Carl Zeiss LTM Finally! ~ I bought a "wartime" 1943 CZJ Sonnar T f1.5/50 in LTM

[johannielscom]

Hi Clemens, turns out I bought my Summarit 24 hours early, I would have bought that Sonnar instead today but won't be using both... 🙁

I reckon you won't have any trouble selling that lens.

 

[fbf]

One 50/2 just sold on ebay last night from an European seller.

 

[squinza]

These pictures are actually my farewell, the lens is in the Classifieds.

I hope it will find a nice new home on my M6 😎😎
It looks like a wonderful lens, my Canon 50/1.5 will have competition soon.
Love the sonnar look for portraits!

 

[johannielscom]

I hope it will find a nice new home on my M6 😎😎
It looks like a wonderful lens, my Canon 50/1.5 will have competition soon.
Love the sonnar look for portraits!

Congrats on buying that lens, from LeicaToms remarks you can read it's even more special than 'just any' CZJ Sonnar.

Of, if only I had waited with buying my Summarit...:bang:😀😀

Looking forward to seeing some shots from you with the lens! Mine's had a street shooting session and a portrait session in the last two weeks, and planning some more work coming weekend. The only way to make it shine!

 

[M like Leica M6]

I hope it will find a nice new home on my M6 😎😎
It looks like a wonderful lens, my Canon 50/1.5 will have competition soon.
Love the sonnar look for portraits!

You have to be blamed because my Canon VT deluxe, Canon 2/35, 2/100 and 3.5/135 will feel lonely now 😎

 

[squinza]

Looking forward to seeing some shots from you with the lens! Mine's had a street shooting session and a portrait session in the last two weeks, and planning some more work coming weekend. The only way to make it shine!

Yeah, the weather is turning out fine (at last!), so I hope I'll have the chance to try the new baby as soon as it arrives. I wonder how it compares to my other two sonnars (Canon and Jupiter, the last one being quite bad).
I'll let ya know!

 

[Dralowid]

Well, I'm pondering...I have the focussing mount from a collapsible Summicron and a pre war black f2 Sonnar still in Contax mount that has lost it's securing 'tab'. Brian Sweeney has mentioned that the two could go together.

Problem is that it would leave a partly functioning Contax I without a lens...

Opinions?

Michael

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I would get the more common Chrome Sonnar for the conversion and not break up the Contax I with the Black Sonnar. The latter is uncommon.

 

[john neal]

Well, I'm pondering...I have the focussing mount from a collapsible Summicron and a pre war black f2 Sonnar still in Contax mount that has lost it's securing 'tab'. Brian Sweeney has mentioned that the two could go together.

Problem is that it would leave a partly functioning Contax I without a lens...

Opinions?

Michael

Michael,

I can swap you a nice chrome f2 module for your black one 😉

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Yeah, the weather is turning out fine (at last!), so I hope I'll have the chance to try the new baby as soon as it arrives. I wonder how it compares to my other two sonnars (Canon and Jupiter, the last one being quite bad).
I'll let ya know!

There is a lot of sample variation in the J-3, but most have to be adjusted for the Leica standard.

1956 KMZ J-3, after adjustment, wide-open on the M8. A good J-3 is quite close to the Wartime Sonnar.

 

[squinza]

Yeah, the lens has arrived yesterday!
First of all, a big, fig thanks to Clemens, the seller, he's been a really nice person to deal with. Sent the lens at once, properly packed, and the lens comes with LTM-to-M adapter, a nice 40.5mm UV filter, caps and shade. Plus a box of candies 🙂
Didn't have the time to properly test the lens, so these are just impressions.
Fist of all, the lens is in good shape, especially considering the age. It needs some cleaning, IMHO: the front lens has some dust on the inner side and there's some oil on the blades, especially on the rear side (see photos). I'll consider opening up, someday. The coatings are lightly blotched, but it won't affect the results (should have specified it earlier, I bought the lens for photographic purposes, I'm not a collector). Mechanics are smooth. The aperture ring doesn't have click-stops, but, all in all, lenses are supposed to be used wide open 🙄
Here are a couple of snapshots, tell me if the size is too big and I'll repost them @ 800px
#1 the lens and the UV

#2 Coating and dust

The flash makes the dust pop out, but there's quite a lot inside, should I opt for cleaning up the lens?

#3 same as before

#4 the Zeiss side by side with a more recent Canon 50/1.5 (they are a little different both in size, shape and weight)

#5 from top: look at those wonderful blades! (BTW, the Zeiss has some oil on them)

#6 finally on board!

Notice the different coatings, the Canon is blue the Zeiss more of a brown

I'll post something more soon!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I would test the Sonnar with film, have cleaned only if the results are not good.

 

[squinza]

I would test the Sonnar with film, have cleaned only if the results are not good.

Of course, just leave me some days. I'm not really worried about dust. Haze would be more of a problem but I don't see sign of it.
Got to test it ASAP!
Cheers
Dino

 

[squinza]

M8 + Zeiss
First one @ f/2 second one wide open

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The focus looks spot-on, sharp and clear images. I would use it like it is. you always run some risk of damaging the lens when opening it up. Not worth it for a few specks of dust. Heavy Internal haze, smudges, - worth opening it up. You lens does not cross "my threshold" for popping glass.

 

[Santafecino]

Yes, and who is the lovely lady in the portraits? Very beautiful pictures. There is more than one gem in your life.

 

[squinza]

Yes, and who is the lovely lady in the portraits? Very beautiful pictures. There is more than one gem in your life.

This is another one (my secretary...). Click for full size image. The sonnar is definitely focusing correctly and is sharp. A wonderful lens!

 

[raid]

I have a very clean CZJ 5cm 1.5 which Brian has adapter for LTM. I think that my lens is from the 30's. I don't see any wipe marks at all on the lens. It is my main lens here in my Cairo visit.

 

[M like Leica M6]

This is another one (my secretary...). Click for full size image. The sonnar is definitely focusing correctly and is sharp. A wonderful lens!

So I see you are happy with the lens - I should have asked for a higher price 😀

 

[john neal]

Hmm, interesting - very yellow cast. I haven't seen one like that. I do know where there is an early Russky built version with genuine glass, but it's £150...