Fuji Photo Film Co. Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 LTM - My dream come true

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Fuji Photo Film Co. Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 LTM

Nine years ago, I first started my photographic journey with a Canon IIB camera and Canon LTM lens. I love the antique rangefinder cameras and lenses. They are well built, solid, and classic. Since then, I start to use them and hunting some of the rare lenses, my dream lenses.

Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 LTM is within my top three dream lenses list. Fuji Photo Film Co. made this lens in the 1950s. It is in black paint. (My lens already shows some brass) And I've heard that this lens is the best one among the famous four 5cm ultra-fast LTM lenses made by the Japanese lens makers during that era. (They are Zunow 50 1.1, Nikkor 50 1.1, Fujinon 50 1.2, Konica 60 1.2) Throughout the years, I was not able to find one since this lens is so rare, and they are Expensive! But I never give up. Finally, I find one in excellent shape and even been stored in its original box. The reason that I start this thread is that I want to share my happiness and show how beautiful the lens is. I have to say that the image quality of this lens blows my mind. It's quite sharp even when I shoot wide open at f/1.2.

And also, the information regarding this lens is very limited on the Internet. Well, I can understand it since not many of this lens could survive after all these years, and I believe many of the exsist lenses belong to the collectors. No official document can be found to see how many of it exactly been made. I wish the RF members could share their knowledge with us so that we could know more about this beautiful lens.

Cheers,
Kevin


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount. A rare find! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount. A rare find! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount. A rare find! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount. A rare find! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount. A rare find! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

 

[CharlesDAMorgan]

Very nice! I look forward to the photos taken with the lens.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

All these photos were taken with Leica M10 + Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 @f/1.2 wide open when I was visiting KOH'S camera in New York. It is a must-go place if you love Leica cameras. He has an amazing collection. Black paint cameras. Some extremely rare lenses. I even saw a factory sealed Leica KE-7A military camera kit.


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

 

[Wouter2]

I once found one of these on the brazilian ebay, heavily used and with lots of surface scratches on the front element. Sold it to a gentleman on this forum, hoping he would restore it (focal point was still active at that time). I still wonder how that lens turned out.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I once found one of these on the brazilian ebay, heavily used and with lots of surface scratches on the front element. Sold it to a gentleman on this forum, hoping he would restore it (focal point was still active at that time). I still wonder how that lens turned out.

I believe I read the same story on RFF many years ago. I assume you are the same person? I remember the lens was heavily scratched. What a shame. I wish the lens was restored. But the new coating will be different from the original.

 

[yossi]

All these photos were taken with Leica M10 + Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 @f/1.2 wide open when I was visiting KOH'S camera in New York. It is a must-go place if you love Leica cameras. He has an amazing collection. Black paint cameras. Some extremely lenses. I even saw a factory sealed Leica KE-7A military camera kit.


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

I happen to know Mr. Koh, the owner of KOH's Camera personally. He was formerly from Singapore and later migrated to the US. We were having tea when he visited Singapore few years ago.

Mr. Koh and his brother were both Rollei factory-trained technicians who are capable of doing proper Rolleiflex repair. I still send my Rolleiflex TLR's to his brother for repaire these days (just that many spares had run out by now.)

 

[drewbarb]

Gorgeous lens - I didn't even know it existed! But I am surprised to hear you talk of several 1950's era Japanese super speed LTM lenses, and NOT mention the Canon offerings, both the 50mm f0.95 or the 50mm f1.2. Why did neither of these lenses make your list?

I hope you will post some more images here taken with and of this lens, and I'm glad you were able to find such a lovely example of a coveted lens; congratulations. Enjoy it.

 

[raid]

I own a Canon 50/1.2 and I have used a Nikkor 50/1.1 and a Canon 50/0.95 as loaner lenses in one of my past lens comparisons. I have never tried using a Fujinon 50/1.2. Good for you.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I happen to know Mr. Koh, the owner of KOH's Camera personally. He was formerly from Singapore and later migrated to the US. We were having tea when he visited Singapore few years ago.

Mr. Koh and his brother were both Rollei factory-trained technicians who are capable of doing proper Rolleiflex repair. I still send my Rolleiflex TLR's to his brother for repaire these days (just that many spares had run out by now.)

