tested MC Volna-9 2.8/50 USSR macro lens for SLR M42 mount LZOS Zenit
Quantity
MC Volna-9, Soviet macro lens for SLR camera
50 mm, 1:2.8, M42, #902112
Lytkarinsky Plant of Optical Glass (LZOS), Lytkarino, USSR
Perfect condition. Fully working. Lens is clear, without any fungus or scratches. Inside there are microspecks of dust. Focus and aperture rings rotate properly and fluently. Body has small signs of age and use. Aperture blades do not have oil.
Camera "Zenit EM" is not included and shown as an example of mount.
Please, watch the test photo (which is #2) which was taken with adapter at DSLR Sony A100. Coin is not included)))
Here I offer an extremely interesting lens. It is MC Volna-9 which is one of two USSR lenses which were specially designed as macro lenses (another is "FED-Macro" for M39 rangefinders).
Minimal distance of focusing is 24 cm only, types of glass and optical scheme were chosen to eliminate distortions in macro mode specially. On the body except the range scale there is scale with magnification (maximum is 1:2). Focusing scale is broadened for small distances (marked out as (in meters) 0,24 - 0,26 - 0,28 - 0,3 - 0,34 - 0,4 - 0,5 - 0,7 - 1 - 1,3 - 2 - 4 - Infinity).
In the range f/4-f/8 aperure hole is sixactinal star ("circular saw"), round hole will be only near to extreme meanings.
Lens has aperture pre-set mechanism. To use it you rotate aperture fing till f/16, press it and rotate till the chosen meaning (for example, f/4) and then release. Aperture will work in open in range f/2.8-f/4.
Both focus and aperture ring rotate fluently (not discrete).
Lens is extremely sharp, especially at f/4-f/8. A light haze appears near high-contrast details at f/2,8, otherwise aberrations are minimum. Vignetting and distortions are eliminated. Quality of macro picture is brilliant.
When using reverse adapter (and mount the lens back to front on the camera) it will have magnification 1:1 (so, 1 cm in real life will be equal to 1 cm of the film).
Lens has multilayered anti-reflection coating.
Its price was 70 Soviet Roubles (with average salary 120 Soviet roubles per month) so it was rather expensive.
It is interesting to notice that the same plant (LZOS) produced simultaneously lens with the same characteristics (2.8/50) and similar view - Industar-61L/Z which is often used as macro lens too.
Lens s/number - 902112
Number of lenses - 6 in five groups
Angle of view - 46o
Number of aperture blades - 6
Limit of aperturing - 1:2.8 (max), 1:16 (min)
Resolving power - (centre/edge) 42/30 lines/mm
Minimal distance of focusing - 0.24 m
Type of thread - M42x1/45,5 mount
Type of thread for the nozzles - 52 mm
Dimensions (mm): 64*64*70
Focal distance - 52,42 mm.
Mass - 330 g