Review MS 3M-5CA F8 500mm

For the opportunity review lens MS 3M-5CA many thanks to Alexander Panasyuk.

View of the lens MS ZM-5CA and filters from the kit

View of the lens MS ZM-5CA and filters from the kit

There are two lenses. MS 3M-5A and MS 3M-5CA. The second version of 3M-5CA is just an updated version of 3M-5A. 3M-5CA - two times lighter than his brother, and slightly smaller in size. On the one hand, less weight is good, but on the other hand, due to the light weight of the lens, the minimum excerptat which you can take off without grease pictures.

TTX 3M-5CA:
Focal length: 500mm
The weight: 620g
MDF: 4 meters
Diaphragm: F8.0 fixed
Front Filter Diameter: 72mm
Landing thread: M42
Manufacturer: LZOS (Lytkarino Optical Glass Plant, Lytkarino)

Also, you can find the name of the lenses: MC ZM-5A and MC ZM-5SA - these are the same MS 3M-5A and 3M-5CA.

View of the lens MS ZM-5CA and size comparison

View of the lens MS ZM-5CA and size comparison

The letters MC in the name of the lens indicate multilighting. The letters ЗМ stands for "mirror-meniscus". 3M-5CA Is not a classic lens lens. Have 3M-5CA special mirror-meniscus design, which includes the meniscus, mirrors and lenses. Menis and lenses have multi-lightening.

View of the MS ZM-5CA lens on a modern digital mirror camera

View of the MS ZM-5CA lens on a modern digital mirror camera

The main important information about MS 3M-5CA
1. The lens is super telephoto. 500 mm focal length give a very strong approximation. If used 3M-5CA on a camera with a cropped matrix (APS-C type), then the angle of view with this lens will be even narrower, and EGF will equal 750mm for Nikon with crop factor 1.5 and 800mm for Canon c crop factor 1.6. With such a large focal length it is easy to reach distant objects, or simply go unnoticed by shooting from far away.

2. The lens fits for full frame. They will be able to work with him Nikon D700, D800(to), D3(x, s), D4, Canon EOS 5D (Mark II, Mark III), 1Ds Mark II (Mark III), 1D Mark IV and 1D X. Typically long-throw full-frame lenses are quite expensive, MC 3M-5A and 3M-5CA can be found for less than $ 100. e.

3. The lens only one aperture value equal to F8.0. The aperture value cannot be changed. For example, aperture F8.0 lower per aperture with an aperture of F5.6 ordinary whale lens only 2 times.

Photo on MS ZM-5CA

Photo on MS ZM-5CA

4. The focus ring is very convenient, rotates almost 360 degrees. The aim is smooth. The minimum focusing distance is 4 meters. After 30 meters, infinity begins on the focus distance indicator.

5. The front cover does not snap into place, but is screwed in. Moreover, it takes a long time to screw the cover. The cover covers the front lens, which is actually a concave meniscus.

6. Together with the lens there are 4 light filters: UV-1x, N-4x, ZhZ-2x, O-2.8X (ultraviolet, neutral, green and orange).

Sample photo on MS ZM-5CA

Sample photo on MS ZM-5CA

How to use on modern digital SLR cameras?
Despite the fact that the lens has an ending in the name “A”, the lens does not have a replaceable shank. On my copy of the MC 3M-5CA, there is simply an M42 thread for attaching to the camera. The lens has an amazing ability to focus beyond infinity. I use the lens with the KP-42 \ N adapter without a lens, while the ability to focus on infinity is preserved.

Attention 1: MS 3M-5CA cannot be installed simply with an adapter KP-42 \ N on cameras junior line due to the fact that the lens abuts against a built-in flash. I could not attach the lens to Nikon D40, Nikon D5000. The lens sits on older cameras without problems. You can see the camera class in the section 'all nikon cameras'. As for Canon, I can't say.