Thank you for sharing these with us! I've met Mr. Koh at the LHSA annual event this October. He is very nice and friendly. Showing me around the event, introduce the people there. And I have a long conversation with Jimmy and his wife in Mandarin that day. They told me a lot about their stories. Mr. Koh was training in Germany and the company sent him to the States. What a memory. He told me that he stop accepting the order of repairing the Rollei camera. But he still repairs Rolleiflex for some of his friends.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Gorgeous lens - I didn't even know it existed! But I am surprised to hear you talk of several 1950's era Japanese super speed LTM lenses, and NOT mention the Canon offerings, both the 50mm f0.95 or the 50mm f1.2. Why did neither of these lenses make your list?

I hope you will post some more images here taken with and of this lens, and I'm glad you were able to find such a lovely example of a coveted lens; congratulations. Enjoy it.

Thank you! I will share more pictures taken by this beauty when I get the chance.

I do own the Canon 50mm f1.2 and Canon 50mm 0.95. Actually they are the first two fast 50mm lenses that I own back in 2011. They are not hard to find, so I did not put them in my dream list. But don't get me wrong, both of these Canon fast lenses are very good. I like the rendering of the Canon 50mm f0.95 especially.

Here is my Canon LTM collection back in 2011.

Canon LTM Collection~!!! by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

Canon 50mm f0.95 + Leica M9
. by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I own a Canon 50/1.2 and I have used a Nikkor 50/1.1 and a Canon 50/0.95 as loaner lenses in one of my past lens comparisons. I have never tried using a Fujinon 50/1.2. Good for you.

Yeah I've seen you mentioned that 50mm lenses comparison test before. Could you please let me know the link to it?

I also own the Nikkor 50mm f1.1 external mount and recently I have acquired an internal mount version too. It looks so cool when mount it on the black paint Nikon SP. But Nikkor 50mm f1.1 does not perform so well when wide open compare with Fujinon 50 1.2. I do not have the original Konica 60mm f1.2. But luckily, I find a reissue Konica 60mm f1.2 (800 pieces totally) a few years back.


Nippon Kogaku NIKKOR-N 5cm f/1.1 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

Konica 60mm f1.2 LTM in 800 pieces limited edition by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I'd find it more interesting to see what the lens looks like using film, perhaps you will share some images in this thread eventually? Congratulations on your purchase.

 

[Krosya]

All these photos were taken with Leica M10 + Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 @f/1.2 wide open when I was visiting KOH'S camera in New York. It is a must-go place if you love Leica cameras. He has an amazing collection. Black paint cameras. Some extremely rare lenses. I even saw a factory sealed Leica KE-7A military camera kit.


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr


Fujinon 5cm f/1.2 in Leica Screw Mount @f/1.2 by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

Hope you didnt spend a lot of money on it. As much as I like super fast and rare and exotic lenses - this one misses for me. But I suppose its a personal taste thing - if you like it - I'm happy for you.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I'd find it more interesting to see what the lens looks like using film, perhaps you will share some images in this thread eventually? Congratulations on your purchase.

Thank you!

I am also curious about its film result. Currently I mainly using my digital M for its convenience and economic. I will definitely share the pictures here once I get a chance to shoot it on film though.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

Hope you didnt spend a lot of money on it. As much as I like super fast and rare and exotic lenses - this one misses for me. But I suppose its a personal taste thing - if you like it - I'm happy for you.

Thank you! It is a dream come true for me. And I am surprised by its image quality. Indeed this is very subjective, I should say. Although I don't want to mention how much I spend on this lens. I think it is a very good investment as I have seen the price of this lens is climbing throughout the years. I will not consider selling it, though. I am also a fast and rare lens lover as you may already notice. I would be happy to know which is your favorite fast lens in your mind.

 

[Krosya]

Thank you! It is a dream come true for me. And I am surprised by its image quality. Indeed this is very subjective, I should say. Although I don't want to mention how much I spend on this lens. I think it is a very good investment as I have seen the price of this lens is climbing throughout the years. I will not consider selling it, though. I am also a fast and rare lens lover as you may already notice. I would be happy to know which is your favorite fast lens in your mind.

