Nikkor 5cm f2 collapsible LTM

[splitimageview]

You're probably right with regard to the rigid being the way to go. However, I find myself strangely drawn to collapsible lenses. I've got a nice uncoated Elmar nickel 5cm, and a Konica 50/2.4 that was put out in 1999 (?). That one's a planar design, so very sharp. I'm missing a collapsible sonnar, and as I doubt I'll ever see a CZ Jena (that's not faked)...

Sadly, these collapsible Nikkors are no longer cheap!

I too like the collapsibles. I had a Fuji Cristar a while back, which is pretty rare, probably rarer than the Nikkor. Seemed to render exactly like a Summitar.

Currently my LTM collapsibles include the Nikkor, Summitar (uncoated), Summicron (early radioactive) and Elmar. Would like to get a collapsible Canon Serenar...and a Nikkor 50/3.5, but would need to be really lucky to nab one of those.

Here is a thread listing a bunch of other rare 50/2 collapsibles in Leica screw mount:

https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2735820

 

[oldwino]

Here is a thread listing a bunch of other rare 50/2 collapsibles in Leica screw mount:

https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2735820

I wish I hadn't seen that...😉

 

[goamules]

I'm still around as is my collapsible! I love it.

 

[raid]

Very cool. Now I need to find a clean one for myself (and for my IIIf).

 

[goamules]

I found mine on an early Made in Occupied Japan Tower Type 3.

 

[raid]

Thanks, Garrett. I am looking ..........................................................

 

[goamules]

They actually date-stamped them on the back side of the mounting flange. The one I saw had a 906 number, which I gather means 1949, June.

I never noticed it but just checked mine, it has a 906xxxxx number on the mounting surface too.

 

[David Murphy]

I have a Cristar, nice images, but not to the level of the collapsible Leica Summicron or even the Summitar IMO. Like the Nikkor Collapsible discussed in this thread, the Cristar is a good example of the quality metric acheived by early post-war Japanese camera industry.

I have also owned and used the collapsible Canon Serenar 50/3.5. They are not too expensive or rare, and yield fine images IMO - a pleasing lens to use.

I recently picked up a very nice a Collapsible Topcor 50/3.5, not to be confused with Simlar 50/3.5, although they are probably the same lens, just different markings. The Simlar branded version is much more common and occurs in a few different variations (I own one of these too). I will dutifilly report on the Topcor when I get some test shots processed!

I find hard not to fall in love with collapsible lenses as one who likes collecting and shooting with vintage screw mount. Like many of you I am sure, I was first intrigued by the high quality of Elmar images. In use, collapsible primes really manifest the practical utility and high quality of screw mount film camera systems (most at least).

I too like the collapsibles. I had a Fuji Cristar a while back, which is pretty rare, probably rarer than the Nikkor. Seemed to render exactly like a Summitar.

Currently my LTM collapsibles include the Nikkor, Summitar (uncoated), Summicron (early radioactive) and Elmar. Would like to get a collapsible Canon Serenar...and a Nikkor 50/3.5, but would need to be really lucky to nab one of those.

Here is a thread listing a bunch of other rare 50/2 collapsibles in Leica screw mount:

https://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=2735820

 

[richardHaw]

i have one. performs exactly the same as the rest of its variants 😱😱😱

i will write an overhaul article for that in the near future on my blog 🙄

i have overhauled all versions and i love the engineering of the rigid LTM the most.

performance is typical sonnar but contrast is higher off-the-bat.

 

[Livesteamer]

One of these lenses just showed up on eBay. Search Nicca. It's on a clean but non working Nicca for $400 plus a little shipping. Someone buy it, I don't need another! Joe (No connection with seller.)

 

[Livesteamer]

The lens listed above was sold in less than an hour. Anyone here get it? Joe

 

[johannielscom]

The lens listed above was sold in less than an hour. Anyone here get it? Joe

Not me.

It probably was a US-only sale, I could not even get it to show and I sure tried...😱

 

[oldwino]

I didn’t get that recent one, but I did find a nice one and I did buy it. Running a roll of film now to test.
Lens is in good shape, so no immediate need to send it out for a CLA.
Nice, tiny, well made little Sonnar.

 

[Brian Legge]

Oof. I just missed this. I saw the comment about it, checked ebay and it had just sold.

 

[furcafe]

I saw one of these for the first time the other day. I know it is extremely rare, but does anyone have an opinion on this lens? How does it compare to the collapsible Summicron?

The rigid version (of the Nikkor) gets good reviews, as does of course the rigid Summicron. I just wonder if Nikon had the same issues as Leitz with the collapsible models being slightly less "good" as the rigid models.

Not much on the interwebs about the Nikkor collapsible, other than "rare". And, expensive!

I don't think the collapsible 5cm/2 Nikkor-H is optically worse than the rigid models (other than the structural/alignment weakness inherent to all collapsible lenses that are extended & collapsed too often), but they may been made w/an earlier, softer, version of coating, as all the examples I've seen, including my own, have had their fair share of cleaning marks/scratches. They also do not have the same firm positive lock when extended like some of the 1950s collapsible Leitz lenses.

Performance-wise, I think they're comparable to coated versions of the collapsible 5cm/2 Sonnars for the Contax II/III, so very good indeed. Whether you would prefer them to the collapsible Summicron will depend on how you feel about Sonnars v. Summicrons.

 

[splitimageview]

My copy has a positive lock, feels very similar to my Summicron, but this was after sending it to DAG. He firmed it up for $25. It didn't want to lock in place when extended.

 

[oldwino]

So in the interest showing some examples of this lens, here are a few shots just taken around the house on a stormy, snowy, blustery day. The lens seems very sharp (where it needs to be sharp), and shows a pretty typical sonnar look. These were shot between f2 and f4.
My lens is in very good shape optically, but the filter ring is slightly tweaked, so I think it will have to visit DAG to straighten that out.
Thank you to everyone's contributions in this thread. You all cost me a lot of money...🙄

Hoping for some nicer weather so I can get out and shoot more with it!

 

[richardHaw]

just overhauled mine last week...felt like a hybrid Summar and Sonnar from the pre-war years in terms of construction 😱😱😱

probably the best-engineered Nikkor-H if you ask me.