Schneider Kreuznach Retina 50mm 2.8 in LTM

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I just bought a hacked Schneider Retina Xenon 50mm 2.8 in LTM mount and not in M mount.

I read some old RFF threads on the Xenar and Xenon lenses, and it seems that the Xenon is a very good lens. With shipping, it cost me less than $170, while a similar lens is selling for over $1300.

This is "my lens" shown below. I love one of a kind hacked lenses. Do you by any chance own such a lens on a Retina camera, and could you share here your experience with it. Thanks.

I wonder how this lens renders, in comparison with the (old) Elmar 50 2.8. My example is RF coupled, and it is uncoated.

From ad :
The focusing scale is stamped into the mounting ring.
The lens is rangefinder coupled and activates the rangefinder as it is focused.
It is uncoated glass.

 

[loplop]

I have no experience with the 50/2.8 Xenon, but I have a Retina IIa with the 50/2 Xenon that I shoot on occasion. If the rangefinder were clearer on my particular IIa, I'd shoot it more often. I love the rendering of the 50/2 and have often dreamed about hacking it to M mount!! Mine is quite sharp and contrasty from wide open in the very center of the frame as long as you're not near MFD, where contrast suffers greatly. The sweet spot opens considerably at 2.8, but rendering is still excellent, so I suspect your lens will perform well. Mine is coated, but single. I'd love to hear how you get on with the 2.8.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ndjedinak/tags/kodakretinaiia/

My experience with the Retina has made me seek out Schneider lenses whenever possible. I haven't found a lot of them in good shape, but I do have a small cache of very nice 35/2.8, 50/1.9, and 135/3.5 in screwmount that I use on occasion. Fantastic lenses.

 

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I also have the 50 2.0 and the 50 1.9 for my Retina, but I have not used this camera for a long time. I want to use the 50 2.8 on my M9 next for portraits. I have seen online adapters for M 4/3 cameras, so there is no need for a hacked lens there.

 

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I finally received this lens. It has internal haze, so I will have it cleaned.

 

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After buying the M mount pre-war Xenon, it turned out that the front element was scratched up to the degree that resulting images were worse than you get from a soft focus lens. I then bought another Xenon in Cine mount. This one is post-war with coated elements. I sent both to Brian to see if he could craft a good M mount lens from the two lenses. It seems that the post-war lens has a good front element but a useless rear element. Still, Brian was able to use the coated element for the front and the uncoated element from the pre-war lens for the rear element.


I took this lens out for a "drive" yesterday. I stepped outside our home for a few quickies on the front porch.

 

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A few hours later, we took a drive along the beach, and the light was very nice.
All images are without any modification by me, and the images were opened by LR5. and exported over as jpg images.


A young man was exposing his dog for her first swim in the Gulf of Mexico.

Pensacola Beach at sunset

Pointing the camera towards the West

 

[lynnb]

looks like a keeper, Raid

 

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I am quite happy about how this lens project came out in the end. The lens has RF focus, and it seems to be quite sharp. Having an uncoated rear element will bring down contrast a little, and having a coated front element helps with glare and flare.

 

[raid]

looks like a keeper, Raid

Hi Lynn,
I love unique lenses like this one. As you well know, sunsets can be "similar" after hundreds of times of taking photos of them, so having some alternative lenses can be lots of fun.

 

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Stingrays swam by very quickly.

 

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We drove to Destin (Florida) in addition to Pensacola Beach a few days ago.

Dolphins

Lina

Dana

 

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The pre-war Retina had a lens with a special lens construction, I have been told. Of course, my lens is now a hybrid (pre-war and post-war).