Leica LTM Hektor 73mm, Thambar, Summarex, what else?

[menos]

Johan, this is such a beauty!
How does it feel, focussing, aperture? Already shot photos?

 

[awslee]

The Dallmeyer Dallac is about 8x the price of the Hektor 73. But it is a fantastic lens, much shaper than the Hektor.

 

[johannielscom]

Johan, this is such a beauty!
How does it feel, focussing, aperture? Already shot photos?

Hi Dirk,

did not see your questions yet, sorry to be late.

The lens is like new. Focusing is smooth, aperture is smooth. It balances very nicely on an M3, it would dip over easily on a Barnack (for which it was designed). However, the lens is big enough to support on one's hand so in fact it is not very troublesome to use it on a Barnack.

In a week's time I will be posting some shots from it, I reckon.


This is the early Zeiss design, focusing close at 1.8 mtrs. At that distance and wide open, it actually produces a 5 centimeter DOF so I do not feel the 1.8 mtrs to be too far away. For portraits it would be perfect.

 

[menos]

Hi Dirk,

did not see your questions yet, sorry to be late.

The lens is like new. Focusing is smooth, aperture is smooth. It balances very nicely on an M3, it would dip over easily on a Barnack (for which it was designed). However, the lens is big enough to support on one's hand so in fact it is not very troublesome to use it on a Barnack.

In a week's time I will be posting some shots from it, I reckon.


This is the early Zeiss design, focusing close at 1.8 mtrs. At that distance and wide open, it actually produces a 5 centimeter DOF so I do not feel the 1.8 mtrs to be too far away. For portraits it would be perfect.

Sounds fantastic Johan I would love, to see some shots of this lens, once you use it a bit.

Btw - I am starting to use the Hektor 73 ƒ1.9 in the wild:

"fast delivery" hazy Hektor @ ƒ1,9

"selling furniture" hazy Hektor @ ƒ2.2

"bike repair shop" hazy Hektor @ ƒ1.9

"…" hazy Hektor @ ƒ1.9

This last shot was a panning shot of a man on scooter, zooming past on the road. Focus distance was about 2m.
I think, motion really draws beautiful backgrounds with the Hektor, which is otherwise quite busy.

Some say, the Hektor would not be sharp no shots are photoshopped or altered beside my standard development in Lightroom (curves, black point, sharpening etc…).
I used the standard sharpening, I generally use for the M8.2 sensor (50%, 0.8, 50% detail) - doing an excessive sharpening above that doesn't do any good to photographs.

I truly love the Hektor since using it Yesterday - it is such a wonderful user! If I only could the two small hints, I am in urgent need, to finally open the optical cell and the focus mount for a strip down, to clean the haze, and redo the reflective paint inside, which failed.

Roberto V, if you are reading this, I am a truly happy customer

 

[johannielscom]

Dirk,

those furniture and mirror glasses shots are excellent! It's obvious the lens is flare prone now that it is hazy but in these shots that flare actually adds to the atmosphere and apparently hardly takes any sharpness off.

People who say the Hektor 73/1.9 isn't sharp, confuse sharpness with contrast.

Today I will be meeting some college friends (after a fifteen-year recess...) and will bring the Jupiter-CZJ 85/2.0 with me and try to shoot some portraits.

I hope somebody will soon help you out with info on how to open the Hektors optical cell so you can clean and paint that!

 

[menos]

Dirk,

those furniture and mirror glasses shots are excellent! It's obvious the lens is flare prone now that it is hazy but in these shots that flare actually adds to the atmosphere and apparently hardly takes any sharpness off.

People who say the Hektor 73/1.9 isn't sharp, confuse sharpness with contrast.

Today I will be meeting some college friends (after a fifteen-year recess...) and will bring the Jupiter-CZJ 85/2.0 with me and try to shoot some portraits.

I hope somebody will soon help you out with info on how to open the Hektors optical cell so you can clean and paint that!

Thanks for the comment Johan ;-)
It is true, that the Hektor is less sharp than any more modern lens, but as you wrote images loose a lot of perceived sharpness with a lens with such a low contrast and high "glow" wide open as this hazy Hektor.

I really, really like the lens and plan, to take it with me on my trip to Germany later this year (hopefully, I can find a way, to have it cleaned by then). It surely will not be my main lens or even my mainly used short tele, but it definitely is a beautiful special effects lens to use for certain shots.

Looking forward to some of your Zeiss 85/2 photos!

 

[menos]

First shots after cleaning:

big on teknopunk.com or on flickr

"bump" big on flickr

"sad face" big on flickr

Next year is Hektor's 80th anniversary - I'll definitely throw a party :smile:

 

[johannielscom]

Those are a lot sharper, Dirk! Particularly the second one!

In these three, the first one is my favorite. And great timing in capturing the man's stride!

 

[menos]

Those are a lot sharper, Dirk! Particularly the second one!

In these three, the first one is my favorite. And great timing in capturing the man's stride!

Thanks Johan ;-)

I continue to learn, shooting the Hektor (for now mostly wide open, to get familiar with it's behavior regarding optics and focussing.

Did I mention, I looooooooove this lens even so much more after CLA?

 

[GaryLH]

Since the op mentioned thambar. I noticed today in the "in transit" section of keh



Leica Screwmount

90 F2.2 THAMBAR BLACK (48) WITH FILTER, HOOD, 35MM RANGEFINDER MANUAL FOCUS TELEPHOTO LENS

So for those who maybe interested.

Gary

 

[DominikDUK]

Most lenses with some severe scratches and cleaning marks on the front element or an UV Filter with scratches.

 

[jcrutcher]

I picked up a Summarex last week, just learning how to use it.

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Wide open. Iso 1250
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[jcrutcher]

More from the 85mm Summarex

Wide open iso 640

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Wide open iso 160

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All except the M9 photo were processed on IPad with photogene. I'm sure lightroom would look better. I'll keep working the lens and will post mor later.

Jim

 

[menos]

Very nice!
You sure pay a price to get to these kind of pictures with the Summarex (cost, weight and bulk), but I think, it is worth it.

Show more, once, you can share some ;-)

I especially like the colors in the last frame!

 

[awslee]

You might want to also take a look at the Astro Berlin Rosher Kino Portrait 75/2.3. Here is a link to some of the photos

http://www.oldlensclub.hk/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4158

They are a lot cheaper than the Dallmeyer

 

[rxmd]

You might want to also take a look at the Astro Berlin Rosher Kino Portrait 75/2.3. Here is a link to some of the photos

http://www.oldlensclub.hk/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=4158

They are a lot cheaper than the Dallmeyer

I don't see any photos on that site.

 

[jcrutcher]

A couple more examples of the 85mm Summarex shot today.

All M9

ISO 640, F8, 1/350 85MM Summarex


ISO 640, F8, 1/350 90 Summicron ASPH







ISO 160, wide open F1.5, 1/1500 85mm Summarex


ISO 160, wide open F2.0 1/1000 90mm Summicron ASPH



The summarex lens is sharp stopped down and renders colors accurately. Bokeh is good, not over the top but for a long lens it's nice. I also included the same shot (the next day however) with a 90mm Summicron ASPH to compare. Jim

 

[jcrutcher]

Here are a few shot with a 73mm Hektor, all with a Leica IIIG and BW400CN kodak film.













This lens has sharpness and good OOF, it's fun to use, small but heavy and since it's a LTM can be used on Screw and M's.

 

[jcrutcher]

Hektor 73mm wide open, IIIA camera. Portra 400 shot at 800

 

[menos]

Jim, your copy of the Hektor 7.3cm looks to be absolutely marvelous!
Very nice portrait of your friend!