I express my gratitude to Andrey Mikhailovsky for the opportunity lens overview Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150.
Overview of Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 Is a prime tele lens from Kiev medium format cameras with a Pentacon SIX mount. Note that there were also Kalinar-3 lensesВ 2.8 / 150 from 'Salyut' cameras with 'B' mount. Also, there is Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 under a different name - Arsat 2.8 / 150... On my Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 lens there is the logo of the Kiev plant 'Arsenal', and the first two digits in the lens number 830310 indicate that the lens was manufactured back in 1983.
View of the lens Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
The lens Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 is very heavy, its weight is over 1100g, and the size is simply huge. Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 uses 82mm filters. On modern lightweight cameras by type Nikon D5100, Canon 600D the lens will be difficult to use due to the improper weight balance of the camera-lens bundle. On my kilogram camera Nikon D700 Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 feels great, but after an hour of shooting the severity of the lens makes itself felt.
Lens view Kaleinar 3B 2.8 150
Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 through adapters can be used on any modern camera. For example, I used Kaleinar-3B on cameras Nikon D700, D80 using a Pentacon SIX - Nikon F adapter, such an adapter can be found in the manual optics section. How to use old Soviet lenses you can read on any Nikon digital SLR camera here, and for Canon - here.
View Kaleinar 3B 2.8 150
I like to use lenses from medium format cameras, since on full-format cameras and on cropped cameras they work only with their central area, usually the image from the central area of the lens is the sharpest and eliminated from other parasitic distortions. Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 itself is a rather unique lens, it is the only 150mm fix from the Soviet Union, and there are only 2 pieces of Kaleinar brand lenses, this one from this review, and MS Kaleinar-5n 100mm F2.8.
Sample photo on Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
The lens has a huge metal focus ring, which rotates 270 degrees, while the trunk of the lens is extended by 2-3 centimeters. When focusing, the front lens does not rotate; during focusing, all internal lenses move along the helicoid. The MDF lens is 1.8 meters. It was hard for me to focus through the optical viewfinder.
Sample photo on Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
The iris control ring is located near the front lens. Aperture closes down to F / 16.0 with intermediate values of F / 11, 8, 5.6, 4 and F / 2.8. Among the drawbacks of the lens, I want to note the 6-blade diaphragm, which forms nuts in the out-of-focus area. If Kaleinar-3B had as many petals as, for example, Jupiter-37A, then there would be no price for it. Aperture blades are matte. Kaleinar-3B has the ability to automatically control the aperture on medium format Kiev cameras; when used on modern digital cameras, only manual aperture control is available. The lens has a DOF scale for all intermediate apertures.
Sample photo on Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
Image quality
First of all, the lens is interesting for its ability to beautifully blur the background, which is very important for some types of portraiture. On the open aperture, the lens has a nice bokeh. The sharpness at F / 2.8 is rather weak, but for a portrait it is enough with the head, when the aperture is closed, the sharpness increases. The lens does not tolerate lateral and backlight, it lacks multi-illumination. Due to the light sources in the frame, the contrast of the lens drops dramatically; when used on digital cameras, the contrast is easily corrected. Color rendering is normal, the lens suffers a little HA.
Lens sizes
Sample Photos
All photos were taken with a Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 lens and a camera Nikon D700 JPEG L, FINE, VI. Photos without processing, size reduced to 3 MP (2048 * 1536) and data from EXIF.
Personal experience
Due to its enormous weight, Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 loses to other lenses, for example, such as Jupiter-37A, when using full-format cameras. In general, the impressions of Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 are positive, if you work a little on the photos from Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 in graphic editors, you can get a very decent picture.
Sample photo on Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150
Catalog modern brand lenses 'Zenitar' и 'Helios' can look at this link.
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Conclusions
Kaleinar-3B 2.8 / 150 is a unique medium format fast prime telephoto lens. Can be used as a 'long' portrait lens on full frame and crop cameras.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval.
Hello! Please tell me in which direction to turn the flare nut to remove the lens got Kaleinar-3B with a jammed adapter I would like to know which way to use force. Thank you in advance for your reply.
Hello! I look, no one answered. I have a similar problem.) -: Did not know, which way to turn?
Good day. If you hold the lens with the front lens towards you, the union nut loosens counterclockwise.
Thank you for the information! I will twist!
The lens is wonderful! This is the best of portraits in full format (through an adapter) that I came across! The native Canon 85 / 1.8 was not nearby in the picture. Sharp from 2,8 (maybe it’s so successful a shot) If it weren’t for its weight, I wouldn’t take it off. I have never regretted the acquisition.
I expected better quality from Kaleinar, the picture yellowish for sharpness will tune through the video, the finder is problematic, I used life view. I shot on Kenon 600 through an adapter. The feeling of shooting is twofold, on the one hand you feel all the power and strength of Soviet optics, on the other, it’s really scary for the mount on the camera, it feels like a little wrong movement and the camera will be broken. With such a large weight, the kaleinar simply does not have a separate tripod mount. The lens could be a good portrait but 150 mm is like a lot on me. To take a person to his full height you need to run far. I did not like the strong chromatic aberrations, but I thought that they would not be so noticeable. But the lens coolly blurs the background, even at a small background distance from the object.
I would like to hear a comparative analysis with the Zonar 180mm. And then the zonar sometimes took on trips at the beginning, but it was extremely rare to use it (this was in the early 2000s with a film yet). As a result, it stands like a monument on my shelf. When you have to wander through the mountains and trails, you gradually understand that one lens in the SF is quite enough, maximum two. By the way, if you compare them with 150 and 180 zonars, how much do you win on the last picture? What are the differences? In color, sharpness, contrast? If it doesn't bother anyone, you can tell.
Don't go to the grandmother here - the sonnar is sharper, more contrasting, and more pleasant with a bite. 5 lenses, thick gluing - these are not 4 usual for kaleinar. The Zonnars are generally one of the sharpest lenses of the last century.
Yeah, thanks Rodion.