Sonnar Formula Lenses: Any Focal Length, Any Make, Any Mount, Any Camera

[former member]

Post your pictures taken with Any Sonnar Formula Lens.

Starting this off with a 1937 Carl Zeiss Jena 13.5cm F4 converted to Leica mount using a J-11 focus mount. The minimum focus distance on the J-11 is ~6ft, and focus with this lens is accurate across range.

 

[former member]

Nikkor-PC 8.5cm F2, on the Canon 7. A favorite setup of mine.


I'll be "Semi-Retiring" in a few months from work, after 45 years there. Plan a return to film. These are good motivators for the latter.

 

[zeitoun]

Rollei 35S (Does that count as a Sonnar ?), HP5+, Blazinal 1:50

 

[former member]

Rollei 35S (Does that count as a Sonnar ?), HP5+, Blazinal 1:50


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Yes it does! That's the "S"!
A Sonnar Formula Lens is an Asymmetric design, a Telephoto front section followed by a well corrected astigmat of about the same focal lens of the completed lens. The frnt section "about" 2.5x the focal length of the completed lens. The Sonnar formula lens is in the Rollei 35S and even the Rollei 126 instamatic with a 4 element lens.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Fuji X-T1 - Zeiss Sonnar T* 1.5/50.



Leica SL2S - Zeiss Sonnar T* 1.5/50.

 

[JMF]

50 R-Sonnar CZ f1.5 1942 by JM__, on Flickr


50 R-Sonnar CZ f1.5 1942 by JM__, on Flickr

50 f1.5 R-Sonnar CZ (1942? serial number is 2800030) - M10-P

 

[lukx]

Nikon F2AS, Kodak Gold 200, Nikkor P.C. 10.5cm, the rare early 9-bladed version (serial no. < 124xxx). I find this lens does not have the typical Sonnar traits we know from shorter Sonnar lenses. The Bokeh is a little swirly at times and football shaped rather than comet shaped as @Sonnar Brian calls it. Nonetheless I like this lens, I have it in F mount and in LTM. Admittedly though, I do not use it very often. But who likes to sell lenses?!

 

[lukx]

Same setup as above, but on Superia 400 film. Again, you see the swirl. Not sure if it's caused by optical vignetting, the rear element of this lens is rather small in diameter.

 

[splitimageview]

Contax Zeiss 135/2.8 Sonnar:

 

[former member]

Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5, wide-open. Bought dirt-cheap, was missing the rear element. I guessed at a close-enough replacement from Surplus Shack, and use a Jupiter-3 retaining ring- which was perfect.

I think the "Football Swirlies" are some residual astigmatism. The Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5 is under-corrected for spherical aberration, and has good flatness of field. Sirlies are the trade-off.

 

[dexdog]

ZO 85/2 Sonnar, on a Contax IIa. Thanksgiving 2006. Pumbu, queen of all dogs, according to her owner.


ZO 85/2 Sonnar, on a Contax IIa. Thanksgiving 2006. The inspiration for my avatar, Dex the dog

 

[dexdog]

ZO 85/2 on a Contax IIa, scale focused. DCA airport, Terminal B, I was traveling for work. I think I posted this pic 10+ years ago, dont know for sure.

 

[brusby]

Zeiss Apo Sonnar 135mm f2. Midday sun was so bright and contrasty I expected the background to be totally blown out and the image to be washed out from flare. But this lens has an amazing ability to resist flare and hold things together.

_MG_2177 by Brusby, on Flickr

 

[PRJ]

7Artisans 35mm f/2 (1st version). It isn't very sharp, especially in the corners, though it has ample contrast. It is the only 35mm Sonnar I've ever seen aside from the one in the Nikon L35AF (are there others?). Sweet little lens, smooth, and it can be had for peanuts. I paid a measly $125 for mine.

 

[lukx]

ZO 85/2 Sonnar, on a Contax IIa. Thanksgiving 2006. Pumbu, queen of all dogs, according to her owner.


ZO 85/2 Sonnar, on a Contax IIa. Thanksgiving 2006. The inspiration for my avatar, Dex the dog

Sweet doggos! Do post more from the Opton Sonnar 85, there aren't many images online with that lens. It's supposed to be the pinnacle of the Contax mount portrait lenses.

 

[dexdog]

ZO 85/2 on Contax IIa. Thanksgiving 2006. Mr. Frodo the dog

 

[PRJ]

Jupiter 9 on a Leica M3.

 

[PRJ]

I hadn't thought this was a Sonnar design... Interesting... My wallet really didn't need to know this 🤣

Edit:

Some snooping online indicates that only the 1st version is a Sonnar design. The second version changed the optical design, adding an element and a group and changing the physical layout of the lens quite a bit. At least I know what to look for 🙂

Hence the (version 1) in the description. 🙂 Sorry I wasn't clear on that. Look for the one that looks like a Summicron. It handles just like the Summicron too. From behind the camera you won't be able to tell the difference.

I should probably buy another 35mm before peeps catch on. I guess the 35mm has been around since 2017 but I just found out about them last year and it was an instant decision. 35mm Sonnar? I have to get one of those! Shame they don't make LTM lenses. It would be perfect on my Canon 7. The 35mm opened my eyes to the Chinese lenses. I subsequently picked up a 7A 50 1.1 for $150 (Sonnar as well). So cheap.

 

[PRJ]

Paris La Défense 90s, Contax IIa 85mm Sonnar

Wish I never sold that lens! Oh well.

 

[former member]

Nikkor-PC 10.5cm F2.5, LTM on the Leiva M Monochrom. Yellow filter.