Vintage lenses equals GAS
Jan 10, 2021 18:00:33 #
A few months ago, I decided that I was going to explore vintage lenses that I've been reading about. I have lots of Nikkor prime AIS lenses from the late seventies and eighties; but I thought that I would like to explore some flavors from the former East Germany and the Soviet Union.
Zeiss Jena is the East German branch of the Zeiss Optical company. Helios made lenses in the former Soviet Union. These lenses are reported to have some magical effects shot wide open. So I ordered a few lenses to check them out. I got the Helios as part of a deal that included the Zenit Camera. It works; but it is not much fun to use.
Once I got the lenses and the appropriate adapter for my Nikon DSLR, I found out that many of these adapters don't really work on DSLR or SLR cameras because the rear elements of these lenses protrude beyond the back of the lens when focused at infinity. That can cause problems. The solution was, of course, to by a "new to me" camera. I purchased a really nice Fujifilm XT-1 mirrorless body from KEH. Now I can use lenses with almost any mount on the Fujifilm body.
Still, there is an issue. The crop sensor in the Fuji mirroless cameras give a cropped field of view so that a 50mm is more like a 75mm. A 135 medium tele has the field of view of a long 200mm tele. So, is there a Nikon Z6 full frame in my future? .......Maybe.
The first two photos (none of these are great photos; but they serve as test photos to see what the lenses deliver) were taken with the Helios 44-2 which is a 58mm lens. The third shot, also with the Helios, shows how spectral highlights are turned into tiny circles. They were shot on the Fuji.
Zeiss Jena is the East German branch of the Zeiss Optical company. Helios made lenses in the former Soviet Union. These lenses are reported to have some magical effects shot wide open. So I ordered a few lenses to check them out. I got the Helios as part of a deal that included the Zenit Camera. It works; but it is not much fun to use.
Once I got the lenses and the appropriate adapter for my Nikon DSLR, I found out that many of these adapters don't really work on DSLR or SLR cameras because the rear elements of these lenses protrude beyond the back of the lens when focused at infinity. That can cause problems. The solution was, of course, to by a "new to me" camera. I purchased a really nice Fujifilm XT-1 mirrorless body from KEH. Now I can use lenses with almost any mount on the Fujifilm body.
Still, there is an issue. The crop sensor in the Fuji mirroless cameras give a cropped field of view so that a 50mm is more like a 75mm. A 135 medium tele has the field of view of a long 200mm tele. So, is there a Nikon Z6 full frame in my future? .......Maybe.
The first two photos (none of these are great photos; but they serve as test photos to see what the lenses deliver) were taken with the Helios 44-2 which is a 58mm lens. The third shot, also with the Helios, shows how spectral highlights are turned into tiny circles. They were shot on the Fuji.
swirly bokey, or just my imagination?
(Download)
leaves in background swirling?
(Download)
tiny cirles? Can a modern lens do this? Probably, but don't tell me. It will break my heart! LOL
(Download)
Jan 10, 2021 20:37:08 #
Cany143
Loc: SE Utah
Though buying a Z6 would certainly have its merits, Erich, and using older 'classic' lenses on one would doubtless be fun from time to time, wouldn't the loss of functions inherent in using manual, uncoupled, non-communicating lenses be something of a waste of capabilities of a Z6? Not to mention $$$, despite the fact that World Renowned Camera Seller "Abe's of Maine" is currently running a Super Special New Year's Sale that offers: Nikon Z 6 Mirrorless Digital Camera. Body only. Brand New + No Sales Tax + Free Shipping - $1,399. What a deal! Think I'll order two of them!
Which is not to say using these older lenses isn't a gas (no pun intended). And especially so on your Fuji, in spite of it being a crop sensor camera. Your '50mm becomes a 75mm' (etc.) dilemma could be (relatively speaking, depending on whether or not you 'win' on eBay or can find somebody who's got 'em and is willing to sell 'em) by looking into other 'classic' lenses altogether to use on your Fuji. Among those are the f/3.5 20mm Mir-20M, the f/6.0 28mm Orion-15, and the f2.8 35mm Jupiter-12, each of which come in 39mm Leica thread mount, and each of which are considerably better than 'good.' Get a LTM to Fuji adaptor --or as inexpensive as they are, get an adapter for each lens and just leave them mounted on the lenses-- and save yourself a grand or so. Then again, you might find yourself gassing for a 24mp X-T2 or something, if only for the difference in megapixels over your X-T1.
Which is not to say using these older lenses isn't a gas (no pun intended). And especially so on your Fuji, in spite of it being a crop sensor camera. Your '50mm becomes a 75mm' (etc.) dilemma could be (relatively speaking, depending on whether or not you 'win' on eBay or can find somebody who's got 'em and is willing to sell 'em) by looking into other 'classic' lenses altogether to use on your Fuji. Among those are the f/3.5 20mm Mir-20M, the f/6.0 28mm Orion-15, and the f2.8 35mm Jupiter-12, each of which come in 39mm Leica thread mount, and each of which are considerably better than 'good.' Get a LTM to Fuji adaptor --or as inexpensive as they are, get an adapter for each lens and just leave them mounted on the lenses-- and save yourself a grand or so. Then again, you might find yourself gassing for a 24mp X-T2 or something, if only for the difference in megapixels over your X-T1.
