The Collapsible Fuji Cristar 5cm F2

[David Murphy]

Does any one here have experience with this fairly rare lens? I just bought one (it's in the mail now). From the photos, it looks a lot like a Summitar, or maybe a Canon 5cm F1.9 collapsible. Should be fun!

 

[Brian Legge]

..was that the one recently for sale on a facebook group? That was an insane steal?

 

[David Murphy]

Brian, No I bought it on eBay. I was actually not aware that Leica mount lenses were traded on facebook (retro-me I'm afraid).

 

[Bar8barian]

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[David Murphy]

So Summar or Summitar clone seems to be one open question regarding the Cristar. I'll do a test roll with it and post the results.

 

[xayraa33]

Cool find David!

I look forward to be seeing the the photo results with that lens.

 

[raid]

Great find, David. Let us know how the lens performs when you try it out.

 

[splitimageview]

I got the one on fb. Should arrive Monday...excited to try it out!

What's the history? How many were made, etc?

 

[splitimageview]

seller's pic. $175 shipped with a Leotax rear lens cap

 

[splitimageview]

Lens arrived today, helical needs to be cleaned and re-lubed, everything else is in great shape, with clean, clear, coated glass.


Quick test: looks to me like a Summitar clone. Shot at f/2

Click the above link and move the mouse to compare.

Comparison was shot with a coated Summitar (not shown below.)

L to R collapsibles:

Fuji Cristar, uncoated Summitar, Nikkor, (radioactive) Summicron. Just for grins: 213 grams, 209g, 199g, 225g.

 

[hilltime]

Wow, I thought I got a rarity in an Olympus 4CM/2.8 with a Leotax DIV recently, but this real steals the show!

Gary Hill

 

[splitimageview]

Got quite lucky with this. As my dad used to say, "keep your eyes peeled!"

 

[02Pilot]

The sample photo reminds me a lot of my Canon 50/1.9, moreso than it does my Summitar.

 

[splitimageview]

I hope to have time to do a few more comparisons. although doing lens comparisons is rather tedious. 🙂

 

[hilltime]

How did any results turn out?
David, did you get to test yours?

Gary Hill

 

[splitimageview]

I posted a comparison above, it's a Summitar clone.

 

[xayraa33]

I posted a comparison above, it's a Summitar clone.

Going by your photo sample, the closest modern equivalent lens that gives that "water babies effect" in the close and full aperture OOF areas is the Helios 103 lens.

 

[splitimageview]

I'll shoot more this weekend and post some

 

[David Murphy]

How did any results turn out?
David, did you get to test yours?

Gary Hill

Mine just came out of the shop with a CLA - all spiffed up now - tests will be coming soon.

 

[David Murphy]

I finally got around to testing my Cristar 50mm F2. I used a Tower 48 LTM body and Arista 100 EDU Ultra, self processed and scanned on my Canonscan 8800F. No filters were used. I made some slight contrast and brightness adjustments to the scanned images, but no sharpening was done.

I did not record the exposure data, but the interior shots were taken close to wide-open while the exterior shots were probably stopped down a fair amount, but not more than F12.5, since that is the limit of this lens.

No art is intended in these shots - they are only casual family snap-shots and a couple of travel photos taken in West Texas or New Mexico.

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