doubs43
Well-known
After dropping my wife off at the Colonial Mall in Macon, I headed downtown to visit the only true photography store this side of Atlanta. I needed D-76 replenisher and the opportunity to look around a little.
No replenisher on the shelf so I went to the back display cabinet and looked. The usual assortment of odds and ends.......... Wait a minute! What's that in the lower corner? Could it be a screw-mount lens for a Leica? Lemme see that thing!
The clerk handed me a pile of dust with a lens hiding somewhere inside! Having sat for years - literally - with the rear of the lens upward and open, it had accumulated a massive amount of dust inside. It had a RF coupling though! I turned it over and saw that it was a 135mm f/3.5 Komura and while dusty, the front element appeared to be unharmed. Focus was smooth enough and the aperture ring positive....... how much? "let me ask" came the reply. Oh..... is there any D-76 replenisher hiding in the back anywhere? "I'll ask about that too!"
Returning with an old bag of replenisher marked $5.95 and the Komura, he said "$10 for the lens". I said "I'll take it" without skipping a beat!
The clerk gave me a can of compressed air and I took it outside and blew as much dust as possible from the back recesses of the lens, being very careful not to blow a direct stream of air onto the rear element. I let it deflect off of the sides and lift the dust out.
Outside again, I attached the lens to my Bessa-T and noted that infinity focus was perfect.
I've cleaned the front and read elements and the lens looks really nice. The build quality seems to be very good. Tomorrow I plan on testing it and my two Hektor 135's and my Canon 135mm f/3.5 lens on the Bessa. The results should be interesting.
Walker
No replenisher on the shelf so I went to the back display cabinet and looked. The usual assortment of odds and ends.......... Wait a minute! What's that in the lower corner? Could it be a screw-mount lens for a Leica? Lemme see that thing!
The clerk handed me a pile of dust with a lens hiding somewhere inside! Having sat for years - literally - with the rear of the lens upward and open, it had accumulated a massive amount of dust inside. It had a RF coupling though! I turned it over and saw that it was a 135mm f/3.5 Komura and while dusty, the front element appeared to be unharmed. Focus was smooth enough and the aperture ring positive....... how much? "let me ask" came the reply. Oh..... is there any D-76 replenisher hiding in the back anywhere? "I'll ask about that too!"
Returning with an old bag of replenisher marked $5.95 and the Komura, he said "$10 for the lens". I said "I'll take it" without skipping a beat!
The clerk gave me a can of compressed air and I took it outside and blew as much dust as possible from the back recesses of the lens, being very careful not to blow a direct stream of air onto the rear element. I let it deflect off of the sides and lift the dust out.
Outside again, I attached the lens to my Bessa-T and noted that infinity focus was perfect.
I've cleaned the front and read elements and the lens looks really nice. The build quality seems to be very good. Tomorrow I plan on testing it and my two Hektor 135's and my Canon 135mm f/3.5 lens on the Bessa. The results should be interesting.
Walker
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Gordon Coale
Well-known
If it doesn't work out I'll give you $12 for it. I'll even pay shipping! 
doubs43
Well-known
Gordon Coale said:If it doesn't work out I'll give you $12 for it. I'll even pay shipping!
Gordon, you're a PAL!!
Walker
back alley
IMAGES
10 bucks!
man, what a sweet deal.
i wonder if the komura was one of the 135's that bill m. tested awhile ago? can't remember.
joe
man, what a sweet deal.
i wonder if the komura was one of the 135's that bill m. tested awhile ago? can't remember.
joe
Gordon Coale
Well-known
Hey! That's what RFF buddies are for.
That's great good fortune finding it. Rescuing a good lens from a dust pile and finally running light through it.
I do need a 135 though. I have lenses for all the finders in my KMZ Universal Viewfinder except the 135. It's feeling so unwanted!
That's great good fortune finding it. Rescuing a good lens from a dust pile and finally running light through it.
I do need a 135 though. I have lenses for all the finders in my KMZ Universal Viewfinder except the 135. It's feeling so unwanted!
peter_n
Veteran
Think about a Jupiter-11 Gordon. Smashing lens and very cheap. Attached pic was taken around f8 I think. Sorry about the blown highlights but that's my lousy scanning technique.
doubs43
Well-known
Gordon Coale said:
Gordon, I'll keep my eyes open for you and let you know if another 135mm lens in LTM turns up. Ebay is the best bet IMO and a daily search of names/brands such as Komura, Canon, Nikkor, Hektor and the like will turn up something. I think Steinheil of Germany also made a pretty decent 135mm for LTM cameras.
I so seldom find anything like this lens that I had to share the story. This area is old camera poor. Up Atlanta way is probably a lot better.
Walker
Gordon Coale
Well-known
How are the Hektors? The Jupiter 11s are reasonably priced but I already have a number of Russian lens and might like something else. And how can you resist a lens named after a dog?
doubs43
Well-known
Gordon Coale said:
Gordon, the Hektors are often overlooked and underrated by photographers who want a "fast" lens. With a maximum aperture of f/4.5, the Hektor won't dazzle anyone with it's low light capabilities. Then again, how many people actually use a 135mm lens in truly low light? The Hektors are capable of taking fine images. I like mine.
IF you plan on using the Hektor on an FSU camera, be aware that the FR coupling may cause a problem. The Leica and it's clones from Japan use a circular coupling on the RF arm in the camera and the coupling shaft on the Hektor lens has no problem riding over it while being seated on the camera mount. NOT SO with the tear-drop coupling on FSU cameras! They will bind and trying to force the lens onto the camera could damage the RF coupling on the camera.
Walker
Gordon Coale
Well-known
I would probably use it on the Leica IIIc I hope to rebuild soon or on a Bessa T if I should strike it rich (I'm working on that!).