Old manual lenses for Canon (including Soviet lenses)

If you have a brand new Canon digital SLR camera, or just wanted to squeeze the maximum picture quality from your Canon DSLR and have no money for very expensive professional lenses, manual optics come to the rescue. In countries emerging from the former Soviet Union is very popular Soviet manual optics.

Manual lenses are manual focus lenses. Usually, manual lenses mean old lenses. In the old days, lenses and cameras did not have autofocus. note that Soviet lenses (all Soviet optics) is manual, i.e. cannot focus automatically. To work with a manual lens, you need to focus manually. This can be learned quickly.

Tessar 2,8 / 50 CZJena (GERMANY)

Tessar 2,8 / 50 CZJena (GERMANY). The lens is shown on a digital SLR camera. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. Attaching the lens to the camera using M42-Canon EOS adapter with chip.

How to use old manual lenses on a Canon system? Very simple, to install an old manual lens on a Canon camera you need to find out what mount (bayonet) the lens is designed for. Basically, there are not so many types of fastening, this is the good old M42 thread, N mount and M39 thread.

M42 lenses need an adapter M42 - Canon EOS. This adapter is screwed onto the lens thread, and then the lens is mounted on the camera. All Canon cameras will automatically measure exposure. Moreover, it will be possible to shoot in any mode of the camera, even in automatic mode, although the aperture will need to be changed manually. It is very convenient to use the semi-automatic aperture priority mode (AV mode). When using an adapter M42 - Canon EOS will remain able to focus at infinity.

Conventional M42 adapter - Canon EOS without chip

Conventional adapter M42 - Canon EOS without chip

Attention 1. When using the usual adapter M42 - Canon EOS without a chip on the camera focus confirmation will not work. This means that you have to focus completely on the eye.

To solve this problem, you can buy an adapter with a chip. The chip usually allows focus confirmation and “tricks” the camera, after which the camera thinks that it has a native lens on it. The chip is also called dandelion, less often Lushnikov dandelion. In the dandelion, you can program the focal length of the lens and the aperture value (you can not do this). Because in EXIF all images of the lens will be indicated on the received images (possibly, except for the focusing distance). You can buy a dandelion separately and attach it to an adapter or buy an adapter with a dandelion right away.

Attention 2. The parameters set in the dandelion (the sewn focus and aperture values) practically do not affect the operation of focus confirmation, but affect the measurement exposure.

Where to buy?

An adapter for lenses with a M42 mounting thread can be mounted on Canon EOS digital cutting cameras buy from this link.

Super-Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in japan

Super-Takumar 1: 1.4 / 50 Lens Asahi Opt. Co. Lens made in Japan. The lens is shown on a digital SLR camera. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. Attaching the lens to the camera using M42-Canon EOS adapter without chip.

Lens with a thread mount can be attributed a very, very many lenses. For example, the Helios-44m-X family of lenses, some of the Jupiter lenses, some of the Industar lenses and others. A striking example is the Helios-44m-2 and Industar-50-2 lenses.

KALIMAR MC 50mm K-90 AUTO 1: 1.7 COATED

KALIMAR MC 50mm K-90 AUTO 1: 1.7 COATED. The lens is shown on a digital SLR camera. Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi. Attaching the lens to the camera using adapter PENTAX K - CANON EOS.

For a lens with N mount, you will need to use an adapter Nikon mount F - Canon EOS. Yes, the N mount is the same as the Nikon system. Similarly, there is an adapter with and without dandelion. The most popular lenses with N mount: Helios-81N, MS Zenitar-N, MS Mir-47N, Mir-20N, MS Mir-24N, Kaleinar-5N, Tele-N, MS Granit-11N. Usually they have the letter “H” at the end of the name. You can read more about this adapter. here.

Soviet lens

Soviet Helios-44m-5 MS lens on a Canon EOS camera 350D Digital Attaching the lens to the camera using M42-Canon EOS adapter without chip.

For lenses with M39 thread, use the M39-EOS adapter or two M39-M42 and M42 adapters - Canon EOS (picture below).

Pay attentionthat lenses with M39 thread are available from two types of cameras - SLR and mirrorless. For normal operation on the Canon system, only lenses from SLR cameras with M39 thread are suitable, for example, such as Helios-44, white jupiter-9. Lenses from rangefinder cameras can only be used in macro mode, in more detail here.