Attention 2: in spite of the fact that the lens has M42 thread, on Nikon it will be possible to focus at infinity even with a KP-42 / N lensless adapter due to the fact that the focusing ring has a small "Running across" for infinity.

Attention 3: The lens is quite difficult to shoot. This is due to a large focal length of 500 mm, a small lens weight and a small aperture F8.0 Almost all Nikon cameras can confirm focusing on a green dot with apertures up to F5.6 (indicated in the camera specification). Therefore, confirmation by the green focus point will not always work. The green dot will only work well under normal lighting conditions. Who has a Live View is not a problem. Also, professional cameras such as Nikon D4 can be sharpened at F8.0 aperture by confirming with a green dot when using part of the focus points, as D4 supports focusing at F8.0

You can read how to install and use old lenses on modern Nikon digital SLR cameras in the section Soviet optics. For Canon in Old Canon Lenses.

Portrait on MS ZM-5CA

Portrait on MS ZM-5CA

Image quality:
The MS 3M-5CA lens gives a slightly contrasty image (it’s not at all a problem to fix it during processing). The lens has two very interesting features in the construction of the image. The first is the lens is completely devoid of chromatic aberration. Usually, the highest quality telephoto lenses are lightweight. HA, MS 3M-5CA - does not have them at all. Lack of HA associated with the mirror-meniscus lens design. The lens has an unusual bokeh - all the luminous points in the out-of-focus area are transformed into donuts and rings - this is a feature of the mirror-meniscus lens. Many people do not like this type of bokeh, in any case, the picture looks unusual.

Bokeh on MS ZM-5SA

Bokeh on MS ZM-5SA

Sample photos on MS 3M-5CA. All photos are taken on Nikon D200without processing. Converting from RAW to JPEG with auto levels, reduced the size to 1600 * 1200 and added a watermark with parameters EXIF. I did add auto levels, since raw RAW has pretty little contrast.

Personal impressions:
Take off hand lens 3M-5CA on the camera Nikon D200 without grease I get on shutter speed not lower than 1/100 of a second. I advise you to shoot no lower than 1/500. How to avoid blurring, is written in the article as Take off with Hands. Due to the small aperture and the need for a short excerpts when shooting handheld, even on a sunny day you will have to raise ISO. On a cloudy day I had to shoot at ISO 1600 and shutter speed about 1/320.

Photo on the lens of the MS ZM-5CA

Photo on the lens of the MS ZM-5CA

Why can I use such a lens?
With the lens, you can quietly shoot fearful animals, distant objects, etc. .. In fact, the lens is not so big, Tair-3 is much larger than the MC 3M-5CA. Fans of stealthy shooting, MS 3M-5CA will like it. On the camera, the lens looks pretty decent and impressive, it attracts a mirror, which is located in the middle of the front meniscus, which is rather strange for a conventional lens lens. MS 3M-5A and 3M-5CA have more brothers - these are 3M-4A, ZM-6A, with F6,3 and 500mm. ZM-6A is faster than 1.6 times (2/3 stops) for 3M-5A.

Photo on MS ZM-5CA

Photo on MS ZM-5CA


Catalog modern brand lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can look at this link.


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Conclusion:
The 3M-5CA is an excellent super telephoto lens. Picture 3M-5CA has a complete absence of chromatic aberration. Focusing is smooth. The lens has low contrast and shooting without a tripod is quite difficult. I recommend it to all fans of hunting photos.

Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram

Add a comment: Eugene

 

 

Comments: 196, on the topic: Review of MS 3M-5CA F8 500mm

  • Morikvend

    Thanks for the review!
    I have been thinking about buying this lens for a long time, or MTO, but I couldn’t get my hands on it. Now firmly set up :)
    I think in summer photographs he will show himself much better!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      It will be better in the summer, otherwise I wrote a review for a couple of days (for the time being I was given a lens), and the weather was very gloomy, because ISO is beyond the limits.

