Konica 50mm and Topcor 5cm LTM

[dexdog]

I recently bought a pristine Konica Hexanon 50/1.9 in LTM (sometimes eBay sales work out really well. The seller was Roberts Camera from Oregon. I am not affiliated with the seller, but have had only good experieces with these folks). Both lenses are heavy and built like tanks. Very smooth focus, with crisp click-stopped apeture settings. During the period of 2002 to 2011 I would often use a Canon P and the Topcor S on vacations because I liked the combination so much. I chose these two lenses because while there are a number of fast double gauss/modified double gauss lenses made for rangefinder cameras, these are not as common as others, such as Canon 50/1.8. All photos taken with Tiffen 40.5mm UV filters attached, but I took the filters off for this pic to be able to see the name rings better. If you click on a pic, you will be able to access a folder on my SmugMug account with larger images by typing RFF as the password. I have modified the file names for all the images (even the ones that I did not post here) with an S for Sonnar, K for Konica and T for Topcor to avoid mixing them up.

 

[dexdog]

I took a series of pics throughout the day to play around with the lenses. First up is the Konica wide open f1.9, Sony a7III, focus peaking, white balance set to daylight unless otherwise noted, neutral color setting.

Topcor S wide open f2

Just for the heck of it, a Zeiss-Opton 50/f2 wide open

 

[dexdog]

Konica at f1.9, close focus of about 1 meter. point of focus is the tallest flower in center of frame.


Topcor at f2, close focus about 1 meter.

 

[dexdog]

My bookcase for close focus indoors. Measured one meter, white balance set to shade. Point of focus is the name Frank Dikotter on red book in middle of frame ( I have not looked up how to render an umlaut on my keyboard).
Konica at f1.9


Topcor at f2

 

[dexdog]

This afternoon about 2:05 PM, a blazing white hibiscus. First up is Konica, wide open, under-exposed one stop to avoid blowing out highlights too bad. A compromise given that most of flower is shaded, while part is in bright sun. Point of focus is the stigma of the flower, the central stalk that sticks out the farthest.


Topcor wide open, under-exposed one stop.

 

[dexdog]

Same flower about 11:35AM, but under-exposed 1 and 2/3 stops to avoid bleaching out the white parts. Konica at f1.9


Topcor at f2

 

[dexdog]

I will probably take more pics with these lenses of more "normal" subjects in more normal lighting. While I think that that the Konica is a bit darker in the corners and overall wide-open, I don't think I could tell which was which when stopped down to f2.8. I like them both, but at this point prefer the Topcor because I have used it a lot more than the Konica. I also prefer the out of focus rendering of the Topcor, but that is subjective of course. Both lenses exhibit moderate swirlies close-focus wide-open with foliage backgrounds, but I have not gathered enough images to post representative examples yet.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I found both of these to be top-notch performers. The Topcor-S 5cm F2 really blew me away- matches my type 1 Rigid Summicron 5cm F2.

My Konica is early, uses 39.5mm filters. Later ones use 40.5mm, far easier to find.

 

[dexdog]

I found both of these to be top-notch performers. The Topcor-S 5cm F2 really blew me away- matches my type 1 Rigid Summicron 5cm F2.

My Konica is early, uses 39.5mm filters. Later ones use 40.5mm, far easier to find.

I will have to compare the Topcor to another lens I really like, the 5cm/2 Fujinon in LTM

 

[Miles.]

Here's my serial # data for these lenses:

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “All-Chrome”
Earliest Known: 210029
Latest Known: 217847

Exceptions Found:
219915 (“Panda” serial # range… optics swapped from donor?)
316372 (Misprint?)

Highest # - Lowest #: 7,818+ Produced

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “Panda”
Earliest Known: 217935
Latest Known: 220100

Exceptions Found: 246360

Highest # - Lowest #: 2,165+ Produced

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “Black Aluminum”
Earliest known: 540080
Latest known: 552843

Highest # - Lowest #: 12763+ Produced

Konishiroku Hexanon 5cm f1.9 LTM Serial #'s
Earliest Known: 3121021
Latest Known: 3124521

Highest # - Lowest #: 3,500+ Produced

 

[dexdog]

Here's my serial # data for these lenses:

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “All-Chrome”
Earliest Known: 210029
Latest Known: 217847

Exceptions Found:
219915 (“Panda” serial # range… optics swapped from donor?)
316372 (Misprint?)

