Carl Zeiss LTM Finally! ~ I bought a "wartime" 1943 CZJ Sonnar T f1.5/50 in LTM
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Carl Zeiss M39 lenses
john neal
fallor ergo sum
Wow! that shot up in the last few moments - I was watching, but broke.....
This looks like a Post-War transition lens using mostly original parts. Look for shiny aluminum finish in the focus mount when you unscrew the optics module. One little Detail: both of my wartime Sonnars have a black line for the aperture index rather than a "dot". My ZK Sonnar and post-war "transition" lens have dots.
OlliL
Well-known
Wonder how much the coating defects will affect image quality.
And: No I didn't, neither. 😉
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
I can't help but wonder, if the Jupiter-9 is in fact not at all compatible with a Leica LTM camera, how about the CZJ 85/2.0? Is the helical really radically differently threaded so that it focuses correctly throughout the range?
Not too long ago I saw a US member sell a Jupiter-9 here, one that Kim Coxon brought into Leica LTM specs. So apparently it can be done, but what would it take?
Not too long ago I saw a US member sell a Jupiter-9 here, one that Kim Coxon brought into Leica LTM specs. So apparently it can be done, but what would it take?
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OlliL
Well-known
Someone, somewhere stated, that if you modify the J-9 you can get it either focus correctly up close, OR infinity.
But it would be got to hear from Mr. Sweeney 😉
But it would be got to hear from Mr. Sweeney 😉
NikonSP
Member
Here I took the lens apart. I don't see the six digits. I have taken pictures of the marks I see in the lens. I am guesing it is a transition lens made from wartime parts. I bought the lens with a IIIc (SN:404094) in 1995, from Super Save Camera. I still have the sales slip somewhere. Not gond of the performance of the Sonnar I found a 50mm Summitar to replace it. I was going to sell the Sonnar, Seems like it is a cult classic lens so I have decided to keep it. Not having a scanner anymoreI cannot show you any photos from it. I have to dig out the negatives from storage or go out and shoot more photos. Thanks for all of your help.
http://www.qsl.net/nh7fe/sonnar/DSCN6888.JPG
http://www.qsl.net/nh7fe/sonnar/DSCN6889.JPG
http://www.qsl.net/nh7fe/sonnar/DSCN6891.JPG
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Better hang on to it then, that might very well be an original combo! Leica started post-war production of the IIIc in 1946 with serial number 400000.
Thanks for the pictures, I've never seen the focusing housing disassembled, only the optical block taken out. Interesting!
Glad I could help.
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dexdog
Veteran
A transition lens, as described by Brian. If you decide to sell it, you may find a buyer here at RFF.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm 2.0: cap & filter size?
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm 2.0: cap & filter size?
Hi,
I'm looking to receive a 1951 ZK 85/2.0 with true Sonnar elements in it shortly.
Front and rear cap (as well as box and original lens passport!) are included, but since the lens is in the mail, I cannot measure lens cap or filter size.
Anybody got a clue?
I'd like to find a CZJ lens cap and a fitting Skylight filter for it!
Carl Zeiss Sonnar 85mm 2.0: cap & filter size?
Hi,
I'm looking to receive a 1951 ZK 85/2.0 with true Sonnar elements in it shortly.
Front and rear cap (as well as box and original lens passport!) are included, but since the lens is in the mail, I cannot measure lens cap or filter size.
Anybody got a clue?
I'd like to find a CZJ lens cap and a fitting Skylight filter for it!
ItsReallyDarren
That's really me
Just taking a guess but the Nikkor 85/2 has a 48mm filter ring. Since the Nikkor was modeled after the Zeiss it might be a starting point.
dexdog
Veteran
The CZJ 8.5cm/2 lenses accept 49mm filters, and 51mm lens caps. I assume that the ZKs will use the same filters/caps as the Zeiss products. I have a 285 series 8.5/2 lens in LTM, and the above prescription works for my lens.
ferider
Veteran
Used to have a ZK 85/2 and what dexdog says is correct. For most practical purposes it looked like a Jupiter 9, with longer min. focus.
