Overview of RO3-3M 2/50

For the provided lens RO3-3M 2/50 many thanks the store ProFotoSalewhere you can find many new and used lenses for different systems, including similar manual lenses.

RO3-3M 2/50

RO3-3M 2/50

In short

PO3-3M 2/50 is a lens for Soviet cinema cameras with a frame size of 16 x 22 mm. Works easily on modern mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensor size (usually around 16 x 24mm). The lens has generally good optical performance and deserves due attention.

RO3-3M 2/50 attracts fourteen aperture blades and a peculiar picture, sharp in the center of the frame already at F / 2. In the secondary market, its price tag is in the region of $ 100; the lens itself is quite appreciated by amateur photographers. Of the obvious shortcomings, only the need for adaptation and the lack of multi-enlightenment can be distinguished, which negatively affects color and contrast.

Important: this review shows a redesigned lens that has been adapted to an M39 x 1 / 28.8 thread. Initially, it had a mount for Konvas-Avtomat type cameras. Redesigned with high quality, honor and praise to the master for such an adaptation.

Important: RO3-3M 2/50 exists in a huge number of modifications with different body frames, marking of the focus ring and aperture.

RO3-3M 2/50

RO3-3M 2/50

Main technical characteristics of RO3-3M 2/50

Name of instances from review Near the front lens 'Po3-3m 2/50 N725799'

On body '7010770'

Basic properties
  • Ro - projection lens
  • м - lens modification
  • Metal case
  • The lens is designed for a frame size of 16 x 22 mm
  • Single-layer chemical enlightenment
  • Camera lens
Front Filter Diameter 30.5 mm
Focal length 50 mm
Zoom ratio 1 x (this is fix)
Designed by for movie cameras Konvas-Avtomat
Number of aperture blades 14 rounded petals
Tags
  • marking on the focus ring with the focusing distance, only in meters, very detailed. There are infinity values, 15, 8, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.7, 1.5, 1.3, 1.2, 1.1, 1, 0.9, 0.8, 0.75, 0.7, 0.65 meters
  • depth of field scale
  • ring with aperture values, there are marks for F / 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22. The ring rotates with clicks
Diaphragm F / 2 to F / 22
MDF (minimum focusing distance) 0.65 meters
The weight 141 grams (converted copy, measured)
Optical design 6 elements in 4 groups

optical scheme RO3-3M 2/50

Lens hood unknown
Period Around the 1960s
Manufacturer country Made in USSR
Price In the secondary market, about 100 cu

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

Some Soviet cinema lenses are still highly prized by amateur photographers. Their main problem is adaptation to modern cameras. Usually such lenses have unique or at least interesting optical characteristics. PO3-3M 2/50 is a brilliant representative of such lenses.

RO3-3M 2/50

RO3-3M 2/50

Appearance

Here's what the converted RO3-3M 2/50 looks like under M39 x 1 / 28.8:

Sample photos on APS-C

During focusing to infinity, especially on covered apertures, the RO3-3M 2/50 does not cover the full frame (frame size 24 x 36 mm) and gives unrecoverable vignetting. But during focusing on very small focusing distances, the vignette disappears even at full frame. It is best to use the PO3-3M 2/50 on mirrorless cameras with an APS-C sensor, where it works almost normally.

PO3-3M 2/50 has a 6/4 Planar optical scheme, similar to the Biotar scheme used in classic photo lenses of the Helios-44 family. Biotar is a derivative of Planar. Hence the similarity of the picture between PO3-3M 2/50 and, for example, MC Helios-81N 2/50. First of all, the twisted bokeh is striking. In general, the PO3-3M 2/50 is noticeably sharper than most of the Helios lenses of the Helios-44 family.

On the open aperture, the RO3-3M 2/50 shows good sharpness already with F / 2.0, but because of the curvature of the field, the angles at F / 2.0 are weak. True, already at F / 4 the corners are back to normal. The level of chromatic aberration is low, the strongest chromatic aberration visible only in the corners of the image. Vignetting and distortion are moderate.

Unfortunately, due to weak / poor enlightenment, PO3-3M 2/50 gives a yellow-green tint in the photographs. Auto white balance not always cope, which is why photos require additional color correction. This is a classic disease of some old lenses.

The aperture blades are not blackened and reflect the incident light, which may reduce contrast on covered apertures.

All photos below are shown without processing. Camera used Sony a3500. All photos are on-camera JPEG. The image control mode is 'Standard 0/0/0' and 'Standard 0/1/1' (approximately 50/50). Functions' Corr. ob .: Shading ',' Corr. ob .: Chrome. aberr. ' and 'Corr. Rev .: Distortion 'were disabled.

Download jpeg source photos c Sony a3500 can at this link (65 files, 350 MB). On this camera I used a lens with a conventional adapter M39 / L39 -> Sony NEX / Alpha.

RO3-3M 2/50

RO3-3M 2/50

My experience

Kid RO3-3M 2/50 surprised. For a long time I did not come across similar interesting Soviet lenses.

RO3-3M 2/50 is very sharp, if you get used to it, you can draw a very interesting drawing from it.

True, if you do not consider the PO3-3M 2/50 as a lens for the collection, but focus on the practical side of the lens, it is still much easier and more expedient to take advantage of the offers from modern Chinese budget solutions. For instance, 7Artisans 55 / 1.4 It is cheaper than RO3-3M 2/50, while it has the same 14 aperture blades and is lighter by a whole step.