Highest # - Lowest #: 7,818+ Produced

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “Panda”
Earliest Known: 217935
Latest Known: 220100

Exceptions Found: 246360

Highest # - Lowest #: 2,165+ Produced

Topcor-S 5cm f2 LTM “Black Aluminum”
Earliest known: 540080
Latest known: 552843

Highest # - Lowest #: 12763+ Produced

Konishiroku Hexanon 5cm f1.9 LTM Serial #'s
Earliest Known: 3121021
Latest Known: 3124521

Highest # - Lowest #: 3,500+ Produced

My Topcor is 211397
The Konica is 3123185

 

[TenEleven]

I might add that while I liked its rendering my copy of the 50/1.9 Hexanon had considerable barrel distortion.
This may be Konicas MO - in their early RF lenses, they seem prioritize other optical correction over geometry. The UC Hexanon 35/2 I had was the same, quite a surprising amount of geometric distortion (which is why I sold it).

Here's an older shot on film with the Hexanon 50/1.9 - you can see the railing at the top and sides. Notice however the complete absence of coma or other problems despite this almost certainly being wide open.


Forgot to add, I also shot that version of the Topcor, and it's a stunning lens. Exceedingly well corrected. No distortion I could see, either. The out of focus can definitely get a bit more distracting than the Hexanon, though.

In their native Japan, the black versions of the Topcor 50/2 are said to be even better - but I have never tried them.

 

[dexdog]

TenEleven, thanks for the info on barrel distortion, I will test that in the near future. My close-up pic of the bookcase shows a down-ward bow in the horizontal shelf of about 3mm caused by the weight of books over the years.

 

[dexdog]

A pair of images with the Konica and the Topcor-S. As noted by TenEleven, the Konica has a fair amount of barrel distortion, the Topcor has little if any barrel distortion. Interesting that the color rendering differs, too. The color rendering of the Topcor is pretty close to the color of the the siding on my house, while the Konica is shifted toward the cooler side of the spectrum. Will probably head out to Manassas battlefield this week to try a few real pictures with these lenses.
Konica, f1.9, about 2 meters.

Topcor-S at f2 about 2 meters

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I checked my test shots- and the Konica has significant barrel distortion.

The 5cm f2 Topcor- amazing....

 

[hilltime]

I've always thought the all black "Aluminum" Topcor 50/F2 lens is one of the best lenses I own, but I also got the "Panda" 50/2, just for it's really attractive looks.
I also have a Topcor 50/1.8 which I got to mate with the Leotax G body. Have never compared images from it with the others but I'm assuming they would be quite the same?

 

[TenEleven]

I've always thought the all black "Aluminum" Topcor 50/F2 lens is one of the best lenses I own, but I also got the "Panda" 50/2, just for it's really attractive looks.
I also have a Topcor 50/1.8 which I got to mate with the Leotax G body. Have never compared images from it with the others but I'm assuming they would be quite the same?

According to the Japanese "Topcon Club" the 1.8 is a new design which further pushed the envelope.

These were intended for bundling with the top-of-the-line Leotax G rangefinder camera, but Showa Optical Works (which made the Leotax cameras) went into bankruptcy. So Topcon being a small company could not take that hit and had to turn around and re-badged them under their own brand, so they could sell them. Apparently only a very small number of f1.8 were made due to these circumstances.

Due to the f1.8 using more advanced glass types to stretch the design without conceding image quality, it apparently clouds easily and good examples are scarce for an already scarce lens. (Google translate puts this as "dust" I don't know why, but be assured that this is a mistranslation.)

My translation from the excellent - endearingly 90ies design (much better IMO!) website "Topcon Club".

TOPCON CLUB-Topcor Lenses 6

 

[Miles.]

Here's my serial # date for the Topcor 5cm f1.8

Earliest Known: 580080
Latest Known: 581681

Highest # - Lowest #: 1,601+ Produced

It is the most uncommon Topcor 50mm lens, followed closely by the Topcor 5cm f2 (non -S).

 

[pvdhaar]

The UC Hexanon 35/2 I had was the same, quite a surprising amount of geometric distortion (which is why I sold it).

I fell into that trap as well, being focused ruler straight lines at the edges. Until I started to understand that there's a case to be made for lenses with barrel distortion. They may not be suitable for architecture, but they are people lenses. The barrel distortion (although I'd argue against calling it distortion because of them being people lenses) prevents heads from becoming egg shaped at the edge of the frame, especially when shooting from close distance.

Pincushion is another story of course...

 

[hilltime]

No “dust” in this F1.