Industar test, 6 lenses

[truls]

This is most a help for myself picking the best Industar lens for my Leica IIIc, because I will wait a bit to purchase a real Leitz lens. Money do not grow on my tree.

I have 6 different russian Industar lenses, LTM mount, this is a small quality test. The best lens really shines, and the worst is almost useless accoring to this test, on digital. Olympus m43, LTM m39 adapter. The crop factor will make a difference when testing on full frame, of course. GIMP for putting it all together.

Here the lens club:


I had to number the lenses, and make accordigly folders on my computer, to not mix them up. Tested only full open and closed down aperture, or it would have been too complicated. However, several lenses are fairly good when stopped down. This test is revealing the extremes.

When shooting film, the difference not so significant. One can tell the best from the worst lens, but not by much. The worst lens, Industar 26M, have produced excellent result in real world photography. But, now I know which of my lens renders the best image, when peeking. It could be a factor all lenses focused at 1,2 meter in this test? Any technical comments on this?

The "winner" - Industar 50 m39 rigid (lens 6), sharp wide open, and also stopped down. Industar 61 LD (lens 3), no surprise, sharpest in the center. A bit surprised the Industar 50 (lens 6) is sharper in the corner compared to I 61 L/D (lens 3). But not by much.

I experience Industar 50 (lens 6) render a bit sharper on film than I 61 L/D (lens 3).

Later, it will be easy for me to judge new aquired russian lenses.

Here, the results.

Wide open aperture
Border sharpness:

Sharpest: Industar 50 (lens 6), left
Poorest: Industar 26M (lens 4), right

Wide open aperture
Center sharpness:

Sharpest: Industar 61 L/D (lens 3), left
Poorest: Industar 26M (lens 2), right

Stopped down aperture
Boarder sharpness:

Sharpest: Industar 50 (lens 6), left
Poorest: Industar 26M (lens 2), right

Stopped down aperture
Center sharpness:

Sharpest: Industar 61 L/D (lens 3), left
Poorest: Industar 26M (lens 2), right

I hope I got it all right.

[Stephen]

Quite a range of loss at the edges, lens No6 definitely the best, it is the mid 1950's version, and I use one on the Zorki C and on a Leica, and it compares very well with a Leitz Elmar. Usaully the modern Industar version work well. The poorest will usually be the far older collapsible lens version.

Lens No 4 has issues, may be it has been opened in the past, and not re-assembled correctly, losing collimation, (centering).

The close distance should not affect sharpness as such, it just requires more careful focusing than normal distances.

As you say the worst appear better when used for shots it may be the focus cam ring at the back of the lens is slightly out of adjustment, or even worn.

Lens can usually be relied upon to focus to infinity, and the best way to do a lens test is to use the scale on the lens to focus with,
.........do not trust the rangefinder in lens tests.

Infinity can be tested on ground glass and a magnifier, as long as the back opens. 

Use a steel tape to measure from the film plane to the Test Target, and make sure the distance is the same as the mark on the scale. This eliminates the need to set, or rely, on the rangefinder.

After lenses pass the infinity check on ground glass, and a say 1.5 metre test, the lens back cam ring can be adjusted to match. Do not adjust the cam, that is left the same for all lenses.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

And a quick tip, to keep track of the lens and digital test shots, add a post-it sticker to the target with the lens number written on it!!!.. and the aperture used....keeps track of everything....
Stephen.