LOMO Zh-54 F=85 1:2. Overview of a projection lens adapted for use with modern cameras by Rodion Eshmakov

Material on this lens especially for Radozhiva prepared Rodion Eshmakov.

Adapted LOMO Zh-54. increase

LOMO Zh-54 is a six-element anastigmat film projection lens. Optics of the "Zh-" series have an overall better optical quality in comparison with three-lens Triplets and four-lens aplanats KO and is in the same category with lenses of the RO series, as well as 35KP / OKP anastigmata. In the secondary market Zh-54 85/2 is a less common projection lens than, for example, PO500-1 90/2.

The lens presented in this article has been adapted in a special way - with the implementation of the variable bokeh option due to vignetting control. My other lenses using this layout are 35KP-1.8/65, 35KP-1.8 / 75, 35KP-1.8 / 100, RO501-1 100/2. And about the related lens LOMO Zh-53 75/2, you can read here.

Specifications:

Optical design - 6 lenses in 4 groups, "Planar";

Schematic diagram of the LOMO Zh-54 lens from the GOI lens reference book A.F. Yakovlev.

Schematic diagram of the LOMO Zh-54 lens from the GOI lens reference book A.F. Yakovlev.
Focal length - 85 mm;
Relative aperture - 1: 2;
Frame format - 16×21 mm (calculated), 44×33 mm (covered);
Light transmission coefficient - 0.86 (not less);
Landing diameter - 62.5 mm;
Weight - 763 g;

Geometric parameters of the Zh-54 body from the reference book of GOI lenses A.F. Yakovlev.

Features - a projection lens, does not have its own iris diaphragm and focusing mechanism.

Lens construction and adaptation

The lens device is extremely simple: it is an aluminum tube stuffed with aluminum pancakes with lenses. An aluminum spacer is installed between the front and rear halves of the lens, which acts as a permanent aperture and light protection. The aperture setting procedure is trivial. Aperture control rings have been 3D printed to protect the interior of the lens from dust and improve handling.

A macrohelicoid M65-M65 25-55 mm was used as a focusing mechanism, which provides convenient focusing and a small MDF. An additional aperture with a light diameter of 42 mm is installed in the tail part with a thread for attaching to the M40 camera, which provides control over the view of bokeh during shooting. The relatively large light diameter of the camera mount allows the lens to work effectively with 44x33 mm medium format cameras without vignetting, which, for example, was not achieved in my lens 35KP-1.8 / 75. Photos of the adapted lens are presented below.

The adapted lens is, of course, much larger and more massive than most 85/2 photographic lenses. Nevertheless, in the dual-aperture version, it has the functionality that allows you to replace several lenses at once with this lens due to the flexible change in the pattern without affecting the main parameters - focal length and aperture.

Optical properties

Like the LOMO Zh-53, this lens has excellent sharpness wide open. Chromatic aberrations somewhat more pronounced than in Zh-53, but to a lesser extent than in RO500-1. One gets the feeling that the optical quality of RO lenses is generally inferior to lenses of the Zh- series. Field sharpness is very good within a 36x24 frame, but when using a larger format, the effect of coma becomes very noticeable. By the way, the introduction of additional geometric vignetting is an effective way to combat field aberrations, which is used in most 85/2 and 85/1.4 lenses.

Zh-54 has good contrast under normal lighting conditions. In hard backlight, you can catch bright rainbow glare from the lens of the lens. Color rendition with a noticeable shift in the yellow-green area, in most cases the automatic setting copes with this white balance cameras.

By itself, the Zh-54 has a smooth bokeh, almost devoid of twist. This is due to the large field covered by the lens - Zh-54 will work without difficulty with Fujifilm GFX cameras and full-frame cameras with shift adapters. The introduction of additional vignetting leads to a pronounced manifestation of bokeh swirling - this is the functionality of the bokeh control option that I implemented in this lens.

In terms of the combination of properties of the Zh-54, I liked it much more than other projection planars with a focal length of 75-100 mm. However, it is very common and available. LOMO RO500-1 90/2 can be adapted in a similar way and deliver no less fun when shooting.
The following are sample photos taken with the Sony A7s full frame camera.

The large field covered by the lens makes it possible to effectively use it to obtain 36×45 mm (4:5) and 56×24 mm (2.33:1) shiftorama. Below are sample photos taken on a Sony A7s using a Fotodiox EOS-NEX shift adapter.

UPDATED

Vintage-style artwork created using the lens featured in this article and a Canon EOS R6 full-frame mirrorless camera was shared by photographer Angelina Startseva (Instagram: @_angelina_startseva_photo, @fairytale_fog). Models in the photo: @rizhulya_dashulya, @nastya_gulina, @ms_silvya, @tanya_bright, @diana_kuneckaya, @juliettafrlv, @rakseeva.

All reviews of film projection and filming lenses:

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

Conclusions

Like the rest of the Soviet projection "planars" LOMO Zh-54 is an excellent lens, worthy of adaptation, probably among the best in its class. Properly adapted in conjunction with the option to change the bokeh casts doubt on the expediency of the preferential use of expensive and rare filming OCS and RO, similar in optical quality.