FrankS' Old Lens.

Sonnar Brian

Sonnar Brian

Product of the Fifties
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I bought FrankS 's old CZJ 5cm F1.5 Sonnar, posted in the RFF Classifieds. This one looks to be from 1935 or so, fairly early SN.

Converted it to LTM using a J-3 mount.

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I got to use it for a few shots.

Close-up and Wide-Open at F1.5, on the Canon P
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At F4:
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Not much Flare for an Uncoated lens! It had some haze in it, popped all the glass and cleaned out nicely. I'm convinced that the Glass used in the F1.5 lens is different from the F2 lens. The latter gets a lot of damage, like a Summar. The F1.5 lens cleans up nicely. I've worked on about 20 of them.

Another at F1.5.

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That tree just lost all of those beautiful Red Leaves.

Infinity test at F1.5:
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I did a lot of raking yesterday, after this was taken.

And the 1m wide-open, up-close focus test.
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This lens is boxed and going off for a trade of a "transition" lens that made its way to me twice. Looked like a practice lens for making J-3's. The original Triplet was bad, I replaced it with a German one. But, that will be a different thread...
 
love those japanese maple leaves

you're the lens converter guru, brian

sorry for lack of caps, i'm recuperating from carpal release procedure
 
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The original Sonnar 5cm 1,5 is in many ways a "lens miracle", if you take into account its age and its speed and its flare resistance while being uncoated.
 
I suppose that one has already found a new home. Gotta love those uncoated Sonnars, gotta find one for Brian to convert.

William
 
One of the reasons why I got an Amedeo Contax lens to Leica camera adapter is to allow me to find Sonnar lenses more easily [in Contax mount].

Brian's adaptations are keepers.
 
As mentioned, I traded this lens for an oddball Sonnar for use and for my collection. "THAT" particular Sonnar made it to me twice, from each of its RFF owners. "It needs me". Anyway- this Sonnar is going to someone that will put it to good use, which is what I like to see of all my "hacks".
 
LOL. Well, I made that smart crack partially because Chris had waxed so enthused over the bokeh of these shots ... But it probably wouldn't be THAT hard, just maybe a little silly. It's not a large lens by SLR standards, but larger than most LTM lenses. But such concerns have never stopped you! 😉

I know there is an OM -> M adapter available (or at least was in the past), but it ain't cheap. I've thought about that option if I acquire an M body, so that I could use my Zuiko 21/2. There's no way I could afford a fast M mount 21 unless it were my only lens. The OM/M adapter isn't cheap; when used with a 28 or 50/1.4 as well as the 21, it might make some sense. But there's the issue of it not being fully coupled to the rangefinder.
 
Brian Sweeney said:
Anyway- this Sonnar is going to someone that will put it to good use, which is what I like to see of all my "hacks".
Click to expand...

I agree that is always best, far better than a dusty shelf or drawer. Remember me if you do find an extra uncoated Sonnar, though. :angel: I'm no speed freak, a 50/2 would be just fine ... 😉

William
 
That must be "#9". It came out quite well. #10 went half way around the world to India. I really enjoy doing these lens conversions and seeing them get used.

About half of the displaced J-3 modules make there way back to Contax Mount. The other half have such bad glass, that they get used for parts. I use 1955 KMZ "Back-Hack" on a Contax II. I'll be comparing with a post-war CZJ 5cm F1.5 Sonnar.

William- 5cm f2 collapsible Sonnars are easy to convert using J-8 focus mounts. Look for the parts. The one issue- getting an uncoated 5cm f2 Sonnar with clean glass. The glass is soft. I have much better luck with the F1.5 lenses.
 
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More seriously, I do keep my eyes open. If I gather up the bits, you'll be the first to know.

William
 
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