What is the best FSU collapsible 50 mm ?

[FrankS]

I think that I read that very early FED 50 (I-10) lenses had a non-standard thread. If I remember correctly, those early ones are valuable to collectors. Perhaps you could email Fedka or Oleg about it. I could be wrong.

My later I-10 screws in all the way no problem on my IIIa and IIf.

 

[xayraa33]

I think that I read that very early FED 50 (I-10) lenses had a non-standard thread. If I remember correctly, those early ones are valuable to collectors. Perhaps you could email Fedka or Oleg about it. I could be wrong.

My later I-10 screws in all the way no problem on my IIIa and IIf.

This one is a later coated one Frank.
I will have to leave it as a permanent lens on my Tower 3 and maybe get an I-50 for the IIF Canon, if can find a decent I-50 collapsable for sale.

 

[raid]

How do the best of the FSU collapsible lenses hold up against a clean collapsible Summicron?

Raid

 

[FrankS]

No comparison, Raid.

Some folks say the 50 f3.5 FSU lenses compare favourably with 50 Elmar 3.5 lenses. I still have to test mine.

 

[FrankS]

I'll back off a bit. Advantage Summicron. Individual samples vary depending on each lens's personal history of use/abuse.

 

[raid]

Frank: When you said "no comparison", you meant it which way?

Raid

 

[FrankS]

Advantage Summicron.

 

[raid]

OK. My collapsible Cron is very clean, and it is a fine performer. I wish I had kept my other collapsible in LTM.

Raid

 

[Jocko]

the book is from 1954, at that time there was no I-50, only I-22 & I-10. It could be that it refers to a prewar I-10. there are a lot of lenses listed I haven't ever seen and stuff, even a Leningrad that didn't leave the factory at all so who knows. off course I can't judge the I-10 because I haven't ever had one (I'm just copying that books opinion, sorry). There is one thing I know for sure, the I-22 & I-50 are excellent lenses, that beeing said I'm finished 😀 🙂

Oh Santino - no offence meant, and I very much hope none taken. I was genuinely interested: the Fed f2 is sometimes said to have been exceedingly soft, and I wondered if it might refer to that... I've always wanted to see results from that lens.

Of course the I-10/I-22 are not "excellent" lenses by recent standards, but as Frank says, the user consensus is that they compare pretty well with the classic pre-war elmar. I've found the results were as sharp as one could reasonably expect from a lens of that era, with a distinct character. Colour rendition was also quite striking, although that needs more testing - it could have been the processor!

Regardless of anything, the lenses have a quality - and nothing looks better on a Sovet Barnack 🙂

All the best, Ian

 

[peter_n]

[snip] Some folks say the 50 f3.5 FSU lenses compare favourably with 50 Elmar 3.5 lenses. I still have to test mine.

I have a FED I-22 and an f3.5 Elmar and at least at 6x4 size prints I can hardly tell the difference at several apertures with a loupe. The Elmar may be infinitesimally sharper at the larger apertures and the Industar has more contrast. For the $19 it cost, the I-22 is an amazing lens.

 

[xayraa33]

actualy IMHO I found the I- 22 to be very similar to my M mount 5cm Elmar.
at medium openings the I-22 is an excellent lens.
I would like to compare the I-22 to the I-50, but I do not have an I- 50 yet.

 

[Jocko]

Splendid! I take back what I said! 🙂

Excellent it is!!

Ian 🙂

 

[micromoogman]

All these, except those medium format pics at the end, are taken with a Zorki1B and a Fed Lens, I guess that is an Industar-10? Anyhow, from an electronic music festival in sweden. Like that lens a lot! No lightmeter used, FP4+ film
http://hem.bredband.net/styleline/norberg/

 

[peterc]

This shot was taken with a FED 50mm f/3.5 which I rescued from a camera store bits and pieces box. It was rattling around (with no caps) with metal film cassettes, flash cords etc.

See my avatar for what the lens looks like.

Peter

 

[micromoogman]

Hey, mine too looks just like that!

 

[Ash]

Mine looked awful, some silvo cleaned em right up 🙂

 

[Tarzak]

Here's a link to a comparison between the industar and elmar:
http://jay.fedka.com/index_files/Page444.htm

I've only run one roll through my Zorki 3 with its industar 22 and I was pretty surprised (and happy) with the results.

 

[Xmas]

An ZK f2 sonnar clone pre '50 collapsible is a pretty good lens, comparable with a WWII sonnar some say.
Noel

 

[Aurelius]

Epson R-D1s samples

Epson R-D1s samples

Industar-22 and camera on ISO 400.
Very sharp result even in comparison to the new Voitgländer lenses.