For the ability to write a review Pentacon Auto 1.8 / 50 Multi Coating many thanks Volodymir gulchuk.
Lens view Pentacon 50 1.8
My copy Pentacon Auto 1.8 / 50 Multi Coating was taken from a Praktica camera. The lens was available in different versions. There were 3 more versions of the lens before Multi Coating. Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50. In fact, they all differed only in a light redesign of the frame and the method of controlling the diaphragm and enlightenment. In total, as far as I know, there were 4 versions, the model presented in this review is the last of its generation. This is evidenced by the green color of the feet on the focus distance scale.
The difference in size Pentacon auto 1.8 50 Multi coating and Helios-81N
TTX Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating
Focal length: 50mm
Structure: 6 elements in 4 groups
Number of aperture blades: 6 pieces
MDF: 0.33m (indicated on the scale)
Aperture Limits: F1.8-F16
Front Filter Diameter: 49 mm
The weight: 250g
The optical design is very similar to the design of Helios (Biotar). Most likely, the lens circuits are identical. The lens itself is very similar to the Helios-77m-4, which also has 6 elements in 4 groups and a 50mm focal length.
View of Pentacon auto 1.8 50 Multi coating from different angles
Highlights you need to know about Pentacon Auto 1.8 / 50 Multi Coating
- Manual lens. The designation Auto in this case only means that the diaphragm can be controlled semi-automatically.
- The lens has a dedicated MA aperture control switch. In the M position, the diaphragm is manually controlled. In position A, the diaphragm is controlled in a semi-automatic mode. You can focus on the fully open, and at the time of release, the camera through a special diaphragm pusher will close it to the value set using the aperture ring. Many Soviet lenses, like Helios-44 and Helios-77m-4, lack such an M-A switch, they have to manually block the diaphragm pusher when used on digital-SLR cameras.
Sample photo on Pentacon auto 50 1.8 multi coating
- The maximum aperture value is F1.8- This is a really fast lens. If you have a whale lens, then the maximum aperture on it is only F3.5, which is 3.7 times weaker than that of the Pentacon. Actually big aperture and old optics are famous for their low price.
Example photo on Pentacon auto 50 1.8 multi coating
- The lens is made of glass and iron. It stopped being released back in 1978, and it still works. This suggests that the German quality still makes itself felt.
Photo at Pentacon auto 50 1.8 multi coating
- The lens is not standard front filter diameter 49mm. I wanted to put my own on him protective filter 52mm, but it did not fit, it turned out to be a little larger.
Photo at Pentacon auto 50 1.8 multi coating
- The lens has multi-enlightenment. This is an important point when using the old manual optics. Multi-enlightenment helps this Pentacon to tolerate back and side light, as well as give a contrast picture
Photo at Pentacon auto 50 F1.8 multi coating
- Like any old manual lens, the Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating has depth of field scale for such aperture values: 4, 8, 16.
Photo at Pentacon auto 50 F1.8 multi coating
- Focus ring rotates almost 360 degreesand the Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating lens has 33cm minimum focus distance limit. A large and smooth focuser movement allows you to accurately and easily focus. A minimum distance of 33cm helps to remove small objects.
Photo at Pentacon auto 50 F1.8 multi coating
- Lens from full frame cameras. When used on a crop, the field of view will be narrower, and EGF for crop factor 1.5 will correspond to 75mm. Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating is a classic fifty dollars, and fifty dollars on a crop are very often used for portraits. If you want to choose a good Soviet portrait painter, then look at the section “The best Soviet portrait lens"
Due to watercolor blur, the overall picture does not look sharp
- The number of aperture blades is only 6 pieces... They have a metallic sheen and can seriously interfere and add "hares" when shooting. Closed diaphragm values produce standard nuts.
Sharpness Pentacon auto 50mm 1.8 mc
Personal impressions
The lens is very compact, sits well on a small SLR camera. It reminds me very much Helios-77m-4. It works fine, the picture is excellent, every photographer should have such a fifty dollars. The main competitor can be considered the Soviet Zenitar 50 / 1.7.
