A forgotten Gem!

theraven

theraven

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Jenna
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Someone gave me this some time ago and I never thought I would use it, until I had the desire to shoot film.


Zenit 3M With Helios 44 M39 Lens by Raven Photography by Jenna Goodwin, on Flickr

Then after a little Google I realised I can use the M39 lens (which is a 55mm f2) on my Sony Alpha, like I have been my Chinon 55mm f1.7 M42 lens.


Zenit 3M With Helios 44 M39 Lens by Raven Photography by Jenna Goodwin, on Flickr

It cannot focus to infinity because you have two adapters, an M39 to M42, then M42 to Sony Alpha, and it only works in manual, which is amazing! However, I do have with the camera extension tubes!

So for the pricey sum of £4 for the adapter, I now have a fantastic macro lens! :)

Has anyone else ever used any of these lens/cameras?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ravenphotography2012/
 
It won't reach infinity, but it should still go a fair distance :) I use one on my Canon EOS system, and I have an original 44 in M42 mount as well, although it's black. The Helios is a clone of the old Carl Zeiss Biotar and as such retains some awesome swirly bokeh, see below :)


In the Common by <<BackToTheFuture>>, on Flickr
 
I can't wait to try it, It is not a lens I would use for landscapes anyway, I have a Chinon 1.7 55mm and my kit lens which starts at 18mm so already have that covered!

As said it has extension tubes with it so it makes sense to use it for macro! :)
 
Trip down memory lane for me, exactly the same outfit I started photography with at 18.

A brand new 3M + used Weston Master V cost me two weeks wages - £25.

I added a Mir 37mm wide-angle and a Twin Tamron (135mm + tele-converter) and took some great slides with it all.

The optics were cheap & lightweight but really excellent, even by today's standards.
 
If it's Agfa Vista at your poundland, then it's pretty nice film too - lots of love for it in the Film section.
 
Before I gave up on film I used to buy my film from the £1 shop.

My legacy lenses...

Rokkor 28mm f2.8, 55mm f1.7, 135mm f3.5.
Zuiko 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 135mm f3.5.
Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro.
 
woof woof said:
Before I gave up on film I used to buy my film from the £1 shop.

My legacy lenses...

Rokkor 28mm f2.8, 55mm f1.7, 135mm f3.5.
Zuiko 28mm f2.8, 50mm f1.8, 135mm f3.5.
Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro.
Click to expand...

Nice! Do you use them on digital?
 
Yes, sure do. I use them on my Panasonic G1.

I've tried the Zuiko's on my 5D and they give very good image quality but I personally find manual focus a pain with DSLR's unless it's close up stuff like flower shots and the like.

Here's a picture of a Rokkor 28mm f2.8 on my G1.

P1000728_zpse97a2ba6.jpg


Here's a shot of my 5D fitted with a Zuiko 28mm f2.8 and next to it is a very nice but rather big modern AF Sigma 20mm f1.8. Yes, they are different focal length and apertures but even so it's an interesting comparison.

_1090858c_zpsac4853ee.jpg
 
Interesting, I'm the other way round i.e. I find manual lenses easier on DSLRs than on mirrorless :D

In amongst my odd collection are some Pentacons (29/2.8, 30/3.5, 50/1.8, 100/2.8, 135/2.8, 200/4, 300/4), Soligors (17/3.5, 28/2.8, 35/2.8, 50/1.8, 105/2.8, 135/3.5, 180/3.5, 200/3.5, 250/4.5, 300/5.5, 350/5.6, 400/6.3, 450/8, 500/8), Takumars (55/2, 105/2.8), Russians (Helios 44, Industar 50, Jupiter-9 85/2, Rubinar 300/4.5 mirror) and Nikkors (20/4, 24/2.8, 50/1.4, 55/1.2). I need to get out more :D

Here's the Nikon 55/1.2...awesome:

1032_lens1_1.jpg
 
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manualfocus-g said:
Interesting, I'm the other way round i.e. I find manual lenses easier on DSLRs than on mirrorless :D
Click to expand...

I don't really understand that at all or see that it's even remotely possible :thinking: :D

If the subject is big in the frame it's easy to focus a DSLR, like with macro or something that's just BIG in the frame but if not... I don't find it easy, not with the standard focus screen. IMVHO DSLR's just aren't built for manual focus like an SLR was. Of course if you print / view small images any slight or even significant misfocus will probably not be visible but the minute you print bigger or look closer any focus issues will be there to see, unless you shoot everything past macro hyperfocal :lol:

With CSC manual focus even on distant or small objects is easier than it ever could be with a DSLR because you can call up a magnified view. That's something that you just can't do with a DSLR unless you switch to the rear screen and live view.
 
It must be possible :) Mirrorless cameras have horrible EVFs which are fiddly to focus with :D In all seriousness, I sold my Nex-5n with EVF as I struggled to focus the damn thing. Zooming in to check focus is a slow way of shooting and left me messing up composition. With the 5D, 6D and 60D I have a nice big high res OVF to start with. And I'm a nasty little pixel peeper lol
 
Damn right it is, got it for £100 from Cash Converters, knocked him down from £140 because the steady shot is buggered!

Have to bang it upside down from time to time to re align it but works like a charm! :D

Wouldn't swap it for the world!
 
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