Rollei LTM Rollei 80mm f2.8 Planar

Rollei M39 screw mount lenses

butch

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Just want to call to attention of the forum I lens that I am really enjoying. A few weeks ago I made a trade with another member and it turns out to be one of the few deals that I have had not one moment of remorse of some kind. It is a lens marketed for the Rollei 35RF. It starts with a mount that works on a LTM. It comes with an LTM to M adapter that allows you to mount it on an M body. Then you can also buy a Nikon F adapter marketed by Rollei but made by Komamura

I had never seen this lens before Patrick brought it to my attention and the reason I'm posting this that some of the more knowledgable folks on the forum were not aware of it either. You can see the lens and adapter at B-H. Rollei ranger finder lenses then scroll down through the accessaries to find the mount.

You can unscrew the lens from the M focus mount and screw it into the Nikkor mount. Have to be really careful since the rear lens element sticks out like a half golf ball and I'm sure would really be easily damaged. Patrick used it on his F3 but thought it a non - AI. I mailed Rollei to find out but they did not reply. I first mounted it no my F4 and felt pretty safe about that. After comparing the mount to some of my AIS lenses, I carefully mounted it on the F6. You have to use AP and spot meter but that's what I use most of the time, anyway. You also have to stop down for metering which means that you have to compose at wide open and hope you don't have to stop down much passed f11. Surprisingly, to me, is that the F6 confirms its focus with the little green focus indicator and will focus from a couple of feet to infinity. It looks kind of funny but works like a charm. I thus hava a lens that I can use on an M body and a lens that I can use on my Nikons too. Strangely, I can find no reference to the lens and adapter on any Internet site. The adapter is made by the Japanese company that makes Horseman LF's, I think. I've not put but three rolls through it but it inspires confidence. I still have meager photographic skills but have not blown a single exposure or mis-focused. If you can afford it it's worth the price.
 
When Rollei released its Rollei 35 RF (aka, rebadged Cosina Voigtlander Bessa-R2), it also announced three optics. This is one of the three, with the others being the f/2.8 40mm Sonnar and an f/1.8 50mm Planar. I've yet to see the 50mm Planar, and I wonder if it ever went into production.

I believe the lens elements were created in Japan with final assembly occurring in Germany. If this is in fact the lens for the Rollei 35 RF camera.

I've been toying with getting one of these, as I prefer Zeiss lenses over others. Nikon comes in a close second, and you generally can't go wrong with the old AI Nikkors.

In any case, I'm curious to see some photos from this lens, which can still be purchased on the B&H Web site.
 
In a moment of weekness, I put mine up for sale a few weeks ago. Health issues made me less than eager to consumate any deals. I had only 1 response to my RFF ad and I've about decided to keep the lens. I've used it on a Bessa R2A and an M6. I also have the F adapter and use it on my F6. I guess it would work with an LTM body (sans the M adapter) but have not tried. I've shot mostly color slides and it does a good job there. There are some shots in "W/NW" back last Spring, I think.
 
I tried to order one of these from adorama. After a few weeks of going back and forth adorama told me they could not source one. Does anyone have an idea of where to get one?
 
Nothing related to the Rollei 35 RF and/or lenses is on the Rollei or Franke & Heidecke websites, so I assume this camera/lenses have been discontinued. Pity, for the lenses definitely interested me.

Jim B.
 
I used to own one but found it difficult to focus accurately with my R-D1S. Sadly, I sold it last year. Though on those rare times that I do get it right, the images I get are beautiful and reminded me of the other famous 80mm Planar for H'blad, which I used to own. Slightly different lens formulation but close results.

Here's a picture of the Rollei's RF version...

attachment.php


Cheers,

Hi Zen-shooter,

May I know if the hood in the background was the dedicated hood for the Rollei 80mm f/2.8 Planar?

Also, I tried looking for sample pictures on your site and could only find two. Most of the other 80mm shots were from the H'blad.

Given that the Epson R-D1s had a 1.0 viewfinder magnification, I'm surprise to hear that it's difficult to focus. Besides the Epson R-D1s, did you tried the lens on other cameras?

