Can the original Russar 20mm 5.6 lens be used on M9?

J

justins7

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I am thinking of buying a used M9. I have been trying to find out if I can use my Russar 20mm lens on it without damaging the sensor. It's hard to find out since every search comes up with the NEW Lomo version, which is slightly different. Mine is the original version, probably from the early 90's.
 
Not sure about interior camera light baffle clearance inside the camera so others will need to advise you on this. I have to say that it strikes me as being unusual for a rear element to damage the sensor itself though, given that the sensor must by definition be the same distance from the lens mount as on a film camera. You might also find out that being so close to the sensor the rear element throws light too obliquely for acceptable corner imaging. This is a problem with an earlier version of a Voigtlander 15mm (admittedly a bit wider).
 
I saw the same lens mounted on a Sony R camera and it worked fine. Obviously it's a different beast, but it got me thinking about the M9.
 
Yeah, it won't damage the sensor. The shutter is more likely to get damaged or the rear elemt of the lens because of light baffles. But I don't have a definitive answer.
 
On the Lomography site it says "has a modified lens tube construction", so I thought maybe it was altered to mount to digital.
 
I finally tried the Russar and for the record it does indeed fit and work well! (Except for the color shift on the edges.)
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I have seen plenty of photos taken with Russar on first version of Monochrome (m9 based).
Russar MR-2

Here on RFF.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159185

It looks like just luck of wiliness to use CornerFix.

New LOMO has no difference from old. Just multi-coatings on old glass formula.
Click to expand...
Sorry it's an old post. Yes the LOMO one basically has no difference other than it has multi coatings on the glass elements. But I really wonder how the two perform side by side. Do you guys know any source which have test the both?. Doesnt really matter for me I'll get the old version but I have this idea to create a new body chassis for the Russar from brass and a clicky aperture dial so it's easier/faster to change apertures. Surely brass looks nicer too. Would be cool to use something really unique like this. I have access to a machining shop so I can manage to do it. My question is that whether or not I should get the glass elements (from the original russar) to coat or keep it uncoated.
 
renguney said:
Sorry it's an old post. Yes the LOMO one basically has no difference other than it has multi coatings on the glass elements. But I really wonder how the two perform side by side. Do you guys know any source which have test the both?. Doesnt really matter for me I'll get the old version but I have this idea to create a new body chassis for the Russar from brass and a clicky aperture dial so it's easier/faster to change apertures. Surely brass looks nicer too. Would be cool to use something really unique like this. I have access to a machining shop so I can manage to do it. My question is that whether or not I should get the glass elements (from the original russar) to coat or keep it uncoated.
Click to expand...
I don't know, but Google might. If it doesn't, test results never been published in English or test never happened.
At rangefinder.ru it was never reported.
Coating has little difference.

Обзор исторического широкоугольного объектива Lomography x Zenit New Russar+ 5.6/20 L39/M | Радожива

Обзор исторического широкоугольного объектива Lomography x Zenit New Russar+ 5.6/20 L39/M
radojuva.com radojuva.com

Very detailed review of KMZ for LOMO version in Russian.
 
Ko.Fe. said:
I don't know, but Google might. If it doesn't, test results never been published in English or test never happened.
At rangefinder.ru it was never reported.
Coating has little difference.

Обзор исторического широкоугольного объектива Lomography x Zenit New Russar+ 5.6/20 L39/M | Радожива

Обзор исторического широкоугольного объектива Lomography x Zenit New Russar+ 5.6/20 L39/M
radojuva.com radojuva.com

Very detailed review of KMZ for LOMO version in Russian.
Click to expand...
Thank you Ko Fe! I have already seen this, even found a Korean blog post about repairing a very early three digit Russar. Here is a link if you want to check, I used google translate weblink to read since there is no translation on the page.

[Lens Repair & CLA] Russar MR-2 20mm F5.6 출처: https://gigantoptik.com/1456 [GIGANTOPTIK.COM by Goliathus:티스토리]

As far as I am aware of, hours of internet search gave me only one post about repairing this specific lens. Only post that I find the internals.
The website is really cool also, never seen some blog posts about opening external viewfinders etc.
 
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