Komura 200mm

[Chad]

I occasionally see these Komura 200mm f/4.5 lenses being sold on eBay. How does this lens perform?

I was thinking of getting one and trying it out. Seeing and framing the image might be a bit of a problem.

Are there and other Komura 200mm lenses that are rangefinder coupled? I have heard of Komura 200 f/4 and 200mm f/3.5 but haven't been able to get any info on them.


Chad

 

[Chad]

I regard mine as more a "novelty" lens, and for $45 have no complaints.

Yea, that's kind of the way I was thinking. It seemed like it would be a fun lens to mess around with.

Thanks for the info.


Chad

 

[laptoprob]

I am awaiting delivery at this moment. Should get it somewhere next week, customs willing. I hope the 1,5x magnified rangefinder window of both Bessa T and IIf will so for approximate framing.

 

[Wimpler]

I own 2 komura slr lenses. They both have an interchangeable mount, however, different mounts! Komura had 2 different interchangeable mounts. Unidapter (which is a simple +_ 47mm thread size) and another system which is more complicated and allows auto diafragm.

The 105mm f2.5 I have is a unidapter lens. I have heard it is a copy of the legendary nikon 105mm f2.5.

I also have a 200mm f3.5 which is amazingly well built. It is small compared to other 200mm lenses, but heavy!

I know the 105mm f2.5 was also made in LTM. I am not sure about the 200mm.

This might help you: http://homepage3.nifty.com/3rdpartylens-om/3rd-party-list.htm

Another nice thing: komura also made large format lenses.

 

[Doug]

I have wondered if there were a corporate connection between Komura and Nikon... Komura seemed so often to make lenses with the same focal length and speed as Nikon I thought it might be a lower-cost brand. Then, still digging into the depths of dusty memory, I recall that the earliest Bronica 6x6 SLRs came with Nikkor lenses, and Komura offered less expensive alternatives too, while none of the other "third party" lens brands did.

 

[BillBingham2]

I have a Komura 105 that is in right now with DAG. He is trying to get it back in shape, but it's not cooperating. I got it with a 35/2.8 Komura and a 105 brightline finder (what I really got the set for). They are both so out of whack I can not comment on either.

I do have a wonderful 135/2.8 in LTM that is coupled. Sharp enough for what I’ve used it for (kids sports). I use it on my Bessa T or Leica M6 and have very acceptable results from her. She is not in my carry kit, very much a novelty, but a fun one.

When I go above 105, I move to my SLRs and a 180/2.8 ED. You can find viewfinders for 200mm out there on EvilBay from time to time.

B2 (;->

 

[David Murphy]

I occasionally see these Komura 200mm f/4.5 lenses being sold on eBay. How does this lens perform?

I was thinking of getting one and trying it out. Seeing and framing the image might be a bit of a problem.

Are there and other Komura 200mm lenses that are rangefinder coupled? I have heard of Komura 200 f/4 and 200mm f/3.5 but haven't been able to get any info on them.


Chad

I'm sure it's a decent lens used at long distances. There are some 200mm finders around. Acall made one that went from (as I recall) 35-200. With some effort you can get them aligned. It's just one of those retro sort of activities that is fun.

I think the 200mm standard hails from the 30's when there were some strange and rare German 200mm lenses for leica that had finders attached to them (as I recall from reading somewhere).

 

[laptoprob]

Well, the 200mm Komura finally arrived. Customs took care of it, grmbl.
The horizontal field of view is approx. the same as teh rangefinder patch of the Bessa T, co no finder is really required I guess.
Problem is the RF coupling ring. It sticks about a mm too far out: beyond infinity. I contacted the seller about this, but does anyone know about the interior of this lens?

 

[laptoprob]

Komura 200mm arrived!

Komura 200mm arrived!

So here it is.
Mounted on the Bessa T, which is a great combo, because the rf window is the same as the field of view, horizontally. I coloured the top and bottom parts to show the picture frame.
The lens is with 133mm length (including M adapter) only a little longer than a 135mm Hektor (127mm). The Komura is with 450 grams only 5 grams heavier than the Hektor. Barrel sizes are 57 resp. 53mm. So all in all the Komura is only very slightly bigger, I was surprised!
Now all I have to figure out is how to get the rf and the optics aligned, the rf is now way beyond infinity.
The trick must be in the two helicals but I haven't found the clue yet. I guess the whole chrome base must be rotated and thereby the distance in rf and optics changes. The rf has a coarser thread than the lens body thread. More experimenting needed.

 

[Chad]

Thanks for posting pictures of the Komura. I agree, its not that big. Certainly not as big as the lens pictured below. I wish I could help you with your rf coupling problem. Let us know if you find a fix. Have you used it at all?


~Chad

 

[laptoprob]

Ouch, what a monster is that!
I am almost done with the adjustment. I thought at first not to mess with the fine thread, because it alters the distance of the optics to the camera.
Both fine and coarse thread are single threads: only one entry point each.
Once I got the rf mechanism installed almost correctly (choosing the right thread entry) I managed to get both rf and optics correct and adjusted to eachother by rotating the finer pitch thread and the coarser rf thread together. That way I managed to get them both right.
So now for some reality work. Hopefully this weekend.

 

[Chad]

Ouch, what a monster is that!

Its a Fern Kilar Heinz Kilfit 400/5.6.


~Chad