Cheap wide (<35mm) ltm lens?

[atracksler]

Looking for a cheap good performing m39/ltm lens for use on my cambo actus mini.

I have been using enlarger lenses, and the Rodenstock 35 that I have won’t focus to infinity, and I thought that a ltm would give me a wide view.

In the event it just doesn’t work, I don’t want to invest a ton. I’m thinking in the 1-200 department. Less is always better.

Thanks, ad

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

Jupiter 12, and cross your fingers!

 

[Pentode]

Yup. J12. Some of them are excellent.

 

[a.noctilux]

For LTM lens under 35mm, cheap, not many choice.

I think Serenar or Canon LTM 2.8cm or 28mm f/3.5 can fit if you can find one:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Exc-Canon-...016859?hash=item1c9fad445b:g:O6wAAOSwBkRaFCk4

I use the Canon 28mm f:3.5 black (for fun) that is not bad lens but not up to modern standard.

 

[nhchen]

Orion-16? 28mm f6 I found mine for around $120.
Ive also found a few canon 35mm f2.8 for less than $100
I just looked at a picture of the cambo actus mini, and I don’t think you’ll be able to easily focus to infinity with the ltm lenses, the lenses end up being very close to the sensor when at infinity. Slr lenses may work though.
Nathan

 

[a.noctilux]

On Cambo Actus Mini, if use with tilt/shift , a lens for 24x36 may not be the right choice because the image coverage field is not large enough.

Lenses like PC lens or MF lens may be better choice to shift/tilt the Actus Mini.
Or buy a Cambo lens : https://www.cambo.com/en/actus-series/actus-mini-view-camera/

 

[Luddite Frank]

You might find a Komura f:3.5 / 35mm in that price-range.

I have a black example with scalloped focusing ring, probably from the 1960's.

Not a fast lens, but is LTM, and reasonably sharp.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

The Kobalux/Avenon/Pasoptik 28mm f/3.5 is an awesome lens and you might be able to find one within your budget.
Other than that, get a Jupiter 12. I've owned a few and all have been pretty good. The best one was actually in Nikon S mount but it is the same glass as the LTM mount. Find one as old as you can with good cosmetics. That might set you back close to your max budget but those are also the best constructed and supposedly use the real German Biogon glass. If you can't find one of those, get a few real cheap ones from ebay, shipped as originally packed in the little black plastic bubble with some open cell foam rubber that is turning to either plastic goo or plastic crumbs. Either way, clean the lens, inspect it for everything staying in one place, inspect for decent focusing and that all the aperture blades are there and open/close poperly. Mount it to your camera and go have fun. If you get a lemon, keep it for parts and get another one.
You can use these lenses to learn how to work on camera lenses if you don't already.

Phil Forrest

 

[David Hughes]

On Cambo Actus Mini, if use with tilt/shift , a lens for 24x36 may not be the right choice because the image coverage field is not large enough.

Lenses like PC lens or MF lens may be better choice to shift/tilt the Actus Mini.
Or buy a Cambo lens : https://www.cambo.com/en/actus-series/actus-mini-view-camera/

I'll second that...

 

[v0sh]

Voigtländer ltm Skopar series (21/25/28/35mm)

 

[BillBingham2]

Jupiter 12, and cross your fingers!

Jupiter Roulette. Problem is there are five chambers full of pain and one that is quite nice........

B2 (;->

 

[davidnewtonguitars]

I nix the idea of buying multiple J12's to get one good one.
With anything FSU, I think the seller is first priority. Get a good seller, ask him for a good J12, and you should get it. Nothing is guaranteed, but I recommend alex-ukr-alex, multiple purchases, all good.

 

[peterm1]

Apart from the "Jupiter roulette" issue, if you go down the Jupiter 12 route they are highly regarded for their sharpness and contrast. But they have a rear element sticking way out the back due to their design (i.e. not retrofocus). If you stick to shooting film apparently this is OK. Not just because of the angle of incidence of the light rays not being so critical with film as with digital, but I believe the rear element would not be expected to interfere with any focal plane shutter on a film camera. If you want to ever use this on a digital camera though, I have read articles claiming it to be a problem on both counts - problems with the angle of incidence of the light rays hitting the sensor at too acute an angle due to the proximity of the rear element and problems with the rear element actually touching the interior of some digital cameras. I have left it at that and not researched further but others may be able to advise you more if its an issue for you.

Read this article:

https://phillipreeve.net/blog/review-jupiter-12-35mm-2-8/

My personal favorite is the Canon or Serenar 35mm f3.5. Cheap and renders very well. Some CLA sometimes is needed due to fogging as with other lenses of that era. (I have owned several and an M mount version (optically identical) sits on my M8 as I write this.

 

[xmas_one]

+1 for the previously mentioned Voigtländer ltm wides.

 

[BillBingham2]

Just for giggles OP, how much is cheap?

B2 (;->

 

[B-9]

Canon 35/2.8 or 3.5/3.2 cheap and plentiful. Fits nicely in your budget and easily resold here in our classifieds.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

You can read about the cambo actus mini (sic) here:-

https://www.cambo.com/en/actus-series/actus-mini-view-camera/

It appears to be a view camera with a range of movements, which is why I commented on the lens coverage.

As for the enlarger lens, it was designed to cover negatives that might be 6 x 9 cm and so would have the coverage but it's also designed for close range projection.

So it looks like one of their suggested (MF & LF) lenses needs to be used for best results, or else a lens adapter for the digital camera and abandon the lens board's movements.

Regards, David

 

[retinax]

Indeed if you use a lens that doesn't cover any movements, the actus mini becomes simply a bulky, expensive adapter.
Try to find tilt/shift 28 or 35 mm lenses, many manufacturers made them. Of course they can do tilt/shift on their own, but are your cheapest bet for lenses that cover decent movements.

 

[atracksler]

I found a nice canon 35/2.8 and will report on it. Either way, I can use it on my a7....

 

[BillBingham2]

I'm using my old F mount Nikkors on my XE-2 with getting better results. I remember reading something about a mod to an A7 that makes it better for using lenses in Leica M or LTM mount.

B2 (;->