Interesting FSU LTM Sonnars on evil bay
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They both look like genuine optics modules remounted into Jupiter-8 mounts.
The Zeiss Sonnar is a "T" coated lens remounted in a J-8 from the early 60s.
The ZK Sonnar is in a tabbed J-8 from early 1955 or before. I am not enough of an expert to know if the mount might be original to the lens. It looks like my early 1955 J-8 mount, which does not have the three screws on the back of the mount.
I know this one has real Zeiss glass in it. I put it there.
And can produce a nice image. Mine is spot-on.
The Zeiss Sonnar is a "T" coated lens remounted in a J-8 from the early 60s.
The ZK Sonnar is in a tabbed J-8 from early 1955 or before. I am not enough of an expert to know if the mount might be original to the lens. It looks like my early 1955 J-8 mount, which does not have the three screws on the back of the mount.
I know this one has real Zeiss glass in it. I put it there.
And can produce a nice image. Mine is spot-on.
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batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Fakes, I think. Check this site: http://www.taunusreiter.de/Cameras/Zeiss_Fakes.html
The uppercase M for meters is a giveaway on the "Carl Zeiss Jena" listing. Lousy engraving on the name ring, too.
ZK, I have no idea, to be honest. Maybe it's collectible, maybe not. Personally, I wouldn't dream of paying hundreds for what's essentially a $20 J-8, in user terms. Collectors may disagree.
The uppercase M for meters is a giveaway on the "Carl Zeiss Jena" listing. Lousy engraving on the name ring, too.
ZK, I have no idea, to be honest. Maybe it's collectible, maybe not. Personally, I wouldn't dream of paying hundreds for what's essentially a $20 J-8, in user terms. Collectors may disagree.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
I see Brian was typing his response at the same time. Don't take my word, take his!
If you buy a CZJ Sonnar 5cm F2 in Contax Mount, I can make one for you out of the J-8 headed this way along with the lenses that were in the give-away.
The lens on my M8 ran me $60 for the parts. The CZJ Sonnar "T" in Contax Mount does not go for too much.
The lens on my M8 ran me $60 for the parts. The CZJ Sonnar "T" in Contax Mount does not go for too much.
On the Zeiss lens: The aperture ring has the correct number of ridges in the side-grips. The ring on the coated lens will fit in a J-8 mount, as my chrome hybrid and the one in the auction does.
The ring on the pre-war lens is too large in diameter, and I have to use the J-8 aperture ring.
No one will mistake this for original! But, it is a 1935 Zeiss Optics Module in a 1980's J-8 mount.
This lens, wide-open on the M8:
The ring on the pre-war lens is too large in diameter, and I have to use the J-8 aperture ring.
No one will mistake this for original! But, it is a 1935 Zeiss Optics Module in a 1980's J-8 mount.
This lens, wide-open on the M8:
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brachal
Refrigerated User
Those Frankenlenses always freak me out ... but in a good way.🙂
squirrel$$$bandit
Veteran
Brian, that black hybrid Sonnar is amazingly cool. I want one!
radi(c)al_cam
Well-known
"Brian, that black hybrid Sonnar is amazingly cool. I want one!"
mabelsound, I agree 100%
mabelsound, I agree 100%
f16sunshine
Moderator
Yeah mee too. 🙂
I have an Opton F2/50mm in Contax RF can that be re-barreled into a black j8 mount?
Who can I have do the work?
I have an Opton F2/50mm in Contax RF can that be re-barreled into a black j8 mount?
Who can I have do the work?
The trick with the 5cm f2 Sonnar is to get one with a good front element. They scratch as easily as a Summar. This one is VERY clean, and is my keeper.
The optics module screws right into the Black J-8 mount. I've converted Eigth 5cm F2 Sonnar lenses.
The Opton lens and post-war Carl Zeiss Jena lenses CANNOT fit into a J-8 mount. I've tried.
The optics module screws right into the Black J-8 mount. I've converted Eigth 5cm F2 Sonnar lenses.
The Opton lens and post-war Carl Zeiss Jena lenses CANNOT fit into a J-8 mount. I've tried.
f16sunshine
Moderator
Thanks Brian good to know. I'll keep using it with an adapter for now. The Opton lenses seem to have robust coatings. I have 5 and all are perfect mine are all perfect.
batterytypehah!
Lord of the Dings
Seeing as this thread is long past the original topic anyway -- Brian, the idea about grafting a CZJ module into a J-8 mount is that you wanted an uncoated lens, right? The J-8 being a coated Sonnar f/2 copy in the first place and, as you have demonstrated many times, very capable once properly adjusted.
My main idea is to make lenses work on cameras that they were not intended for...
I have some outstanding Russian lenses, especially my collection of J-3's. They are all aluminum, and light to the touch. The Zeiss lenses add some heft, the pre-war lenses are heavy brass optical fixtures, and the wartime are an alloy- but still on the heavier side.
The Zeiss lenses tend to as sharp as the very best J-3's. Less deviation from lens to lens. The "average" J-3 and J-8 is not quite as sharp as a Nikkor or Zeiss lens. That stated, four of my six J-3's are every bit as good as the Zeiss and Nikkors. They cost about 1/3rd as much.
In 1974, Modern Photography tested a 1930s Zeiss Contax 5cm F1.5- even wide-open, it resolved 50LP/mm center and 30LP/mm far edge. And that was with one of the elements misaligned, they did not even have it CLA'd first. The J-3 is spec'd at 30LP/mm center, 14LP/mm far edge. I believe that of the 1980s lenses that I have owned, but my 1950s J-3's are much better than that. According to my M8, anyway.
I have some outstanding Russian lenses, especially my collection of J-3's. They are all aluminum, and light to the touch. The Zeiss lenses add some heft, the pre-war lenses are heavy brass optical fixtures, and the wartime are an alloy- but still on the heavier side.
The Zeiss lenses tend to as sharp as the very best J-3's. Less deviation from lens to lens. The "average" J-3 and J-8 is not quite as sharp as a Nikkor or Zeiss lens. That stated, four of my six J-3's are every bit as good as the Zeiss and Nikkors. They cost about 1/3rd as much.
In 1974, Modern Photography tested a 1930s Zeiss Contax 5cm F1.5- even wide-open, it resolved 50LP/mm center and 30LP/mm far edge. And that was with one of the elements misaligned, they did not even have it CLA'd first. The J-3 is spec'd at 30LP/mm center, 14LP/mm far edge. I believe that of the 1980s lenses that I have owned, but my 1950s J-3's are much better than that. According to my M8, anyway.
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