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UltravioletPhotography

1958 Soviet Mir-1 2.8/37 with reversed front glass element in infrared+visible


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SteveCampbell

1958 Soviet Mir-1 2.8/37 with reversed front glass element in infrared+visible on a full-spectrum 5D mark II

 

I'm pretty sure the MIR-1 is 1958 since it's a 00-prefixed serial number in cyrillic, but perhaps someone more knowledgeable can correct

 

post-156-0-23769500-1532227763.jpg

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This is way cool.....

 

I don't know whether we have anyone who knows about MIRs or not ?? I think I've seen a website for Russian/Soviet lenses, but don't have a link. I wonder why the 37 mm focal length?

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SteveCampbell

This is way cool.....

 

I don't know whether we have anyone who knows about MIRs or not ?? I think I've seen a website for Russian/Soviet lenses, but don't have a link. I wonder why the 37 mm focal length?

 

Off the top of my head I believe it was a copy of the 2.8/35mm Zeiss flektagon, using patents that were confiscated from the Germans as war reparations. It's possible that the Russians weren't able to perfectly reengineer the 35mm focal length.

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SteveCampbell

That is a nifty special effect. What is up with the "reversed front element"?

 

The front element on the Mir-1 is meniscus-shaped. By inverting it you end up with a concave front surface that causes the peripheral dispersion effect (is there a more precise optical term?) that you see in the photo

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SteveCampbell

Is it a decent lens when the front element is the right way round?

 

Yea, it's quite a sharp lens with a very long throw, and beautiful aesthetics (I have an early metal version). You get a decent subtle swirl bokeh with appropriate focus distance, but not as pronounced as Helios 44/40 or the biotars. Great handling.

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SteveCampbell

Is it a decent lens when the front element is the right way round?

 

A quick test showed that it's not very useful in UV however...

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SteveCampbell

Recent test of this lens made in 1985. There are better lenses exist for sure. But it may have limited use in UV.

 

Mine is the earlier M39-mount MIR-1, but I'd imagine it didn't change much optically. Thanks Dmitry!

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