KMZ about to release Russar...again

Wulfthari said:
Interesting, after the Helios 40 they reissue this lens nor or less at the same price of an original one in good conditions.
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It's more the other way round. Since the Lomography guys announced the reissue with that astronomic price some time ago, the prices for the original, used ones from Soviet times have rocketed. And they haven't been exactly cheap before...

Before, you could easily get one in good condition for 400 - 450 $ including the matching viewfinder (the Lomography lens comes without finder).
 
Last year I was looking for a DECENT Russar and I couldn't find any below the $600 price tag, including finder, true, but it appears to me that they're offering it mostly for digital cameras.
 
Wulfthari said:
Last year I was looking for a DECENT Russar and I couldn't find any below the $600 price tag, including finder, true, but it appears to me that they're offering it mostly for digital cameras.
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I've bought mine for ~470$ including finder and bakelite boxes for both lens and finder in June, 2014.

Condition is fine, nothing wrong with the lens or finder.
 
KnipsOmat said:
It's more the other way round. Since the Lomography guys announced the reissue with that astronomic price some time ago, the prices for the original, used ones from Soviet times have rocketed. And they haven't been exactly cheap before...

Before, you could easily get one in good condition for 400 - 450 $ including the matching viewfinder (the Lomography lens comes without finder).
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I saw today several ebay Buy Now offers at $499.99
 
Yes I saw that too, then add 25% of custom duties if you live in Europe and you get something not too far from the price of a new lens...for something 50 years old.

Then if you think that new or old doesn't matter fair enough.
 
I have the Russar finder but not the lens. As I already have a Canon 19mm lens and a Mamiya 21 mm lens, both in ltm or via adapter, what would I gain by getting a Russar? Is there something very special about this lens that I will not find in my two lenses?
 
Why would anyone pay this amount for the KMZ 20mm f5.6 when the CV 21mm f4 LTM with viewfinder is still available from Steven for $420?

Is it because it is very slightly wider? That don't make no sense. Leastwise to me.
 
raid said:
I have a feeling that the vignetting look suggest old time photos with the Russar.
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Yeah, that could be some of the answer. But how about this? The good folks from Hong Kong that made the Vivitar wide and slim with it's 22mm f8, 2 element plastic lens recalculate it for a flat film plane. Then mount it in a plastic LTM mount (so it can be used for both LTM and M mount cameras) add the plastic 2 element VF and, a revolving disc with 3 waterhouse stops f8, f11, f16 and then sell the thing for $50 to all the lomo fans.

On second thought, don't recalculate the lens, leave it with a curved field. With a 22mm you set the focus at 5 meters fixed, and let DOF do the rest, not perfect but simple and necessary to reach the $50 price point.
 
raid said:
I have the Russar finder but not the lens. As I already have a Canon 19mm lens and a Mamiya 21 mm lens, both in ltm or via adapter, what would I gain by getting a Russar? Is there something very special about this lens that I will not find in my two lenses?
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The Russa is an historically important lens, the other two are NOT.


http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Soviet_and_wide_lenses_on_Leica_M/00_p.htm

Orion 15 and Russar MR20 were lenses used in the Space race, on recon airplanes, and also for spying and copying documents (the idea of the briefcase with inside a Zorki 4 and an Orion is amusing!)...what about the Canon and the Mamiya? Did they go in orbit on spy satellites?

Of course if you already a 19 mm and a 21 mm you don't need a 20mm, but people who don't might be interested in getting one.
 
Once again, when I look at lenses (M or LTM) the CV's always look like the best value. Especially if you shoot a Nikon S system.
 
When you use Leica M8 or M9 or similar, using SLR wide angle lenses are the best deal.
 
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