MC Kaleinar-5H is an excellent short telephoto lens with f / 2.8-22 aperture and 100mm focal length. His double meets ARSAT H 100 F2.8 - they are the same lens. After the collapse of the USSR, the optics of the Arsenal plant began to be produced under the brand name “Arsat“. They say that this is a Soviet copy Nikon 2.8 / 100 Series Ebut this is not so, Nikon and Kaleinar have different optical schemes.
Overview of the lens Kaleinar-5N 2.8 100mm
Lens MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 is a legendary lens. MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 was produced for 'Kiev' cameras with 'H' mount. Now the lens MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 is very popular lens due to its relative cheapness and high quality of the resulting photos. He is rightfully considered one of the best Soviet portrait lenses.
view of the MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 100 lens from the back and from the side with MDF with an elongated hood
The current popularity of the MC Kaleinar-5H 2.8 / 100 lens is due to the fact that Nikon cameras have not changed their mount type for more than 50 years. Some of the 'Kiev' cameras have the same mount as Nikon, this allows you to use lenses with the 'H' designation on modern Niko SLR camerasn without any adapters. In more detail about the use of old Soviet lenses in the article about Soviet lenses... For those who want to use the MC Kaleinar-5H 2.8 / 10 on a Canon system, an article about old lenses at canon.
Type of lens enlightenment MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 100
When using the MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 lens (the letter 'H' in the name means the mount type), there will be no problems with focusing to infinity, as well as with aperture presetting. Once installed on Nikon cameras, the aperture will be at its maximum open position and will only close at the time of shooting - just like with modern Nikon lenses. It is very easy to find out the year of manufacture of a lens - the first two digits in its serial number are responsible for this.
Sample photo on MS Kaleinar 5-n
The first thing that catches your eye, but rather in the hands - massiveness of MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 10... The lens weighs over 300 grams with its small appearance. MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 10 is made in the good old traditions - glass and metal. Actually, my copy is over 20 years old, but the quality remains at the same high level.
View of the aperture of the lens diaphragm MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 100
Focusing:
The lens has only manual focus. The focus ring is rubberized. When focusing, the trunk of the lens lengthens by about 2 centimeters. The focus ring rotates 270 degrees, so the Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 MC has very large stroke of the focus ring. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate. Focusing on the lens is nice enough. The minimum focusing distance is 80 centimeters.
Diaphragm
The lens aperture has only 6 blades - this is one of the strong disadvantages of this lens. The aperture blades are black, the light in the middle of the lens does not reflect back. F / 2.8 maximum allows easy control of DOF and taking photos with blurry background. The aperture can range from F / 2.8 to F / 22. Please note that when using the lens on Nikon cameras, automatic iris control is possible using the aperture ring on the lens, this is due to the fact that the lens is AI-S compatible lens for Nikon. If you use the lens on other cameras, then the usual manual iris control will be available.
I use or used this lens on cameras without any problems Nikon D90, Nikon D40, D80 и D700.
Sample photo on MS Kaleinar 5-n
When using the lens on cameras Nikon DX EGF lens will fit 150mm. On cropped cameras, the MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 is a real telephoto lens. Due to the excellent ratio of focal length and aperture, the MC Kaleinar-5N 2.8/100 lens is perfect for portrait and creative shooting.
I have more here one shot at Kaleinar = 5N in the studio.
Attention!
This lens can work in full automatic aperture control mode through the camera and with confirmation of focus... How to do it - read in my article Dandelion Lushnikova.
Dimensions of two portrait lenses
Addition to the article:
Recently I got my hands on a Kaleinar-5H lens with an interesting name written through the letter 'C' - 'MC Cbut byjnar-5H 2.8 / 100 '. In the literature, there is an export version with a name through the letter 'K' - Kalejnar-5H (see here) Visually, it is no different from a lens with a name in Cyrillic and looks like this:
The lens has good image quality. First of all, I want to note the excellent sharpness over the entire field of the frame, good contrast, color reproduction. MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 well tolerates backlight, has no distortion. The vignetting of the lens is minimal, especially when using the lens on cropped cameras.
view of the lens MS Kaleinar-5N 2.8 100 on the Nikon D80
Beginning photographers can feel the old days with the Kaleinar-5N 2.8 / 100 MC and appreciate the importance of each shot they receive, as well as increase their level of dexterity and knowledge of photographing methods and techniques. There is even a joke that a novice photographer usually buys the simplest camera Nikon D40 and one of the Helios-81N or Kaleinar-5N lenses.
