Searching In Vain - What's Your White Whale?

[snausages]

I've bought many used cameras and lenses. For the most part, none have had issue. Painless purchases.

But one lens has eluded me. Its very mention rattles me.

The Olympus OM 50 1.8 "Made In Japan."

My first copy was superb.

But the dog played keep away with the camera and smashed the lens.

I replaced it a week later. The results looked less sharp than with the dog's copy. That's when I realized there were many versions of the 50 1.8.

The older version was fine, but for $30-$50 I figured I'd replace it with the original beloved.

So I bought another "Made In Japan" version. Only when it arrived...it wasn't.

So I bought another.

And it arrived today wrapped in an adult diaper. With rear element fungus thrown in for no extra charge.

I don't need this lens. But now I have to have one to break the curse.

What lens or camera has haunted you? Led you on a trail of broken dreams and adult diapers?

 

[benmacphoto]

Wow, nothing to the extent of adult diapers.

A camera system I seem to have no luck with since my first would be Hasseblad. Anything Hasselblad seems to be of no luck lately.
My first kit was a 500c with 60mm cf lens. Worked pretty well, so I traded a Nikon lens for a 500 el.

Well that 500el jammed and jammed my 60mm cf lens. Turning the screw wont unjam either lens or body, I think a spring broke in the lens. And now it seems my 500c is having a shutter curtain problem where after it is fired the curtains stay open, and only close when it is advanced.

So my trail of broken dreams is with Hasselblad, to the point of where I don't even want to get either body and lens fixed.

 

[PaulW128]

Funny you should mention that lens. I bought an OM1 with a 50, 28 3.5 and the 35-70 3.6 off of Ebay last month for $166 (I also bought an OM1n off RFF member Frank Petronio a couple of weeks ago that is absolutely dead mint)

I brought the OM1 and three lenses to John at Cam Tech last week and wanted him to do an overhaul on the body. When he saw the 50 1.8 he told me this is the best version of this lens and showed me the "made in Japan" written on the lens. As i'm new to Olympus, I had no idea. Hope to get it back soon from John to start using it.

Good luck in your search!

Paul

 

[mfunnell]

I have no lens story. I don't have a camera story. Nor even a whale story. And certainly no adult diaper story. But by the banks of the Goodradigbie River, near Wee Jasper, upstream from Buranjuk Dam, at Swinging Bridge, in the Brindabella Ranges, there was a deep, dark pool with a trout. A big trout. And thereby hangs a tale.

But I guess that's off-topic. So, perhaps, another time...

...Mike

(BTW, I'm not making those names up. Though my spelling may be off a bit, 'cause it's been a while.)

 

[Disaster_Area]

Mine would be the Voigtlander Vitessa... the model before they put a light meter in it but with the 50mm f2 Ultron instead of the Skopar is the one I really want, but any of the collapsible ones would be fine to start with. I hate the non collapsible later models, they really shouldn't have thrown the Vitessa name on it, it's a different animal.

Every time I have some spare photo cash they're no where to be found for under $500 on the Bay... when I'm broke they go for $200 and under 🙁

And the worst part is that even if I do end up getting one... I have a feeling I'll hate shooting with it... I hate focusing wheels like on the Contax RF's and the Vitessa, I like turning the lens... but it's just so pretty... I'd love it and hug it... and call it George...

 

[ferider]

Jupiter 9 in LTM.

No diapers - but after more than a handful of copies I gave up. Even the ones I was told focused right were off significantly.

The closest I came was a ZK 85/2. Focused fine, great lens, but min. focus of 1.8m.

Roland.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Jupiter 9 in LTM.

No diapers - but after more than a handful of copies I gave up. Even the ones I was told focused right were off significantly.

Roland.

Have you thought of trying to CLA one yourself.. I did a CLA of my Jupiter 50mm f2 and it turned out great. There's a bunch of resources on how to strip down the jupiter lenses on the net and they're very simple lenses. All it took was one very small screw driver, some rubbing alcohol and some lithium grease and a couple hours later I had a perfectly focused smooth as butter lens. If you have a couple copies you should be able to assemble one really good lens from the best parts of all of them.

 

[Traut]

A gold original Rollei 35
black minox IIIS with black meter
origianl black M3
original black SP

Also, any of the NASA 'Blads. (not a moon camera because they never left the sound stage)

 

[ferider]

Have you thought of trying to CLA one yourself.. I did a CLA of my Jupiter 50mm f2 and it turned out great. There's a bunch of resources on how to strip down the jupiter lenses on the net and they're very simple lenses. All it took was one very small screw driver, some rubbing alcohol and some lithium grease and a couple hours later I had a perfectly focused smooth as butter lens. If you have a couple copies you should be able to assemble one really good lens from the best parts of all of them.

