Mystery 37mm Russian lens

[davelrods]

I purchased this lens a while back thinking it is a good wide lens for my Russian cameras only to find out it won't work on those cameras and I'm afraid to try it with my Bessa. Actually my 35mm Skopar lens is all I need there.

Here is a collection of pictures of the lens:

As you can see, it is in fine shape. The problem seems to be the rear of the lens where the little thin partial radius flange prevents rangefinder sensor contact. The lens is definitely an M39 screw mount lens, but the accommodation for the rangefinder of compatible cameras seems to not exist.

What is this lens and what can I do with it. I have the companion M42 lens I use with my digital cameras and my Zenit and thought this would be an equally good lens for my Russian cameras.

Did I just waste my money buying this lens.

 

[Robburrito]

Early Zenit cameras had a 39mm lens mount, instead of the regular M42 screwmount. If you already have a Mir-1 in M42 mount this is exactly the same lens, little older maybe.

 

[Al Kaplan]

That was my thought! The big front element is the give away for a retrofocus SLR lens. It does seem to be a commemorative though, being marked "Brussels Grand Prix - 1954". Maybe a collector would be interested or somebody who collects auto racing memorabilia.

 

[davelrods]

So the lens is a Zenit 39mm lens, then. Since I have only the one Zenit and it takes the standard M42, this lens is obviously a lost turkey. Is there a 39mm to 42mm adapter ring so I could make use of it, but then it would just duplicate my m42 version of the lens.

Sounds like it is going back on ebay.

Boy I'm finding the selection of m39 screw mount stuff pretty scant unless you go for Leica stuff which is way out of my range.

I'd like a wide angle lens that is a good one without costing a fotune. Any suggestions?

 

[xayraa33]

That was my thought! The big front element is the give away for a retrofocus SLR lens. It does seem to be a commemorative though, being marked "Brussels Grand Prix - 1954". Maybe a collector would be interested or somebody who collects auto racing memorabilia.

That lens won a prize at Expo 58, the Brussel's World's Fair of 1958.
Nothing to do with auto racing.

I have that lens in M42 and it was worthy of that prize in '58.

 

[wlewisiii]

Boy I'm finding the selection of m39 screw mount stuff pretty scant unless you go for Leica stuff which is way out of my range.

I'd like a wide angle lens that is a good one without costing a fotune. Any suggestions?

The magic word is Canon. Lots of insanely great LTM glass, underpriced in today's market and your's for the stealing, er, buying inexpensively. Nikon also made great LTM glass, but it's well known and stupd expensive. OTOH, you can find the Canon 50/1.8 for right around $100 and get one of the greatest LTM lenses ever made for stupid cheap. It blows away Leica 50 prior to the 'cron and even then holds it's own for quite awhile.

For wide angles, I loved the 35/1.8 & the 28/3.5 ... :bang: your tastes will vary.

William

 

[ferider]

Yes, M39 to M42 adapters are available. Search ebay using "m42 m39".

Regarding a cheap and good LTM 35, Jupiter 12, Canon 35/2.8 and Color Skopar 35/2.5 come to mind.

Best,

Roland.

 

[JohnTF]

My Zenit 3m has a 39mm TM, Helios, f2, 58mm, preset. Seems to work OK, satin finish. Is the OP preset or does it have a auto stop down? Does not look much like this one.

Regards, John

 

[Jack Ketch]

This is everything you need to know about that lens:

http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/mir1/index.htm

Why are you "afraid" to try it on a Bessa? What's the worst you think can happen other than not having the rangefinder couple (which it won't)?

Basically, for your purposes, you wasted your money buying that lens.

 

[john341]

Mir 37mm

Mir 37mm

Yes, I know this lens. It looks similar to the Meyer 30mm Lydith for the Exakta which I had years ago. I bought one for an extremely low price for what turned out to be a mint lens. I have used it on a Praktica body and the results are as good as I would expect from such a lens design. Good colour balance but I felt that the preset diaphragm ring was mounted opposite to other pre-sets I used years ago. Nice lens though, very happy🙂

 

[davelrods]

Lots of horror stories of lenses getting stuck on cameras over the years. I can afford to "lose my money" on this lens.

