W/NW - In praise of the Sonnar

[Gabriel M.A.]

I really like my 50mm f/1.5 Zeiss-Opton Sonnar. The Carl Zeiss Jenna 135mm f/4 Sonnar ain't too shabby for having a scratched element (the rear one).

I find myself shooting with it more and more along with my 50 'lux. Two different flavors. I like this one.

Contax IIIa + 50mm f/1.5 Zeiss-Opton (wide open) / Fuji 400 X-tra

​

 

[furcafe]

Kodak BW400CN, Zeiss-Opton 50/1.5 Sonnar (c.1953-54), 1/8th sec. @ f/1.5, Premier Instrument Kardon (c.1947-48) w/Cook & Perkins adapter (c.1950).

 

[rover]

Very nice 😉

 

[drmatthes]

I like both shots, the second being slightly more balanced. The bokeh is great in both, the DOF so small and sharpness concentrated upon the point of interest - what else would one wish in a good portrait? Hang on, guys!

Jesko

___________

2006 AD
800 yrs Dresden
80 yrs Zeiss Ikon

 

[furcafe]

Kodak Plus-X, CZJ 5cm1/5 Sonnar (T-coated, c.1941), 1/250th sec. @ f/2, Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa (color dial, c.1955-56).

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Very nice, furcafe!

 

[furcafe]

The uncoated Sonnars shouldn't be discounted, either.

Kodak Tri-X, CZJ 5cm/2 Sonnar (collapsible, c.1936-37), 1/50th sec. @ f/2.8, Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa (color dial, c.1955-56).

Kodak Ektachrome 100, CZJ 5cm/2 Sonnar (rigid, c.1936), 1/500th sec. @ f/4, Arsenal Kiev IIa (c.1956).

 

[Berk Sirman]

I am not sure what you meant by "if you're working" but I like this shot very much. And I see nothing in it that's distracting.

Another distracting one (if you're working)...

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Its safer to say the Jupiter 3 is based on the prewar 50/1.5 Sonnar design. Both are 7/3 elements/groups but I can't be certain Zeiss didn't improve the 50/1.5 over a 25 year period. Talk to the guys that have a recomputed Tessar on the 1960's Contaflex and you'll see what I mean.

My contribution - Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5, postwar (last type)

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135/4, postwar (last type)

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I am not sure what you meant by "if you're working" but I like this shot very much. And I see nothing in it that's distracting.

I just meant for anybody that would be at work. She's quite attractive... 😉 This is not the best picture I have of her, though.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Mike: that's a great shot with the 135 f/4. I have a very beat-up 135 f/4 CZJ. The rear element is pretty roughed-up, and it flares easily, but it makes for some interesting shots:

Contax IIIa + Carl Zeiss Jena 135 f/4 Sonnar (wide open) / Fuji X-tra 400​

Great shots so far, all!

 

[SteveM(PA)]

I just meant for anybody that would be at work. She's quite attractive... 😉 This is not the best picture I have of her, though.

She could be your own personal Marta! I *think* I'm correct in saying she's also the one at the cash register on your photo blog...I was very distracted by that shot
🙂

 

[JoeFriday]

here's a sample from my IIa and Sonnar 50/1.5

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hey Brian! Look, I got one picture back, from my Jupiter-3 (I've two rolls yet to develop myself, two to pick up) ...

Leica M6 + Brianov Jupiter-3 (wide open) / Ilford XP2​

 

[Wayne R. Scott]

Contax IIa with 50mm f1.5 Sonnar shots.

Wayne

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Okay Gabriel, I won't send the lens-retrieval squad after you! Remember. Lifetime Buy-Back warranty on that one.

Nice shot.

And Wayne: I remember the shot well, but I did forget it was with a Sonnar!

And My contribution: Nikkor-P 8.5cm F2 on the Nikon SP, @F4.

 

[dexdog]

I would post some pics, but software is not letting me upload any photos at the moment. I love Sonnars, definately my favorite lens. Nice shots, folks.

 

[sockeyed]

Bessa R3A + Jupiter-8 (50/2) + Tri-X in HC-110.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Nice. Nice nice nice

 

[VinceC]

One of those moments where the lighting was perfect, but her ability to sit still for a photograph wasn't. I was burning up the end of a roll, and after three frames, we both gave up. Nikkor 8.5cm @f/2.