Jan 10, 2021 20:51:24 #
Cany143 wrote:
Though buying a Z6 would certainly have its merits... (show quote)
Very good points. I don't know if I would miss the non-conected dilemma you mentioned. Most of my lenses now are Nikkor ais manual focus lenses. I have a few of the "D" lenses and one or two "G" lenses. If I do buy a Z6. I would certainly get the adapter that allows the old F mount lenses that have auto focus work on the Z6. I've heard that adapter is quite good and it work well.
The mir is definitely on my radar. I think I need one of those lenses. The Jupiter 12 is also on my radar. I don't know much about the Orion....but I'll certainly look it up and learn what I can. Thanks for your comments on the issue. I'm having fun with this new aspect (new to me anyway) of my photography hobby. Also, it was kind of fun telling my wife that the lens she was holding was actually radioactive. lol. Like anything, in moderation, it is all quite good fun.
Erich
Jan 10, 2021 21:11:11 #
Cany143
Loc: SE Utah
ebrunner wrote:
Very good points. I don't know if I would miss th... (show quote)
I could be mistaken here, but I think you might be lying to your wife. Don't recall that any of the Helios versions were radioactive (though you could've gotten one that came from around Chernobyl...), but the 52mm f/2.8 Industar-61L supposedly contained a *radioactive* Lanthanum cell or two.
Actually, what you're doing is precisely why I first bought a Fuji X-Pro1. To use those 'classic' and/or character laden LTM, M42, and even Contax/Kiev (not to mention more 'modern' Ai/AiS/D and such Nikkor) mount lenses I have. Liked the camera so much that I added an X-T2 to keep it company, but mostly just use Fuji lenses on the -T2... except when I mount some of my Leica lenses on it.
Jan 10, 2021 21:50:33 #
Cany143 wrote:
I could be mistaken here, but I think you might be... (show quote)
The Helios is, as far as I know, not radioactive. The lens in question was a Takumar 50mm 1.4. I think my post was a bit vague on that.
I have a leica Summitar (collapsible) 50mm that is on my father's Leica fIII. Unfortunately, the aperture ring on that lens is pretty much stuck. I can move it; but it is very tight and I'm afraid of breaking it. I suspect that the grease has turned to putty. I wonder if it would be worth getting that lens repaired? That would likely be more expensive than getting a replacement on ebay.
For now, I'm perfectly happy with the XT-1. It really is an amazing little camera. The one thing about mirrorless, though, are the viewfinders. I really like a bright optical viewfinder like on the Nikon F5 and F100. I guess that is what they call....progress.
Erich
Jan 10, 2021 22:11:13 #
Cany143
Loc: SE Utah
ebrunner wrote:
The Helios is, as far as I know, not radioactive. ... (show quote)
The sticky aperture ring on your collapsible Summitar is easy to 'fix.' Quick fix is to carefully apply a drop or two of Naptha (lighter fluid) at the edge of the ring, then move the ring through its range a few times. Permanent fix is to disassemble, remove the aged, congealed lubrication, and re-lube lightly with white grease. Disassembly is actually quite easy, but it helps to have the right tools (a spanner wrench and a good quality ultra tiny screwdriver), and though I haven't looked, I'd bet there are a dozen YouTube videos people have made that show how its done.
Jan 11, 2021 05:01:04 #
Cany143 wrote:
The sticky aperture ring on your collapsible Summi... (show quote)
I'll try the lighter fluid fix first. I did buy a spanner and some tiny screwdrivers and tweezers a while ago. I have disassembled a few "test" lenses that had some problems. That was pretty successful. Might have to dive into Youtube. I'll let you know what comes of it. Thank you for the information.
Erich
Jan 11, 2021 05:22:53 #
I always knew you were on the slippery slope 
. The old Erich that we've all come to know and love will be lost to us forever (even from here I can hear your bank account groaning under the strain....).
. The old Erich that we've all come to know and love will be lost to us forever (even from here I can hear your bank account groaning under the strain....).Jan 11, 2021 07:32:16 #
Jan 11, 2021 18:38:25 #
R.G. wrote:
I always knew you were on the slippery slope . The old Erich that we've all come to know and love will be lost to us forever (even from here I can hear your bank account groaning under the strain....).
. The old Erich that we've all come to know and love will be lost to us forever (even from here I can hear your bank account groaning under the strain....).I'll be careful, I promise. LOL
Erich
Jan 11, 2021 18:39:13 #
jaymatt wrote:
Interesting.
Everything about this hobby is interesting....that's the problem.
Erich
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