Let's see your less common 50s in LTM

[dexdog]

I have recently been experimenting with a number of old 50mm/5cm lenses in LTM on Sony and Nikon mirrorless cameras. It occurred to me that while most of them were from major high volume brands such as Canon, Nikon, or the various FSU Jupiter/Fed/Zorki/Industar lenses, I also had a number of lenses from other makers. I am of course aware that Leitz was a major manufacturer, but do not own any Leitz lenses. No firm boundaries, but I am trying to highlight the less-produced labels such as Yashinon/Yashicor, Leonon, Nicca, Konica, Honor, Reid, Topcor, Steinheil, Zunow, Fujinon, Tanar, etc. I am also unsure where to place manufacturers such as Minolta/Chiyoko, for example, or the WW2 era Zeiss lenses produced in LTM. Whaddya think?

I will start with a Topcor 5cm/2 and Konica Hexanon 50mm f1.9

Also, I have the book Leica Copies by HPR, and I am not afraid to use it!😉

 

[rfaspen]

I wish I had more less-common 50's. I do have a Minolta 45/2.8 in the cupboard....but all the 50s seem to be "common" manufacturers. I'd love to have a Fujinon in LTM 🙂

 

[dexdog]

 

[splitimageview]

 

[dexdog]

Cool, that is a rare lens!

 

[dexdog]

 

[hilltime]

This is my collection of 50's from Tanaka Kogaku, more commonly referred to as Tanar's. I started with the 50/F2 which came on a late model Tanack IV. It was said it was very comparable in sharpness to the Nikkor 5cm/F2 of the same time period. After acquiring a Tanack V3 I started searching for it's mate, the 5cm/F1.9. This example came from Japan and is mint in every way. The 5cm/F2.8 is quite common, but the 5cm/F1.8 is quite rare. It is an earlier model as there is another, which resembles the Zebra lenses from Carl Zeiss Jena in the early 60's. One is on Ebay in Japan, but is way beyond my $$$ range.
The one which is missing is the very rare 5cm/F1.5 which I would love to find without mortgaging my house. I have seen a couple at crazy expensive prices and am always hoping to run into one that just appears on another camera where someone doesn't really know the value of it. One can always wish.....

Love this whole segment of later 1950's RF's from Japan. Alas, like many other companies, they went the way of the wind as they didn't get into the SLR business and the economic downfall of 1960, ended their existence quite abruptly. Great collectibles though, especially if you have a hard time with bottom loading cameras.

 

[dexdog]

The 5cm/F2.8 is quite common, but the 5cm/F1.8 is quite rare. It is an earlier model as there is another, which resembles the Zebra lenses from Carl Zeiss Jena in the early 60's. One is on Ebay in Japan, but is way beyond my $$$ range.
The one which is missing is the very rare 5cm/F1.5 which I would love to find without mortgaging my house. I have seen a couple at crazy expensive prices and am always hoping to run into one that just appears on another camera where someone doesn't really know the value of it. One can always wish.....

Your collection is cool! I also see what you mean about the 50/1.5, only one on eBay is $3500! The only 50/1.8 is $2,273, not cheap either.

 

[dexdog]

 

[hilltime]

One of my fave's also!

 

[splitimageview]

What’s that Fujinon similar to?

The Cristar I posted above renders like a Summitar

 

[former member]

RIMG0133 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

RIMG0134 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Skyllaney Bertele Sonnar, the original version. Five made.

 

[dexdog]

RIMG0133 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

RIMG0134 by fiftyonepointsix, on Flickr

Skyllaney Bertele Sonnar, the original version. Five made.

Yeah, I'd say that one of 5 total was less common! Not exactly LTM...😁

 

[dexdog]

This one is LTM, but not exactly 50 😉

 

[dexdog]

What’s that Fujinon similar to?

The Cristar I posted above renders like a Summitar

I have read that some folks compare it to an early Summicron, but I would not know.

 

[boojum]

Brian, you got the jump on me with the SBS. I am also one of the lucky few with one. It is on loan to Miles who has it slapped on an M3 right now. I just love what the SBS does with color and definition. Like Spinal Tap, it turns it up to 11 but flesh tomes remain just right. It is a nice lens and the FLB will be the patron saint of Wales, Saint Davod the Dragon Slayer for slaying focus shift. Forget committees, one dedicated person can move mountains, QED the FLB.

Here is my not common entry, another charmer with color and definition, the Cooke Amotal. First the eBay photo I saw that lured me into buying it and then one in front of they keyboard here where I sit.

​

 

[former member]

Yeah, I'd say that one of 5 total was less common! Not exactly LTM...😁

Whoops... I end up using most of my LTM lenses with an adapter.
I do have a couple of LTM lenses that are one-of-a-kind. But I adapted them...

Here's a Buffet.




The uncommon LTM manufacturers, - (Boojum's) Cooke Amotal, and my Fujica, Konica, Minolta, Topcon.
Also- Clean Summar, Canon 5cm F2, and a M-Mount Summicron 5cm F2 Rigid.

 

[former member]

One-of-a-Kind, a Coated Schneider Xenar 5cm F2.8, 5-element, converted to LTM.
Better than a Tessar.

 

[boojum]

None of you guys are helping my GAS. I have a weakness for fine lenses and try to shop accordingly. A very fine fellow who ran a super deli in Waterbury, CT, Pete, taught me this lesson: "Better one bite good than two bites bad." So I have been cautious with lenses. The SBS was a great stroke of good fortune and I am still burning Rosemary and Laurel in gratitude at the altar of The Lens Gods.

I had one of the very lovely 5cm CZJ 1.5 lenses fall into my lap. It is from the prized 272nnnn series. It is a reputed wartime 1942 despite various sources claiming it to be a '41, '42 or '43. It is a damned fine lens whatever year and never lets me down. Put it in front of an M body and let it do its thing. The color and definition are bested by the SBS and maybe some others. But it impresses the hell out of me. Well made back when CZJ was one company and then CLA'd so well it feels almost like the fine SBS.

The images are in order, the lens as it looks when it is on a camera, the lens without its protective lens cap and the lens, naked without its UV filter. You can be sure the UV filter came off just before the photo was taken and was put on immediately after the photo was taken. The CZJ 5cm 1.5 parts store has been out of business now for a while. ;o) Sweet lens. If you do it right the first time you only have to do it once.

Q1000818 by West Phalia, on Flickr

Q1000819 by West Phalia, on Flickr

Q1000820 by West Phalia, on Flickr​

 

[Joerg]

Collapsible Hexar (acquired from RFF)