Unusual Kiev 50mm lens Menopta

According to Nathan Dayton they are sharper and have a higher resolution than a Helios-103. Contax/Kiev mount only. I think there is a pho of one on the Commie Cameras site.

-Paul
 
pshinkaw said:
According to Nathan Dayton they are sharper and have a higher resolution than a Helios-103. Contax/Kiev mount only. I think there is a pho of one on the Commie Cameras site.

-Paul

Well, there is a bunch of NOS menoptas on ebay at the moment for £18 each including shipping. I'm not deliberately advertising here but just giving the team a heads-up if anyone's interested!
 
Picked one up out of curiousity after I saw your initial question. Hopefully they aren't just Helios-103's with menopta faceplates!
 
darkkavenger said:
I'm curious about these! Sounds like Meopta, the Prerov-based Czech(oslovak) optic manufacturer that made the Flexaret, Etareta, Opema and more thingies...

Yes, I thought the same, Meopta Artemis 🙂

Meota makes excellent quality optics... if these came from them, they should be good shooters!

Cheers
Bas
 
I looked 'em up on the 'bay and I think these are re-badged Helios 103 lenses. The front lens cap has an Arsenal logo on it and the rear cap is identical to the one that came on my H-103. The specs are the same too as far as I can tell. Thing is, the price is right anyway even if it is an otherwise standard H-103, that is one sharp lens!

Later,
Greg
 
darkkavenger said:
You're probably right, it looks exactly like my helios-103. maybe it's a late series version for export. Who knows. I'll be happy to see results taken with this lens.
Exactly, I had an opportunity to purchase one, but choosed Helios 103, because Meopta had so shiny diafragm blades. They looked the same. I`m convinced that Meopta lenses were made in Soviet Union for Meopta in Czech.
 
All scenarios are possible with the complications of the eastern block, but why would meopta (who never produced a bayonet mount camera) would produce rebadged Helios-103 lenses in the Soviet Union ? And the lens seems to be from 1993 (if we believe the serial number), which makes it highly improbable. Just my 2 cents... that's a very curious thing!
 
darkkavenger said:
All scenarios are possible with the complications of the eastern block, but why would meopta (who never produced a bayonet mount camera) would produce rebadged Helios-103 lenses in the Soviet Union ? And the lens seems to be from 1993 (if we believe the serial number), which makes it highly improbable. Just my 2 cents... that's a very curious thing!

Yes, I've dropped Meopta a line asking them if they were involved in these lenses - if I get a reply I'll post it here folks.
 
Hello all,

Last sunday I had an opportunity to meet Princelle and I asked him about that rare lens. He said that the Menopta is a redesigned Helios-94.

Hope this helps.
Jean
 
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