Every so often I read a comment on a photography forum where someone has about $2300 in their pocket, and just really needs to sink all of it into a new lens. Something about this attitude must be contagious since I usually find myself staring at eBay moments later with a notion in my head that I MUST acquire some new piece of equipment.
Thirty American dollars later and a used 210mm Industar-51 f/4.5 barrel lens was being relocating from its home in Russia, and was on its way to America to live on my Speed Graphic. I've been kicking around the idea of doing some work on my large format camera with the lens wide open for a while. The 210mm focal length of the Industar-51, combined with a maximum aperture of f/4.5 made the 'star seem like a good candidate for what I wanted to accomplish.
The lens arrived in the mail, and after an eloquent display of hamfistedness, I successfully managed to get the Industar-51 mounted to a lens board using nothing more than duct tape and friction. It was time to make some test photos!
The average photographer may be content to do their test shooting in their backyard. I on the other hand, took the day off of work and spent nearly four hours stomping around the industrial areas of Duluth to create the first images with my new 210mm Industar-51.
Some of the first photos I'vetaken with the 210mm Industar-51 f/4.5
All images where photographed on Ilford Delta 100 at f/4.5.
Thoughts about the Industar-51's performance
All in all, I'm really liking the results that I have been getting with the Industar-51. Before I purchased it, I found a few discussion threads about the lens on various photography forums. Most people stated that it wasn't sharp enough for them. So far I am finding the Industar-51's sharpness to be just dandy, but this is also coming from some one who has never shot a large format lens that cost more than $50. It should be a good fit in my 4x5 kit.
I kind of wish I had spend a few more for a copy that had the old soviet sickle & hammer printed on it. That would go over well with any rent-a-cop who decides to stop and question me.
Large format folks, in general, are obsessed with getting the last bit of detail out of their photos. You seem to have a more organic, less precise relationship with your gear.
Personally, I'm on your side of that issue.
I just realized that there is also a 300mm f4.5 Industar. I can see where a few more of my ten dollar bills we be going soon.
At this rate you're going to end up spending hundreds upon hundreds of cents on these lenses, and all for what? A few awesome photos? Nobody ever got famous on Flickr like this...
:-/
What have I been thinking!?! I'll go buy a Noctilux, and five or six big Canon L IS lenses right now.
Then Magnum will finally pay attention to my Flickr stream.
Duct tape!? Real photographers use gaffers tape. ;^)
Actually, if you don't have gaffers tape in your photography kit you should get some now. I couldn't get by without it.
I've been meaning to get some gaffer's tape forever. I manage to have this incredible knack for forgetting to get some until I need it.