sparrow6224
Well-known
Hi. My not all together conclusive web search leads me to believe that a CZJ 50/1.5 Sonnar for Contax that I'm looking at, no "T", serial number 2,100,XXX is a pre-war lens. From what I've seen the post war East German Jena serial numbers start with 3,000,000.
Am I correct?
Many thanks for any solid info.
Vince
Am I correct?
Many thanks for any solid info.
Vince
You are correct.
The SN 2.1M CZJ 5cm F1.5 Sonnar should have "wings" on the aperture ring, and substantially more weight than the post-war lens.
It should be a pre-war, uncoated lens.
The SN 2.1M CZJ 5cm F1.5 Sonnar should have "wings" on the aperture ring, and substantially more weight than the post-war lens.
It should be a pre-war, uncoated lens.
dexdog
Veteran
definately a pre-WW2 lens. The serial number probably dates to 1934 or 1935- can't look it up right now, I am not near my copy of Thiele's reference. Is the lens chrome, or a mix of black and nickel?
sparrow6224
Well-known
Lens appears to be all chrome except the black of the inner rim where the name, sn, focal length and widest f/stop appear.
Thanks. Brian, as I recall, is a big fan of these uncoated pre-war sonnars.
V
Thanks. Brian, as I recall, is a big fan of these uncoated pre-war sonnars.
V
dexdog
Veteran
The 2,100,xxx serial numbers date to 1936 in Hartmut Thiele's book, although he does not record any Sonnars with 2,100 for the first 4 digits.
So the question- will this lens be used on a Contax, or converted to a Leica Mount?
The optics fixture screws right into a Jupiter-3 focus mount.
My SN201x on the M8, wide-open.
The optics fixture screws right into a Jupiter-3 focus mount.
My SN201x on the M8, wide-open.
sparrow6224
Well-known
Actually it's 201X as Brian puts it; I was trying to keep it on the DL by being vague.
It's currently on a nice looking Contax IIa where it will remain for a couple of weeks at least, if I buy it, so I can see how I like that set up. But I also have a Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/2 I can use on the Contax if I decide to convert the other, and I obtained a Jupiter 3 LTM to exploit for the mount if I decide to go for the full Sweenification. I have to get the outfit first. And I'm robbing Peter and smacking Paul in the face to do it. Oh well....
V
It's currently on a nice looking Contax IIa where it will remain for a couple of weeks at least, if I buy it, so I can see how I like that set up. But I also have a Zeiss Opton Sonnar 50/2 I can use on the Contax if I decide to convert the other, and I obtained a Jupiter 3 LTM to exploit for the mount if I decide to go for the full Sweenification. I have to get the outfit first. And I'm robbing Peter and smacking Paul in the face to do it. Oh well....
V
sparrow6224
Well-known
And I love that picture, Brian. What's going on in the screen rendering of it, right behind her back? I love the blue bokeh to the left of that area, on her other side.
V
V
dexdog
Veteran
That serial number was one of a batch of 1000 5cm/1.5 Sonnars delivered January 13, 1937
The out-of-focus areas- Late Summer, puffy white clouds and blue sky shining through the trees in Virginia.
And Fall is nice here as well,
And Fall is nice here as well,
sparrow6224
Well-known
@Brian What effect is achieved without the coating, that isn't with it? Or, more simply, what is the general feeling that makes you like the uncoated more?
@dex Well I won the camera and lens over on Evil Empire Bay. That January 13 1937 made the specific past come alive in my imagination; started thinking about Germany in those days. Hitler gave a speech before the Reichstag on 17 January assuring the world that Germany had only the most peaceful intentions..... I look forward to having in my hands this lens that arrived at the camera shops in Berlin but a few days before.
@dex Well I won the camera and lens over on Evil Empire Bay. That January 13 1937 made the specific past come alive in my imagination; started thinking about Germany in those days. Hitler gave a speech before the Reichstag on 17 January assuring the world that Germany had only the most peaceful intentions..... I look forward to having in my hands this lens that arrived at the camera shops in Berlin but a few days before.
johank
Established
I too have a CZJ 1,5 5cm Sonnar with wings on apeture and the lens is in bluish AR, chromed body, # starts with 21XXXXX. It's an aceptable lens in good working order.