Bokeh on Pentacon auto 50mm 1.8 mc
How to use with modern cameras?
Lenses with mounting thread M42 (M42 X 1 / 45.5), such as the lens from this review, are very easy to use on almost any modern digital camera (both SLR and mirrorless), for this it is enough to choose the right adapter (adapter). You do not need to carry out any additional steps to modify the lens.
The cheapest adapters can be found at Aliexpress.com... There are adapters (adapters) with a chip that provide more convenience during shooting, usually chips are used to confirm focus and / or metering exposure, and form the correct EXIF. The chip does not affect the image quality in any way.
For some SLR cameras (for example, with the Nikon F-mount), you need to use adapters with a corrective lens, which allows you to focus correctly at all focusing distances. For any mirrorless cameras, such a lens is not needed, and the adapter is a simple decorated hollow metal tube with an appropriate mount.
For SLR cameras
- Canon: For cameras Canon EOS with bayonet mount EF / EF-S need an M42-Canon EOS adapter, such an adapter with a chip can be found herewithout chip here.
- NIKON: For cameras Nikon DX / FXas well as for cameras Fujifilm и Kodak with a Nikon F mount, you need an M42-Nikon F adapter, you can buy such an adapter without a lens and a chip here, with a lens without a chip herewith chip without lens here, with lens and chip here. Why a lens? Why chip?
- PENTAX: For Pentax cameras with K mount, you need an M42-Pentax K adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
- SONY/MINOLTA: For cameras with a Sony / Minolta A mount, you need the M42-Sony A adapter, you can find such an adapter without a chip at this linkwith a chip at this link.
- OLYMPUS/PANASONIC/LEICA: For cameras with a 4/3 bayonet mount (not to be confused with Micro 4/3!) You need an M42-4 / 3 adapter, you can buy such an adapter here.
For mirrorless cameras
- SONY: For cameras with 'E'/'FE' mount series SonyNEX и Sony Alpha you need an adapter M42-Sony E (aka M42-Sony Nex), you can find it at this link. An autofocus adapter is also available for these cameras. Techart PRO Leica M - Sony E Autofocus Adapterwhich can be found at this link.
- OLYMPUS / PANASONIC / KODAK / XIAOMI: For cameras with a bayonet mount Micro 4/3 (Micro 4:3) you need an adapter M42-Micro 4/3, you can find it at this link.
- CANON M: For cameras with Canon EF-M mount need adapter M42-Canon M, it can be found at this link.
- CANON R and RF-S: For cameras with Canon RF mount need adapter M42-Canon R, it can be found at this link.
- Nikon 1: For cameras Nikon 1 Series need adapter M42-Nikon 1, you can find it at this link.
- Nikon Z: For cameras Nikon Z series (FX/DX) need an adapter M42-Nikon Z, it can be found at this link.
- FUJIFILM X: For cameras with mount X need an M42-Fuji X adapter, you can find it at this link.
- FUJIFILM GFX: For medium format cameras G-mount need M42-Fuji GFX adapter, you can find it at this link.
- SAMSUNG: For cameras with NX mount, you need an M42-Samsung NX adapter, you can find it at this link. There are no adapters for the NX mini camera yet.
- PENTAX: For Q-mount cameras, you need an M42-Pentax Q adapter, you can find it at this link.
- SIGMA / PANASONIC / LEICA: For cameras with L mount you need an M42-Leica L adapter, you can find it at this link.
- LEICA: For cameras with a bayonet mount Leica M need adapter M42-L / M, you can find it at this link.
If you have any questions on compatibility and adapters - ask in the comments (comments do not require any registration at all).