Examples of M39 mount lenses

  1. Jupiter-9 85mm f2.0 (mirror version)
  2. Jupiter-11 135mm F4.0 (mirror version)
  3. Mir-1 37mm F2.8 (mirror version)
  4. Telemar-22 200mm F5.6 (mirror version)
  5. Industar-26m 50mm F2.8 P (rangefinder option)
  6. Jupiter-8 50mm F2.0 (m39, white, rangefinder)
  7. Jupiter-8 50mm F2.0 P (m39, white, rangefinder)
  8. Industar-26m 50mm F2.8 P rangefinder
  9. I-26m 52mm F2.8 rangefinder
  10. Industar-22 50mm F3,5 P rangefinder
Two adapters M39-M42 and M42 - Canon EOS without a chip

Two adapters M39-M42 and M42 - Canon EOS without chip

Lenses from Kiev-10, Kiev-15 "AUTOMAT"

Lenses marked “Automatic” from the Kiev-10 and Kiev-15 cameras cannot be used on modern central control centers, since the lenses have a very short focal distance. I have not met adapters, it will be difficult to re-sharpen, too.

Attention 3. When using lenses from rangefinder cameras under M39 on the Canon system, the ability to focus at infinity will be lost, and indeed, the focus limit will be in a few centimeters. This is due to the different working segments of the native optics and mirrorless. More details are written in the article. Soviet optics on Nikon.

For lenses with “B” mount, from medium format, you need an adapter Pentacon Six (Kiev-60) - Canon EOS. Bayonet B is exactly the same as the Pentacon Six, which is available in Kiev-60 medium format cameras. If the Pentacon Six - Canon EOS adapter is difficult to find, then you can use two adapters - Pentacon Six-M42 and M42-Canon EOS. B-mount lenses include Vega-12B, Jupiter-36B, Carl Zeiss Jena Sonnar 2.8 / 180 Pentacon Six.

For B-mount lenses, from medium format, you need to use two adapters Kiev 88 / Salute on Pentakon six + Pentacon Six (Kiev-60) - Canon EOS... Pentacon SIX also called P6 and Pentacon 6.

Attention 4. Mount C and B - two different mounts. People often confuse them. Be careful when choosing a lens.

Soviet lens

Soviet Mir-1 lens on a Canon EOS camera

And there are also very interesting interchangeable shank CCCP lenses. Typically, lenses are indicated with the letter “A” at the end of the name. This means that the back of the lens can be changed. You can install, for example, a shank with M42 thread, or with a fastener H, which one is needed. The shank is usually fastened with three locking screws, which are very easy to unscrew and then tighten back. Such lenses include, for example, the legendary Jupiter-37A. To use a Canon camera on a lens, you should install two KP-A \ 42 + M42 adapters - Canon EOS. Well, or absolutely with a perversion of KP-A \ H + Nikon mount F - Canon EOS.

Soviet lens

Soviet lens Industar-22 P

And so, we installed the old lens on the camera - what to do next? When using Soviet optics on Canon cameras, you should always rememberThat:

1. Auto focus will not on no Canon camera, even on the coolest Canon EOS 1DX. You will have to focus manually. Without a focus confirmation chip, it is very, very difficult to focus on sharpness, especially with open apertures. I advise you to immediately get a dandelion (chip).
2. A number of cameras have a mode live view - it will help to get into focus. Even if a dandelion is installed on the lens, the number of successful frames using focusing using Live View is much higher. It is very convenient to scale images on Live View for even more precise focusing.
3. Some lenses require refinement of the aperture control method. This usually comes down to blocking the blinking diaphragm mechanism so that the diaphragm can be controlled manually.

What is the penalty when using old lenses, new ones are much better, faster, etc. Here is a short answer:

1. Almost everything Soviet lenses suitable for full frame cameras. As you know, lenses for FF are much more expensive. So when changing crop to full frame, you will have a working lens and full frame. And you can also find medium format lenses that won't even give vignetting on the FF.
2. Lenses cheap. Of course, the issue is debatable, but the simple Helios-44m-2 is worth a mere penny, can be found for $ 10, and it gives a very good picture. For little money you can get a fast lens. But due to the boom in Soviet optics, for example, the price of Helios-40-2 reaches 1000 cu
3. Old lenses, when used properly, really give excellent picture resultGet accustomed to many useful photographic things. And for the sake of beautiful photography, all cameras and people work.

