Komura 35mm F2.8 for Nikon Rangefinder

[David Murphy]

I bought a copy of this seemingly rare Nikon rangefinder lens with matched finder and case a couple of years ago from a member here. I finally had a chance to try it using Agfa ISO 200 color print film. Here are some samples. These were taken on my Bessa 2RC, a Contax compatible rangefinder. Aftermarket Nikon or Contax rangefinder lenses are not particularly common, and often rare, so thought a few test results would be of interest to those inclined to collect this sort of thing. The last image used an inexpensive strobe pointed at the ceiling (bounce flash). The outdoor shots were taken in the late afternoon without a color correction filter, so they are a little warm.

scan_0012-red by davidociwedu, on Flickr

scan_0006-smaller by davidociwedu, on Flickr

scan_0010-red by davidociwedu, on Flickr

scan_0003-red by davidociwedu, on Flickr

 

[David Murphy]

Here's the lens mounted on my Bessa 2-RC. It looks at first glance a little like some Nikon lenses. The build quality is respectable, although not up to Nikon RF standards and most certainly not Contax standards. All-in-all I enjoy using this lens. I think it looks good on the RC-2 as well.

komura-3 by davidociwedu, on Flickr

 

[johannielscom]

Hm, I should add the Nikon RF mount Komura lenses to my website article I guess...


http://johanniels.com/index.php/camera-gear-articles/29-komura-rangefinder-lenses-overview

 

[jonmanjiro]

Interesting lens! Are you sure its Nikon S-mount rather than Contax mount? With a slowish 35mm lens, I'm not sure how you could tell either way unless its marked/engraved on the lens.

 

[David Murphy]

Jon, my lens has a small "N" engraved on the lens barrel, which is the usual indication for Nikon rangefinder mount lenses. At focal lengths less than 50 mm Contax and Nikon mount lenses are said to give nearly identical results on either camera if they mount (and I think there are sometimes issues with that). In any event, mine mounts and focuses well on the R2C, and it seems to work well too, although a careful test of image quality and focus at wide aperture settings would be interesting.

Johan, that's a great Web page with the table of Acall, Komura lenses (etc.). I was aware of many, but not all of these lenses. Now you have a new one to add! The Komura 35/2.8 for Nikon seems externally to be quite different than the Leica thread Acall/Komura/Asanuma/Telesar (etc.). Several years ago I owned a nearly pristine copy of the Astra version of the Acall with a matched finder which I foolishly sold. I was not aware that Asanuma had made Leica thread mount lenses. I've seen many Asanuma optical products such as SLR lenses and binoculars (and possibly also small telescopes). I've always thought Asanuma lenses were well made. The "Force" branded version of this 35mm lens must certainly be an extreme rarity.

 

[David Murphy]

One more with the W. Komura 35/2.8. This is just south of Hemet, California. There is snow in the San Jacinto Mountains in the background (but green in the valleys - typical California!)

near-hemet-ca-small-size by davidociwedu, on Flickr

 

[jonmanjiro]

Jon, my lens has a small "N" engraved on the lens barrel, which is the usual indication for Nikon rangefinder mount lenses. At focal lengths less than 50 mm Contax and Nikon mount lenses are said to give nearly identical results on either camera if they mount (and I think there are sometimes issues with that). In any event, mine mounts and focuses well on the R2C, and it seems to work well too, although a careful test of image quality and focus at wide aperture settings would be interesting.

Thanks for the reply, David. I agree that an engraved "N" is a pretty clear indication that the lens is Nikon S-mount. Must be quite a rare lens you have there!

You're spot on about lenses below 50mm focusing adequately on either Nikon S-mount / Contax. As written in the little user guide included with each CV S/SC lens, that's why Cosina designates their S-mount 21mm to 35mm lenses as "SC" (for both Nikon and Contax) but designates their S-mount 50/1.5, 50/2.5, and 85/3.5 as just "S" lenses despite all the lenses actually being designed as S-mount.