Yes. Kim wrote a great manual on this (photos are from one of my lenses). It's the most complicated Jupiter to dis/re-assemble (double helix and many helix entry points with only one right one). Also it has to be shimmed in two places, one to adjust for infinity focus, and one to adjust focal length. Kim tried himself on one of my lenses and didn't get it to focus right at close focus - there is a limit to which the focal length can be adjusted due to optical barrel colliding with aperture ring.

It's a pain really, and anybody here who advises a newbie to buy an LTM J9 doesn't do the newbie a favor, IMO. Note that I have an email exchange from Yuri (Fedka) in which he confirms that he only adjusts infinity focus when cleaning+adjusting a J9, so buying from him is no option either - unless you are very lucky (of course you can return a lens to Yuri if you don't like it - he is a great guy to deal with).

Note that I'm probably more picky than most when it comes to correct close focus. But then again, a portrait lens should behave right in that respect.

Note also that Dante, if I remember right, tried 12 J9 lenses and none worked properly on a Leica.

You can hear I'm a bit emotional about it ... 🙂

Best,

Roland.

 

[ethics_gradient]

Yes. Kim wrote a great manual on this (photos are from one of my lenses). It's the most complicated Jupiter to dis/re-assemble (double helix and many helix entry points with only one right one). Also it has to be shimmed in two places, one to adjust for infinity focus, and one to adjust focal length. Kim tried himself on one of my lenses and didn't get it to focus right at close focus - there is a limit to which the focal length can be adjusted due to optical barrel colliding with aperture ring.

It's a pain really, and anybody here who advises a newbie to buy an LTM J9 doesn't do the newbie a favor, IMO. Note that I have an email exchange from Yuri (Fedka) in which he confirms that he only adjusts infinity focus when cleaning+adjusting a J9, so buying from him is no option either - unless you are very lucky (of course you can return a lens to Yuri if you don't like it - he is a great guy to deal with).

Note that I'm probably more picky than most when it comes to correct close focus. But then again, a portrait lens should behave right in that respect.

Note also that Dante, if I remember right, tried 12 J9 lenses and none worked properly on a Leica.

You can hear I'm a bit emotional about it ... 🙂

Best,

Roland.

I think it probably is one of the most frustrating lenses to go after: I went through two duds that were egregiously bad (I'm not super picky, either) before finding one for sale here that works like a champ. It sounds like I got off very easy! Not sure about IQ/reliability but maybe the Canon 85mm would be a better choice, seems to be sub-$200 or so.

 

[snausages]

Paul, here's the kicker: I bought the other lens from Frank in that sale, specifying my desire for the "Made In Japan" model. Understandably, he thought all OM's are made in Japan and shipped us the goods. Since you weren't aware of the different versions I was the only one in the transaction who was.

Ironically, he thought he was sending me the better of the lenses.

O. Henry!

(Being a stand-up guy, Frank refunded me half the money.)

Anyone interested in a mint minus Adult Diaper?

No hazing, fogging or wet spots.

 

[aizan]

basically anything costing over $3000.

nikon sp 2005
linhof technika 2000
phillips compact ii
ebony rw810
leica s2
leica m9...

 

[newspaperguy]

Was that a new or used diaper? Sorry, couldn't resist.

My whale was a russki spotting scope I bought planning to digiscope with it.

Actually, it was in good condition - like new. But, new sucked. No prisms, just internal mirrors...

and the worst eye relief and smallest coverage you could imagine.

 

[xayraa33]

For black and white work I prefer the silver nose Zuiko 50/1.8 to my" Made in Japan" engraved on the front Zuiko 50/f1.8 lens.

 

[aizan]

there's also that mint condition nikon f plain prism with no desilvering or separation...

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I think it probably is one of the most frustrating lenses to go after: I went through two duds that were egregiously bad (I'm not super picky, either) before finding one for sale here that works like a champ. It sounds like I got off very easy! Not sure about IQ/reliability but maybe the Canon 85mm would be a better choice, seems to be sub-$200 or so.

I must have been lucky too! - I bought one from a Ebay seller in Holland took it on holiday to Malta, on an M2 - with no focus problems, and some nice pictures!. It should be kept in mind though - these are pre-war designs, and some expect a Leica-beater for peanuts!, just take 'em for what they are, and not a giant killer!.
Dave.

 

[FrankS]

Just bought my white whale on eBay - a nice black OM 1.

 

[snausages]

xayraa, agreed that the MIJ distinction for the 50 1.8 really only comes into play with color work.

and the 50 1.4 is an excellent lens, even if a bit softer and heavier.

 

[PaulW128]

Snausages:

That is too funny!! Right after I bought my OM1 off Ebay, my friend was looking for a nice OM1 as well, so I wound up buying Frank's OM1n and 50 1.8 and the I sold it to my friend for the same price Frank sold it to me for.

Believe me, if I had both cameras and BOTH 50 1.8 "made in Japan" lenses, i'd gladly send you one for cost!!

 

[Vickko]

My Moby Dick....Zunow 50/1.1

My Moby Dick....Zunow 50/1.1

My Moby Dick....Zunow 50/1.1

And only if the price is reasonable.

...Vick