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.

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

  • Eugene

    Hello!
    I recently purchased a programmable dandelion Lushnikova. Camera CANON EOS 7D. I screwed it to the lens of the MC ZM-5CA according to the attached instructions, made all the settings. Nevertheless, no signs of confirmation of autofocus (neither sound nor light), well, or there the lock of the shutter button (while there is no focus) were not achieved. What am I doing wrong? Maybe this kind of lenses can’t achieve this ?? Or does this camera not need a programmable dandelion ???

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Most likely, they just did something wrong. The chip on the adapter should work immediately, without any settings.

  • Eugene

    Thanks for the quick reply.
    No, I reprogrammed it according to the attached instructions. I set the diaphragm to 8,0 (because this glass only has such a diaphragm); focal length 500mm. More generally, nothing changed there. As a matter of fact, there is nothing more to change there ...
    Maybe he dandelion got defective ???

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Anything can happen, but most likely an error crept in somewhere.

  • Anna

    Hello! I would like to put Helios 77-4 on a 40D carcass, can there be any problems? will there be a tip to infinity?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      There should be no problems. Infinity will continue.

      • Anna

        And why then do they arise sometimes?

        • Anna

          I mean, why does infinity disappear?

          • Arkady Shapoval

            Carefully read the materials in the article, everything is clearly written there. Usually infinity disappears on Nikonov on the M42. Also, infinity disappears when using lenses from rangefinder cameras.

        • Arkady Shapoval

          Some lenses may catch a rear-view mirror.

  • Patzyk

    please tell me, is it worth buying MS Zenitar 16.2,8 FOR KENON WITH KROP FACTOR 1,6, AND IF IT IS STANDING, DOES THIS LENS come under a full-frame kenon? (Will the lens shank interfere with the mirror?)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Look at zenith reviewhow he behaves on a 1.5x crop. I do not recommend it to crop. At full frame it will work fine on Kenon.

  • DENICE

    Kind time of the day. I have a canon 350th, today I bought a M42 ring on EOS, for starters I bought a 21M Jupiter lens in perfect condition, I saw many examples of shooting with this lens. But I have such an ambush. Today I tested it, from a distance of 2- 5 meters removes the norm, everything focuses, but it’s impossible to catch the focus at a greater distance, everything is blurry, the waist-length portrait picture wasn’t even possible to do. I understand this is a problem with infinity? And what can I accept in this case? The aperture on the carcass is not exposed .Thank you in advance for your response.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Just try to shoot the landscape at infinity, if everything is really "washed out" then the problem is with infinity, although there should be no problems with it, most likely just the difficulty of focusing.

  • DENICE

    Just try to capture the landscape at infinity,
    Thank you for your prompt reply. What is meant by this?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Set the focusing ring on the lens to the “infinity” position (the lens trunk is as short as possible in this position ”) and shoot something very distant, if it is in focus, then there is infinity. On Kenons, the Yu-21M should not lose infinity.

  • DENICE

    Here you have what it turns out:
    1.пейзаж [img]http://cs4554.userapi.com/u43512471/155294446/x_9c89244d.jpg[/img]
    2.расстояние 3метра [img]http://cs4554.userapi.com/u43512471/155294446/x_c0aae97c.jpg[/img]
    3.and one more [img] http://cs4554.userapi.com/u43512471/155294446/x_a62bd870.jpg [/ img]

  • DENICE

    Today I dug through forums for a long time and some write that there are problems with 21M due to the ring. That the lens does not spin for a couple of turns. :(

    • Arkady Shapoval

      The diagnosis was confirmed by photos.

  • DENICE

    Which one? And what do you tell me to do? :( I'm something in despair :)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      carry in repair. You yourself can do worse)

  • DENICE

    Lens? I just bought it today but with a moneyback condition. So I’ll bring it back. How to correctly justify the reason for the return to me. And many thanks for the clarification.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      So explain that with your camera there is no infinity, although it should be. I didn’t explain anything much. It’s a pity, the Yu-21M is a good lens, I had a Yu-21A.

  • DENICE

    Thanks anyway. Not everyone has a desire to write, he has a second 21M. I’ll try to change, now I know how to check it, I will know. Thank you.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Good luck. There will be an opportunity, describe your experience with the U-21M in a review Yu-21A.

