LTM Voigtländer Ultron 2/50 and Skopar 3,5/50 - are they real?

[PeterV]

In several books there are references to factory made LTM versions of the Voigtländer 2/50 Ultron and the 3,5/50 Color Skopar, as normally issued with the Prominent. None of the references I've seen has a picture of such a lens. The 1950s Voigtländer LTM Nokton does exist - I know, I happen to have one (love it!), there are lots of pictures around of this lens type, and from time to time one is offered for sale (at ridiculously high prices). I have even seen pics of a factory made Nokton with Contax RF mount (offered at an even more ridiculous price), but I have never ever encountered a factory made LTM Ultron or Color Skopar. Does any of you have such a lens, or do you know any pics of such a lens? Just wonder if they really exist and, if so, what they look like.

 

[ZeissFan]

Several years ago, I bought an adapter to mount a Prominent lens to a Contax rangefinder. It works very well. I got the adapter on eBay (where else?).

This is far less expensive than shelling out $6,000 for a lens.

I paid $150 for my despised Prominent + Ultron and $49 for the adapter.

 

[PeterV]

Actually, I like the Prominent, so if I just want to use the Ultron, I don't mind using it with one of my Prominents. This is just my collector's interest. Hey, the LTM Ultron looks cool! Where is this pivture from?

 

[David Murphy]

Don't know about the Skopar, but the Ultron's in LTM come up for sale from time-to-time in LTM and Contax mount -- command serious money!

I've never heard of the 3,5/50 Color Skopar in LTM, but that does not mean it does not exist. Rare LTM cameras and lenses appear from time-to-time, particularly Japanese-made ones from obscure manufacturers in the 1950's, or very rare European lenses from the pre-war era that are uncatalogued. Sometimes these are "conversions", sometimes not. Many were made by craftsmen in cottage-sized workshops hoping to cash in on the popularity of Leica and make money by selling good lenses far cheaper then Leica (Canon started in the back of a camera shop if I'm not mistaken). Resourceful small industries like this exist on the streets of large Asian cities today, although photo items are not the main focus now.

The advent of the Internet is bringing these lost artifacts greater historical appreciation (I hope!)

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Lenses for the Prominent have a "smallish" rear element and long back-focus. They would be easy to adapt to LTM. I have an adapter for Prominent to S-Mount made from a Helios-103, and from there to M-Mount. It works. I found the focal length is closer to the Leica standard than it is to the Contax standard.