Mir-1 (V, rus. B) 37 mm f/ 2.8 Black Lens

The Mir is a family of  5-, 6- and 7-element wide-angle lenses, made in the USSR.

The Mir-1 37 mm f/ 2.8 Black(Russian: "Мир") is an interchangeable wide-angle fast lens. It is equipped with an iris preset aperture. The lenses are coated.

In 1958 it was rewarded the Grand Prix at the Expo-58 in Bruxelles. In 1959 the lens was rewarded  the 2nd degree diploma of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy of the USSR.

Its optical scheme was designed by D. S. Volosov in 1954 and was based on the Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 35mm f/2.8, manufactured after the WW II by the Carl Zeiss, Jenna. It has a negative meniscus as the front lens, which  considerably reduces vignetting when wide open.

It was produced at different times by the KMZ, the Zagorsky Optical and Mechanical Plant (ZOMZ), the Vologda Optical-and-Mechanical Plant (VOMZ), the Arsenal Factory..

The Mir-1 was destined to replace Zenit and other cameras having a compatible mount. There were variants for the Kiev-10 SRL cameras, TV cameras and other equipment.

The Mir-1C, equipped with a central shutter, was produced for the Zenit-4 by the KMZ. In the 1960s the production was transferred to the VOMZ ( Sergiev Posad, formerly Zagorsk), afterwards the updated variant with the M42x1 screw mount, equipped with a 10-blade aperture, was manufactured in Vologda (VOMS), indexed the Mir-1V (V for Vologda).

There were lenses with the following indexes: S (Ш) for school; A - with an adapter ring; the Mir-1-Autamatic - with a bayonet mount for  SLR cameras of the Kiev-10 and Kiev-15 type (the Arsenal Factory, Kiev, Ukraine).

It was recommended for all types of photography. It was considered especially useful when extraordinary sharpness of all details of the image was required.

The lens really produces a rather sharp picture, while "voluminosity" is well retained.

It does not handle  well back and side light. Blackening is not of quality.

Many photographers consider the 1st version of the Mir-1 with the m39 screw mount and the Bruxelles Grand Prix inscription to have better characteristics.   That accounts for the fact that the quality control in the 1950s and early 60s was more serious than in the following years when volume of production  greatly increased.

The black, chrome-plated  Mir-1 of the early 1970s, bearing resemblance to the Praktica, with the Grand Prix Bruxelles  inscription is considered to be one of the best. Such lenses are very rare. But the lens is done very well. Blackening, including that of aperture blades, is of good quality.

The resolution according to the technical specifications (center/edge):  45/23 lpmm

Coefficient of transparency:  0.78

• Discussion on penta-club.ru (Russian)
• Discussion on Club Rangefinder (Russian)
• Discussion on oly43club.ru (Russian)
• The original instruction to the lens of Mir-1 (Russian)

• Instruction manual (views: 643)
• User Guide v.2 (views: 495)
• Mir-1_in_catalog_GOI_1963 (views: 504)

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