Flea market find - Schneider-Kreuznach 360/5.5

[ChrisN]

A good morning at the local flea market! It's funny how some days there is nothing of interest, then on another day a few gems turn up!

Today a seller had this pair, a Pentax-F 28/2.8 autofocus lens in K-mount, and the monster - A Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 360/5.5, in M42 mount, with original box, original caps and reversible lens hood. This thing is built like a tank. Can anyone indicate how old this might be? Serial number is 6842002. The seller indicated it had been bought by his father in Germany, when he visited Germany some time after WWII.

 

[Abbazz]

A Schneider-Kreuznach Tele-Xenar 360/5.5, in M42 mount, with original box, original caps and reversible lens hood. This thing is built like a tank. Can anyone indicate how old this might be? Serial number is 6842002. The seller indicated it had been bought by his father in Germany, when he visited Germany some time after WWII.

Congrats for the find, it's a rather uncommon lens. According to this table on the manufacturer's website, your lens was made between May 1959 and February 1961. You might want to have a look a the specs here:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/vintage_lens_data/small_format_lenses/tele-xenar/data/5,5-360mm.html

Don't forget to post some pictures taken with the lens.

Cheers,

Abbazz

 

[raid]

This is a great weapon for self-defense against intruders to your home. First, work out a few weeks to build muscles, then practice holding this lens with both hands, and then throw it with full force!

Just kidding.

Congratulations on getting a rather scarce lens.

 

[David Goldfarb]

Interesting. It's probably an M42 mounted version of the fairly common 360/5.5 Tele-Xenar for 4x5". It's a pretty sharp lens stopped down a few stops.

 

[sirius]

That's autofocus?

 

[ChrisN]

That's autofocus?

The little 28mm Pentax, down on the right.


That's what I love about this place - you guys know everything! Thanks for the info and the links, Abbazz and David. You are right about the size and weight Raid; this one makes my next-biggest lens, the K300/4, look small and light by comparison! At least it has a tripod mount on the lens, thank goodness!

And yes, I'll take it out tomorrow and shoot with it, to have something to share.

 

[payasam]

Is that "Edixa-Reflex" printed near the aperture ring?

 

[ChrisN]

Is that "Edixa-Reflex" printed near the aperture ring?

Yes! Is that significant?

 

[ChrisN]

Just had an opportunity, out the back door. The red wattle bird like a bath.

 

[Film dino]

Impressive clarity in the bird shots!
As far as I know Schneider built many of their teles in Edixa & Alpa mounts as well as M42

David

 

[radiocemetery]

Chris, That Schneider kind of resembles a modern aluminum soft ball bat. I'll bet you could hit one a mile with that.

I really like picture 2 and 3. Good shooting with your new find.

Steve

 

[shadowfox]

Picture #2 is my favorite of the trio.

Did you use a digital Pentax for these? Did you use a bean bag or something, they really sharp pictures for such a long lens.

I guess the lens is heavy enough to negate mirror slap vibrations, eh?

 

[ChrisN]

Thanks Steve. Of course we're a cricketing nation down here - I could probably use it for a bridge support.

Will - yes, Pentax K10D dSLR, with the shake-reduction built in to the camera, so it helps with all lenses, even these old ones. This is hand held.

David - This lens is marked "Edixa Reflex", but has the M42 screw mount.

 

[raid]

Chris,
The photos are stunning. I really like them. The shake reduction system is a definite plus factor here.

 

[Film dino]

David - This lens is marked "Edixa Reflex", but has the M42 screw mount.

Chris, I've been somewhat "blur" as we say in Malaysia; the Pentax M42 /Edixa/Praktica are of course identical, which accounts for the marking on your lens, as pointed on here-
http://captjack.exaktaphile.com/Schneider page.htm
There's a Schneider 360 listed with Alpa body & 2 other lenses on ebay just now- http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320167660782&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011