#StayAtHome Day 6 : Meet The Industar's (shot with vintage Helios 58/2 44M-4)
Day 6 of the governments #StayAtHome policy
Meet the Industar Family
From Left to Right :
Industar И-61 :
I bought a Russian Fed4 camera complete with an Industar 61 lens from a vintage market in Newark on Trent, for the grand total of 20 GBP
They Fed4 cameras are known as the “Comrades’ Leica” or “Soviet Leica” as they use Leica’s old L39 screw mount and many of the models have designs very reminiscent of early Leica cameras..
I bought the camera for it's lens, the Industar И-61. Websites say it was mass produced at the Arsenal Factory in the Ukraine. This is a 53mm f2.8 prime . The lens gets excellent reviews and depending on the calibration during the production can come in 50mm, 52 mm, 53mm and 55mm variants. This lens is amazing, it produces superb images.
Industar 50-2
This is an Industar 50-2, a 50mm f3.5 prime lens in an M42 mount. It was given to me by one of my friends at camera club (Peter) as he did not need it and knew I collected vintage lenses
If you look at the Industar markings you can see the first two digits of the serial number indicate it is a lens from 1981 , The little symbol in the lens indicates it was manufactured at the KMZ factory in Russia. I you look carefully you will see the aperture ring adjustment is actually inside the barrel by the glass.
Industar - 50 3.5/50
A beautiful Silver Industar 50mm lens attached to Zenit 3M. The serial number indicated it was 1964 vintage and was a Leica L39 thread.
The focus ring was a bit stiff, but I decided to buy the camera and lens (together with a few other little accessories in the camera case)
I googled how to fix the stiff lens (lighter fuel on the helicoid) . Anyway when I attached the lens to the Sony via an L39 adapter nothing would focus !! I put a message on one of the forums I am a member of and someone told me that although the thread was a Leica L39 , the distance from the Lens to the Zenit was that of an M42 threaded lens and as such I needed a little L39 to M42 spacer ring to attach the lens to an M42 adapter.
The lens is tiny, pancake size and as you can see it takes pretty good pics. This was shot at f5.6
The lens is a keeper. The lens, camera, camera bag and contents (lens cap, extension tubes, convertor) cost me the grand total of 25 GBP
So this is my Industar family. I shot the lenses with a Russian Helios 58/2 44m-4 prime lens.
Sounds all very technical Phil....you are a true specialist! So good to have an interest like that & you can use them in your every day life....well normally you can when you can get out!
I take it that you have lens adapters for various makes to mate with your Sony. You're tempting me to do a bit of on-line prowling for older lenses. My camera is now Fuji, and there seems to be a good range of adapters on the market.
@happypat you are right PAt, it is a good interest to have , my supply has ceased now because charity shops are closed and I cannot go out to photograph anyway ! Take Care
@ellida Graham , If you go on Amazon there are loads of adapters for SAle , usually about £15 to £20 per adapter. I've never bought a vintage lens online. I've found them in charity shops and bric a brac shops !
I was telling myself "what is that one pound coin doing there with the lenses" and then I read your explanation. You have so many lenses and I wonder how long it takes you to decide which one to use each time. Beautiful lenses though and I have seen some very wonderful shots from your end to vouch for their quality.
@quietpurplehaze thanks haze, self taught , moodt of the knowledge is on the internet, the lens on the left hand side of the frame , the Industar И-61is probably the best lens I own, including my Canon's and Sony's !!!
Neat shot by the way, super clarity.
@ellida Graham , If you go on Amazon there are loads of adapters for SAle , usually about £15 to £20 per adapter. I've never bought a vintage lens online. I've found them in charity shops and bric a brac shops !
@quietpurplehaze thanks haze, self taught , moodt of the knowledge is on the internet, the lens on the left hand side of the frame , the Industar И-61is probably the best lens I own, including my Canon's and Sony's !!!
@kwind thank you so much
@dulciknit Alison , hello , how are you , great to see you :)
@lostphojo they are indeed beautiful David :)
@sangwann thanks for the fabulous comment Dione :)