Dimensions of two lenses
Catalog modern brand lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can look at this link.
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Conclusions:
MS Kaleinar-5n - a unique lens with fabulous sharpness. The lens is in the top five best portrait soviet lenses.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
Guys, please advise me which lens to choose.
I recently bought Helios 81H - a cool lens, but taking pictures in full growth is not possible due to the fact that it blurs closer to the edge (i.e. the body is clear and the head is blurred if you take pictures in full growth)
Maybe of course I’m writing nonsense, but I'm a beginner photo lover))
So now I want to choose for myself, too, for portraiture, but choose from these 2
1) Tair-11A 2,8 / 135
2) MS Kaleinar-5N
The fact is that the price of them has risen recently.
Until recently, Tahir saw they were selling for 1100 UAH (now, one seller sells it on a sland for 1500)
Kaleinar is now around 1000-1100.
So which advise to take?
Used Nikon d5100 Camera
Cover the hole up to 5.6 and I think everything will work out. And as for Tahir or Kaleinar-tair, it’s softer - in the female portrait it’s the same. Well and 135 versus 100 for the kaleinar. And if you need sharpness and beautiful bokeh, in my opinion, the kaleinar will be better
Hello!
I have this lens, and I have a Nikon D90 camera. I don’t understand how you were able to put it on without adapters, it doesn’t work out for me at all.
Can you tell us more about this?
Thank you in advance!
Is the lens EXACTLY the same as in the review? Spell it.
The Kaleinar-5N lens has a Nikon mount, so DO NOT put it on Nikon IMPOSSIBLE. Maybe someone’s hands grow from there, where do the legs come from ????
The problem is that some H-mount lenses are non-AI lenses that don't fit on some cameras, including the D90, without rework. Details here - https://radojuva.com.ua/2012/06/nikon-ai-s-old-lens-about/ For the same reason, there are problems landing on some cameras lenses Helios-81N series
This lens was sold with a threaded adapter for Zenith cameras and a bayonet mount adapter for KIEV. Apparently you got it with a thread, look for an adapter.
Thank you very much for your reply!
I will look, I hope this exists!
Hello Arkady! Tell me please! I’m worrying about which lens to choose for a beginner with Nikon D3100, MS Kaleinar 5N or Helios 81N ?? It seems that Helios has a higher aperture but they say that the kaleinar is also good !! Generally confused ... Thanks in advance for the answer !!!
Helios is more versatile, Kalainar is portrait. although the apartment will be cramped. It will be better for you to start at 18-105. Well, then something more serious - like 24-70. I can recommend Tamron 17-50 (if a wide angle is needed) or Tamron 28-75.
Advise. Can K 5n be used with macro rings for macro?
It is a pity that you do not specify the diagonal of the front lens of the lens for the selection of filters.
He has a thread for filters at 52mm.
Tamron is too hard to find normal. or immediately carry it for adjustment. last week I measured 17-50 .. 5 pieces in a row is a complete tin! no focus, no sharpness, no color! and two 28-75 are the same nonsense. refused from tamron at all! but the Helios 81n is my favorite lens today. looking for kaleinar…. but something so far to no avail. ordered zeiss ..) we are waiting ...
There is the whole set - kaleinar, mir, helios, telear and kiev 19 ttl. 99,999% wear (8 films shot on a standard). I don’t sell separately - only barter for a new or problem-free 70-300mm with a stub.
I have such a 70-300. filmed just a couple of hundred frames. lies four and a half years (usually I carry 28-300 (it’s just easier for me to move around the tundra).
