MC Mir-24H 2/35 Review

MC Mir-24H 2/35 (Russian МС Мир-24Н 2/35) - wide-angle lens for 35mm cameras. Produced in USSR at "Arsenal Plant" (Uman, Ukraine). There is also a version for M42 - MC Mir-24M 2/35, which was produced at KMZ. 

The lens was manufactured from 1976 through 1999—optical design - 8 elements in 7 groups.

MC Mir-24H 2/35 Specs

Focal length: 35mm

Aperture: f/ 2 – f/ 22

Weight (gr): 370

Length (mm): 62

Filter Ø (mm.): 58

Aperture blades: 6

MFD (m): 0,24

Resolution (center/edge): 40/21 lin/mm  

MC Mir-24H 2/35 Handling and Mechanics

The lens is well assembled in a metal barrel. The design is somewhat reminiscent of Helios-81H, but it looks more massive. 

The focusing ring is rotated 270 degrees such that the front extends to 10 mm. This allows for more precise focus. The front element is not rotating. 

Aperture has 6 blackened petals and rose by half stops. In earlier versions of the petals, shiny, that isn't good for the image contrast. The lens has a Nikon Ai bayonet mount that can be used on DSLR cameras Nikon with working preset aperture without any problem.

Examples are taken on the MC Mir-24H 2/35

I took almost all of the photos with the camera Nikon D5100. JPEG without post-processing. Resize only.

Sharpness MC Mir-24H 2/35

Resolution of the lens (center/edge) is 40/21 lines/mm.

f / 2 an example at wide-open

100% crop of the previous photo

On the wide-open, the sharpness is not too bad. Feels the same as that of the Helios-81 2/50. There is a small spherical aberration. Suitable for portraits.

f/ 2

I noticed that if you focus on the green point, especially at close distances, sometimes, despite automatics lies and that the green dot is lit, sharpness may not be.

f/ 2

On the wide-open must be checked how well has the focus. The same flaw is and at Helios-81H.

f/ 4

MC Mir-24H 2/35 Character and Bokeh

I did not notice anything special in the character of the lens.

f/ 2

f/ 2

Bokeh at wide-open at close distances pleasant, but I did not find something special.

f/ 2

f/ 2

Pleasing bokeh on MFD.

f/ 2

I was pleasantly surprised that the MFD of the lens is 24 cm. At focal length 35mm, you can shoot macro. And with the extension rings can be achieved excellent reproduction ratio.

f/ 5.6

MC Mir-24H 2/35 Contrast and Color

Despite that the lens is multicoated, it is still terrified of the strong backlight and sidelight. The side light sometimes catches flare that can be used as an artistic device.

f/ 4

When the backlight is color distorted.

f/ 4

But if you do not let in the frame's strong light sources, color rendering is very nice. I like it.

These are not oversaturated bright colors that give modern kit lenses; these are calm and natural tones.

f/ 4

f/ 4

f/ 4

f/ 2

MC Mir-24H 2/35 Barrel Distortion

The lens has a noticeable barrel distortion. Therefore, to capture architecture, I would not recommend it as it is written in the factory brochures. f / 2 an example of the barrel distortion

Summary In general, MC Mir-24H 2/35 is a good lens. Interestingly its picture and viewing angle. EGF on the ASP/C sensor is 52 mm. It may be useful for art shooting, as well as landscapes and indoor shooting.

f/ 2