  • here's another similar mirror lens (Korean Bower).
    http://evtifeev.com/?p=2209

    as telescopes, they make sense, but for life ... hardly

  • Slam

    Darkly. The weather was not in favor of the lens)
    Arkady, do you have a couple of “favorite” Soviet lenses?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Yes, gloomy, but if you need to understand how the lens works, read the review text. There are a couple of favorites.

  • Slam

    which ones?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Helios-81N, Jupiter-37A, Jupiter-11, Kaleinar-5n, Jupiter-9.

      • Alexander

        Arkady, and which is more preferable, Jupiter 11 or Jupiter 37a?

        • Arkady Shapoval

          37a

  • Slam

    Thank you

  • SONY

    There is also Rubinar 5,6 / 500 - a whole stop lighter (instead of ISO-1600, you can set ISO-800). and, importantly, focus confirmation will work stably with it.
    And if 500 mm RF is redundant and 500 mm EGF is needed, that is, Rubinar 4,5 / 300.

    In other words, all these apertures are very arbitrary. Because of the mirror in the center, the lenses are actually darker. And the higher the nominal aperture ratio, the greater the lag between the real one and the nominal one. For example, for Rubinar 4,5 / 300, the real aperture is just f / 5.6.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      I also noticed that it is not F8.0, but darker.

  • Eugene

    Forgive me, write on the D40 and D5000: “..On older cameras, the lens sits without problems”. Is D90 older than D5000? All the same, the 2008 model. In short, will it suit her?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Seniority is meant by functionality, not by age. See section Geneology Cameras Nikon. I have to sit back to back, but I do not give guarantees, since I need to try.

    • Andrei

      I have a ZM-5A. He approached the Nikon 5000 without any problems.

  • Polyfrag

    On D90 ZM-5A will fit without problems.
    Even the ZM-6A will fit, but it will be inconvenient to shoot - you cannot grab the carcass with your right hand, because your fingers will not fit!

    • Andrei

      ZM-6A f / 6.3 does not rise on the D300 and D700 due to low tide under the flash. I had to abandon the purchase ((I put it on carcasses through a replaceable shank KP-A / N

  • Alexey

    I set my 3M-5CA MC on the Nikon 3100 as follows. Previously, I ordered on the Lushnikov website an adapter m 42 for Nikon with a lens. It is slightly thicker than the lensless adapter, and the lens can be removed from it. So, with this adapter, with the lens removed, this lens fell onto my 3100th, and the most amazing infinity was preserved!

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thank you, this is very useful information for owners of younger cameras, as I wrote in the review that it will not be possible to deliver through a conventional adapter with a conventional adapter.

    • Glory

      I got up with a lensless adapter without problems

  • anonym

    Hello .. and it will be compatible with Nikon d3000 ??

    • Arkady Shapoval

      without alteration will not be compatible)

  • Anonymus

    The article lacks lens images. Does religion prohibit taking pictures and posting views on a camera mount? The ZM lenses of different models have different backs, despite the same M42 thread at the end. There is the M42 coming out of the "back" of the lens and there is the M42 in the form of a screwed-on "KP-A / M42", which can be replaced with an adapter for another system without screwing in extra adapters. It would be nice to see what exactly this model is in reality and look at other similar ones.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Religion has nothing to do with it, there is the usual lack of time to collect material for review, including shooting the lens itself. Keep in mind that these are not my lenses, but they are often given for 2-3 hours to be used.

  • Vyacheslav

    I use the ZM-5A MS on the Canon EOS 450D, I got up through the adapter without any problems, and it doesn’t rest on the flash.

  • Anatoly

    You can also go through the macro ring to “Zenith” the thinnest one, too, infinity is preserved and does not rest against the flash on D5100

  • ART

    Has anyone taken apart the 3M-5CA lens? After disassembling and assembling, infinity disappeared (Canon camera.