Anatoly Snezhan, how relevant the proposal is today and what exactly is available. There is a keen interest and desire to become the owner.
Hello Arkady!
I became interested in two lenses: considered in the article Kaleinar-5N and Tair-11A 2,8 / 135.
Can I purchase from you or with your help :)? And will you orient yourself for the price of one and the other? I bought Wave 9 from you last year, for macro :)
Thank you!
Kaleinars are now starting at 750 and above (average)
I took for 800.
Hello
750 what?))
I would also buy
good enough glass.
life hack for owners:
lift the hood (move to the open position), and wind 3 turns of thin tape. after such a not tricky procedure, the hood will not fidget here and there - but it will move well and smoothly.
Tell me please! There is Praktica MTL3 and Kaleinar-5H. How can it be set to “Practice”, in which the mount is M42. Perhaps there are certain adapters?
There is a factory shank. I don’t know if it was always included, but there were such ones. 3 screws are unscrewed and the shank is changed. Look, but it’s not often found.
if you have a kaleinarovskiy shank I can exchange with you on m42
Hello.
I noticed a feature that there are lenses on which the serial number is still written on the front (where the inscription MS Kaleinar 5H 2.8 / 100) is written. Is there a difference between the two?
This is an earlier version of the lens. In later ones (the year of manufacture is shown on the side), the rubberized focus ring, not the iron, is dull gray and not shiny aperture blades, if I am not mistaken, the aperture switches to intermediate values with a value of 11, and protrusions on the bottom of the aperture ring are made slightly differently ( Ai).
And there is. I have the 93rd year and everything is as you described. No clouding, everything works great, I use more often than whale. In the portrait, of course, I have to explain to the model that I’m not afraid of her, but just with this lens you need to go a little further.
I found a 5H kaleinar with the tail of M42, I don’t know how to deal with it, it’s a shank with it and it can be unscrewed or it happens with M42 ???
This is a replaceable shank, you can unscrew and screw it under Nikon (you need a special one for Kaleinar 5). 3 screws in total.
And where can I get it under Nikon, maybe someone has such a shank, good people))
There is
please tell me, is it possible to use the kp-A / N adapter on the M42 shank in place of the shank on the kaleinar-nikon, will the infinity in this case and the exposure metering be preserved?
infinity will not survive. look for shank kp-a / n on avito, for example.
or maybe even a third-party, lensless adapter from china
I don’t have Nikon, I won’t say, maybe it’s possible to pilnit to get infinity, maybe there is an adjustment ring. Or maybe look for an exchange as they meet less often with M42. What the shank looks like, you can google the pictures. And wrong can do without that black insert. At least I put myself on the cranes on the M42 without it.
Have you noticed that on some models there are no 2 holes on the side of the front lens, on metal?
Preliminarily I can assume that they are not on export and on those with the USSR quality mark.
I wonder why these holes? Probably they are technological or maybe something else they carry.
I’m almost sure that he drilled these holes. who disassembled it can for prevention or repair.
He himself drilled on one lens, but so far he could not unscrew the decorative ring.
These are 2 holes for untwisting this holder. They are on all lenses manufactured at the Arsenal factory.
Having 5 pieces of Arsenal lenses (all without holes) I just can not agree with you. Perhaps they appeared at all from some year of release there.
The holes on the decorative front panel of the lens are needed to unscrew this panel and access the front lens. Read the special literature!
5 pieces of calendars or different? I meant the 5N kaleinar.
Perhaps from some year. I have 91 years. I saw it on sale in later years, all have these holes.
Kaleinarov 5 2 pieces, without holes. Yes, you can look at the flea market in the photos in the ads, there are many of them. I have kind of the 80s.
Prompt-Bundle-NIKON D7000 + Kaleinar 5H, the jump rope is not working .... I put everything (the lens without a CPU). I put any aperture, and the fotik has 2,8 and that's all. What to do ???? I ask your advice! Mail pheday@meta.ua
Hello. I have a Kaleinar-5N with a metal focusing ring and non-blacked aperture blades. Serial number not listed anywhere!
