Help ID my LTM Zeiss lens

[skhan]

Hi guys,

I had a recent GAS-driven impulse buy (now I think might be a big mistake)...did a lot of search on the net, but couldn't find much info on it.

Its a Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 1:3,5 f=50mm T lens with serial number 3481160. The lens comes equipped with a compur-rapid shutter, and there is the word ``-CERTO-'' engraved on it. The lens itself is in mint- condition, and shutter seems to work properly (although 1 sec is very slightly longer than 1 sec, and moving the scale to align to 1/500 sec requires a bit of effort). The barrel has a scale in meters, and has the number 308815 engraved, and the shutter has the number 6919718 engraved on the side (please see the following pictures). The infinity lock is very different from what I've seen in LTM Leica lenses (including the very old types from 1925-35). The lens seems to couple/focus properly with my M3.

Initially, I thought that someone has ripped off this lens from another camera, and put it on a LTM barrel, but after playing with it a bit, it seems to me that either they did a very good job, or it must be an original LTM lens.

I would really appreciate if anyone can identify this lens for me. Also, I couldn't find any place to hook a (double) cable-release, and seems like I'll need a camera w/o shutters to use it; any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

 

[skhan]

Forgot the pics...

Forgot the pics...

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[skhan]

One more...

One more...

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[ben lloyd]

I'm pretty certain the mount is from a FED Industar-22, not sure where the Tessar might be from, maybe a Zeiss Werra or similar.

Is there a flash synch? With a bit of care and a cable release you could now synch at all speeds!

EDIT:
Doh, looking at the pictures, its bound to be from a Certo!

 

[skhan]

Thanks, Ben. I think there is a flash sync (see figure 1, 9 o'clock golden/black tab, although I'm not too sure);

>>>With a bit of care and a cable release you could now synch at all speeds!

Can you please explain a bit? I'm not sure where I should plug the cable release to.
Also, any idea about the version of Certo?

Cheers,

 

[ben lloyd]

>>>With a bit of care and a cable release you could now synch at all speeds!
Can you please explain a bit?

Also, any idea about the version of Certo?

I'd use a locking cable release, you'll have to lock your M3 open on B, then fire the leaf shutter on the lens, then release B on the M3. Wind on and so forth.

From a quick search it looks like the lens might have come from a Certo Super Dollina II, and I think the serial dates it to late 40s.

 

[skhan]

Thanks so much, Ben!

 

[suzi_q]

It sure looks hassle to use but I'm so curious about it's results.
I guess you need tripod to use this lens.
very excited to see an experimental lens like this on M3(is it?)!! 😀

 

[ZeissFan]

I would agree that it comes from the Super Dollina II (or possibly the Super Dollina) but likely a Super Dollina in either case.

To use it, you could set the Leica to B and lock open the shutter on the Leica. Then trip the Compur using the lever under the lens.

Should be fun, and as long as the lens is collimated correctly, it should be sharp at infinity. However, I wonder if the pitch of the helical on which it is mounted will allow it focus correctly at close distances.

I'll be interested in seeing some photos. Make sure you take some closeup photos.