View of Pentacon auto 1.8 50 Multi coating on a modern camera
Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating
Image sharp with F1.8. Depth of field is very small at F1.8, it is very, very difficult to get in one's eye. Very good sharpness comes at F2.8. From F2.8 to F11.0, the sharpness is very high. At F16.0, the diffraction on my cropped matrix takes its toll. The most interesting - chromatic aberration very well fixed and they are very small even at 1.8, also, I do not observe the frigging, which on my Nikon 50mm F1.8D AF just awful on F1.8. Distortions and vignetting on crop are also not visible at all. Great color reproduction. The contrast is excellent, the side light Pentacon auto 1.8 / 50 Multi coating tolerates well, in the back it catches a few hares and a noticeable drop in contrast. Bokeh interesting, for an amateur, a little double, somewhat reminiscent of a light watercolor. Unlike Biotars (including Helios-77m-4) it does not twist the background.
Sample photo on Pentacon auto 50mm 1.8 multi coating
Sample Photos on Pentacon F1.8 50mm Multi Coating
All photos in this review are made on Nikon D40 without any processing, only converting from RAW -> JPEG, resizing to 1600 * 1200, data from EXIF.
UPDATED
Photographer shared examples of photos on PENTACON auto 1.8 / 50 MULTI COATING with readers of Radozhiva Lilia Nemykina:
Conclusions about Pentacon auto F1.8 50mm Multi Coating
Good manual fifty dollars. Excellent color reproduction, sharpness even at a fully open aperture. The manual control mode and the huge stroke of the focusing ring allow using it on modern digital-mirror cameras without any special difficulties.
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> The optical design is very similar to that of the Helios (Biotar). Most likely, the lenses have identical schematics.
This is not Biotar, but Planar. This is further confirmed: "Unlike Biotars (including Helios-77m-4), the background does not twist."
> The lens does not have a standard 49mm front filter diameter. I wanted to put my 52mm protective filter on it, but it didn't fit, it turned out to be a little larger.
If there are many lenses with 49 mm thread, then it makes sense to buy a 49-52 mm adapter. I’m going to order it myself soon, only about $ 3 with postal delivery from China.
Thanks for the amendment. As far as I know, Biotars and Biometars are a kind of just further development of the Planar, although in many sources I have met that Biometar is just another name for the Planar, nothing more.
Cool bear.
No need to charge the phone from the tree. There, of course, some charge is possible, but not worth it.
Dyakuyu for such a commendable look at my object. I love yogo for greatness and bokkeee !!! :)
Thanks to Arkady for a good review! I would like such a review on Pentacon 2.8 / 135 (Preset, Auto, Electric)
Not at all, by the way, the review is already ready - Pentacon 135 2.8 auto MC
It should be noted that he has a characteristic pattern: the type of fish scale.
http://s017.radikal.ru/i401/1206/45/cab50fec61ba.jpg
Compare it to the Pentax-M 50mm 1.7
which lens is sharper this practitioner or Zenitar M 1,7?
Zenith sharper
Carl Zeiss
Arkady, welcome!
Thank you for the excellent site, and for this review in particular.
Recently I became the proud owner of this lens. But minus it is focusing only on close objects (M42). Please tell us more about working with it using the adapter KP-42 \ N.
Will there be infinity? Focus will disappear up to 2 m, and then everything is as it should be?
Is it possible to clean this optics from dust at home without damaging the lens?
And - looking towards the Nikon 50mm F1.8D AF - is it worth having this Pentacon already?
Thank you in advance for your response!
With KP-42 \ N there will be no infinity on Nikon. It will be difficult to disassemble the lens at home. 50 1.8 af can be a complement, autofocus is sometimes very useful.
Thank you for your reply!
Those. Do I now understand correctly the phrase “... with the loss of the ability to focus at 2 meters” as the impossibility in any case to focus beyond 2 meters with this lens? I now have an M42-H adapter ring (rather thin), the focus disappears from 1,7 m.
Inability to focus on the Nikon system with a lensless adapter.