Can this be? I looked through all four pages of the discussion, but I did not see anything like that ...
And there is no protrusion at the end of the diaphragm ring. In a 5-magnifying glass, the traces of cutting are not visible ...
There is a "jump rope" leash on the H mount, it works fine ...
Today I got this dream of mine. But surprisingly, the aperture blades are white. Although on all reviews on the network like black. Why not a bayonet fastening?. What kind of thoughts do people have.
I also have white petals, these are older models ... And the bayonet should snap into place (((
Non-blackened aperture blades are the trouble with sovets lenses. The result is a sharp decrease in image contrast. No need to mythologize sovetskoy quality of manufacturing mechanics! The scoop sucks!
You yourself suck. I’m sure that you don’t know how to shoot, because you’re soaking mud with Soviet so as to raise your own self-esteem.
There are more bad ignorant photographers than bad Soviet lenses. Note :)
And do not mythologize Japanese lenses that are sloppy in the picture. Also.
I am engaged in the sale and repair of lenses and I can confirm about the scoop. A very large variation in quality, among Kaleinar as well. A successful copy will please, but it still needs to be found, this is a lottery. And he will delight until that moment until you try something normal. Although the scoop of Kaleinar is one of the best in the picture, the quality of their manufacture is at the level of the Lada. With all the ensuing consequences. And in comparison with modern QUALITY lenses, the difference is the same as between the same Lada and a modern car. But then the price, for this price do not buy anything better
Good afternoon, I have this lens with an M42 thread on the pentax, but the problem is that when I put the adapter for the camera, the diaphragm opens as much as possible and I have to photograph only in the open.
Maybe I need another adapter?
And on canon? Canon 600.
Nikon F to Canon EOS adapter https://radojuva.com.ua/2013/05/nikon-canon-eos-adapter/
Hello. I also want to take this glass on the same carcass as your 600D. How are you doing with this? Infinity?
Thank you.
Owners of the lens, look at the photo, it doesn't want to work (the jump rope doesn't work) Should the lever go beyond the edge of the lens like this ...
No wonder - your lens is not properly adjusted at the factory. Well this is famous sovetskoe quality! The whole line of Kiev H-lenses passed through my hands - from an ultra-wide angle 20 mm to a telephoto 200 mm. In almost every one I had to debug the setting of the diaphragm mechanism. I sold this trash back in the 2000s - and thank God!
And what exactly is it? I disassembled it (cleaned the optics) and collected (not difficult) everything in its place (((
Alexander, did the jumper work before disassembling and cleaning? It does not work if the aperture ring is fully open
No, it didn't work. I set any F with the aperture ring, the camera shows which F, but when the aperture is triggered, it remains in the 2,8 position. I also noticed that a scratch appeared inside the camera (nikon d7000) a little further than the contacts. The photo showed about ...
You can check the jump rope with your hands without putting the lens on the camera - cover the aperture with a ring to the minimum value or anything other than fully open, see if the diaphragm is physically closed or not, if it is closed, move the lever of the jump rope with your finger - the diaphragm should open. If it doesn't work for sure, the lens needs repair. The working lens should not scratch the camera.
Everything works very well on the lens (the petals work) This is before and after the lens is parsed. I don’t understand why the scratches appeared I don’t like the lever on the lens, so I wanted to ask the owners of this lens. photo as mine, make a comparison !!!
Baraneuskas, take any non-autofocus H-mount lens and compare it!
Straight everywhere these are scattered, go and collect (and compare) -)))
Internet to help, since you yourself can’t figure it out! People, help Baranueuskas!
Alexander, take a vernier caliper, and measure the distance from the landing plane of the carcass to the scratch and from the landing plane of the lens mount to the end of the skipping rope, cut off the excess with a file (natfil). I had something similar on the macro rings, I managed to bend the jump rope. Good luck. All with the upcoming holiday (who are celebrating). And a lover of small ruminants from the Baltic states is ashamed, it is not nice to call names.
Thanks for the answer !!! I will follow your advice)))