David Murphy
Veteran
Very cool. I wonder if they have converted the camera into a half or partial frame camera of some sort using the winder. The finder seems to have a large part of its field blocked off.
Vintage 3rd party lenses for Nikon RF
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the_hunter
Established
I might be a bit late but I just picked up a Komura Sankyo Koki 35mm f2.8 lens in Nikon mount from eBay. It included the caps, case and finder all in great condition. I will update when I have a chance to really test it out.
David Murphy
Veteran
Not too late for this slow moving party! Please let us know if you get some test shots.I might be a bit late but I just picked up a Komura Sankyo Koki 35mm f2.8 lens in Nikon mount from eBay. It included the caps, case and finder all in great condition. I will update when I have a chance to really test it out.
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Congrats, I was wondering who got it. I hope you are able to make a video about it!
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Added a new lens to the list: Komura 105mm f/2. I had previously only seen this lens in LTM mount. This lens is not engraved N or C on the barrel or mount, but since it was located in Japan we can probably assume it was made for Nikon (seen on Yahoo Auctions)
the_hunter
Established
I will! I always shoot a few rolls before I make a video, so it may take a few weeks, but I am already 1/2 way through a BNW roll. Were you the eBay seller?
the_hunter
Established
I will, but I like to get some mileage out of gear before I pass judgment or write a review.
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Despite my interest, I have yet to own any of these lenses! Waiting for a good deal.
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
This image confirms the Zunow 35mm f/1.7 and 100mm f/2 were offered in S-mount. Now if only I could find images of either of those lenses. Tom A wrote he had only seen the 100mm lens ONCE!
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Andrew, thanks for your video on the Komura 35mm - hope you don't mind if I share the link. It's nice to see some close up video of it!
A few notes:
-As far as I know, Sankyo Koki is the name of the company, and Komura is the name of the lens line (same as Nippon Kogaku/Nikkor). Later on they changed their company name to Komura, kind of like how Nippon Kogaku changed to Nikon as they grew internationally.
-Anyone buying a Nikon or Leica LTM camera in those days would purchase it with a 50mm lens attached. This is the reason there are almost no 50mm lenses made by 3rd party manufacturers, they focused on lower priced telephoto and wide lenses for the photographer who already had a 50mm.
-A Japanese collector by the name "Biogon Moriko" is a big fan of the Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 35mm f/2.8. Tanaka Kogaku produced a few Tanack LTM cameras and lenses. They also produced at least the 35mm and 135mm lenses from this system in Nikon S mount. To the best of my knowledge, these are simply rebranded Komura optics, but I'm not positive. The barrels sometimes share the same design language (same goes for the Soligor 35mm and 135mm). Moriko also has an instagram page where he sometimes posts photos with this lens (he is also a big collector of Nikon rangefinders).
-There is a bit of information about Sankyo Koki here. They produced lenses well into the SLR era and even made some medium and large format lenses.
A few notes:
-As far as I know, Sankyo Koki is the name of the company, and Komura is the name of the lens line (same as Nippon Kogaku/Nikkor). Later on they changed their company name to Komura, kind of like how Nippon Kogaku changed to Nikon as they grew internationally.
-Anyone buying a Nikon or Leica LTM camera in those days would purchase it with a 50mm lens attached. This is the reason there are almost no 50mm lenses made by 3rd party manufacturers, they focused on lower priced telephoto and wide lenses for the photographer who already had a 50mm.
-A Japanese collector by the name "Biogon Moriko" is a big fan of the Tanaka Kogaku Tanar 35mm f/2.8. Tanaka Kogaku produced a few Tanack LTM cameras and lenses. They also produced at least the 35mm and 135mm lenses from this system in Nikon S mount. To the best of my knowledge, these are simply rebranded Komura optics, but I'm not positive. The barrels sometimes share the same design language (same goes for the Soligor 35mm and 135mm). Moriko also has an instagram page where he sometimes posts photos with this lens (he is also a big collector of Nikon rangefinders).
