1935 "transitional" sonnar f2 barrel

[S.H.]

Hello,

I found last month an interesting black/nikel sonnar f2 in a f1.5 barrel, from 1935 :


Heavy nickel barrel from a 1.5 with a black band, chrome aperture ring to f2. I did not found much on these, but it looks like there was a batch produced like that (it was probably not assembled afterwards from spare parts). Mine is in good shape : some small scratches on the front but not much to worry about, a cosmetic scratch on the black paint, a little oil on the blades. Just did some very quick test shots with my M8 : very much usable! Impressive for an almost 80 years old lens. I payed ~150€ but I can use it on Contax and Leica M, and looking at the summar/summitar prices now 🙄 it looks like a bargain.

Only references I found was :
- Kuc's book : a pictures of the variants of the f2 sonnar, showing two such "franken", one with a barrel like mine and one with a chrome barrel and a s/n from 1936. Just says it is uncommon.
- Kevincameras site : http://www.kevincameras.com/gallery/v/Contax_rf/albup60/50_2/1659166/?g2_page=1 ; called "transitional sonnar"

Does anybody knows anything about these strange sonnars?

 

[dexdog]

John Keesing's book "Contax Rangefinder Lenses 1932-1962" gives a description consistent with your lens (rigid barrel, black stripe, black/nickel/chrome construction), with low serial number of 1629312 and high serial number of 1731640. He also says that this was the first f2 lens to feature the 40.5mm filter thread. Thiele's book of CZJ lenses says that your lens was part of a batch of 2000 completed in September 1935.

 

[S.H.]

Thanks! Would you know how to obtain these two books?

 

[Bill Jones]

1:2 5 cm Sonnar

1:2 5 cm Sonnar

S.H.

It's a great looking lens. Enjoy using it. Nickel and black implies Contax I and I think that is a better description of them. The Zeiss Ikon main catalogue of 1938 is still showing Contax I as available and the photo clearly shows a lens like this with S/N 1428760. The Contax II (same source) has a collapseable 1:2 5 cm S/N 1606988. The Contax II instruction book shows the same photo with the Zeiss Ikon logo engraved next to the rangefinder window. This was airbrushed out in the catalogue. The instruction book also shows collapseable 1:2 5 cm S/N 1629833.

Bill

 

[dexdog]

Thanks! Would you know how to obtain these two books?

The Keesing book may be available from Marc James Small of the Zeiss Ikon Collectors Group- he had some for sale last year. I do not have a contact number for Mr. Small, but if you log into ZICG website you can ask about it. See following site for how to join. http://dir.groups.yahoo.com/group/ZICG/?v=1&t=directory&ch=web&pub=groups&sec=dir&slk=4

The title of the Thiele book is "Fabrikationsbuch Photooptik II Carl Zeiss Jena." I bought my copy of the latest version of the Thiele book from US-based Camaerabooks.com, but it should be available at Lindemanns Buchhandlung in Germany.

 

[S.H.]

Thanks for the tips.