I own currently CV 35/1.2, M-Hexanon 50/1.2 - only ones I kept as a super speed lenses. I did have Canon 50/1.2 LTM, which was pretty cool, just not as reliable as others, so it got sold. I also have some less speedy ones - but still favorites - CV 50/1.5, Nikkor 5cm 1.5 LTM, CV 35/1.7 LTM. I also have Black Nikkor 85mm 2.0 LTM - pretty fast for a longer lens, had Canon 85/2.0 and 1.9 in the past. After trying different lenses, I try to only keep ones that I like the best - has to be good performance, - nice and sharp, pleasant or at least interesting bokeh, easy to focus, no mechanical issues. I also have CV 21mm 1.8 - again a pretty fast lens.

My most used - CV 35/1.2 - it just does so many things right for me. 50mm lens - I'd have to say either CV 50/1.5 or Nikkor 5cm 1.5. While I like M-Hexanon - I dont use it as often, partially because it's rare and expensive and I want to keep it in good condition - more of a collector item for me, not so much a user. I also like some vintage SLR lenses that I can use either on their original bodies or on Sony/Olympus digital cameras. But I dont collect super fast glass for SLRs - they have enough regular speed lenses that I'm happy with.

 

[KEVIN-XU 愛 forever]

I own currently CV 35/1.2, M-Hexanon 50/1.2 - only ones I kept as a super speed lenses. I did have Canon 50/1.2 LTM, which was pretty cool, just not as reliable as others, so it got sold. I also have some less speedy ones - but still favorites - CV 50/1.5, Nikkor 5cm 1.5 LTM, CV 35/1.7 LTM. I also have Black Nikkor 85mm 2.0 LTM - pretty fast for a longer lens, had Canon 85/2.0 and 1.9 in the past. After trying different lenses, I try to only keep ones that I like the best - has to be good performance, - nice and sharp, pleasant or at least interesting bokeh, easy to focus, no mechanical issues. I also have CV 21mm 1.8 - again a pretty fast lens.

My most used - CV 35/1.2 - it just does so many things right for me. 50mm lens - I'd have to say either CV 50/1.5 or Nikkor 5cm 1.5. While I like M-Hexanon - I dont use it as often, partially because it's rare and expensive and I want to keep it in good condition - more of a collector item for me, not so much a user. I also like some vintage SLR lenses that I can use either on their original bodies or on Sony/Olympus digital cameras. But I dont collect super fast glass for SLRs - they have enough regular speed lenses that I'm happy with.

Konica Hexar RF Titanium Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f1.2 [2001 set Limited Edition] by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

Thank you for sharing your thoughts here! Good to know.

Konica M-Hexanon 50mm f.12 is also in my collection! Good to know this is one of your favorite lenses. I rarely use this lens as I thought this lens is too modern for my taste. Just like what you said in the previous post, it is a personal taste thing. But I should say the handling of this lens is very smooth. Konica did make some top-notch lenses before it has gone. That's why I keep all of my Konica M and LTM lenses.

I always think Canon 50mm f1.2 is a bargain for people who love vintage fast lens. I heard a lot of good things about the Nikkor 85mm f2 LTM before, as I remember this was the first Nikon lens that Mr. David Douglas Duncan introduced to the western photojournalist. It has a very high reputation. But I mainly use 50mm and 35mm lenses. I do own some of the long focal lenses like Fujinon 100mm f2 LTM, Canon 85mm f1.5, but I rarely use them.

50mm f1.5 is a rare gem. I always want to try it but no luck till now. Talking about the rare 50mm f1.5 lens, I own a Nokton 50mm f/1.5 white face in the original LTM. This is one of my precious and is my favorite f1.5 vintage lens.

Voigtländer Prominent “White Face”Collection Nokton 50mm f1.5 LTM by Kevin-Xu, on Flickr

I also have some fast and rare 35mm lenses. I will upload a photo of my collection later. I planned to create another thread to show them though. Nikkor 35mm f1.8 LTM is my favorite one. It performs so well on film - The sharpness, rendering, color. I shared some photos taken with this lens in Hongkong before in another thread.

I never bought any film/digital SLR equipment. It's too bulky for me. I know professional/commercial photographers like to use SLR cameras. I am a rangefinder guy all the time. 🙂

Best,
Kevin

 

[David Murphy]

Wow, that's the real dream lens for many a collector! It's extremely rare with the original box and case as well. Congratulations!