Two Soviet lenses

Two Soviet lenses shot from a Zenith camera

What can you start with from old lenses?

I am often asked what can be taken from the old Soviet optics on Canon, there is no definite answer, since each lens has its own purpose. Coming from the price / quality parameters, I recommend the following lenses:

  1. Helios-44 or any other modification of it. On APS-C cameras, Canon will work like a great portrait. The lens has excellent sharpness, high aperture and the legendary twisted bokeh. I recommend Helios-44 or any Helios-44M-X as the first Soviet lens on the Canon central shuttle.
  2. Industar-50 - just a good sharp fifty, probably the cheapest and most accessible Soviet lens and at the same time interesting to use.
  3. Jupiter 9 (any version of it). Wonderful portraiture and full frame and crop.
  4. Jupiter-37A. Wonderful portraiture. Easy to find. Canon’s APS-C is not very handy.
  5. Jupiter-21A or his brother Jupiter-21M. Great TV. Allows you to reach the deleted items.
  6. Vega-12B. Great portraiture.
  7. Granite-11N (Zoom Arsat 80-200). Zoom telephoto. Comfortable in using. Easy to find.
  8. Kaleinar-5N. Very sharp short telephoto.
  9. Industar-61 LZ. Very sharp fifty dollars, convenient for shooting small objects when using macro rings can provide excellent macro. One of the best lenses of the Soviet Union.
  10. Zenitar-M 50mm F1.7good sharp fifty dollars
  11. MS Helios-77m-4 or his brother MS Helios-77m
  12. Wave-3 80mm F2.8 MS great portrait

Conclusion:

On modern Canon digital SLR cameras, you can easily use the old Soviet lenses, as well as any other old manual lenses. More often than not, one adapter is enough to mount the lens on a Canon camera.

Thank you for attention. Arkady Shapoval.

Add a comment: Vladimir

 

 

Comments: 679, on the topic: Old manual lenses for Canon (including Soviet lenses)

  • Elina

    Gentlemen, there is a Soviet lens Jupiter 11 (silver) from Kiev (as I understand Contex) and 650 Canon. Is it possible to combine them and is there any sense? I would be grateful for specific recommendations.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      You can’t just cut it.

      • Elina

        Thanks for the answer, send from Western Belarus to Ukraine + work, I think, it will turn out an unrealistic cost.

  • Alexander

    Tell me how to use the Soviet Helios-44 on a pentax K-5 camera. The camera does not see him.

    • Vladimir

      Read the manual, delve into the settings. In the settings, look = aperture ring =, enable lenses without a ring = A =. Turn on the stabilizer, set the focus. lens distance. Shoot with aperture priority. In general, PENTAXs accept M42 lenses well.

  • Alexander

    Good day. I inherited from my grandfather the legacy of MIR-3V. I want to try on my Canon 650D.

    Tell me, for this you only need an adapter ring for the M42 or something else?

    • ksena

      M42 does not fit, with him stood Mir-1, Jupiter-37A, Industar-VIL / 3, excellent portraits, I liked the picture with them!

    • ksena

      Found it! Pentacon SIX - Canon EF Adapter Ring, Price Shocking!

  • Lana

    Hello! There is a Canon 350D camera. I would like to choose a portrait lens from manual optics. Tell me which lens will be best suited for this and what I need to install it on my camera. Thank you in advance for your response)

    • Lynx

      Read the article and generally those sections of the site that relate to Soviet lenses

  • Juris

    Budu blagodaren, esli razjasnite sledujus4ij vopros - mozno li ustanovit objektivi s baijonetom Exa - Exakta na EOS, Znaju, 4to perehodniki estj. No sovpadajut li rabi4ije otrezki, ne cepljaje za zerkalo na 5D? Spasibo.

  • ksena

    Ivse same, really put the World-38V on CANON?, Who succeeded, please enlighten! Which adapter?

    • ksena

      Found it! Pentacon SIX - Canon EF Adapter Ring, Price Shocking!

  • Eugene

    Hello! Who can tell ... I put Helios 44-2 on Canon 1100d, while the focal distance visually remained the same. Assuming a crop factor of 1,6, it should have been about 92.?

    • Lynx

      focal remains the same.
      The viewing angle has become narrower.