Hello, how will this lens behave on Nikon D90, as they say a lot, but I can’t say anything specifically
Just like on the Nikon D40, the Nikon D80 from this review.
Arkady, thank you so much for a great site. I learned a lot of useful things.
I got such a lens, but without MS. Sample of the 59th year.
An interesting lens, but so far the weather makes it impossible to take a walk with it.
I would be very grateful for the consultation: I have a Nikon D3100 and I have a Pentax 50 / 1,8 lens (from Practice) that I want to use. The store offers these types of adapters (see below). Please tell me which one is better to choose (without taking into account the financial factor). Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Vladimir
JYC W M42-Nikon
Product Code: 360438
Adapter ring from M42 to Nikon
106 UAH
CHK Lift M42-Nikon (with lens)
Product Code: 249082
Adapter for M42 optics on Nikon cameras
253 UAH
JYC M42-Nikon with lens
Product Code: 360441
Adapter ring from M42 to Nikon with lens
261 UAH
Good afternoon, the question arose about using this lens on nikon, infinity would inevitably be lost with an adapter without a lens, and with the lens there will be an inevitable loss of sharpness, which I really do not want. The network has a lot of instructions for remaking helios 44m to infinity, by unscrewing the shank and screwing the adapter itself onto it, the authors argue that in this way the same distance to the matrix will appear which will give us the desired infinity, the culmination question arises whether it can be done too the same with Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.8 / 50, or it has its own design features that will not allow this, if you have an answer, then he would decide on the advisability of buying this lens, thanks in advance.
Sorry, the comment is not for that review, it's about Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 2.8 / 50 (black)
Please tell me, is it possible to clean the outer glass of this lens with isopropyl alcohol? Found a few spots that are not rubbed off with a cloth. Just alarming in the name MULTI COATING. Sorry newbie for such a question.
Please tell me how to choose the front protective cap and lens hood for this lens? You indicated the size of the 49mm filters, but I don’t understand how to choose the specified accessories. Help me please!
the hood is screwed under 49mm, the protective front cover should be under 49mm.
Thank you! It turns out everything is universally done.
Hello, I will be very grateful for the consultation. I have a Samsung NX11 camera (mirrorless, crop 1,5), I have a desire to purchase a manual fast fifty kopecks. Can I use it as a portrait one or do I need a lens with a large focal length? There is experience in communicating with Helios 44-2 58mm. on this camera, through the NX-42 adapter. Of the fifty dollars
1.YASHICA AUTO YASHINON - DS 50mm F1.7
2.PENTACON 50MM F1.8 MULTI COATING
3.kmz zenitar m 1.7 / 50 m42
And how does it differ from your helios fastening, please tell me ??? The focal point will be 85 it is a no brainer ... What do you think is just right for a portrait?))) If this is a question about lenses, then take a pentacon and do not fiddle - the quality of zeniters just flies off the letter g and a good Yashinon is the one that ideally and 1.4 and these are others money and a difficult search for rarities.
My Helios is poor in its technical condition and stupid diaphragm control. But he was a touchstone, which revealed my interest in manual optics. I waited a long time for an answer to my question, but did not wait .. By the time of Ivan's comment, a pentacon had been bought and now it is my favorite lens. This lens is for the soul, not thoughtless clicking.
Dear Arkady! Thank you very much for the excellent reviews and comments!
I am an old amateur photographer, I photograph both ants on Earth and airplanes on the airfield! Recently purchased Nikon 1V1 (1 ”crop 2,7 matrix). Everything about it is good, but I don't like f3,5-5,6 on the whale zoom (10-30)! You can see the matrix, they didn't have time to rotate it yet, and I really don't like raising the ISO along with the noise! Regular "pancake" - all the same!
I don’t know, this is a feature of all digital cameras, or only Nick 1, but if it fails to focus, the shutter does not work. I cannot fix this with a screwdriver ...
Questions:
1. Will the shutter of Nick 1 on Helius and Jupiter (which are “wireless”!) Trigger only on the signals of the optical sensors of the matrix?