RO3-3M 2/50

RO3-3M 2/50

All reviews of film projection and filming lenses:

  1. RO3-3M 2/50
  2. RO2-2M 75/2 (review from the reader)
  3. PO 500-1 F9 CM. 1: 2 P (review from the reader)
  4. LENKINAP RO500-1 F = 9cm 1: 2 P (review from the reader)
  5. ЛЭТИ-60/60М F=92 1:2 (review from the reader)
  6. 2/92
  7. F = 92 1: 2
  8. ОКП-6-70-1 F=70 1:1,8
  9. LENKINAP OKS1A-75-1 F=75 1:2 P (review from the reader)
  10. LOMO RO501-1 F = 100 1: 2 (+ materials from the reader)
  11. LOMO RO500-1 F = 90 1: 2
  12. 16KP-1,4 / 65 (review from the reader)
  13. 35KP-1,8 / 65 (review from the reader)
  14. 35KP-1,8 / 70
  15. 35KP-1,8 / 75 (review from the reader)
  16. 35KP-1,8 / 85
  17. 35KP-1.8 / 100 (review from the reader)
  18. 35KP-1.8 / 120 (review from the reader)
  19. 35KP-1,8 / 120 (with aperture, reader's review)
  20. LOMO P-5 F = 90 1: 2 (review from the reader)
  21. LOMO P-5 F = 100 1: 2 (review from the reader)
  22. LOMO OKS1-22-1 F = 22 1: 2.8 (review from the reader)
  23. ЛОМО ОКС1-40-1 40/2.5 (review from the reader)
  24. LOMO OKS1-300-1 F = 300 1: 3.5 (review from the reader)
  25. LOMO OKS11-35-1 F = 35 1: 2 (review from the reader)
  26. LOMO J-53 F = 75 1: 2 (review from the reader)
  27. LOMO J-54 F = 85 1: 2 (review from the reader)
  28. LOMO OKP4-80-1 F=80 1:1,8 (review from the reader)
  29. (review from the reader)
  30. Tair-41 50/2 (review from the reader)
  31. KO-120 1: 2,1 120mm
  32. KO-90 1: 1,9 F = 9cm (review from the reader)
  33. KO-120M 1: 1.8 F = 120mm (review from the reader)
  34. KO-120M 120 / 1.8 with a diaphragm and helicoid (review from the reader)
  35. KO-120 1: 2.1 F = 12cm (review from the reader)
  36. GOZ “KO-140” 1:2,2 F–14cm (review from the reader)
  37. MP RSFSR GLAVOCHTEKHPROM PLANT №6 ★ F=7.7cm ★ (review from the reader)
  38. MSO USSR SSD UPP-1 ★ KHARKIV ★ F-7 CM ★
  39. Schneider Super Cinelux 70/2
  40. Meopta Meostigmat 100/1.7
  41. Projection aplanates: "Petzvali" and "Richter"

The names of the lenses correspond to their exact spelling on the body.

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

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Comments: 17, on the topic: Overview of RO3-3M 2/50

  • Basil

    Arkady, let me ask a couple of stupid questions: 1. Projection lens. So intended for projectors, not cameras? 2. Convas - 35mm.

    • Basil

      All. Found the answer. Thank.

  • Sergei

    At full frame, this lens trims the edges.
    It covers the central part with a diameter of about 35 mm, then a sharp drop in illumination.
    And black angles after 38 mm.
    On crop, the background twists slightly on the side, but weaker than Helios-44.
    By design and dimensions, it harmoniously combines with small b / ws such as Nex3 and Nex5.
    With Sony, the a3500 is no longer so harmonious.
    Now a little expensive on the secondary (even in unmodified form).

  • Sergei

    I own and sometimes use such a lens on a mic. Only mine is “white”, the front lens gives a bright blue reflection. On the open, my copy is very soft, as if the frame was mixed with the frame on a monocle, i.e. objects are sharp but there is a kind of haze around them. But when closed to 2.8, the character of the image and sharpness are normal. The shade of the lens is of course strong, for good it is necessary to make a correction profile for it, tk. just setting the BB can not be taken out.
    And so a very sharp interesting lens, also good for macro.
    Yours, Arkady, the specimen is apparently better made, since it has no special problems on the open diaphragm.

  • Koba

    From the photographs presented, it is not surprising that the lens sells for $ 100. If it were German, that is, with the inscription of some Zeiss, it would be sold for all 1000.

  • Max

    I saw absolutely nothing "awful" in the picture. An ordinary fifty kopeck piece like Helios-81.

    • Rodion

      Here, rather, not 81, but Helios-103. Here he really is.

      • Rodion

        Okay, no. Not like - I tested ... PO3-3 will be better.

    • Serg

      helios 81 smokes quietly on the sidelines with its HA and the sharpness of ro ​​is higher))

  • Sabina

    What camera would you recommend for a beginner? In half a year I will start filming in the casino () industry and not only, and now I would like to start practicing.

    • Vadiuhin

      For a beginner, they’ll quite suit themselves:
      1. Canon 400D, with a whale lens and a spare battery can be found on the secondary for 1000 UAH.
      2. Canon 450D, with a whale lens and a spare battery = 2000 UAH.
      3. Nikon D5100. The level is a bit more advanced, but also basic. It can be found on the secondary for 4000 (with a bunch of batteries)), but this is already without a lens.
      And yes, please contact :))) vadiuhin@hotmail.com

    • Serg

      Can't the casino afford to buy a full-frame top-end DSLR or no DSLR for its photographer? if not, then you don't need to work there)

      • Victor

        It's very smart to respond to an ad bot))

  • Andrei

    Great review. We are waiting for a review on my ro2-2m)) here it will already be more interesting)

  • Andrey A

    Of course, I would like a review on the PO2-2M or older version.

    • Serg

      there is nothing special about it. was like that. the difference in them is only in the focal point and that's all

    • Serg

      on a 3m crop it will be more convenient

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Russian-version of this article https://radojuva.com/en/2020/06/ro3-3m-2-50-ussr-lens-review/

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