Recently bought two interesting and beautiful old lenses

[peterm1]

Some here will know that I am a lover of longer lens especially those in the 75mm to 135mm range.

I have recently bought a couple of really nice and interesting old lenses neither of which had a ticket price of more than $40. Both are pure old tech lenses - all metal and glass and are HEAVY. (which within reason I love). Both are also chrome and black which I love even more.


The first is an M42 mount 135mm f3.5 lens which is labelled "Zetagon". The web is almost devoid of references to this lens so it seems to be among the more obscure of the many rebrandings of these lenses by companies like Soligor, Komura, Kyoei Super Acall. It has cosmetically seen better days (its painted finish is a little but not terribly rough and the chrome required polishing to rid it of a yellowish taint that made it look like the fingers of a 60 a day smoker) but its optics are perfect and make lovely images.

The second is a lens for the Retina Reflex range. It is a Tele Xenar 135mm f4. It is the cylindrical version in black and chrome rather than what seems to be the more common silver chrome one with a flared / funnel shaped profile. Oh boy did this lens surprise me. First it is much smaller than I thought it would be. But it is also much heavier than I thought it would be too. And it is beautiful. Much prettier in real life than this photo depicts. I have mounted it on a DKL to Nikon adapter which in turn can be mounted on a Nikon to NEX or Nikon to M4/3 adapter (I could not upload this picture for some reason). I did this as I fancied the idea of using this lens on the first adapter alone mounted on a Nikon DSLR thereby giving me a further more option other than just mounting it on NEX and M4/3 cameras. I already have discovered Tele Xenar lenses and have one by Schneider. If this new one makes images like that then I will be happy indeed.

(Stock Image)

 

[raid]

Great finds, Peter. I have a silver 135/4, Which adapter would I need to use it on the D700?

 

[peterm1]

Great finds, Peter. I have a silver 135/4, Which adapter would I need to use it on the D700?

Raid there are a few options on eBay. Mine mounts easily but firmly and seems well made. I would say the following is the same as mine - it is from the same seller.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DKL-AI-Ada...h=item25c214abe0:g:HXoAAOSw6QpbPzDz:rk:3:pf:0

But there are others like this which also look quite good. (This one is a little dearer and seems like mine to have an aperture ring though there are no aperture markings to indicate this.)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DKL-NF-Bra...00/272588433818?hash=item3f7789699a:rk:1:pf:0

However whichever you buy you need one with an aperture adjustment ring as the lens does not have one itself if yours is the same build as mine. You should know that this more or less means having to guess the aperture setting as the numbers on the adapter do not necessarily seem to accord with those actually in use on the lens. But I have never found this to be a huge problem since as long as you count the number of stops from wide open you will now what the setting actually is.

I am told that some DKL lenses by other makers are slightly different from the Retina ones and may be a bit tight on some adapters though they still seem to fit based on what I have read. All I can say is my lens is a Retina and it fits comfortably and firmly on my adapter with no movement. so yours should too if it is a Retina.

Incidentally I have now mounted mine on a Nikon D200 body and the adapter fits perfectly and without either excessive looseness or tightness. I will take it out for a test run and post some images soon.

 

[bmattock]

Very nice! I'd love to see some images from them.

 

[raid]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/DKL-AI-Ada...h=item25c214abe0:g:HXoAAOSw6QpbPzDz:rk:3:pf:0

They say this on ebay:
Notice:

Although the lens will fit physically, automatic diaphragm, auto-focusing, or any other function will not operate correctly while using this adapter.
In this case "Stop-down mode" will need to be used when metering since the lens doesn't have the ability to have its aperture controlled by camera body.
You can shoot with manual mode or aperture priority mode.

 

[peterm1]

They say this on ebay:
Notice:

Although the lens will fit physically, automatic diaphragm, auto-focusing, or any other function will not operate correctly while using this adapter.
In this case "Stop-down mode" will need to be used when metering since the lens doesn't have the ability to have its aperture controlled by camera body.
You can shoot with manual mode or aperture priority mode.

Yes that is true but of course exactly the same applies to any lens mounted on any converter and any camera - unless the adapter is one of the expensive AF adapters with its own inbuilt electronics. All mechanical adapters have the same issues.

Incidentally I have checked mine and when I remounted the lens (I may have slightly misaligned it by not locking it into position correctly) the aperture numbers on the adapter do seem to correctly align with the aperture numbers for the camera (ie it shows f4 when the lens is set wide open). On other such adapters I have used for other lenses where the adapter has an aperture ring there is a need for the guess work I mentioned in my other post.

 

[Tim Murphy]

They are handsome lenses

They are handsome lenses

Dear Peter,

They are attractive lenses but that isn't the reason for my post.

You mentioned that one adapter was dearer than the other and that reminded me of my Nana. When we were in a store together she always said things like, "Put that back, it's too dear."

Thanks for the memory jog!

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

 

[xayraa33]

That first lens is a beaut, Peter

The black parts on the outside have that lacquered look of a classy 1950s top shelf Angénieux lens.

 

[raid]

Yes that is true but of course exactly the same applies to any lens mounted on any converter and any camera - unless the adapter is one of the expensive AF adapters with its own inbuilt electronics. All mechanical adapters have the same issues.

Incidentally I have checked mine and when I remounted the lens (I may have slightly misaligned it by not locking it into position correctly) the aperture numbers on the adapter do seem to correctly align with the aperture numbers for the camera (ie it shows f4 when the lens is set wide open). On other such adapters I have used for other lenses where the adapter has an aperture ring there is a need for the guess work I mentioned in my other post.

Thanks, Peter! I will first find my lens, followed by (maybe) buying an adapter. One thing at a time. First, I need to get the D700 in the mail.

