Why no TLR with Sonnar lens?

[Matus]

This is probably pointless, but I am just wondering - in 35mm and 6x6 SLR the sonnar design is often considered as "portrait" lens/design. So - why it never was used on a TLR? I am only aware of tessars/xenars, planars/xenotars (and triplets ...), but never a sonnar ...

just curios ...

Just imagine some 80/2.0 (2.8) Zeiss sonnar on a Rolleiflex ... 🙂

 

[axiom]

tele rolleiflex

j/k
I get your point. Yes, it would be nice to get a 80/2.0 sonnar

 

[oftheherd]

Some Welta TLRs had Zeiss lenses, but I don't know if they were sonnars or not.

 

[danielmk2]

Optically perhaps nearly impossible because the lens group is very close to the film plane. There is a mirror in the viewing lens, which will probably interfere the lens group. That's why we don't see any sonnar 50mm for SLR.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

As I recall, a Sonnar was also available for the Contaflex. I believe some shots taken with Lupo's Contaflex were added to a RFF discussion about it a year or two ago...
Regards,
Brett

 

[axiom]

Optically perhaps nearly impossible because the lens group is very close to the film plane. There is a mirror in the viewing lens, which will probably interfere the lens group. That's why we don't see any sonnar 50mm for SLR.

That's not an explanation as to why the taking lens cannot be sonnar.

 

[axiom]

If I am to make a guess as to why there is no standard FL (80mm) sonnar,
I would say it is the issue of the in lens shutter.
Pressumming the shutter would have to be placed after the triplet. Either the shutter will have to recess too much into the body or there isn't enough space between the groups for a shutter at all.

 

[DaveO]

I have a Rollei 35S with a 40mm Sonnar lens. Of course it is not a tlr. It is a guesstimate rangefinder and 35mm camera.

DaveO

 

[raid]

I have a Tele Rollei with a 135mm Sonnar taking lens.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

Yes it is.

There's no sonnars for TLR for the same reason there's no sonnars for 35mm SLR. The sonnar optical group needs to sit close to the film plane, but cannot in these cameras due to the mirror used to view "through the lens". How are you going to make the taking lens of a TLR sit closer to the film plane than the viewing lens? Perhaps possible, but highly impractical.

Is this in the context of particular focal lengths? Two different TLRs that did have Sonnars fitted to them (the Contaflex, and the Tele Rollei--old and new) have already been mentioned in the discussion, so you cannot really say that there are no Sonnars for TLRs because that is simply not right. What is your context?

Further, Sonnars have been produced for 35 millimetre SLRs also. The Zeiss Ikon Contarex single lens reflex had several Sonnar options including a 135mm f/4 as well as a 250mm f/4 and also a 85-250mm Vario-Sonnar f4.
Regards,
Brett

 

[danielmk2]

That's not an explanation as to why the taking lens cannot be sonnar.

You have actually explained why this wouldn't happen by your self concerning the shutter etc.

Think about a Sonnar and a Triplet, the Sonnar is sitting so close to the film that you'll have a difficulty of designing the plate that holds both two types of lens while Triplet/Double Gauss is de viewing lens and the Sonnar the taking lens.

It's difficult, but possible. However, the light will probably get partially blocked as Sonnar goes deep into the body, and the film chamber will also have not enough room for holding a film in the bottom. So many problems to be solved, there are reasons that they chose Double Gauss and Triplet.......

 

[danielmk2]

Is this in the context of particular focal lengths? Two different TLRs that did have Sonnars fitted to them (the Contaflex, and the Tele Rollei--old and new) have already been mentioned in the discussion, so you cannot really say that there are no Sonnars for TLRs because that is simply not right. What is your context?

Further, Sonnars have been produced for 35 millimetre SLRs also. The Zeiss Ikon Contarex single lens reflex had several Sonnar options including a 135mm f/4 as well as a 250mm f/4 and also a 85-250mm Vario-Sonnar f4.
Regards,
Brett

Good point Brett, but we're talking about standard lens. The Contaflex with 50mm is really amazing. I forgot this beast, perhaps that Sonnar 50 has just enough room for the mirror or they have a solution 🙄