-There is a bit of information about Sankyo Koki here. They produced lenses well into the SLR era and even made some medium and large format lenses.
the_hunter
Established
I took 2 rolls of sample images with the Komura 35mm f2.8 on the Nikon S, I was impressed. It is as good as the Nikon for the most part with very nice bokeh. the Nikon and Komura have very different flare effects with the Komura appearing to have less flare than the Nikon, I suspect this is because it is multicoated. it does seem to have a little bit of vignetting wide open, but that is the only flaw I have spotted so far. I provided a link to my blog with some of the nicer samples. https://arsmithphoto.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/komura-35mm/
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Wow, it looks very different from the Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5. I would say better. Definitely better flare control and a more modern rendering. Very interesting!
the_hunter
Established
I personally agree and think it is better than the Nikon 35mm f2.5 or late model 35mm f3.5, but these shots are from 2 rolls and I have yet to shoot color film on the Komura, so I don't want to make a premature judgment call. But so far I really like it and I am surprised that such a quality lens is almost unknown. I really want to try Komura's 80mm f1.8.
the_hunter
Established
Good info, I especially like that Japanese site. I found it some time back but never found that page about 3rd party lenses.
David Murphy
Veteran
Thanks a million for posting this rare ad.This image confirms the Zunow 35mm f/1.7 and 100mm f/2 were offered in S-mount. Now if only I could find images of either of those lenses. Tom A wrote he had only seen the 100mm lens ONCE!
Perhaps this is a little off topic, but this ad is fascinating to me as it reveals more information about Zunow products, a somewhat obscure company even when it was in business, but now legendary among collectors (almost mythical in fact). I was aware Zunow made an F1.1 prime for LTM and Contax RF mount, and examples come up or sale today from time-to-time, but I was not aware they also made an 58mm F1.2 lens for the Exakta and M42 cameras (or at least planned to). This ad also seems to imply Zunow either manufactured or planned to manufacture their 50/1.1 in native Leica M mount, since a Leica M body also appears in the ad.
Common wisdom has it that the only superspeed lens made for Exakta was the Harrigon 58/1.2 made by Taika, and the only superspeed M42 lens was the 55/1.2 by Tomioka (also rebadged by Yashica and maybe some others).
the_hunter
Established
Just for the record, I found a listing on Ebay for a Komura 105mm f2.8 lens in Austria.
It claims the lens is Contax mount, but every other Komura I have seen was in Nikon S mount. Can't confirm since there is no apparent 'N' visible as on other models.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2652137186...rentrq:6876440f17a0a0f310e103dcffda3158|iid:1
It claims the lens is Contax mount, but every other Komura I have seen was in Nikon S mount. Can't confirm since there is no apparent 'N' visible as on other models.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2652137186...rentrq:6876440f17a0a0f310e103dcffda3158|iid:1
keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Thanks, I did see this one. Sometimes with Komura lenses the mount type is engraved on the barrel near the distance scale, but it's hard to tell when the entire lens isn't photographed.
I jumped on a parts listing of a Tanaka 5cm f/2 optical block (LTM) on ebay today. It was bundled with a contax-style internal mount, but not fully assembled so I will need to find a set screw, retaining ring, and focus spacer. The lens was never sold in Nikon/Contax mount, but I thought it would be an interesting project to try to complete. Being designed for LTM it will probably focus fine on a Nikon camera. Between this and the russian lenses it appears I am now collecting vintage 3rd party lenses not made for Nikon RF.
the_hunter
Established
I have been impressed so far with the Komura 35mm I have. I am shooting a color roll on it at the moment and am interested to see the results. I would love the 80mm f1.8, but the price is too high for my liking. I would love to get a generic 28mm, but they dont seem to exist, aside from the Voitlander Color Skopar 28mm f3.5 which is rare and expensive.
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keytarjunkie
no longer addicted
Seen on facebook: WA. Acall 35mm f/3.5. Identical to the Atco branded lens, and check out the serial number too!
20019 - Acall, FB user
20024 - Atco, "Biogon Moriko"
20036 - Atco, friend of "Biogon Moriko"
20045 - Atco, David Murphy
I'm beginning to think production of these lenses was quite small...🙄
20019 - Acall, FB user
20024 - Atco, "Biogon Moriko"
20036 - Atco, friend of "Biogon Moriko"
20045 - Atco, David Murphy
I'm beginning to think production of these lenses was quite small...🙄
David Murphy
Veteran
Yes, the Acall is interesting. It makes me wonder who actually made these lenses! The serial number is close to my Atco branded version. I'll get out my Atco and check out how these compare in close detail.
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