      • Eugene

        It is clear, Lynx .... Here the background is still yellow on Helios 44-2. What is the reason? And are there Helios with no such effect?

        • Oleg

          The white balance is on a gray card and will not “yellow”.

    • Igor

      Good afternoon, Eugene
      the focus of the lens will increase from 55mm to 55mm * 1,6 = 88mm.
      since the canon’s matrix is ​​cropped 22 * ​​15mm, the effect compared to 24 * 36mm will be like 88mm.

  • anonym

    Hello! Please advise the lens on the Canon 7d with a wide angle? Does this happen among Soviet lenses?

    • Dmitry K

      10-18 is a great shirik. There is no Soviet shirikov on crop; at councils, there was no crop. In general, on the camera crop in terms of SHU, only new autofocus optics. You can look at sigmatamrons, but they are byaka compared to 10-18 from canon

  • Eugene

    ***** RAW files cannot be opened on any device other than a PC with special software installed. Media players, digital photo frames, tablet computers will not display RAW photos. To do this, they need to be converted to JPEG format (on a PC, using RAW processing software). ******* Guys, tell me. Do I understand correctly from the above that only a computer with an installed program can accept the image format in Raw (disk to the camera) in it? Those. if I shot a frame in Raw, pulled out a flash drive from the camera, inserted it into the smartphone, will there be no image?

    • Alexander Malyaev

      Answered in the topic "Questions and Answers".

    • Igor

      A RAW file is a “raw” version of a large-sized image that has not yet gone through the process of being processed into a digestible jpeg format. It is used for creative photography, allows you to make adjustments to the photo (elaboration of shadows, white balance) without compromising the quality of the picture. Naturally, RAW won't fit into a smartphone.

      • Alexander Malyaev

        Do not mislead people.

  • Igor

    For a lover of their own opinions:
    The RAW format in digital photography corresponds to the negative in film: it contains raw, “raw” pixel information directly from the sensor of a digital camera. This means that you can subsequently process the pictures manually using your own computer or using RAW processing software called RAW converters. http://www.phototuning.ru/lessons/raw/

    • Alexander Malyaev

      I know very well what RAW is. I meant not to be misled about “RAW won't fit into a smartphone”. What do you mean, “won't fit”? As a file, it just fits in like the rest, and additional software for Android (consider the same RAW converter), for example Photo Mate R2, deals with its viewing and processing. Android belongs to Linux systems, so in this case there is not much difference between a PC and a smartphone, there would be the necessary software and there would be enough resources.

      PS Moreover, you have not tried it yourself, and on my smartphone RAWs are already perfectly viewed and processed.

  • Igor

    Does your smartphone take RAW pictures? If not, why upload RAW to a smartphone?
    For this, there are ready-made format options - jpeg, tiff, etc.
    I understand that RAW processing in a smartphone is cool, but what's the point?
    To do this, there are normal conditions for working with a large screen, where
    not rushing to edit the photo, so to speak to realize all your creative desires, etc.

    • Alexander Malyaev

      Do you want to argue? Instead of admitting: "yes, I was mistaken, it is possible." Well, what kind of people have gone ... If it seems unnecessary to you, it does not mean that no one needs it, it turns out that the “lover of their own opinions” is just not me, but vice versa.

      I personally have no special need for RAW processing on a smartphone and tablet yet. Although it is possible, being far from home and without a laptop (business trip, vacation, etc.), such a need will arise. But some do not have a PC at all, but they have a good powerful tablet with a large high-quality high-resolution display, and even a keyboard and mouse on which they manage to perform all the tasks they need. And according to statistics, there are more and more such users from year to year. So why should they give up all the charms of the RAW format if there is such an opportunity? Why should we decide for everyone what they need and what not?

      • anonym

        PS: just in the process of answering, I was listening to the song of ringo starr - a photographer, so I wanted to argue. Sincerely, Anonymous.

  • anonym

    Well, you yourself confirm that it is more convenient to work on a tablet with a keyboard with a large screen than with a smartphone, and there it is not far from a laptop ...
    Indeed, there is no need to decide for everyone.

