Strange metering issue with Industar 61

[jamin-b]

I recently purchased separately an Industar 61 55mm "macro" in M42 mount and a Fujica ST801 which was sold as fully functional, including the meter. I have other Fujica M42 mount cameras and wanted the ST801 for the 1/2000 shutter capability. Anyway, when I put the lens on the camera, the metering seemd to be off by about 10 stops. I figured that the camera's meter was off, but the strange thing is that when the one other lens I have available at the moment is mounted it seems to work fine. I know there are compatibility issues with certain lens and camera combos that entail proprietary M42 systems for avoiding step down metering, but the Industar has no pin extended and no auto / manual switch the way other lenses do.

Has anyone encountered this issue with Soviet lenses? Any thoughts about what can be going on?

 

[Wulfthari]

Nice to see there's another Fujica shooter, I recently got a ST705, sweet camera.

I don't have the Industar 61 in M42 mount, when it's installed on the Fujica does the iris opens and close correctly?

All my Soviet lenses work fine with my SP1000, but it doesn't have the automatic index of the Fujica, so I don't know if it's a fair comparison.

 

[jamin-b]

The aperture is stepless and controls well the aperture. The readings also vary depending upon how open or closed it is, but as I mentioned they are way way off.

I really like the Fujica ST series - they are well built and the meters on all of mine are spot on, with the great "analog" needle. The fujica lenses are also great.
I also just picked up two pristine Olympus FTL lenses, which won't properly mount on the ST801. I hope they will on some of my other M42 cameras, but I am travelling and can't check for another little bit..

 

[Wulfthari]

The aperture is stepless and controls well the aperture. The readings also vary depending upon how open or closed it is, but as I mentioned they are way way off.

I really like the Fujica ST series - they are well built and the meters on all of mine are spot on, with the great "analog" needle. The fujica lenses are also great.
I also just picked up two pristine Olympus FTL lenses, which won't properly mount on the ST801. I hope they will on some of my other M42 cameras, but I am travelling and can't check for another little bit..

Try to push the DOF buttom and see the reading, then compare it with the Fujinon wide open, unfortunately I can't be of more help because at the moment I don't have any M42 lens with me that is not Fujinon, this is the small system I'm using at the moment:

Everything bought for £50, plus a 50mm f 1.4 that came with a broken ST901, the main problem of M42 is that it doesn't allow open metering, that's the reason why Pentax and others migrated to bayonet, the only two companies that solved the problem were Fujinon (their AI metering that IMO Nikon copied lated causes problems of compatibility with other M42, Tamron and other companies sold an adapter for it) and Praktica with a less intrusive system (the electric connectors).

Even the Spotmatic F that allows open metering does it just for few lenses, and I almost destroyed a Helios 44m when I tried to install it on the camera, that's the only drawback of that excellent body.

 

[Wulfthari]

Update: I recalled I have a M42 lens, the Pentacon of my Praktica.

I installed them on the Fujica, not prob, open wide it didn't work (I knew that) but stepping down the lens I got the correct reading.

I hope it will also work with your Industar.

 

[Dwig]

I recently purchased separately an Industar 61 55mm "macro" in M42 mount and a Fujica ST801 ... but the Industar has no pin extended and no auto / manual switch the way other lenses do.

Has anyone encountered this issue with Soviet lenses? Any thoughts about what can be going on?

See page 11, item #5 in the manual:

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/fujica/fujica_801/fujica_801.pdf

 

[jamin-b]

Ah.. Thanks, that did the trick. An interesting solution to step-down metering, this way it's a bit harder to forget to properly meter if you aren't shooting wide open. I also hadn't noted the shutter lock option. I think I am going to enjoy shooting this one....

 

[oftheherd]

Ah.. Thanks, that did the trick. An interesting solution to step-down metering, this way it's a bit harder to forget to properly meter if you aren't shooting wide open. I also hadn't noted the shutter lock option. I think I am going to enjoy shooting this one....

Sorry, I missed this thread when your first posted. But I see you have gotten the correct answer. If anyone has one and questions it, the ST901 is the same. You must push in the DOF button, and of course, lock it so you don't have to perform gymnastics while selecting your preferred aperture and shutter combination.

Seeing Wolfthari's post, I was reminded that the only lens I ever had a problem with was a Mamiya 50mm that had a protrusion that got caught in the metering ring. Fortunately I was able to get it loose with no damage to the lens or my 901. Both times. 😛

The Fujica ST 901 and 801 are great cameras. I'm glad to hear someone will get some use out of the 1/2000 sec setting. I lusted for an 801 for that. After I got it, I think I might have used it two or three times just to experiment. I just don't really need that for my style of photography.

My guess is that you shouldn't have to worry about the speed being correct. IIRC, the 801 is like the 901 in that the curtains are both controlled electronically. The only way there could be a problem is if the curtains and their innards are dirty, or the springs have gone south.

Hope you will let us see the results when you start using it. You do have the advantage that there are some really good yet inexpensive M42 lenses out there that the 801 will be quite contented with.

 

[Wulfthari]

I also have a 901, it's pretty battered (broken mirror, dof not working properly, levers stuck, surprisingly in working conditions!) but I don't find it as good as the 705 IMO, that has a strange 1/1500s top speed (probably to leave the 801 as top model...), it 705 has a lot of qualities of the Spotmatic plus some advantage (better metering). It also take good pics thanks to the Fujinon glass.