Help me with learn something about these lenses

[jasonrutter]

I have two lenses that I am having a hard time nailing down. I know general things about them but I am looking for anything that might explain how one came to be and anything about the other. I am also hoping to establish what they are and what they are worth for a possible future sale but more importantly for insurance reasons.

First is a W-Nikkor-C F/3.5 28mm that mounts on a SM Leica. I've used this lens some and it gives pretty decent results and after doing a google search for it the other day I found an article that makes me think its an uncommon lens. I'm hoping one of you might be a little more familiar with it than I am.

The other lens is kind of odd. I think it is a Zeiss Sonnar 5cm F/1.5 that dates to 1941 based on the serial number. What makes it odd is that it mounts a Leica but does not look like a LTM version of this lens. My service guy here in town thinks it might be a genuine Zeiss lens that was converted to LTM mount later in life. However he is not certain. One thing I found of interest on the lens is a very small air bubble in one of the elements in the lens. It might be a fake but it doesn't look like anything I have seen both real or fake.

I've attached a couple images to this post but will post some more shortly.

 

[jasonrutter]

Here is another image of the Zeiss and one of the Nikkor.

 

[ferider]

Like your repair guy said, your Sonnar was custom mounted on a Leica focus mount. At that time, bubbles in the glass (due to the way the glass was manufactured) were normal and a sign of quality.

The LTM Nikkor 28/3.5 is not extremely rare and existed both in Nikon S and in LTM mount. Introduced in 1952 and made in LTM until the late 50s. It's a wonderfully sharp and rectilinear 6 element design - better than anything that either Leitz or Zeiss had to offer in that focal length at that time. I have and use a copy myself. See also here: http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/nikon/nikkoresources/RF-Nikkor/RF28mm/index.htm

Roland.

 

[enasniearth]

Nikkor and zeiss

Nikkor and zeiss

The zeiss lens is a conversion to screwmount , these were produced as the zeiss lenses were a bit better than the others pre and postwar .
Many were made in small shops to meet demand , it is t coated and probably a great performer .
The 28 nikkor is among the best of this focal length , about 10,250 made
2500 in Leica screwmount . Sometimes difficult to locate .

Two great lenses .