Which lens for a Kardon?

[someonenameddavid]

Dear Jacques,

This is only half remembered at best, from something I read maybe 40 years ago, but I vaguely recall the Taylor, Taylor & Hobson 50/2 being appropriate. Or perhaps it was the 50/2 Cooke Amotal: I have seen it asserted that they were the same lens. I remember being surprised at its being English; but it was a very long time ago, so as I say, I could be misremembering.

Cheers,

R.

Cooke, of course, was the choice of Ansel Adams in his golden years, and TTH was owned by Bell and Howell for a while, which is why the lens on the B&H Foton is an Amotal....

Post war socialist Britain, with its centralized planning totally missed the consumer revolution.

 

[rgraphex]

wollensak on Kardon: I know the wollensak lenses was offered for sale after the war separate. If a Kardon body was it would be plausible to buy one of each.

 

[David Murphy]

The Kardon is a Leica thread mount camera so it will take any Leica thread mount lens, and there are many (old and new). The black Canon 50mm F1.8 is pretty cheap these days on the used market ($100 or so) and is a fine lens. The older Canon chrome 50 F1.8 is also a good lens and closer to the Kardon era.

Any coated thread mount lens by Leica is appropriate as well. The coated Summitar and Elmar are both lenses from the Kardon era that deliver good results and can sometimes be found at moderate prices. The Summarit is also an amazing lens and "proper" for a Kardon, but it is getting expensive now - close to the Ektar in price for a good one (which are difficult to find in good condition since most are scratched up or have other problems). The Elmar is a good deal for the money ($200-$300), there are many around, and it is compact too.

Thanks. So, I may put a correct LTM Leitz or Zeiss on it, even if it would be better with an Ektar, of course. BTW, there is a photo in Katz's book showing a Kardon with a Summitar.

Jacques.

 

[Jacques M.]

Thanks, David. My question was purely historical.
I have a lot of lenses which fit this camera, but no Summitar for the moment... If I had to chose, it would be a 1946/47 one, by the s/n of my camera. Or a Wollensack which is a very good idea. Not cheap!

I have temporarily put an exotic 1,5/5,8cm Sonnars. Splendid, but quite big. Not yet tried...

 

[Jacques M.]

Here is Katz's book:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/322267178928?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

The owner probably read this thread!

 

[Roger Hicks]

... Post war socialist Britain, with its centralized planning totally missed the consumer revolution.

Not really. Were you living in the UK at the time? I was. Which items of "the consumer revolution" did Britain "totally miss"?

Consumerism took off a lot more slowly in the UK, it's true, but then, the country was broke, having spent all its money on the war (including a lot spent on American arms). The UK did however manage a National Health System, which the USA has yet to achieve, and a pretty good welfare state. I don't think it's so much a question of socialism as of whether you accord higher priorities to people (postwar UK) or to things (postwar USA).

Cheers,

R.

 

[rgraphex]

Here is Katz's book:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/322267178928?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

The owner probably read this thread!

Thanks just bought it.

 

[Jacques M.]

And the technical manual is there:
http://www.ebay.fr/itm/Kardon-Camer...305512?hash=item56729131a8:g:eEkAAOSwx-9WuOQW

Very interesting too.

 

[radi(c)al_cam]

Post war socialist Britain, with its centralized planning totally missed the consumer revolution.

🙄 Mhm, yes, Winston Churchill, Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, all of them 100% pure Socialists! Probably they were additionally Jewish Free Masons AND Communist Catholics, one can suppose.

 

[rgraphex]

Thanks just bought it.

Slightly off topic. I like to comment about the Kardon camera. Although not cosmetically nice as the leica mechanically I feel it runs smoother then a Leica iiia or iiib. It's a great piece of machinery!

 

[Jacques M.]

Well, I have found a correct Ektar for my Kardon. In fact, I had to buy a complete Kardon camera!
It seems that the two bodies, though both civilian, are not exactly the same. It's a bit surprising. Some differences in the mechanics, shoe removed, of engraving on the shoe itself... I wonder if the making of these cameras was so simple...

Jacques.

 

[David Murphy]

Great news! Please post some test shots when you get them - more information on this is very welcome.