  • SONY

    I bought this lens today.
    I got up on the Canon 550D without problems, it doesn’t hurt anything. So, apparently, it will fit all Canon.
    At least the central focus point works (I did not check the rest as unnecessary). Somehow it works even in the dark (when ISO-6400, and the shutter speed is still 1/60).

  • Andrey

    I have a ZM-5A (metal body) and it has a replaceable shank ...
    so I put it through a lensless adapter on Nikon d5000 and there, even before the flash, a gap of 2-3mm
    while infinity is preserved ...

    PS who are interested in selling ZM-5A ok_go (dog) inbox.ru

  • Eugene White

    I will enter the data on the canons in the piggy bank.
    ZM-5CA with any kind of adapter rings M42-EOS is installed with a gap of 7-8 mm before the flash on 500D, 500N (film recorder) and 7D. Presumably with others, too, the order.
    ZA-5A with a gap of half a millimeter established.
    MTO-11a - with a gap of 5-6 mm

    on 5CA - confirmation of focusing in the center is stable in the light, in cloudy weather only on contrasting objects. it’s easier to take this lens out of your bag at dusk.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks for the useful information.

  • Sergei

    ZM-6a calmly enters the d7000

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Thanks for the information.

      • Sergei

        And by the way, on zm6a with kp-a / n, infinity is preserved, and the d7000 camera retains the ability to focus on the green dot.

        For convenience, I bought a monopod, as the hands are really tired and it is very inconvenient to hold the lens, and twist a tight focus ring.

  • Kirill

    Has anyone received clear pictures from him? I have that with a tripod, that without soap

  • Sergei

    I bought 3m 5sa, I also get soap that is on a tripod without it. I also noticed a couple of dust particles in the inside or I didn’t understand this mold in the photo, they clearly showed up. A new lens did not understand under the microscope, every screw looked. Who will tell you how to clean it. In nete I did not find any info about its disassembly.

  • Oleg

    If I understand correctly, then he will not get on the Nikon-3100? If you need a remake, then what is it? Thanks.

    • Arkady Shapoval

      On d3100 does not sit down.

      • Oleg

        and on MTO 500 8? :-))

      • Oleg

        meant: whether MTO 500 8 sits on nikon d3100

        • Michael

          It makes sense to take an adapter with a lens, because it is thicker and the lens can stand up, and throw out the lens itself, infinity should be preserved

      • Anatoly

        It will sit down, you just need to fasten the thinnest extension ring + slightly rearrange the focus ring, it is not difficult, it focuses on infinity with a small overrun.

  • Bogdan

    :)) a very necessary topic gentlemen !!! I bought nikon d3100 myself nikkor18-105 mm and Helios 44-2, I want something else good but for a low price ... I am considering an option with this lens in the subject :)) one thing scares me that the aperture is fixed ... and the viewing angle is small !!! :)) I would like to take it for astrophotography !!!

    • Oleg

      And you wanted to view and shoot landscapes with one lens of the Martians? - it won't work :-)) either look for a suitable zoom lens, or collect a collection of fixes :-))

  • Alexey

    Good evening, Arkady. I was interested in this lens, but the following information caught my eye: “I was very surprised when I discovered that the ZM-5SA does not have a tripod socket. When I took this lens out of happiness, I did not pay attention to it, because all the other well-known advantages were present. But then I screwed on the "Tourist-FL" attachment to visually check the quality, when it suddenly turned out that you couldn't put it on a tripod ... "Is this really so? I think a tripod is a must. How can you use it without a tripod?

  • Alexey

    Good evening. Please answer - I want to buy it, but I need it on a tripod. How to be?

    • Irina

      I think the tripod ring should help. I also buy this for myself and also thought about it, but I think 620 grams will somehow survive for the first time, but about the increase in sharpness I came across such an article in the Internet http://slrphoto.narod.ru/rubinar.htm

      • Alexey

        Thank you

  • Alexey

    Arkady once again ignored

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