Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Industar 61-L/D 53mm f2.8

I grabbed this lens because it is Russian, extremely inexpensive, and a M39 mount, which is pretty much flush with the GH2.

  • Pros
    • Price - This lens goes for about $16 before shipping, since it's from Russia the shipping charges are usually around $20.
    • M39 mount adapts nicely to the MFT mount
    • Size and weight - small and light
    • Build quality - it's pretty solid
    • Renders colors nicely
  • Cons
    • Focal distance - closest focus distance is 1 meter.  You can forget intimacy with subjects
    • Sharpness - it really lacks here.  Very soft even stopped down, which makes it somewhat difficult to focus.
    • Prone to lens flare.  You'll need a lens hood.  Though stopping down to 5.6 cuts down most of it.
    • May just be my lens, but the focus ring slips a bit.
    • The bokeh is interesting and circular, but it doesn't throw much out of focus.
Yeah, overall it's not worth it.  Unless it's the first 50ishmm you are investing in and just getting started then go for it.  Otherwise this is at best use a street lens.  I may keep it for that purpose.  It does look pretty, it's foreign and it does fit my GH2 nicely.  I'll hold on to it for a while longer still but wouldn't recommend it to anyone.




Note the awful lens flare

Problem solved when stopped down




Had the focus distance been close this picture would have had potential

Wide open lacks a much needed blurred bokeh.  Things are still too busy. 



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