I-51 4,5/210 (Industar-51) Review

On the Soviet Union has some abbreviated names lenses Industar cut the letter "I," Triplets - the letter "T" (T-22, T-43, like tanks). In this review, we consider the large-format lens Industar-51 4.5/210 (И-51 4.5/210). It is the workhorse of the Soviet photo studios and pavilions.

I-51 4.5/210 (full name Industar-51) is a lens from wooden large format camera "FK" (ФК), is designed for format 13x18 cm. I-51 replaced Industar-4. Produced on the KMZ and KOMZ. The optical design is a classic retro focus Tessar. Retrofocus called a design in which the flange distance of the lens is approximately equal to the focal length. 

I-51 4,5/210 Specs

Focal length: 210mm

Aperture: f/ 4,5 – f/ 32

Weight (gr): 300

Length (mm): 63

Filter Ø (mm.): 60

Aperture blades: 20

Resolution (center/edge): 22/14 lin/mm  

I-51 4,5/210 Handling and Mechanics

The lens is a small cylinder with a 60mm diameter and 53mm long. In the middle of the barrel is a metal aperture control ring, which gradually closes. 

As with all large-format lenses, Industar-51 has no focusing mechanism.

 20 aperture blades form a perfect circle.

Mounting Industar-51 4,5/210 on DSLR Camera

To mount the I-51 on the DSLR camera, you need to compensate for its long flange distance. And also to provide it with the focusing mechanism. Industar-51 has a non-standard mounting thread of 60mm. On the Internet, I met a lot of homemade adapters for this lens. With the "trombone" focus mechanism and change the distance using the thread that performs the role of the helicoid. Apparently the Soviet era, given the lack of telephoto lenses for small format cameras, many enthusiasts use this lens for shooting in a small format.

I mount the Nikon D3100 camera lens using a special helicoid, which seemed to be created for this lens. And thread carving and working distance perfectly approached. And shoot with helicoid comfortable enough. Like ordinary, you are using a telephoto lens. By the way, the front lens diameter can close the standard 52mm cover; it is ideally suited for this lens.

I-51 4,5/210 Sample Shootings

All of the examples captured on Nikon D3100, at wide open. Raw export without any post-processing.

I-51 4,5/210 Sharpness

On a crop sensor, the digital camera lens showed a weak sharpness. You can shoot unless close portraits and full-length have a very noticeable lack of sharpness.

f/ 4,5

At f/8, a decrease in spherical aberrations, but the resolution is not increased. Sharpness is good for shooting macro.

f/ 4,5

I-51 4,5/210 Character and Bokeh

As mentioned above, the lens soft, but the picture is different from the soft-focus lens. Spherical aberration is less than, for example, on Industar-29 at wide-open.

f/ 4,5

Well corrected chromatic aberrations.

f/ 4,5

Lens has Tessar type bokeh. I like it. The combination of aperture and focal length allows for the separation portrait from the background.

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

I-51 4,5/210 Contrast and Color

To my surprise, Industar-51 has good contrast. The lenses have a yellowish single-layer coating.

f/ 4.5 An example at a strong side light

Due to its optical design, it copes well even with backlighting. When backlit, a slight color shift, but they are nice, can be used as an artistic photo.

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

f/ 4,5

Summary

I-51 4.5/210 generally nice lens. But because of the complexity of the mounting on the camera, and low resolution is not recommended for ordinary shooting. You can try to apply it in close-up, but in general, I do not see much sense in using it does not figure. Now full telephoto focal length with better sharpness and fastest.

f/ 4,5

f/ 4.5

f/ 4,5