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.


Comments on this post do not require registration. Anyone can leave a comment. Many different photographic equipment can be found on AliExpress.


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: Sergei

 

 

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

  • Dejavu

    Thank you Arkady for your work. Now I am your regular reader. Tell me, are there any tripod mount adapters for such a lens?
    Thank you very much!

  • Valery

    I will sell ZM-5CA in excellent condition with one (neutral) filter and a cover (case).
    +380953377334

  • Simon

    Tell me pliz ... what is its height in millimeters without thread? Back thickness in millimeters. Does it pop up on focus? or how is it arranged there? There is no such data anywhere ...

  • Vlad

    not so it is UG. in the attached file crop without resizing from MTO-500 to D-5200. The depth of field of these lenses is microscopic, and the resolution completely covers 24 megapixels, if you dance with a tambourine :)

  • Hsien

    Unexpected tip:

    > I would not advise anyone to buy the CA version.
    > On sale, it is found much more often than the large ZM-5A, since no one really needs it.
    > Good photos are few. Take only ZM-5A. It's heavy enough
    > which stabilizes the lens-body frame and allows longer shutter speed,
    > its sharpness is higher due to the lower curvature of the mirror than the CA
    > (which in such a way managed to make it more compact while maintaining the luminosity).

    http://www.deep-life.ru/zm-5an/index.htm

  • Hsien

    If this advice is correct, then the question arises - can this heavy 3M-5A also be mounted on the D40 using a ring? (how it happened with 3M-5SA)

    • Rodion

      Likely.

    • KalekseyG

      delivered with a margin of 2mm

  • Hsien

    In the photo, as in binary arithmetic, "got up" or "did not get up" :)
    So "most likely" does not work here.
    Buy this fool by mail (the usual way of buying retro), but if she does not get up?

    • Vlad

      MTO-500 on d60 and d80 did not sit down. used only on d700 and d300. but d5200 surprised - the beak is smaller and the lens will still fit.

  • Valery

    Arkady. I have a 3M-5SA lens with a lensless adapter for nikon d90, the infinity does not focus. There is “overrun” for infinity, but still the focusing ring travel is a little lacking. Tell me what to do? They say that if you install an adapter with a lens, the image quality drops. And it is not very high in this lens.

  • Andrey Super

    Hello Arkady. Write that when installing on Nikon, there will be infinity due to the overrun. And if you install tk-2m through the teleconverter will be infinity?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Most likely will be, but I have not tried.

  • Wade

    MTO 500, canon 650d camera year of manufacture 1972, got up without problems, there is a gap of about 5 mm before the flash.

    • Wade

      This refers to the year of manufacture of the lens.

  • Wade

    I apologize for the inaccuracy of the MTO 500A, 550mm 8,5 aperture number. 1972 year of manufacture.

  • Valery

    Arkady. Answer the question of Valery from 22.08. 2016 year.

  • Amateur photographer

    Hello Arkady, thanks for the review.

    Could you say a few words about the MTO-500A lens: how does it differ from the MTO-500 and 3m5a, not in terms of the different focal length and aperture (it is clear that the lens indicates 550mm, F8.5), but in terms of quality differences of the obtained photographs, whether they differ significantly from the photographs on MTO-500 and 3m5a, etc.

    I understand that the discussion about quality is conditional, but maybe you have experience shooting, it would be interesting to read, there are all 3 versions of lenses on sale, but unfortunately I did not find a good review about MTO-500A (

  • Vlad

    3M-6A 500mm F6.3 on the nikon D800 I have an adapter, but the built-in flash interferes with which adapter is better to use or for this model it is not possible

    • Aleks

      I have an MTO 500 lens I shoot on a canon, it also has a built-in flash that interferes with it, so I install it through an additional macro ring and use it

  • Valery

    Arkady, what should you do if the “overrun” beyond infinity of 3m-5s is not enough for aiming at infinity on the NikonD90 camera?
    Valeri.

    • Shurko67

      I have a ZM-5A, judging by the serial number of the 79th year of release, it sits on my youngest workhorse Nikon D90 as if to my home, does not rest against anything, does not cling to anything. Replaced the tail of the M42 with the usual KP-A / N and that's it.
      About the run of infinity.
      In my copy, this is, approximately, to go back 12-15 degrees after the focusing ring rested on infinity and here it is a miracle, everything is as it should ...)))
      But in general, the lens is quite specific and you need to adapt to its features or just get used to it. :)
      The picture is just for illustration. I shot from the balcony, the distance to the selected top of the tree is about 50 meters. ISO-400, shutter speed 1 / 400s. In the RAW converter I slightly tweaked the white balance and increased the contrast. Reduced the size to 1200 pixels on the long side. I did nothing more “in-depth”.

  • Rustam Zagromov

    Macro mirror mini lens

    MTO MZ-6A 6,3 / 500 + converter MS K-1 2x M42x1 + macro rings (set of 3 pcs).

    If you screw an average macro ring between the converter and the lens, and long and short between the converter and the digital SLR, you get an excellent macro with a focus distance of 3 meters.
    For those who take pictures of butterflies / bugs or small objects to which there is no direct access (buryaks behind the fence, an apple on a tree, etc.)

  • Eugene

    Good day.
    Is the MTO 500 about the same lens?

    • Michael

      Yes, about

  • Sergei

    Tell me, will he get up on the D5300?

    • Basil

      Easy, even with a conventional adapter without a lens

  • anonym

    So I did not understand on the D80 through the usual adapter m42-Nikon will become?

    • Basil

      Yes, it will be 100%

  • Sergei

    Good day. Please tell me, will such a lens become on the D3200?

    • Arkady Shapoval

      Will not. Will rest against the flash.

    • anonym

      I have 3100 gets up without problems

      • Alexander

        Is there focus on infinity?

  • anonym

    Will it be installed on the Sony Alpha 200? (with adapter naturally)

  • Oleg

    The Sony A7R II was no problem.

  • dima krutov

    hmm, judging by most of the photographs (except for one), the depth of field extending into the depth of space is depth of field

    • dima krutov

      his grip is simply useless: ((((

      • Michael

        Normal

  • Alexey

    Even through extension rings it will not work to put on the Nikon d3100 and d3200 ???

    • Sergei

      I have d3100 installed

      no problem flash does not interfere

      • Alexander

        Is there focus on infinity?

  • Vlad

    What version of this lens is still better to take, ZM-5A or ZM-5CA? I met comments that CA has worse picture quality, but in my opinion the quality is the same, judging by the photo from the Internet.
    I plan to use for photo planes on the echelon.

    • Alexander P.

      ZM-5SA is smaller in size, lighter and by 7000 it becomes ideal through a conventional adapter. But the thing is specific, it is difficult to shoot, it is better to immediately from a tripod - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q35Ne-WHNEM
      I shot the planes on the approach, before landing, a kilometer from the runway, I had to suffer, even with a tripod, there were many misses in sharpness, although this has its own charm. The same planes from the usual Canon S3 IS (with stabilization), just hand-held, it is much more convenient to shoot, although the quality is of course so-so.
      There was also an idea to take MTO 1000 to play around and use it in tandem with a converter. BUT then NIKON P1000 caught my eye and I thought ...;))

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