35mm skopar pancake screwmoount?

[szekiat]

How common is this lens? I see lots of P2 and classics floating around but rarely the screwmount pancake... i know optically its the same as the rest and probably actually bigger than the classic but still does anyone know how many were every made/sold?

 

[SimonSawSunlight]

it doesn't focus to 0.7m, if I'm not mistaken.
don't know how many were made though.

 

[rxmd]

It's not really more compact than the non-pancake version though, at least if you unscrew the non-pancake version's hood. The optics are the same anyway.

 

[kbg32]

I have one. No idea how many were made, but it us plenty sharp. It is a focal length that is nice to have, but I don't use all that often.

 

[MV72]

Bought one last year from Japan. It lives on my Hexar RF via an adaptor ring, or without on my IIIa. Very pleased with it.

 

[Krosya]

It's not really more compact than the non-pancake version though, at least if you unscrew the non-pancake version's hood. The optics are the same anyway.

I had every version of this lens and 3 copies of this one - the Original Pancake. WHile every source says they are optically the same, for whatever reason I prefered this one the best - to me , photos taken with it looked different than with other versions. I dont know how to explain this, but thats why I tried 3 samples just to make sure and it was all consistent to me. But finally sold them all - as I prefer other lenses as they are faster and closer focusing. Nice lens still.

 

[peter_n]

I had this lens and loved it. The only reason I sold it was the 0.9M closest focus. Very well built, nice OOF rendering, fairly sharp but not too sharp. Just a terrific little lens.

 

[Tom A]

I have one and I find it to be one of the perfect "street" shooting lenses. The large diameter means that you can go from 0.9 meter to infinity with a flick of a finger. I havent tried it - but I suspect that it is considerably faster than a AF lens. Same formula as all of the 35f2,5's. I mainly use it on a M2.
As for production. probably less than 800 made.
The short focus throw means that you have to keep a close eye on the patch in the camera as it is very easy to "over shoot" the focus - but for street shooting I usually put it on 5.6-8 and let it rip. With a AE camera (Hexar Rf, Zeiss ZM or a Bessa R2/R3 A you just let the camera figure out the exposure). The short throw also allows to follow focus - even with fast moving subjects. Extremely flare resistant - I never use a hood on it anyway - and so far have not had a problem - even shooting in tough light.
I suspect that the reason that it is a bit scarce as a used lens is that the owners just like it and keep it (as I am).

 

[ferider]

Very well built, nice OOF rendering, fairly sharp but not too sharp. Just a terrific little lens.

I have one and like it for exactly all that.

It also has 43mm filter thread which is convenient for me. 0.9m min. focus doesn't bother me that much. If I need to go closer I use a 50.

 

[szekiat]

i picked one up in a trade deal a few mths back. Was just wondering cos i've used all the others at some point and picked it up mainly cos it didn't seem that common. I can concur with most ppl about its performance....

 

[PMCC]

One of the greats. Love the haptics, and short throw focus works well for grab shots. Indestructible little mother, survived a year as primary traveling lens in rural China. Liked it enough that I stockpiled an extra copy -- when discontinued they were being unloaded for under $200 in Asia. Originally badmouthed because it wasn't thin enough to suit some to be called a "pancake" lens and because the "classic" version focused .2' closer. Never hear or see much said about it, I thought it was my secret.

P.S. Almost forgot to include standard troll: digital sucks.