Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/12/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I have the Russian 20 and a 21 Super angulon R I use on my M4-p with a #22228 adapter. I have the newest Leitz 21 VF and I believe the newest 21 Russian Finder. The finish on the Russian finder looks like hand painted black lacquer. However I think it is better than the Leitz. Very good optics and no distortion. Made out of metal and glass not plastic. The lens is so-so. You need to stop down a couple of stops to get even field illumination. Still it was a fun lens on my IIIF. It was very small and only about 3/16" deep. Took very common 49 mm filters. Sold my IIIF recently so if anyone is interested the Russar is for sale with VF $325. Marc James Small wrote: > > The Russar is a workmanlike lens of sound optical performance, though some examples suffer from the customary Soviet/Post Soviet difficulties in QA/QC. > The lens is a Topogon offshoot and thus, although it is rather slow, is a sound lens to the limits of its field and enjoys relatively even field illumination and good sharpness. It is NOT a 4.5/21 Biogon, mind you, but it is still a fine lens -- and it is hellaciously cheaper than the Biogon or the Leica equivalents. > > As to a source, you are almost certainly NOT going to find a Russar new. > However, most of the larger camera dealers have used lenses in the $400 range. The VF is quite adequate, too -- again, either the Zeiss or Leica 21mm VF will provide a sharper image, but the KMZ VF is a tad sharper than the Canon 19mm VF which is also a good choice if you can find one inexpensively, which is most unlikely! > > Marc > > msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 > Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!