MIR-20M 20MM F3.5 - Lens Info
MC MIR-20M 20MM F3.5
There’s something undeniably charming about vintage Soviet lenses, and the MC MIR-20M 20mm f3.5 is one of those gems that gets me excited to shoot every time I mount it on my camera. This lens is special not just because it’s old, or quirky, but because it has a really unique character. It’s nice and sharp in the middle but slowly tapers off to stretched blurry defocused edges that I absolutely love. That characteristic really enhances the 3D pop feel to the images it renders. A few years ago I bought an older MIR-20 but whoever modified it to have an EF mount did a hatchet job and I could see the lens barrel in my photos. I’ve been on the hunt for an older MIR-20 lens ever since without success. I like the older model because it didn’t have multi coatings (MC) on the lenses which, in my opinion, just added to the vintage charm. In retrospect I should have kept the older MIR-20 and tried to fix the adapter. The price of the MIR-20 has doubled since 2021 so when I found this lens for sale at below market price I jumped on it. I’m thrilled to say the aperture and focus rings turn really smoothly and I was happy about that. I’m super excited to get my hands on this lens again.
LENS SPECS
Release Date: 1984
Format: 35mm
Mount: M42
Filter: No Filter Threads
Aperture Blades: 5
Aperture Range: 3.5 - 16
Min Focus Distance: 0.18m
Weight 470g
Weather Sealing: No
Optical Design: 9 elements in 8 groups
APS-C Conversion Approx.: 32mm
Gear Shots
The first thing you’ll notice about the MIR-20M is the build quality. It feels like it’s carved from a single block of metal. Sturdy, cold to the touch, and built to outlast most things in your camera bag, it’s a throwback to an era when lenses were built to last. Judging by the serial number on this lens it was built in 1995 so that makes this lens (now 2025) exactly 30 years old and that focus ring is still buttery smooth. This MC MIR-20M is mechanical, tactile, and oddly satisfying to use.
The next thing you’ll notice is the optical character. With its 20mm focal length and f3.5 aperture, the MC MIR-20M delivers that ultra-wide field of view perfect for landscapes, architecture, or dramatic close-up shots. But what sets it apart isn’t just the perspective, it’s the way it renders. There’s a slightly dreamy softness at the edges wide open. The vintage coatings give colors a muted, cinematic vibe which is also a huge plus. It’s kinda perfect for shooting wide cinemascope type shots which is probably why it’s so sought after by videographers. When you stop the aperture down to f8 or smaller, those classic Soviet sunstars burst onto the scene, thanks to the 5-blade aperture. If there was one thing I wish this lens had it’s more aperture blades for smoother out of focus areas.
The MC MIR-20M 20mm f3.5 lens features an optical design consisting of 9 elements in 8 groups, following a retrofocus (reverse telephoto) optical scheme inspired by the Angénieux retrofocus design. This design was essential for achieving a wide 20mm field of view while maintaining a long enough back-focus distance to clear the mirror mechanism on SLR cameras.
What really surprised me, though, was the close focusing ability. With a minimum focus distance of just 18cm / 7”, you can get up close and personal with your subject while keeping the background stretched and exaggerated in that wide-angle way. It’s a fun tool for experimenting with depth and distortion.
Sure, it’s not perfect. There’s some barrel distortion, and flare can creep in if you don’t watch your angles. But that’s part of the vintage charm. Every shot with the MC MIR-20M feels fun and interesting. For me, that’s what makes the MC MIR-20M so special. It’s not flawless, but it has soul. And in a world full of ultra-sharp, clinical modern lenses, sometimes a little soul is exactly what your photography and videography needs.
