Sunday Gear Pic: Still Life With Sonnars

[jmkelly]

This morning I had a couple of cameras out taking pictures of the kids. I realized both had Sonnars on them. As I was putting them up I saw a couple more Sonnars on the shelf. Then I recalled that both cameras in my bag had Sonnars on them. So I put them together for a family photo:

Clockwise from upper left: ZM Sonnar C, Canon 50mm f1.5, Zeiss-Opton 50mm f1.5, 1937 Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 with an assist from bits out of a 1977 Valdai J-3, 1945 Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 that I hacked into a J-3 mount following Brian Sweeney's instructions, and a Nikkor S.C on an S2. Not pictured: another S-mount Nikkor S.C and a "Tokyo" S.C in LTM, another CZO Sonnar in C-mount, and a 1939 CZJ that Brian hacked into a J-3 mount for me. And this is after selling four other Sonnar variants this year.

Anybody else have this kind of "problem" with Sonnars? 😀 C'mon, I know you're out there.

 

[kermaier]

Nah, I only have 3 Sonnars right now -- Canon 50/1.5, Nikkor S.C 50/1.4, Nikkor H.C 50/2 -- but that could change.... 😉
::Ari

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I am worse than you. The photo would be for an extended family. The Nikkor 5cm F1.4's in S-Mount would be octuplets.

But here's the new kid, Walz Envoy with a 4.8cm F1.9 Sonnar formula lens.

I'm currently doing the 12th CZJ 5cm F1.5 conversion into a J-3 mount. Already promised out. That's the only way I can bring myself to parting with them.

Come to think of it- I have two of the Sonnars that you used to own... The transition lens and the '55 KMZ.

 

[jmkelly]

Yeah Brian you are the "godfather" 🙂. It is our interactions that I think have most fed my interest in Sonnars. The Zeiss "transition" lenses fascinate me - did you buy the one I had or are you just working on it again?

 

[monochromejrnl]

Lovely - 50 sonnars are my favourite lenses. I have the CZ 50/1.5 Optar T* on my Contax IIA and a Canon 50/1.5LTM on my M3.

No pics of the lenses handy but I took all three of the portraits below with the M3 and Canon 50/1.5LTM and printed them earlier this week. Planning to give them to grandparents and great-grannies for Xmas this year.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Zeiss "transition" lenses fascinate me - did you buy the one I had or are you just working on it again?

I worked on that one for the last owner, tried to get the focus action to be smoother. The machining is just rough. It's more of a "collectors" lens than a "users" lens. I'm a collector, and traded one of my custom converted 5cm F1.5 uncoated Sonnars for it. I converted FrankS old Contax Sonnar using a nice J-3 mount. Everybody is happy!

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Monochromejrnl: wonderful pictures. I love the Canon 50/1.5 for B&W.

 

[jmkelly]

Monochromejrnl: wonderful pictures. I love the Canon 50/1.5 for B&W.

I love the Canon for color, too:

Brian, that Walz is a little beauty! I know nothing about it. Are the lenses interchangeable? I'm guessing not, since it looks like the lens diagram is engraved on the top of the body - nice touch, that.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

The Walz is the only Japanese Fixed-Lens RF with a Sonnar lens that I've seen. First roll is halfway finished. Need to take some Snow Shots with it. I've done enough shoveling for the day. Will finish the dig-out tomorrow. 300ft gravel driveway. Ouch.

 

[monochromejrnl]

Monochromejrnl: wonderful pictures. I love the Canon 50/1.5 for B&W.

Brian - thanks, it definitely renders B&W to my liking as well.

 

[jmkelly]

The Walz is the only Japanese Fixed-Lens RF with a Sonnar lens that I've seen. First roll is halfway finished. Need to take some Snow Shots with it. I've done enough shoveling for the day. Will finish the dig-out tomorrow. 300ft gravel driveway. Ouch.

I'm definitely in danger of being the pot that calls the kettle black here, but it occurs to me that if your Sonnar addiction were not so profound you might be able to buy a snow blower :angel:. That was some storm! I feel for you guys.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You would be amazed at how well an electric leaf blower does on a 300ft gravel driveway. 2ft of snow did push it.

I may break down and get the "regular snow blower". Just not sure how it does on gravel.

The thorium Summicrons did not do anything to it. Flamethrower is a bad idea.

 

[back alley]

Lovely - 50 sonnars are my favourite lenses. I have the CZ 50/1.5 Optar T* on my Contax IIA and a Canon 50/1.5LTM on my M3.

No pics of the lenses handy but I took all three of the portraits below with the M3 and Canon 50/1.5LTM and printed them earlier this week. Planning to give them to grandparents and great-grannies for Xmas this year.

those are lovely shots.

 

[monochromejrnl]

those are lovely shots.

Thanks Joe - much appreciated.

 

[Bingley]

+1 Canon 50/1.5 for color. I only have one sonnar lens, but it's a goodie.

 

[venchka]

I am not worthy. Lowly Grasshopper that I am. Two Sonnars, both Nippon Kogaku, 50/1.4 & 8.5/2.0.

I am doubly not worthy. I am blinded and distracted by Summicron, UC-Hexanon and Elmarit-M.

I need to take the Sonnars out to play.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

The Nikkor 50/2 is a favorite of mine. Relatively modern sonnar look that balances very well with a classic Sonnar, a CZJ of Brian's handiwork.

CZJ Sonnar 50/1,5


Nikkor 50/2


I got to play with a Canon 50/1.5

 

[splitimageview]

Clockwise from upper left: ZM Sonnar C, Canon 50mm f1.5, Zeiss-Opton 50mm f1.5, 1937 Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 with an assist from bits out of a 1977 Valdai J-3, 1945 Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 that I hacked into a J-3 mount following Brian Sweeney's instructions, and a Nikkor S.C on an S2. Not pictured: another S-mount Nikkor S.C and a "Tokyo" S.C in LTM, another CZO Sonnar in C-mount, and a 1939 CZJ that Brian hacked into a J-3 mount for me.

John, if you could only keep one of the above...which?

-Robert

 

[jmkelly]

Robert - if I were to be totally ruthless about it I would keep the newest one - the ZM-C. It delivers images with as much or more Sonnar character as any of the others, in both color and B/W. I like the short focus throw and the no-fuss focus tab. And it has the best glass, both from a technical and a wear standpoint. It is one of the very few lenses I have bought new.

And given that this is the one lens I would keep, yes - I would keep an M-mount body and let all the rest go, and truth be told it would be the Ikon over the Hexar and M6.

But I don't have to be ruthless at this time. I'm a sentimental old fart with a hobby, and I can indulge my soft spot for these old cameras and lenses - particularly the ones we have rescued and otherwise tinkered with. I can honestly say I don't have a favorite among them - old or new.