Would appreciate if you could spare the time for some comments. Thanks!

Cheers,

p.s. If anyone else have any comments/feedback or pictures from the lens, please share it with me. Thanks!
 
I got that lens from Butch, and shot it a fair bit. It is heavy (not as heavy as the ZM 85 I'd guess) and the lack of framelines made good framing difficult. Image quality was pretty darn good, a bit flat in the shadows at times, but corner detail was quite good. The interchangeable Nikon F mount was interesting, but something I never used. As I recall there was a 'dixie cup' type hood with cap.
 
Thanks sepiareverb.

The lens and any information about it seems to be very rare. In the absence of any further references that I can find, I decided to get one and try it for myself. Let's see how it goes.

I was also informed that there is an adaptor that replace the focusing mount. This will allow the lens to be used on Contax/Nikon RF. Anyone has any information on that? If you do, I would really appreciate your comments. Thanks!

Cheers,
 
Do you have a source??

In thinking about it I believe the hood was a dixie cup type, with something odd about the threads that I can't remember- I think it threaded like the CV 75 hood?

I'd love to find the 40 in black, a much more common lens- and one that I've missed for one reason or another more than once.
 
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Anybody samples of pictures taken with the 85/2,8 .............?
I am highly interested because i like that rollei 40mm sonnar very much!
 
Do you have a source??

In thinking about it I believe the hood was a dixie cup type, with something odd about the threads that I can't remember- I think it threaded like the CV 75 hood?

I'd love to find the 40 in black, a much more common lens- and one that I've missed for one reason or another more than once.

Yes. I've managed to located it after a very thorough search across a fairly large geographical area. Today, the minty lens (which is unsold old stock) is finally in my hands and it's a beauty to hold. Hopefully, I'll get some test shots this weekend.

The hood is indeed a dixie cup type and not like the one in the picture.

As for the 40mm in black, it's almost impossible to find. I think you'll have better luck with the silver one. There was one on the classified earlier when Justin Low was selling it with the Rollei 35RF body as a set. Good price too!

Cheers,
 
Anybody samples of pictures taken with the 85/2,8 .............?
I am highly interested because i like that rollei 40mm sonnar very much!

I believe it should be the 80mm, not 85mm. I'll upload some pictures when I get the chance to shoot with it. Hopefully soon.

Cheers,
 
As for the 40mm in black, it's almost impossible to find. I think you'll have better luck with the silver one.

You're right. According to Manager Service & Logistics of Rollei GmbH in Braunschweig Germany, only 50 units of Sonnar 40mm/2.8 in black were produced and 380 units in silver. Planar 80mm/2.8 figures were 40 units (black) and 50 units (silver) according to the manager. Although she wasn't sure, how many of them were sold directly to Japan. Congrats for you new Planar!
 
You're right. According to Manager Service & Logistics of Rollei GmbH in Braunschweig Germany, only 50 units of Sonnar 40mm/2.8 in black were produced and 380 units in silver. Planar 80mm/2.8 figures were 40 units (black) and 50 units (silver) according to the manager. Although she wasn't sure, how many of them were sold directly to Japan. Congrats for you new Planar!

Wow.. These numbers seem too small for a production run. I'm sure there's more out there in the market. 50 units of the black Sonar 40mm would have sent the prices soaring.

Anyway, here is a quick test shot that I did on my buddy. Straight out of the Epson R-D1s with NO adjustments. Shot at ISO 800, 1/125 sec at f/2.8. Film setting was at default with no sharpening, saturation or contrast adjustments. Click for a larger picture.


I like the feel of the lens and details in the images it produced so far. Will play with it a bit more and see how it performs in other varying conditions.

Cheers,
 
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64213 is the part number for the Planar 80mm f/2.8 HFT to Nikon F mount adaptor. The information about the lens has also been removed on the Japanese site. Originally, it contained the lens and it's specification.

2847817697_c4a8afff38_o.jpg


Cheers,
 
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