 

[Jack Ketch]

I can't see how it would get stuck unless you super-glued it on.

 

[JohnTF]

I can't see how it would get stuck unless you super-glued it on.

I have seen other than Leica threads in 39mm, but I know what you mean, in that I think you should have to force something to get the one I saw to mount on the wrong camera?

I am not sure of the Value of my Zenit that matches this lens, but it seems pretty basic, so it cannot be too much?

Still, I respect restraint, well, now and again. ;-)

Regards, John

 

[Spider67]

I have tried it on a Bessa R with a macro ring from the Zenit C to get the right distance to the film. The results were quite nice given the fact that I could only scale focus.
I don't have them handy right now

 

[Jack Ketch]

http://zenit.istra.ru/archive/lenses/mir-1.html

http://translate.google.com/transla.../lenses/mir-1.html&sl=ru&tl=en&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

 

[wolves3012]

It's a MIR 37 lens intended for Zenit(h) SLRs. I have 2 of these lenses and it's not bad at all, even though it practically doubles the size of the Zenit C!

 

[Eugen Mezei]

Yes, I know this lens. It looks similar to the Meyer 30mm Lydith for the Exakta which I had years ago. I bought one for an extremely low price for what turned out to be a mint lens. I have used it on a Praktica body and the results are as good as I would expect from such a lens design. Good colour balance but I felt that the preset diaphragm ring was mounted opposite to other pre-sets I used years ago. Nice lens though, very happy🙂

How you use an Exakta mount Lydith on a Praktica? My question is meant serious, or do you mean you used a Mir-1 on the Praktica?

Eugen

 

[Eugen Mezei]

I purchased this lens a while back thinking it is a good wide lens for my Russian cameras only to find out it won't work on those cameras and I'm afraid to try it with my Bessa. Actually my 35mm Skopar lens is all I need there.

Here is a collection of pictures of the lens:

As you can see, it is in fine shape. The problem seems to be the rear of the lens where the little thin partial radius flange prevents rangefinder sensor contact. The lens is definitely an M39 screw mount lens, but the accommodation for the rangefinder of compatible cameras seems to not exist.

What is this lens and what can I do with it. I have the companion M42 lens I use with my digital cameras and my Zenit and thought this would be an equally good lens for my Russian cameras.

Did I just waste my money buying this lens.

It is a Mir-1 in Z(enit)TM 39.
They were all engraved with that Grand Prix text, so no collector value here.

I would be interested in this lens in ZTM39. I have one in M42 and thought about buying a second one for my Zorki C and adapt it to ZTM39 on a lathe, but I would prefer to buy one in that already comes in 39. Seems pretty narrow to cut a new trade when you have only 1,5 mm disponible.

Offers welcome for a ZTM Mir-1 or Mir-1a.

Still I would adapt some Meyer lenses to the Zenit C, but this will be the ones with interchangeable bayonet adapter. (Like the preset 135 and 200 mm, even if this would possibly destroy the balance of the Zenit.)


Eugen

 

[wolves3012]

I would be interested in this lens in ZTM39. I have one in M42 and thought about buying a second one for my Zorki C and adapt it to ZTM39 on a lathe, but I would prefer to buy one in that already comes in 39. Seems pretty narrow to cut a new trade when you have only 1,5 mm disponible.

Offers welcome for a ZTM Mir-1 or Mir-1a.

Still I would adapt some Meyer lenses to the Zenit C, but this will be the ones with interchangeable bayonet adapter. (Like the preset 135 and 200 mm, even if this would possibly destroy the balance of the Zenit.)
Eugen

I have 2 of these in M39, for Zenits. Do you have a spare M42 one? I'd be interested in a swap if you have...or I'll sell you one of the M39 ones. PM me if you're interested.