  • Christina

    Hello! Helios 44m was bought in a white frame, the focus and aperture ring goes very tight. The aperture rotates from a value of 2 to 5,6. Moreover, at 5,6 it gives a higher aperture and lower DOF than at 2. What could be the matter?
    Thank you for your attention and your work! I learn a lot of useful things))

    • anonym

      Good afternoon, Christina! Regarding the white Helios, I am familiar with this problem - I myself disassembled and assembled it. There is a problem in the diaphragm ring - during assembly (you can see someone disassembled before you) it was incorrectly installed. Therefore, Helios must be disassembled all over again - so as to remove the diaphragm ring and install the ring in the correct position. Why disassemble everything? Such a design of the first helios ... It is best to entrust this to an experienced lens master.

  • anonym

    Good afternoon.
    Please comment on the Quantaray lens (for Canon) 35-135mm / 3.5-4.5 AF Lens

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Not used. I can not tell.

  • Ruslan

    Hello.
    I have a Canon 600D 18-135, there is still a 35 f / 2 fix. Does it make sense to use Helios 44-2?
    Thank you.

    • Rodin

      It always makes sense to use Helios-44, even if there are Planars 50 / 1.7 :)

  • Igor

    Good afternoon.
    I have a Canon 1100d + world 1B + stereo attachment SKF1. Who has experience shooting 3d movies? Thanks.

  • Vyacheslav S.

    Perhaps it is written somewhere, but I did not find it. Please tell me how you can fix the pin of the diaphragm (I don’t know what it is called) so that you can control the diaphragm (sorry for the pun). There is no protrusion in the adapter so that you can perform these manipulations and the diaphragm is constantly open (Helios 44M-5). Thanks!

    • Vyacheslav S.

      Thanks to all! I solved the problem by installing a piece of the rod on the pin

  • Vsevolod

    Is it possible to make aperture control mechanical on a Sigma AF 70-210 f / 2,8 APO (I) for Canon lens (without an aperture ring)? The Canon 70D carcass allows you to set and use only the maximum f / 2,8.

  • Ivan

    There will be no correct metering on the canon, either with or without chips. Unless on 1D correctly counts.

  • Alexander

    Hello! who faced such a problem - bought a programmable ring m42-eos, a helios ms44-3 lens, a Canon 650D camera, autofocus confirmation works, but the picture is spoiled, as if it hadn't been screwed up ... what can be done to make af work exactly ?? (((

    • Dmitry

      If the chip supports alignment, then you need to align.

      • Alexander

        Please tell me how to adjust the adapter m42-eos ??

        • Dmitry

          It is adjusted using a series of pictures with a certain shutter speed in a certain order specified in the instructions.
          Instructions for the Lushnikov chip on his website.

  • Alex100

    I set the sharpness at all points or only at the central point! Put on the central point on the eye, you twist the focus until the squeak, then a little bit return the problem should go away. Usually this occurs because of the small depth of field, try to squeeze the diaphragm.

  • Dmitriy

    Friends, I bought an adapter from Petakona (B-mount) to EOS with a chip. How to program it to confirm focus? The monkey became old with weak eyes, so I won’t see it without burning dots

    • Lynx

      according to the instructions. If you bought from Lushnikov, then he has a programming instruction on his website

      • Dmitriy

        No. I bought at the nearest store. Are they all the same?

        • Lynx

          Yes, no, it seems. There are Lushnikovskie, there are Chinese, canonovskie usually Chinese, so only google the instructions for marking.
          BUT, there is a chance that China acted out Lushnikov and programming is also suitable for him, try

          • Dmitriy

            Thanks. Found on Lushnikov’s website. Everything worked.

            • Lynx

              Urya!

  • anonym

    Adapters for Soviet lenses can be taken here http://www.magprofoto.ru/

  • Nadezhda

    Hello! Perhaps someone will tell you what to do with Err 01 error? Helios 44 + Canon 600d lens. There is a programmable ring. After the purchase, such a bunch worked well. Now an error has appeared about the loss of communication between the camera and the lens. Shutdown-reclosing does not help.

    • Oleg

      Curved adapter. The chip is shifted when gluing. Try re-sticking. A better check first. Compare the location of the contacts on the lens (native) and on the adapter :)

  • G ***

    I want to take the adapter to kenon on helios44-2 a little more beautiful with chi chi without ???

    • Oleg

      If a carcass with AF tuning, then feel free to use the chip. If the FF camera, then you can bare adapter, and if crop, then the sharpness in the viewfinder is difficult to induce and better with a chip and the ability to adjust the front of the back in the chip. Although it depends on the human factor (what kind of vision)

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