Jump to content

LTM options for a budget conscious Sonnarholic?


steve_gallimore1

Recommended Posts

My earlier investigations on the Tanar 50/2 indicated it was a close match for the Nikkor, and was a Sonnar design, unlike the 50/3.5 HC close focusing rigid which I have, which is said to be a Tessar design - and exhibits typical Tessar rendering...very sharp center, softer edges, very good contrast due to fewer element surfaces. The 50/2 was much more expensive due to its desirability for greater light gathering capability.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Nikkors are just amazing with respect to the quality of the coating and glass. I have a set of 1940s Nikkors- all perfect glass. The Group Portrait.[ATTACH=full]1359731[/ATTACH]

 

Took me a long time to assemble this collection. The Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5, ~300 made. 13.5cm F4, ~600 made. The collapsible Nikkor 5cm F2: inner haze cleaned off perfectly, 15 minute job- coating and glass, perfect. The 5cm F1.5 and 13.5cm F4 are from the same batch of lenses that DDD used in Korea.

You must have had to pry them out of the hands of collectors, mostly in Japan I would imagine. Well done. I don't collect, all for users, but I appreciate the passion. do you shoot them much?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You must have had to pry them out of the hands of collectors, mostly in Japan I would imagine. Well done. I don't collect, all for users, but I appreciate the passion. do you shoot them much?

All of these were bought from within the US- The Nikkor 5cm F1.5 with early Canon III from a woman that fell into it at an estate sale, had a photography store check it, and posted images on Ebay with a horrible flare. It looked like the glass was bad. She offered money back, I took a chance. Took 30 seconds to send her a response that the lens was gorgeous, and she let me know she would pay off her car loan. The 3.5cm F3.5, 13.5cm F4- camera stores. The 8.5cm F2- Bob Rotoloni. The collapsible Nikkor 5cm F2- another one that looked dead, the US seller picked up at an estate sale, came with a Nicca III "MIOJ" that I sent to Youxin for new curtains. I believe these were probably all bought by US Serviceman when they were made, sales receipt with the Nikkor 5cm F1.5.

 

Leica - "Keep your Fingers crossed", "Ebay Gambling"... Nikkor 5cm F1.5

 

I have shot with all of these on the M9 and M Monochrom.

 

Leica - Nikkor-SC 5cm F1.5, the lens that got the attention of the World

 

Leica Showcase - Nikkor 3.5cm F3.5, Leica Mount.

 

Leica Showcase - Nikkor 8.5cm F2, early Leica Mount "903" series

 

Leica Showcase - Nikon 8.5cm F2 Nikkor-PC LTM

 

Leica Showcase - Nikkor 13.5cm F4 Leica Mount, on the M9.

Edited by Brian
Link to comment
Share on other sites

As much as I like my Nikkors, The CZJ Sonnars spend the most time on my cameras.

 

Leica Showcase - 1934 Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm F1.5, converted to Leica Mount.

 

There is some "I made it" involved, but more the rendering from the uncoated optics.

 

Wow, love the way you went after it. It makes sense that U.S. service men brought these over. Pretty cool.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

The Tanar arrived last week and very nice it is.

 

No results to show yet as work and rain got in the way, so I haven't finished the first roll of film, but a few quick test shots on digital show it to have noticeably more contrast than my Jupiter and typical Sonnar rendering.

 

Any thoughts on lens hoods? Currently I have a cheapy 40.5mm vented hood, the effectiveness of which I greatly doubt and it doesn't play well with lens caps. I've always assumed that the rule for lens hoods is 'the deepest you can go without vignetting'.

 

Suggestions?

 

Sensible price (say, 10-20€) and ability to use a lens cap are priorities.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had good luck with cheap lens hood/cap combinations found on eBay from Chinese sellers. I've never paid more than $5 or 6 for any of them and they do the job. The vented hoods obviously can't keep all of the dust out but they do prevent most errant fingerprints.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...
The Canon Serenar 50 f1.8 isn't a Sonnar formula per se (6 element Double Gauss I believe?), but it is a terrific lens and one worth having if you shoot with the Canon 7 or any other LTM. It is sharp, but has character in all the right ways (to my mind). I also have a 50 f2 Sonnar and the ubiquitous Jupiter 8.

 

How do you like your Jupiter 8? How does it compare to the Industar lens? I am about to own my first FSU camera, a Fed 5v. Thanks, Kent.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

SG, hopefully the choice you've made works for you first time. The numerous comments regarding the f2 50 Nikkor also match my thoughts on the subject. Like you, I do not have it in LTM, only in the Kiev mount. Love the lens results, especially in low light. The Kiev came with an f2 50 Carl Zeiss lens which has better contrast, but I like the Nikkor better. I've never seen the Carl Zeiss f2 50 in LTM, but would try it if it exists as it would be a nice size on an LTM body. The Nikkor is really well built. The Nikkor f1.4 50 is entirely a different look. Good luck with your choice.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

' date=' post: 5912892, member: 10999298"']How do you like your Jupiter 8? How does it compare to the Industar lens? I am about to own my first FSU camera, a Fed 5v. Thanks, Kent.

I've never shot an Industar, but the Sonnar 50 f2 and Helios 53 f1,8 I use with my Contax IIa are also lovely. Not entirely sure what the crossover might be to LTM, but I am pretty certain there is a 50 f1.5 Sonnar in LTM mount, if horrendously expensive these days.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

' date=' post: 5912892, member: 10999298"']How do you like your Jupiter 8? How does it compare to the Industar lens? I am about to own my first FSU camera, a Fed 5v. Thanks, Kent.

Leica Showcase - Jupiter 8

 

Jupiter-8: tend to be good. I like the early ones with Tabbed focus mount, and the later "single-Helical", front turns while focusing. I have found the early 1960s lenses without focus tab to have more "slop" in the focus mechanism. I tend to avoid those because of the mechanics, but the optics are fine.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

For many years, the Canon 50/2.8 was the only lens I knew.

(My dad bought it, along with a Canon VI, when I was one.)

I even thought that 2.8. was as far as lenses went.

(At least affordable by ordinary people.)

 

When I was 10, my dad bought a Pellix, and often I

got to use the Canon VI. I have pictures back to 5th grade,

and much yearbook photography from 7th and 8th grade

with that one.

 

In any case, not so many years ago I got a Canon P

with the Canon 50/1.4. That might be the first 1.4 lens

I ever owned. But I don't see mention of that one so far.

-- glen

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had and continue to use the f1.4 Canon 50 LTM on both a IIIg and M3 with the adapter. Even though it is physically large for the IIIg, it has aluminum in the mount so the weight is that of a smaller lens. It focuses easily on both camera bodies and I've had good results both wide open and stopped down. If you find one to try, make sure the front lens is in good shape, the mount has no play and it is internally clean. Wear on the black paint focusing mount is to be ecpected. It has a different look than the Sonnar clones, and I prefer it to my spotless f1.5 Summarit 50. As the front element is very near the front edge, I usually mount a UV filter along with a lens hood for protection. I'd buy one again if I needed a backup 50 LTM lens.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...