantage of the replaceable shank is simply irreplaceable, which makes it possible to use a lens with different systems (bayonets) without problems.

The lens is suitable for full-frame cameras.

The focus ring of the lens rotates 360 degrees, which makes the focus on the focus very soft and smooth.

The lens has a diaphragm preset ring. The aperture has no fixed values ​​and can be set to any intermediate value.

180 mm / F2.8 – Sonnar carl zeiss jena

Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 180 2.8 The Pentacon Six is ​​truly a legendary lens with an impeccable picture. Can serve as an excellent portrait lens on full-frame CCD. It is very much appreciated by professional photographers.

Focal length: 180 mm

Limits of aperture: F2.8-F22

A little bit of history: It all started with the creation of the legendary Sonnar scheme in the 30’s of the last century. In the distant 1936 to the Berlin Olympics was created a 180mm high-aperture lens. The name «Sonnar» comes from the German word «Sonne», meaning the Sun, actually in those years the diaphragm in 2.8 for such focal was a rarity.

It is believed that the first lenses were the best in quality. Further, the optical scheme was repeatedly copied, for example, to create a lens of the Soviet Jupiter-6. There are different versions of Sonnar 180 2.8 – these are old «zebras» the newer ones are black without MS enlightenment, and black with MC enlightenment.

Features of the CZJ Sonnar 2.8 / 180 lens:

The focal length of 180mm for medium format allows you to get wonderful photos. Sonnar is used on the average format as an excellent portrait.

Very large aperture F2.8 for such a focal length. The lens is very easy to achieve a blur of the background and foreground. This allows you to use the lens as a beautiful portrait lens.

Weight, which is quite large and makes you tinker with the lens. Keep a camera with such a lens and at the same time it is difficult to focus. The best option is to use CZJ Sonnar 2.8 / 180 on a tripod.

Excellent hood, which really helps to keep the side and back light. The lens hood is removable and very large. Also, it is worth mentioning the mounting on the lens for a tripod or a monopod. The attachment can rotate and lock in the specified position. The diameter of the hole for fixing is non-standard for modern cameras.

The diaphragm setting ring pleasantly switches the diaphragm, gently snapping at the same time.

Sonnar is all metallic, with all the necessary indicators of distances, diaphragms, which is very important for a manual lens.

The lens gives a wonderful picture quality. It is sharp enough for portraits on a fully open diaphragm F2.8. The contrast is excellent. The picture is very plastic, smooth with a beautiful bokeh. The blurring of the distant plan is Sonnarovskoye, which differs from other schemes by its softness. Thanks to the large focal and large aperture makes simply incredible art photos. For a portrait, probably one of the best lenses.