Pekka Buttler, 02/2024
Specifications
The table below summarizes the lens’ key specifications (measurements based on pictured lens):
| Brand: | MIR/MИP | Lens name | 38B/38Б 3.5/65 |
| Focal length(s)1 | 65 mm | Angle-of-view2 | 66 ° (on medium format) ≈35 ° (on ‘full frame’) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/3.5 | In Production | 1978–≈1993 (all variants) 1978–1979 (this version) |
| Lens mount (this lens] | Pentacon 6 | Other lens mounts: | Kiev 88 |
| Length3 | 68,2 mm | Diameter4 | 75,2 mm |
| Filter ring diameter | 72 mm | Weight | 566 grams |
| Lens element count | 6 | Lens group count | 5 |
| Aperture blades (S/R/C)5 | 6 S 6 | Focus throw | 240 ° |
| Minimum focusing distance | 50 cms | Maximum magnification | 1:5,5 |
| Has manual aperture ring | YES | Has Manual focus ring | YES |
Further notes:
• The MIR-38B/V is a medium format (film) lens, meaning that its image circle is designed to cover at least 54×54 mm (what is typically referred to as 6-by-6).
• The MIR-38 was produced for two mounts:
• The MИP-38Б (translates to MIR-36B) was offered for the Pentacon Six mount, while
• the MИP-38В (translates to MIR-38V) was offered for the Kiev-88 mount.
• For all those who are not comfortable with Cyrillic:
• the Cyrillic letter Б equals the Latin letter B, while
• the Cyrillic letter B equals the Latin letter V, easy as π, eh?
• Optically these two lenses are identical. Due to the differences in mounts and flange focal distances, the rear-ends of Pentacon Six and Kiev-88 variants look slightly different, this even extends to aperture rings being slightly different.
• The MIR-38 design was introduced to replace the earlier MIR-3 design (also a 65 mm f/3.5).
• Both the MIR-38 and MIR-3 are sometimes referred to as “Flektogon copy”. This is correct only inasmuch as they (and almost any wide-angle lens) are derivatives of the retrofocus design introduced almost simultaneously in the Angenieux Retrofocus and Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon. However, there never was a Flektogon that combined a 65 mm focal length with an f/3.5 maximum aperture (the 65 mm Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon for Pentacon Six had a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and while it did also use a six elements in five groups design, the lens elements differ somewhat).
• All production versions of the MIR-38 were manufactured at the Arsenal plant in Kiev (modern day Ukraine).
• The pictured sample (serial 786006) is an early sample, from the first year of production. In fact, it is the lowest serial number among 50+ I have seen by scouring eBay and other forums. If you have an even earlier serial number, be in touch.
• The MIR-name does not refer to a brand, design bureau or indeed a factory. Instead, the name MIR indicates that it is a retrofocus design. See more in the JAPB articles on Soviet lenses and the Soviet lens ‘business’
Versions
Based on a thorough analysis of 50+ copies on eBay and other similar sites, there are not only versions for the two medium format mounts (Pentacon Six and Kiev-88), but also three visually distinct versions.
Version 1 (1978–1979)
As pictured, all-metal construction with focus ring that is scalloped with lengthwise grip ridges. The serial number range of this version I have found is 786006 [my copy] to 794003.
Version 2 (1979–1990)
Otherwise similar, but the focus ring has changed from the pictured to a quadratic, knurled surface (see example here). The serial number range found is 795262–902532.
Version 3 (1991–1993)
Total housing redesign. Rubber focus ring with pronounced ridges on focus ring. Focus distance setting is in a ‘window’ (Takumar-style). Depth of field markings are coloured. Only two samples found, one of which has depth of field-markings in green, the other in red.
Interestingly, the first versions (until about 1980) of the MIR-38 also had copper-coloured aperture blades. Thereafter the aperture blades are silvery.
Adapting
If you’ve come into possession of this lens, your sample will either have a Pentacon 6 mount, or a Kiev-88 mount. Here I will discuss adapting the lens in Pentacon 6 mount, but the same principles apply to a lens with the Kiev-88 mount.
To use this lens natively, you will need a Pentacon 6 mount film body. In practical terms this means either a Praktisix or Pentacon Six medium format film camera or a Kiev 60/6C medium format film camera. While neither of these families of bodies were manufactured in their millions, they remain readily available, and even serviceable.
Thanks to the generous image circle Pentacon 6 lenses offer, and thanks to the copious flange focal distance (74,1 mm) of the Pentacon 6 system, this lens can be adapted to every full frame (and smaller) SLR, dSLR and mirrorless camera assuming a suitable adapter can be found or manufactured. Moreover, Pentacon 6 lenses are so uncomplicated that a simple ‘dumb adapter’ will do the job perfectly.
Thanks to the generous image circle, Pentacon 6 lenses have also long been a strong candidate to be used on smaller formats (full frame and smaller) in conjunction with tilt/shift adapters. Alternatively, one can choose to daisy-chain adapters (e.g. Pentacon 6->Canon EF; Canon EF –> mirrorless) which not only broadens the range of available adapters, but also allows using speed boosters for those photographers that use smaller than full-frame sensors.
Finally, regarding larger than full frame, there are also options. Digital medium format is perfectly usable (assuming adapter availability) and many 6×4,5 film formats are likewise theoretical possibilities, but gaining functional adapters may necessitate some DIY.
Footnotes
1 Focal length is (unless stated otherwise) given in absolute terms, and not in Full-frame equivalent. For an understanding of whether the lens is wide/tele, see ‘Angle-of-view’.
2 Picture angle is given in degrees (based on manufacturers’ specs) and concerns the diagonal picture angle. Rule of thumb:
> 90 ° ==> Ultra-wide-angle
70–90 ° ==> Wide-angle
50–70 ° ==> Moderate wide-angle
40–50 ° ==> ‘Standard’ or ‘normal’ lens
20–40 ° ==> Short tele lens
10-20 ° ==> Tele lens
5-10 ° ==> Long tele lens
< 5 ° ==> Ultra-tele lens
3 Length is given from the mount flange to the front of lens at infinity.
4 Diameter excludes protrusions such as rabbit ears or stop-down levers.
5 S=straight; R=rounded; C=(almost)circular at all apertures.