Shooting portraits with a 50-year-old lens! Industar 69 28mm f 2.8.

The Industar 69 28mm f2.8 is a half-frame lens made during the year 1967- 1972 in Soviet Russia by BelOMO.

This lens is so small that even with an M39 to Sony E adapter this lens can fit inside a denim’s pocket. The lens has its aperture control mechanism right in front of it making it a bit sophisticated for video use because every time you try to change the aperture your fingers will come into the frame.

The lens has a reputation for being soft, however, my copy does give me a usable amount of sharpness when shot in ideal lighting condition. The footage looks quite dreamy with an ample amount of vignetting, softness around the corner. And yeah, it does gives the swirly bokeh effect like the famous Helios 44 58mm f2 lenses.

The average cost of this lens is 50$ (All Photo Lenses), however, I got my copy for 24$ (1800INR)