Leica Showcase Industar-26m, 5cm F2.8, early Tabbed version

[Brian]

This lens is one of the lowest priced lenses in Leica mount that you can buy. As with many Russian lenses, the design changed through the years and quality control varied. There can be a lot of performance differences between samples. In my opinion, the Russian lenses from the 1950s had better quality control and tighter mechanical tolerances. This can be offset be decades of use and abuse. In the case of this lens: nothing that two hours of acetone, alcohol, detergent, silver polish, Q-Tips, Ultrasonic cleaner, complete teardown and relube, and final adjustment did not take care of. Also added is a rear light baffle that was added to the design of the I-61.

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Industar-26m, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Boring test Shots to test close-up, elements aligned, and infinity.

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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Industar-26m #2, CLA and Test by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[Brian]

The Sun came out, it was warm, and it is Spring!

$9 and 2 Hours of fun on the workbench.

Wide-Open,

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I-26m Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

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I-26m Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

This is a good Tessar formula lens, stretched to F2.8.

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I-26m Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

All of the surfaces are clean, I took out the rear group and cleaned haze on each side of the aperture.

Maybe we'll call it medium/low contrast? More than a Summarit and Summitar, less than a modern multi-coated optic for I-61L/D.

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I-26m Test, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

 

[Brian]

Wide-Open, click on the Flickr image for full-res.

I26m, Wide-Open by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Focus action on the three I-26M's after CLA were all quite smooth, used white lithium grease. I'll put together a tutorlal, lots of pictures. The parts simply fit together well, and did not require heavy grease to dampen out the SLOP that is often in the J-8, I-61, and I-61L/D of the late 60s on up. I'm thinking of buying an I-61L/D to swap glass with one of these. But that's because I bought 5, and two have badly scratched glass. But as all 5 were sold as-is/for parts for $45 with shipping- No Complaints, I have this one from 1957 and it was worth the price alone!

 

[carlb]

Superb! Bench to shooting in a single afternoon. Great way to spend an afternoon, and great results.