Origin: TU-16 Strategic Bomber Photo-Control System
Serial Number: 7022
Up for sale is a very rare and legendary Soviet military optical block – the 134mm f/4.5 lens. This high-grade lens was manufactured under strict military standards for target bombing control systems on the Tu-16 jet bomber plane.
Key Features & Optical Characteristics:
Optical Design: It is a unique retrofocus triplet consisting of 4 elements. The front element acts as a 0.5X wide-angle converter, while the remaining three form a 268mm triplet base, creating a final 134mm focal length.
True Aperture Potential: While the lens is physically restricted by an internal ring to f/4.5 for maximum sharpness and zero aberrations in military use, the actual optical scheme has an effective maximum aperture of f/3.5.
Medium Format Coverage: This lens easily covers medium format image circles (6x6 cm and up). It is highly sought after by modern photographers for adaptation to Fujifilm GFX, Hasselblad X2D, or full-frame mirrorless cameras (Sony, Canon, Nikon).
Image Quality: Known for its staggering sharpness, exceptional resolution, and rich, unique color rendering.
Condition:
Optics: EXCELLENT. The lenses are clean, clear, and free from fungus, heavy dust, scratches, or separation.
Mechanics: The built-in aperture ring clicks properly at all positions. It is a bit stiff/tight due to the original vintage factory grease, but fully functional.
Cosmetics: Authentic military condition with minor signs of age/wear on the original black metal barrel (please check the photos).
This is a self-contained optical block ready for your custom DIY adaptation project using an M42/M52/M65 focusing helicoid.