Fujinon 3.5cm/2 LTM, tests

[dexdog]

I recently bought a Fujinon 3.5cm/2 LTM on eBay. Lens is in beautful condition, looks like it was barely used. A tiny thing, about 32mm tall, accepts 39mm filters, weighs 190 grams. Lens construction is beautiful, built like a tank, maybe even better than the LTM Nikkors. Close focus limit on this lens 1.1 meters/3.5 feet. Just got back the first roll of film. I was interested in the OOF characteristics and resolution. I was surprised by the swirly bokeh. Following pics shot wide open at 1/1000, Canon L1, Kodacolor 200. No sharpening applied, although I did tweak the contrast. Color rendition seems to be pretty true to life. No filter or hood on these shots, but I want to get a UV for it to protect the glass.

pic 1- Dex, swirly bokeh, not quite as vertigo-inducing as a summitar, but close. Oh yeah, I missed the focus on this shot. I am blaming the dog for moving ; )

pic 2- Dex, in sphinx pose.

pic 3- close crop of pic 2. Very good resolution, complete with dust and scratches from the local one hour photo lab.

 

[dexdog]

Another set with the Fujinon.

pic 1- Plant in my house. Wide open, 1/1000. Close focus limit of 3.5 feet

pic 2- crop of pic 1. Decent resolution, check texture on pot

pic 3- 1/250 at f 5.6. Distance to plant is about 6 feet. Bokeh has calmed down, is pretty normal

 

[dexdog]

Crazy bokeh...

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

I liked the signature of this lens! May I ask how much you paid? I have color skopar but it is modern and would like to get something like that!

 

[dexdog]

May I ask how much you paid?

526 USD, lens was attached to a really nice Canon VI-T. Package also included a Canon lightmeter coupled to shutter speed dial, including incident metering cover. Amazingly, the old selenium meter is spot on, as compared to my Gossen LunaStar digital meter. I exposed these pics with the Canon meter. I will probably sell the VI-T- I already have one, and am not particularly fond of trigger winders

 

[LeicaFoReVer]

is that price with the camera? what if I try to find alone?

I remember I bought my canon 50mm f1.2 together with Canon P and lightmeter for 450$! and that lightmeter was working too! They are hard to find in working condition as selenium cells die with time...

 

[dexdog]

is that price with the camera? what if I try to find alone?

I remember I bought my canon 50mm f1.2 together with Canon P and lightmeter for 450$! and that lightmeter was working too! They are hard to find in working condition as selenium cells die with time...

Yes, price included the camera. These lenses rarely appear on US eBay; I think that this is only the second one that I have seen in last 5 years

 

[ferider]

Not bad at all, Mark. I like the OOF of the flower pot very much, and the trees are similar to what other fast 35s of that area would produce; not sure the Nikkor 35/1.8 or Canon 35/2 would behave better. Seems like a great lower contrast lens. Thanks for posting this !

 

[raid]

This is a good find, Mark. Show us more results as you use this lens more often.
GAS needs to be rekindled once in a while!

I am waiting to get back a 35 Summicron that I picked up in "very used" condition. Eddy Smolov already has cleaned the lens, he toldme yesterday.

 

[paulfish4570]

love what this lens does with color; kind of a deluxe printed magazine photo effect ...

 

[dexdog]

Hello dexdog,
Very nice find.
I would be very interested to know if your lens is in the 200xxx series?.

Serial number of the lens is 200318.

 

[JimT]

Hi Dexdog and others,
I recently acquired one of these lenses S/N 200204 as it was attached to an immaculate DS M3 from 1955 (other than the fact that some idiot pushed his finger into the shutter curtain, so it won't release). I sent the body off for repair and a CLA, but was wondering what to do with the lens.
I just checked on ebay and there are a couple of these selling for over $2,000, with prices at Kevinscameras in the same range (they list the lens as very rare). As good of a lens as it is, I'm guessing that this can only be due to the rarity of the lens.
Optically its very clean, but both the aperture and focus ring have too much friction and are due for a CLA. I can't really use it on the M3 without a viewfinder, and it's too close to the 40mm on my CL, so I'm thinking of getting it cleaned and selling it, as it could help fund other lenses of a higher priority.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this lens and how to proceed? Perhaps contact the dealers already selling this lens and inquire about a trade? Oh yeah, fyi, the M3 and lens - $300 on craigslist....
thanks,

 

[David Murphy]

Jim,

It is special. You will get your best price selling it right here on the RFF classified section. A CLA should be less than $100 for this lens (I'd not pay my tech more than $60).

-- David

Hi Dexdog and others,
I recently acquired one of these lenses S/N 200204 as it was attached to an immaculate DS M3 from 1955 (other than the fact that some idiot pushed his finger into the shutter curtain, so it won't release). I sent the body off for repair and a CLA, but was wondering what to do with the lens.
I just checked on ebay and there are a couple of these selling for over $2,000, with prices at Kevinscameras in the same range (they list the lens as very rare). As good of a lens as it is, I'm guessing that this can only be due to the rarity of the lens.
Optically its very clean, but both the aperture and focus ring have too much friction and are due for a CLA. I can't really use it on the M3 without a viewfinder, and it's too close to the 40mm on my CL, so I'm thinking of getting it cleaned and selling it, as it could help fund other lenses of a higher priority.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this lens and how to proceed? Perhaps contact the dealers already selling this lens and inquire about a trade? Oh yeah, fyi, the M3 and lens - $300 on craigslist....
thanks,

 

[raid]

One day, I want to try out this lens.

 

[JimT]

Hi David,
Thanks for the response. Can you recommend somebody in SoCal for this work? I live in San Diego and Kurt's camera repair has quoted $150. I've used Sherry Krauter for my CL and M3 work, but she said that she would need to see the lens before committing to be able to work on it. It's a long way to send the lens without knowing if the work can be done.
best,
jim

 

[Heru Anggono]

Anybody has info what kind of design on this Fujinon? How many aperture blades?

 

[Bar8barian]

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[Sonnar2]

Block diagram on the right:

 

[Heru Anggono]

Thanks Sonnar2.

So it is a 7 elements 5 group. The Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 WC is also 7E 5G design, a Xenotar if I'm not mistaken. I wonder if they are of similar design.

 

[johannielscom]

Never seen a Fujinon in real life, but about to see a W-Nikkor, once the mailman brings it so I might be able to provide some comparison material...