Wide angle for Zorki

[denisipp]

Hi all,
I'm a newbie to this forum. Got a Zorki 4k with Industar-50 about 20 years ago for my birthday, used it a lot but then forgot... And recently realised I would give it another chance. For "normal" focal length shots I have a Minolta Autocord TLR and pretty happy with that, so am going to use the 4k with something wider than 50 mm, say 28 or even 20 mm.
What are the options available for "reasonable" money? Russar looks to me good but it's hard to find it even in Moscow... Voightlaender Skopar 21/4? I heard not all lenses from this manufacturer fit russian oldies perfectly. Is it true?
Appreciate your opinions!
Denis

 

[Nickfed]

I understand it's the other way round. A large symmetric lens like the Jupiter-12 will foul the TTL sensor in the modern Voigtlander, but there is nothing in your Zorki to cause a problem and the Skopar should be fine.

 

[GeneW]

I'm currently keeping my CV 25/4 on my Zorki 3M and it works a treat.

Gene

 

[kiev4a]

Hi all,
I'm a newbie to this forum. Got a Zorki 4k with Industar-50 about 20 years ago for my birthday, used it a lot but then forgot... And recently realised I would give it another chance. For "normal" focal length shots I have a Minolta Autocord TLR and pretty happy with that, so am going to use the 4k with something wider than 50 mm, say 28 or even 20 mm.
What are the options available for "reasonable" money? Russar looks to me good but it's hard to find it even in Moscow... Voightlaender Skopar 21/4? I heard not all lenses from this manufacturer fit russian oldies perfectly. Is it true?
Appreciate your opinions!
Denis

The Russar is way expensive -- to my way of thinking more of a collector lens although it can produce good results. I would think you would be better off with the Skopar

 

[denisipp]

Thank you, Nickfed and Gene!

Nickfed, according to some posts in russian forums, problems appear because of low quality of the cameras. The quality varies from piece to piece, some even advise to buy a couple of glasses and/or bodies (they are cheap in Russia) and then select best ones.

Gene, just out of curiosity: did you ever intend to swap your 25/4 with something else? In other words, are you happy with it? Frankly, I've never used any other RF lense except of my Industar-50.

 

[denisipp]

kiev4a, thanks for your advice!

 

[GeneW]

Gene, just out of curiosity: did you ever intend to swap your 25/4 with something else? In other words, are you happy with it? Frankly, I've never used any other RF lense except of my Industar-50.

Do you mean do I ever change lenses? Yes. I often pop a 50mm Jupiter-8 on the Zorki. But it's fun to go out with nothing but the Zorki with the 25mm and the external VF and just guess exposures.

Gene

 

[je2a3]

I've been having fun with the CV 21/4 mounted on various LTM cameras. Great lens and RF coupled too. A best buy if you can live with f4 max. Have tried it on a Fed 2c but not yet on a Zorki 4 but I'm sure it works. For sample pics check my gallery.

BTW, Gene I just saw your post, thanks for the kind words at the gallery.

 

[vincentbenoit]

I used to use a CV 21/4 on my Zorki-4, worked great scale focusing (the rangefinder in my Zorki is out of whack). I've since sold the lens but will replace it with a CV 28/3.5. You can probably get russian glass for less money in this focal length range (Russar 20/5.6 and 28/5.6) but the CV lenses are better value in my opinion, they're faster and have better ergonomics (focusing lever, aperture click stops).
Cheers
Vincent

 

[darkkavenger]

maybe the Orion 28/5.6 but is it really worth it ? you'd better get a CV lens as others advise. Of course there's the J-12 but it's "not-so-wide" maybe ... anyway ... that'll be cheaper than a Contax-II with a Topogon 🙂

 

[Nickfed]

Thank you, Nickfed and Gene!

Nickfed, according to some posts in russian forums, problems appear because of low quality of the cameras. The quality varies from piece to piece, some even advise to buy a couple of glasses and/or bodies (they are cheap in Russia) and then select best ones.
QUOTE]

I believe this is true in matters of optical quality and the Jupiter-8 is notoriously variable.

There are also stories going around about focus distance. This was true for pre-war FEDs. I doubt any stories about modern stuff. Indeed, in the absence of irrefutable eveidence, I wouldn't believe any of them. This particularly applies to wide angle lenses. The wider the angle, the more likely it is to be baloney. In the case of a 25mm f4, it is likely to be utter baloney.

 

[denisipp]

Thank you all for so informative replies!

Gene, I actually meant whether you're happy with this lens or thinking to go for the other wide, say 21 or 28. Nevertheless, your answer convinced me!

je2a3, your "Atrium" makes my choice between 21 and 25 less obvious than I thought 🙂

Vincent, what was your idea to change from 21 to 28? You just didn't need 21?

Massimiliano, Orion would be acceptable too but it's even harder to find. There were some expectations recently a new Russar 18 mm is about to come out and this one would be cheap because of mass production. Still waiting...

Nickfed, I generally agree with you regarding such a kind of stories, while I've personally had many troubles with other russian cameras. That's why this question appeared 🙂

Well, I will take a look to the wides mentioned here. Thank you all again!

Denis

 

[reagan]

I recently had opportunity to get an Orion 15 at a decent price and though I've only shot a few frames with it so far [on a Zorki 1], I'm pretty happy despite the slow f6. I can see it becoming a pretty permanent fixture on one of my Zorkis. But when the GAS funds grow a little, I'll hopefully be looking seriously at one of the CVs mentioned above.

 

[je2a3]

I read in a Viewfinder 3/98 28mm lens survey article by Tom Abrahamsson, he mentioned his fondness for the "vintage look" an Orion 15 can give but recommends stopping it down to f8-f11 since it suffers from "poor corner focus". If you can get it cheap [less than $200] and need that "look" or you're an FSU enthusiast it might be worth it but considering the prices being asked for the CV 21, 25 and 28, the Orion 15 seem like a poor value.

 

[vincentbenoit]

Vincent, what was your idea to change from 21 to 28? You just didn't need 21?

Yep, after using the CV 21/4 for a while I came to realise that it was just too wide for me. 28mm is more useful for the kind of pictures I like to take. Not that these two focal lengths are mutually exclusive or that 21mm is not useful but I want to restrict myself to a total of three lenses, and the good old 28-35-50 combo fits the bill.
Cheers
Vincent

 

[hugivza]

Is there anywhere a write up or information on the Russa lens - a cursory web search has revealed little? My friendly Siberian 'mate in the trade' has suggested that he will be able to get his hands on one very soon, and I have shown some interest subject to price, which probably means my wife keeping her night job and her early morning paper round as well.

 

[denisipp]

Thanks you all again!

hugivza, look at these links:
http://www.inr.troitsk.ru/~serge/sov_lens.html
http://samshit.narod.ru/Foto/equip/lenses.htm
They are in russian though. Ask me if you need a help with translation.

 

[Stan]

I was lucky enough to acquire a 28mm Canon lens, which does a wonderful job on my Zorki 4K

 

[hugivza]

denisipp - thanks for the sites. I will get a Russian friend of my wife, who like my wife is also a pianist to translate. The lens may not eventuate, but I would like to be prepared. I find with my Nikon SLR's that I enjoy using the 20mm and 17mm lenses, and so given my slow conversion to RFF would like to experiment some.

 

[denisipp]

Stan, thanks, I'll keep in mind this lens.

hugivsa, I've never used lenses wider than 28, and starting shooting with a RF seems to be a good reason to give it a try.