2. Will these lenses work sufficiently well in the universal mode?
3. what owls. lenses and adapters (a company transition is more expensive than a company lens!) can you recommend (for my tasks and cameras) and where can I get them for inexpensive?
Of course, for me it would be great luck if you knew the exact answers to my questions! Naturally - this is unlikely. But your versions and assumptions on these issues are very interesting to me!
Thanks in advance!
C Regards,
Vladimir P.
PS - Sorry that the questions are somewhat "at an angle" to the topic (I wanted to ask them specifically for you!) ...
C Nikon 1V1 did not work, I can not answer.
I do not understand much the logic of buying Nikonov to use old Soviet and not very optics))) for example, the same Panasonic and crop have 2 ku and you can screw anything on it, I am silent about the quality of native optics, which can only compete with tops from elki canon and manual Zeiss ...
SW Arkady, thank you for your attention!
can someone tell me what?
1. No, it will not be 2. Universal - are you kidding me ??? Focal with crop 2.7 is a lope, but it turns out there once and the grip where it goes two ... You don't look like an experienced fotik respected (((3. Returns to Panasonic Olympus with crop 2 at least ... It's easier to sell your iron to buy used black and not salt Bought Nikon, twist your own good fixed glass or do not twist at all. Ps as small children
Will autofocus work in the camera?
Of course, there are only handles and the aperture of the point will not be closed by itself)))
Apparently, Biotar is indeed a development of Planar
Here is the link to the detailed material:
http://evtifeev.com/3811-planar.html
and where can I find the adapter to the canon? and its price!
on Avito with confirmation of focus less than 1000r
without a penny at all
Hello, the focus ring has fallen off my lens, it’s in the body, but it walks in a circle back and forth to the stop, tell me, is there somewhere information on how to fix it?
Try to disassemble yourself
Won't come out buy a new one worth a penny
The repair is pointless is not worth it
The lens is definitely good and eternal. I have ideally since Practice in the late 70s ... BUT
In terms of resolution, it is still shamelessly behind - the same Boot 50 1.8 is a cut above plus autofocus. I don't know anything about Nikons and I don't want to know. At a cost of 3 kilo rubles - see Yandex Market makes Praktikar outright. The fact that the body is plastic and will not work for long does not matter. Children will not get it))
In general, the topic of advice on the figure is too exaggerated.
The same OLYMPUS system on which I am sitting, I have at least 4 lenses that give ALL manufacturers of the modern clean. There zooms like Olympus ED 14-35mm f 2.0 SWD leave behind not only ALL Soviet fixes, but ALL enemy zooms.
Do not swear, it’s not just a matter of money, but they either exist or not.
If they are not, we twist the Soviet and how lucky.
Ivan, what is so dramatic about Soviet-German (any) manual optics? The construct is still more reliable than plastic, and the plastic of the glass pattern is still different from modern ones ... Well, reskossst is not always a plus.
Answering Dmitry's question, it is impossible to find 2 identical owls of the same series, even by the smoothness of the focusing ring.
Most of the pre-sunset years 80-90 are simply not assembled by hand.
And despite this, my 85 135 and 50 are surprisingly good - but somewhere I was lucky and where I was looking)
ie - when there is “loot”, then canon for 3 rubles is the most? PPC.
Andrew is not dust and turn on your head a)))
Everything is written in Russian there.
“The main competitor can be considered the Soviet Zenitar 50 / 1.7”. I bought this Zenitar-annoying some green tint of the photos and HA may be small but present. The Kaleinar 5n lens is much better in this regard + sharper. I have a question, if it is possible to compare these 3 lenses, where will the PENTACON be?
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Hello!
Will the rear of the lens interfere with the Nikon D80 mirror? It is clear that you cannot focus on infinity, but if you focus on infinity, can the Nikon D80 mirror and the back of this lens get into an “accident”?
Thank you!
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