 

[peterm1]

Dear Peter,

They are attractive lenses but that isn't the reason for my post.

You mentioned that one adapter was dearer than the other and that reminded me of my Nana. When we were in a store together she always said things like, "Put that back, it's too dear."

Thanks for the memory jog!

Regards,

Tim Murphy

Harrisburg, PA 🙂

Perhaps I should call my wife Nana. "Put that back, it's too dear" is what she says when I am in a camera store.

 

[peterm1]

That first lens is a beaut, Peter

The black parts on the outside have that lacquered look of a classy 1950s top shelf Angénieux lens.

Yes it does remind me of an Angenieux lens too. It is unusual in appearance - I have seldom seen so many chrome rings on the one lens. But I like it and its look is what drew me to it. I have seen similar looking lenses now and then but it is rare.

Though having said that there is an identical one here marked with the name "Elite" - I think they just came up with these names for marketing purposes and the maker licensed other resellers to market the lenses.

https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/listing/581392620/exakta-mount-no-a-4074-elite-135-135mm

I also have the following lens which is chrome with black rings instead of black with chrome rings. Mine is marked "Force" instead of the more desirable "KYOEI Super-ACAll". Apart from the name they are identical in optics and build. And both, in turn, seem identical to one I have seen by Komura who may be the original maker.

https://www.keh.com/shop/135-f3-5-kyoei-super-acall-blk-chr-46-lens-1.html

 

[xayraa33]

Yes it does remind me of an Angenieux lens too. It is unusual in appearance - I have seldom seen so many chrome rings on the one lens. But I like it and its look is what drew me to it. I have seen similar looking lenses now and then but it is rare.

Though having said that there is an identical one here marked with the name "Elite" - I think they just came up with these names for marketing purposes and the maker licensed other resellers to market the lenses.

https://www.etsy.com/hk-en/listing/581392620/exakta-mount-no-a-4074-elite-135-135mm

I also have the following lens which is chrome with black rings instead of black with chrome rings. Mine is marked "Force" instead of the more desirable "KYOEI Super-ACAll". Apart from the name they are identical in optics and build. And both, in turn, seem identical to one I have seen by Komura who may be the original maker.

https://www.keh.com/shop/135-f3-5-kyoei-super-acall-blk-chr-46-lens-1.html

I have one f2.8 35mm LTM lens that is identical to the Komura of the 1950s but labelled Accura. Nice lens, not much different in photo quality than the Canon 35mm f2.8 lens of the same era.

Accura must have been the house brand product name of a photo gear distributor.

 

[peterm1]

I have one f2.8 35mm LTM lens that is identical to the Komura of the 1950s but labelled Accura. Nice lens, not much different in photo quality than the Canon 35mm f2.8 lens of the same era.

Accura must have been the house brand product name of a photo gear distributor.

Komura seemed to be pretty respected back in the day and had quite a long list of lenses that it made. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Sankyō_Kōki

Even today the more esoteric lenses in their old range attract good money (eg fast lenses and those in less usually focal lengths) On the other hand, the more usual high volume lenses from the time can be had extremely inexpensively.

I have seen the name Accura quite a few times. It may have been like Vivitar who sold many lenses but never as far as I know actually made any relying instead on established makers to supply the product.

 

[xayraa33]

Komura seemed to be pretty respected back in the day and had quite a long list of lenses it made. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Sankyō_Kōki

Even today the more esoteric lenses in their old range attract good money (eg fast lenses and those in less usually focal lengths) On the other hand, the more usual high volume lenses from the time can be had extremely inexpensively.

I have seen the name Accura quite a few times. It may have been like Vivitar who sold many lenses but never as far as I know actually made any relying instead on established makers to supply the product.

The only Komura labelled lens that I own is a six element 80 mm Komura enlarging lens that I bought in the 1980s off an eccentric camera store clerk that has long ago passed away.

He told me to buy it because in his opinion it was as good as the Schneider Componon S enlarging lens and at a quarter of the price of the German optic.. and he was not wrong, as I had been using Schneider Componon S lenses in various focal lengths in my darkroom work for many years.

 

[peterm1]

The only Komura labelled lens that I own is a six element 80 mm Komura enlarging lens that I bought in the 1980s off an eccentric camera store clerk that has long ago passed away.

He told me to buy it because in his opinion it was as good as the Schneider Componon S enlarging lens and at a quarter of the price of the German optic.. and he was not wrong, as I had been using Schneider Componon S lenses in various focal lengths in my darkroom work for many years.

It does not surprise me that it is good. I am not sure if it is the same optical design (though a different mount) but I have seen a Komura 80mm f1.8 lens going for quite a large amount of money on eBay. It piqued my interest because it is such a relatively unusual lens and focal length.

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums...ou-wont-find-often-m42-80mm-f-1-8-komura.html

 

[Nokton48]

159mm F2 B&L Super Cinephor by Nokton48, on Flickr


Another new lens for me. Bausch & Lomb 159mm F2 Super Cinephor. Intended for 70mm and 35mm theatrical film projection. Uber speed for this focal length. Pushing the envelope.

Will go on my Plaubel Makiflexes and Sinar Normas.


Schneider Tele Xenar 180 f5.5 barrel by Nokton48, on Flickr

180mm F5.5 Schneider Tele-Xenar in a barrel. Also for Makiflexes. 6x9cm barrel lens

My new Petzval lens! by Nokton48, on Flickr

Petzval lens of unknown make. This one is going to major fun to use! Swirly Petzval bokeh, hopefully F3.0

Around two hundred years old. Needs a good clean and a mounting flange.