  • DENICE

    good. I went to change.

  • Victor

    I would buy something with FR 90 Orsk Orenburg

  • DENICE

    By the way, Arkady. Do not want to do a review on the subject of Soviet lenses and light (flashes).

  • Eugene

    Jupiter 21M works great on digital Canon, and with infinity no problem. The only thing is that due to the heavy weight on some adapters, a backlash is obtained. It is decided by the acquisition of high-quality adapters.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Of course, everything works for Kenon. Here is Jupiter-21A, which often has the best image quality.

  • Eugene

    Here is a description of the lens from Sergey Elizarov
    http://www.deep-life.ru/jupiter-21m/index.htm

  • Oleg

    Are there any lenses that can damage the mirror when installed through a dandelion on a Canon?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes there is.

  • Pauline

    Hello. I want to ask what to do with the MIR-3, MIR-38V and TAIR-33 lenses, having a Canon EOS 600 D in stock? Does it make sense to look for the B mount to put them on this unit?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      There is a possibility - use it. No possibility - don't use. Tair-33 will be quite interesting.

      • Pauline

        But is there a chance of losing the effects of these lenses due to the crop factor of the device or the lack of adaptive lenses?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          What are the effects? On Kenon, mostly without lenses put the Soviet optics.

  • Pauline

    Well, for example, twisting around the edges or a wide angle. well, that is, will there be a discrepancy between the 35mm camera and the lens for a medium format camera? (Sorry, if I ask stupid questions, I just haven’t dealt with this question very well yet)

    • Arkady Shapoval

      no. Medium format is larger than crop and full frame. The analogy of work is like a full-frame lens on a crop.

  • Dmitriy

    I want to buy Helios-81 .. and ask for your advice, which one is better to buy Helios-81N roofing felts, Helios-81M roofing felts, under which one should I choose an adapter for CANON 500D?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Better Helios-81N.

  • Anubis

    "Attention 2. The parameters set in the dandelion (hard-wired focal and aperture values) practically do not affect the operation of focus confirmation and exposure metering."

    wrong statement ...
    more precisely, focus confirmation is not affected
    but if an aperture is chosen on the lens that is more open than the one that is embedded in the chip, there will be a guaranteed "overexposure"

    I will explain. For example, we have a programmable adapter (with the ability to change the aperture with a wheel from the camera) on the lens, for example, set d2.8 and on the camera d1.4 = the metering is correct. now, we expose on the d4.0 camera (for example) with the same shutter speed, ISO and aperture set on the lens = we have a specific “overexposure”, if we “close” the aperture even more on the camera, the overexposure will be even greater.


    ps As I understand it, the aperture value obtained from the chip or lens (autofocus) is important for the correct calculation of the exposure metering by the camera, i.e. not only readings taken from "light sensors".

  • Vitalii

    Hello!
    I bought this handsome man and now I don’t know how to put it on my Canon 60D
    http://www.huuto.net/kohteet/carl-zeiss-jena-1q-tessar-28_50mm—exakta-objektiivi/218009529?ref=hm_hpkt
    Advise how to be!

  • Vadim D.

    Hello! Thank you so much for the article! I have a question for you, you mentioned that the same lenses can be from DSLRs and mirrorless ones (as I understand it from rangefinders). How to distinguish them? I got Jupiter-11, I want to take it, how do I know that it is from a SLR? After all, if it is from a rangefinder, then it will not suit me, did I understand correctly?
    PS I have a Canon EOS 550D.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes. All right. The rangefinder Yu-11 came under Contact for Kiev, its back is wider in the rim for the main one. All the rest are either m39 or m42 from DSLRs, such as in my review.

  • Sanya from Saransk

    Will Gileos 44m-4 hurt through the m42 adapter with a chip without a lens, Canon?

  • Anton

    There is Helios 81n on the Canon 5dmII
    I would like to diversify the photo with a Necropian lens.
    And it is advisable to put on that adapter that is used in Helios 81n.
    The choice narrowed to: Jupiter-21a and Kaleinar-5N.
    Which one do you recommend?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Kaleinar-5n is very good.

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