Author: Alex

The Helios-44M is one of the most well known variations of the famous Helios-44. But, what exactly makes it so special, and should you pick one up?

The Jupiter 38 is a rare 75mm f4 preproduction lens that was designed for use in the experimental “Selena” camera, strictly by Soviet traffic police. The result of this seemingly uninspiring design objective may surprise you.

When Carl Zeiss designers originally penned the design for the 20mm f4 Flektogon, they probably didn’t think it would end up evolving into this. The Mir-47 is a Soviet 20mm f2.5 fast ultrawide lens, with some characteristics inherited from its Carl Zeiss origins, and some of its own unique characteristics. At f2.5, the lens allows…

Also known as the 3M-5A What happens when a Soviet optical designer wants to create a cheap, short, but high performing telephoto in the 1950s? Today’s lens is a descendant of that question. Originally designed by Matsukov, and further improved in the 70’s, the ZM-5A is a prime example of original Soviet engineering. With a…

When modern photographers think of old glass, particularly old Soviet glass, there’s a certain expectation that comes with it. The Mir-24M is perhaps the best challenger to those stereotypes of old Soviet lenses – it is every bit a modern lens as it is vintage. With a 35mm focal length and an aperture of f2.0,…

Let’s dive into the details of the Helios 44M-4, one of the most ubiquitous Soviet lenses ever manufactured. Ideal for beginners wanting to explore the world of Soviet lenses, the Helios 44 M4 is a fantastic starter lens with a rich history dating back to the 1930’s. The lens was originally based on the Carl…