Industar 61L/D on M8

[Megadust]

Just got my £23 lens from eBay, delivered from Russia.

Rather crazy lens. Works surprisingly well for such a low cost lens. Perfect for a Lomo style spot of photography. With a lens of this cost you can pop anything on the lens, jam, lip balm etc and not worry about it!

Splendid.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

It's a very sharp optic. I would use an old filter for special effects. The glass is very sharp, would not want to ruin it, even if it is cheap.

 

[Megadust]

I am careful 😉
I will buy a UV filter for the front to protect though.

 

[k.a]

any pics to show of the quality of the new lens? thinking about ordering one from ukraine. any problems with focus (specially close and infinity focus)?

 

[Megadust]

Here are 2 straight out of camera test shots.
One RAW the other B&W JPEG .

I find the focus can be a bit off. I focus on an object and I think the focus is actually slightly further away when I view the final shot, and always to the left of the focus point.

I guess that is what you get with a £23 lens.
Still, no real complaints at that price.

 

[k.a]

seems to be a lot of bang for the buck 🙂

 

[Mablo]

Industar 61 is a great lens for a small amount of money. It's predecessor was Industar 26. I don't know what's the difference between the two other that the 26 has no aperture clicks like the 61. Of all 50mm FSU lenses I've ever had - I've had many and I have a few - my Industar 26 is the best performer.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The focal length of the I6L/D is longer than what the Leica RF is calibrated for. And, as RFF members might guess, I shimmed mine for use on a Leica. The optics module is held in by a retaining ring and a long screw/pin on the side of the lens. Take out the light baffle, take out the retaining ring, take out the set screw on the side. Optics module comes out. I used a couple layers of copper tape to move the optics module out about 0.2mm on mine. Put the retaining ring back in, the optics module comes to rest on the "shim" that you add.

I ended up selling that one, and have converted a couple to Contax and Nikon mount. Collapsible, of course.

 

[Bill58]

I am careful 😉
I will buy a UV filter for the front to protect though.

I wouldn't degrade the lens w/ even the best UV filter. Put a hood on it and shoot.

 

[batterytypehah!]

The focal length of the I6L/D is longer than what the Leica RF is calibrated for. And, as RFF members might guess, I shimmed mine for use on a Leica. The optics module is held in by a retaining ring and a long screw/pin on the side of the lens. Take out the light baffle, take out the retaining ring, take out the set screw on the side. Optics module comes out. I used a couple layers of copper tape to move the optics module out about 0.2mm on mine. Put the retaining ring back in, the optics module comes to rest on the "shim" that you add.

I ended up selling that one, and have converted a couple to Contax and Nikon mount. Collapsible, of course.

Brian, you are fearless. Can we start calling you Grandmaster LJ? (Lens Jockey)

Now let me try to get this straight: I have a collapsible Sonnar (Contax) that needs to come apart for cleaning anyway. From what you've posted above and on earlier occasions, I understand I could mix and match those parts with an I-26 or -61 and a J-8 LTM to give a Sonnar in LTM and a collapsible Industar for the Contax, all without irreversible surgery?

 

[batterytypehah!]

Bumping this as Brian didn't see it, I think

 

[Sonnar Brian]

On the I-61 Into the Collapsible Sonnar mount: I have been cementing the optics into place rather than use a shim. BUT: if you fabricate a shim from a split fing, or drill some set screw holdes, you could make it reversible. I have several collapsible Sonnar mounts left over from Sonnar to J-8 conversions. The J-8 optics module will not fit into the Sonnar shell, but the I-61L/D will. BUT: as you can see from the photo, the I61 Aperture Ring must be removed and polished down a few millimeters to clear the shell.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

And just for Balance.

LTM Helios-103.

 

[batterytypehah!]

That's impressive, and you may be fighting off requests for copies of the LTM Helios. Thanks, this has been very instructive.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Helios-103 is Like the Highlander... There can only be one...

I need to find an easier way for that conversion. The Industar conversion to Contax mount is easy. One retaining clip holds the aperture ring on.