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
Thanks guys!
It will arrive with a rather bland chrome cap, no print or engraving. I was considering getting myself an earlier CZJ Sonnar cap for it. Since it has a Sonnar optical block, that's legit, right? 😉
I'm one happy puppy about this one, the passport says it was collimated to 83,7mm (effectively, that is a Jupiter-9 corrected for Leica LTM) and it looks unused! Jupiter-9 serial puts it early 1951, but the Sonnar optical block is marked 840054. I'm assuming this was a Sonnar optical block that was put into a Jupiter-9 barrel and corrected to make it focus.
Gonna be only a few more days before it arrives, I reckon!
It will arrive with a rather bland chrome cap, no print or engraving. I was considering getting myself an earlier CZJ Sonnar cap for it. Since it has a Sonnar optical block, that's legit, right? 😉
I'm one happy puppy about this one, the passport says it was collimated to 83,7mm (effectively, that is a Jupiter-9 corrected for Leica LTM) and it looks unused! Jupiter-9 serial puts it early 1951, but the Sonnar optical block is marked 840054. I'm assuming this was a Sonnar optical block that was put into a Jupiter-9 barrel and corrected to make it focus.
Gonna be only a few more days before it arrives, I reckon!
The taper of the German 85/2 Sonnar is not the same as the J-9, would not fit into an LTM J-9 focus mount. I tried for a friend, he had a German wartime 85/2 Sonnar optics block and a 1958 J-9 LTM. So- yours is probably made with German parts.
dexdog
Veteran
buzzardkid, I bet that you will be pleased with the 1951 J-9. I used to own a 1951 J-9 in Kiev mount, and it was every bit as good as my coated CZJ version in Contax RF mount from 1944. My J-9 had a 284 series CZJ optical block underneath the aluminum USSR barrel. I ended up selling the lens because the fit and finish of the CZJ lens was much better. I probably shoulda kept the Jupiter, though- a very good performer. Post some pics after you get the J-9.
raid
Dad Photographer
The lens seems to be a good find, Johan. Let me know what you think about its performance when you get the lens and use it.
enasniearth
Well-known
sonnar 85 f2
sonnar 85 f2
i had a lens similiar to the ebay one - it was chrome on brass construction , in the ad this appears the same . the 85 f2 sonnar is a rare beast - most were aluminum barrel , if the ebay one was chrome on brass the price is justified . mine was very early number however early 1946 delivery . think a prototype sold postwar for ready cash . i will look for my pictures of it . it had no depth of feild scale only an index focus mark with distances in meters .
sonnar 85 f2
i had a lens similiar to the ebay one - it was chrome on brass construction , in the ad this appears the same . the 85 f2 sonnar is a rare beast - most were aluminum barrel , if the ebay one was chrome on brass the price is justified . mine was very early number however early 1946 delivery . think a prototype sold postwar for ready cash . i will look for my pictures of it . it had no depth of feild scale only an index focus mark with distances in meters .
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
This is it:
I'm thinking this may have been built for a Russian citizen owning a Leica, it would not make any sense setting this lens to Leica specs and subsequently using it on a FED or Zorki. Or maybe it was intended for export.
The seller in his ad said he has a whole lot of them, but this was the only one with a Zeiss marked optical unit.
I'm thinking this may have been built for a Russian citizen owning a Leica, it would not make any sense setting this lens to Leica specs and subsequently using it on a FED or Zorki. Or maybe it was intended for export.
The seller in his ad said he has a whole lot of them, but this was the only one with a Zeiss marked optical unit.
Attachments
johannielscom
Snorting silver salts
JB,
thank you for that! I have the Thiele book myself but somehow it had not occured to me to look the number up in it 😱
I'm hoping this living piece of history is indeed alive and kicking when it comes to shooting it. The 50/1.5 Sonnar I have is near perfect on any Leica since it was optimized for Leica by the factory. Sonnar focus shift is negligible and I'm hoping for similar behaviour of the 85/2.0.
Once it arrives I will take it out to shoot it, on a regular basis.
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