BillBingham2
Registered User
I've had several Komura lenses over the years and found them to be well worth the money. The most interesting was the 135/2.8 that was in LTM and coupled. It was a stretch for the rangefinder on the Bessa T up close wide open. I have a feeling that Pres K (of CV fame) must have a lot in common the folks picking what lenses to build back in the 60's.
B2 (;->
B2 (;->
Al Kaplan
Veteran
Komura made good lenses but it was the beginning of "The SLR Revolution" and people looking for a non-Leitz LTM lens at that time probably bought Nikon. They already had the reputation and closed out their line of LTM optics at give away prices. Why buy an "off brand" Komura 36/1.8 when $89.50 would buy you a Nikkor 35/1.8?
Komura's honesty probably worked against them too. It might well have been a 36mm lens but any other company would have just called it a 35mm and made people happy. How many Dual-Range Summicrons would Leitz have sold if they'd listed it as a 51.9mm f/2? ...but that was what it was. All the amateurs would be running around wanting to know how they could possibly use that with the 50mm frame line in their M3.
Komura's honesty probably worked against them too. It might well have been a 36mm lens but any other company would have just called it a 35mm and made people happy. How many Dual-Range Summicrons would Leitz have sold if they'd listed it as a 51.9mm f/2? ...but that was what it was. All the amateurs would be running around wanting to know how they could possibly use that with the 50mm frame line in their M3.
hannexx
Member
props for 35/2.8
props for 35/2.8
my very first RF lens was a komura 35/2.8. after using the ultron 35/1.7 and liking the speed and the sharpness, i actually went back to the komura occasionally. it's a little more unpredictable, but sometimes there is a real luminance to it. here is an example:
http://ppodd.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/carrot-shredder/
props for 35/2.8
my very first RF lens was a komura 35/2.8. after using the ultron 35/1.7 and liking the speed and the sharpness, i actually went back to the komura occasionally. it's a little more unpredictable, but sometimes there is a real luminance to it. here is an example:
http://ppodd.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/carrot-shredder/
Nandita
Newbie
Komura 210 f6.3
Komura 210 f6.3
Hi I am looking to buy a 4X5 camera and one of the lenses available with a cambo is a Komura 210 f6.3. How is your experience with it? Could I possibly see some work with it amongst your uploaded work?
Komura 210 f6.3
Hi I am looking to buy a 4X5 camera and one of the lenses available with a cambo is a Komura 210 f6.3. How is your experience with it? Could I possibly see some work with it amongst your uploaded work?
ZorkiKat
ЗоркийК&
My Sankyo Kohki Komura 2,8/105mm arrived.
It's really BIG. As large as a typical 105 made for SLR cameras...my Pentax 105, Nikon E100, Isco 100mm, and Kaleinar 100mm look smaller by comparison.
Goes well with a bulky RF like the Zorki-4. It will effectively conceal a Barnack type if mounted on one.
Initial tests show that this lens does good. Snappy and crisp details. Have yet to shoot something significant with it...
It's really BIG. As large as a typical 105 made for SLR cameras...my Pentax 105, Nikon E100, Isco 100mm, and Kaleinar 100mm look smaller by comparison.
Goes well with a bulky RF like the Zorki-4. It will effectively conceal a Barnack type if mounted on one.
Initial tests show that this lens does good. Snappy and crisp details. Have yet to shoot something significant with it...
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
Hey there. Sorry I didn't see this earlier. I don't have many from that lens uploaded, it seems. It really is a very nice lens. Especially for portraits (i find).
raid
Dad Photographer
This lens may be a copy of the popular Nikkor 105 2.5 Sonnar. It has to be a good one.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
For the sake of completeness, I am waiting for two Komuranon enlarger lenses. The seller told me that they are as good as the Nikkor-EL.
I hope he is right
I hope he is right
raid
Dad Photographer
For the sake of completeness, I am waiting for two Komuranon enlarger lenses. The seller told me that they are as good as the Nikkor-EL.
I hope he is right
Did you get the $25 pair at .... ?
ZorkiKat
ЗоркийК&
Interesting....
It does produce very un-Nikon blurs (aka bokeh). Nice and subtle, unlike the typical cross-hatches made by many of the Nikkors.
And the Komura 105 seems to be light for a Sonnar or a Nikkor for that matter. The old 105 Nikkors I used before were really heavy.
raid
Dad Photographer
There are other Komura tele lenses in that range, so maybe the 100mm/2 lens is the one that supposedly is a Sonnar.
raid
Dad Photographer
The 105 Nikkor is an awesome lens in all its disguises and labels.
Sonnar2
Well-known
No Sonnar, no Gaussian either. An extended triplet, kindof Ernostar. Different from all Nikkor 105/2.5's.
Komura made lots of Ernostar type lenses, even quite fast ones. I still miss the diagram of the 100/1.8
Komura made lots of Ernostar type lenses, even quite fast ones. I still miss the diagram of the 100/1.8
raid
Dad Photographer
By the way, here is a link for a recent RFF thread on my results with the donor Komura 35mm lens.
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68198
http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68198
john341
camera user
I had a Komura ltm 28mm f3.5 (I think) which I bought new years ago. Sent it back to Sankyo who made it because the first results were dreadful - apparently incorrectly assembled. Upon its return I tried it and the colour rendition was ok but definition fairly poor. Sold it last year with finder in case for $50!
David Murphy
Veteran
Yes the Acall is a solid lens. Some of them are banded by Komura, others Telesar, and this design may have originated with the company that made the Honor LTM camera in the fifties (see the write-up at Pacific Rim Camera). Komura also sold a 35/3.5 which was not physically similar to the Acall, a pretty lens, but I think the "Acall-like" Komura 35/3.5 was the sharpest.
It's very small and beautifully made too. The original Acall kits included a lens, finder, and hood all in a smart little blue zip-up case with gold-leaf type lettering on the outside. Whoever engineered this thing had a keen sense of what an interchangeable lens rangefinder lens should be all about.
It's very small and beautifully made too. The original Acall kits included a lens, finder, and hood all in a smart little blue zip-up case with gold-leaf type lettering on the outside. Whoever engineered this thing had a keen sense of what an interchangeable lens rangefinder lens should be all about.
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tooffy
Established
Hi David,
I just got a Komura 80mmf1.8 LTM. Do you have any information about it in your catalog? Thanks.
dberger
Established
I am in the middle of a move, so my catalog/brochure stuff is boxed up somewhere. If I recall correctly, however, the Komura 80/1.8 has an Ernostar-type design, with 5 elements (i.e., not a Sonnar). It is a very good lens, so enjoy it well. (Here is a link to a current discussion on fast medium teles.)
Cheers,
David
ferider
Veteran
I probably got the same catalogue as you, David. Unfortunately it does not include the 80/1.8 (catalogue is from 64, 80/1.8 is newer ?). The following Komura lenses are confirmed classic Ernostars:
105/2.8
105/2.5
105/2
135/2.8
Since the original Ernostar was an 80/1.8 as well, I am assumining the Komura 80/1.8 to be of the same design.
Roland.
105/2.8
105/2.5
105/2
135/2.8
Since the original Ernostar was an 80/1.8 as well, I am assumining the Komura 80/1.8 to be of the same design.
Roland.