Please help with compatibility

[armphoto]

I have an Industar 50 collapsible f/3.5 and I am curious if I can use it on all three of my cameras: Fed 2 (with self timer), Zorki 4K and Fed 3. I really hope it's compatible. Here's the lens I have. Thank you all for your replies.

 

[Ong]

Yes. The lens is compatible with all Russian L39 mounts...
Using it on an actual Leica cameras on the other hand...

 

[ForestCap]

It would fit if there's no quality issue, which is sometimes concealed by sellers.

 

[dee]

It should be OK with all cameras except a rare pre-war Fed1 which had lenses individually matched !

 

[wolves3012]

Actually the replies above have missed out on one possible issue. The infinity lock on the I-50 fouls the body on some FED 2s, not all, just some. It's pot luck if you'll have a problem or not. The FED 2 has quite a thin lens-mount flange and some were supplied with a special variation of the I-10 ( a collapsible similar to the I-50) with a thinner infinity lock to clear the bodyshell.

 

[ForestCap]

Actually the replies above have missed out on one possible issue. The infinity lock on the I-50 fouls the body on some FED 2s, not all, just some. It's pot luck if you'll have a problem or not. The FED 2 has quite a thin lens-mount flange and some were supplied with a special variation of the I-10 ( a collapsible similar to the I-50) with a thinner infinity lock to clear the bodyshell.

Right. I forgot about this. When locking at infinity, the lock on my collapsible I-22 rubs on the vulcanite on one of my FED-2s. It has a hard time locking on another FED-2 I have. My i-50's lock was slightly bent upward by previous owners and it passes well when locking.

 

[Joao]

For me, life is not so simple.

Three Zorkis and two FEDs
Several Industars and Jupiters lenses

Only certain lenses match well with some cameras, but not with others. By "matching well" I mean a perfect coincidence between the real distance and the distance on the lens barrel (when the rangefinder patch image coincides with the viewfinder image).

So, for each camera, I have to use only some of the lenses, but not the others.

Regards

Joao

 

[David Hughes]

OTOH, when you buy a Leica you may find it fits and works perfectly with it...

Regards, David

 

[armphoto]

Thank you all very much. I am honored and humbled to be here and learn so much from you. This site has been a great help.
I got this collapsible lens mainly to replace the silver Industar 26 that came with the Fed 2. I am in the same situation as Joao above. This Industar 26 doesn't close focus accurately. By that I mean when I use a tape measure from the film plane at 1 meter, the setting on the lens says 1.4 meters instead. Any way to fix this? What's even more frustrating is that the FSU lenses and cameras I have all show different results when close focusing.
Yes the lock (aka the focusing tab) on my collapsible I-50 rubs on the vulcanite on all my cameras and I'm thinking of slightly bending it upward so that it passes well when locking.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

This is from my own experience.

Not all collapsible FSU will fit at all FSU cameras.
On Zorki it will be fine, but on some FED-2 it will not go all way into infinity lock.
Lens mount flange is not as high as on Zorki. Lens will require some modification.
If I remember correctly, I filed the butt of the focus pin.

Also J-12 might require to bent RF arm to be screwed in properly into some cameras.

FSU LTM lenses has to be collimated to match the camera it is going to be used on. It isn't unique requirement.

 

[armphoto]

FSU LTM lenses has to be collimated to match the camera it is going to be used on. It isn't unique requirement.

and how do I do that?

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

In your shoes the first thing I'd check is the accuracy of the range-finder on each camera. They have to be set at one metre and infinity. It's easy but takes a while to do. There's instructions for it but I can't look for them and type and do what my wife wants at present.

Then I'd double check with some film and just develop it and scan it. You could even swap the one roll of film between the three cameras if you've a dark room ...

The age of the cameras and the construction mean that a lot of things ought to be checked on each camera and lens. Again, easy if you know how and have the equipment. Once done you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Sorry I've not the time to say/type more.

Regards, David

 

[Ko.Fe.]

and how do I do that?

Ideally you need one camera one lens which came originally as kit.
Most of LTM RFs were checked on factory, I suppose.
Check RF first, adjust if needed. Google how to for particular camera.
Most likely this will be it. With collapsible Industar it seems to be very likely.
Once camera RF is adjusted with trusted lens you could test another lens.
Some of them might need only focus ring to be moved, another will need shimming as well. Google each lens. Dissasemble reassemble instructions will have focus part as well often.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Instructions for the RF adjustment are here:-

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73900

and I'd agree about having one lens ear-marked for each camera. It makes life a lot simpler, although it could be OK and you'll find all the lenses fit all the bodies and work once the RF's have been checked and adjusted.

If it's any consolation the problem happens with a lot of CRF cameras once they reach a certain age. They drift slowly out of adjustment and people don't realise for a long time.

Regards, David

 

[armphoto]

Thank you for your replies.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Using it on an actual Leica cameras on the other hand...

Does not have to be much of an issue, You'll notice some back focus at short distances and wider apertures, but nothing horribly off. Provided the lens does meet a certain level of Soviet quality control standards, and as this I-50 appears to be from 1964, it shouldn't be to sloppy compared to some younger lenses.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Does not have to be much of an issue, You'll notice some back focus at short distances and wider apertures, but nothing horribly off. Provided the lens does meet a certain level of Soviet quality control standards, and as this I-50 appears to be from 1964, it shouldn't be to sloppy compared to some younger lenses.

You garra be f16 shooter to put it here this way.
I had I-22, J-3, 8 and else on M4-2. Even slow I-22 was dull at Leica.
And I have to shim J-3 for FED-2 to make it sharp at 1.5.
J-8 was very sharp after I shimed it for Leica; from f2.
Where is one PDF document in Russian about I-22 and I-50.
Comparison and some official documentation. It confirms why many and I prefer I-22.
Where is no big problems with older FSU lenses, comparing to soft, foggy and prone to fungus Leica glass from fifties. The only problem which is common is old lubrication, but it is how it meant to be. It needs to be changed in any tool at least once if forty years. Younger aren't bad either, just simplified. SLR FSU lenses are more often crap if they are younger, not RF.