Thrift Store Find - Sun Opt. LTM 13.5cm f/3.5

[Disaster_Area]

Was doing some thrift store shopping for photo props when I came across what I was sure was an LTM lens at the bottom of a bin of the usual soligors, vivitars and other usual junk store lenses. I scooped it up for $5 without taking too much of a look at it. Got it home and cleaned it up a bit, front ring says it's a Sun Optical 135mm f3.5 and it's indeed LTM.

Haven't had a chance to take anything but a few test shots with it, but it seems reasonably sharp and despite the external layer of grime I had to clean off, the glass and internals are pretty clean. Can't seem to find much about this lens online... anyone have any experience with this lens or company?

 

[xayraa33]

Camerapedia has a nice write-up on Sun and Sun Sola lenses.

http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/K.O.L._and_Sun_lenses_in_Leica_screw_mount

 

[nikon_sam]

Never heard of them but did find this...http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Sun and this...http://www.flickr.com/groups/1499390@N20/pool/with/5048056825/#photo_5048056825

 

[Disaster_Area]

thanks for the link to the Flickr group... I'd seen the camerapedia page, but didn't think to check Flickr yet

 

[Disaster_Area]

Had the oppertunity to actually go out and shoot with this lens on the weekend, quite a nice performer actually. I'm not a huge fan of the design, the aperture ring is quite large, in front of the focus ring and quite close to it, and has no click stops. So I quite often accidentally changed the aperture instead of focus... but overall, quite nice for what I paid for it 🙂

 

[-Nash-]

Sun optics are sharp wide open and a pleasure to use.
I had the 9cm f/4 in LTM and it gave sharp & 'contrasty' results.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Yeah, the smaller image I posted doesn't really do the lens justice. Beautiful bokeh and nice and sharp. Like I said, I wish the ergonomics where better, but I'll get used to them 🙂

 

[Guaranteed]

Five bucks, that's awesome!