Leica LTM Who are the best Zeiss in LTM experts?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
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LeicaTom

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Here`s an "open" question to anyone out there who knows of who I may personally contact for detailed information on the production of pre-war/wartime era Carl Zeiss lenses made in LTM (Leica Thread Mount) uncoated or T coated
- I would like their assistance in verifing some lenses for their authenticity etc.

There`s so many Russian copies out there it`s difficult to tell what`s original and what`s not - who are the experts?

Thanks a bunch

Tom
 
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I agree with Bob; Marc is the one who authenticated my Zeiss Jena 5cm/2 in LTM via emails and pics.
 
Are they fake, or are they just Soviet?

I bought a zeiss biogon from a Russian dealer, thinking it was a WWII era lens. When i saw that it wasn't, I returned it. The dealer refunded my money, but he insisted that the lens had come from TASS, the Soviet news agency. I'm inclined to believe him. After World War II Zeiss Jena, including the name and lens designs, were "owned" by the Soviet government. They could legitimately put the Zeiss Jena name on any lens produced by the Soviet state, right? There was no longer a private company called "Zeiss Jena".

"The occupying Russians took most of the existing Zeiss factories and tooling back to Russia as the Kiev camera works, which produced low-quality copies of the Contax and other Zeiss Ikon products." --from the Wikipedia article on Zeiss(cum grano salis omnia Wikipedia)
 
Joe said:
Are they fake, or are they just Soviet?
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That`s the reason I`m trying to summon up the experts for some help, I want a TRUE
CZJ 50mm f1.5 Sonnar to add to my pallet of lenses, perfect addition to my 1945 "Kugelager" Leica IIIC camera - I own the most important Sonnar clones, the legendary Canon 50mm f1.5 and the equally as famous Nikkor 50mm f1.4 both Sonnarisque lookers, BUT I finally want the REAL thing in my stable after all these years!

Tom

PS: Does anyone here in the states HAVE a decent one for sale at a fair market price?
 
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LeicaTom said:
That`s the reason I`m trying to summon up the experts for some help, I want a TRUE
CZJ 50mm f1.5 Sonnar to add to my pallet of lenses, perfect addition to my 1945 "Kugelager" Leica IIIC camera - I own the most important Sonnar clones, the legendary Canon 50mm f1.5 and the equally as famous Nikkor 50mm f1.4 both Sonnarisque lookers, BUT I finally want the REAL thing in my stable after all these years!

Tom

PS: Does anyone here in the states HAVE a decent one for sale at a fair market price?
Click to expand...

why not use a Contax mount one?
either with a Contax/Kiev camera or with the adapter to mount it on a Leica.
 
LeicaTom said:
PS: Does anyone here in the states HAVE a decent one for sale at a fair market price?
Click to expand...

What is "fair market price" for you ? :)

I used to have one (an "R-Sonnar"), and it went to another RFF member. I remember the
price, but don't want to expose it here.

If you are able to find one, you might be
disappointed by the build quality - nothing like your Kugellager. It will likely be built in an
Aluminum mount. Zeiss autenticity comes in degrees in the final
war years and early years in Russian factories - many 43-45 LTM Sonnars
are "home-adapted". Many early Russian Zonnars (the name Jupiter was
introduced in late 50/early 51) have all or mostly
Zeiss parts, including the characteristic "halo" coating. None of
these lenses should be called a "fake", IMO, the optics were likely
built by the same factory workers (first in Germany, later in Russia).
Also coating was extremely soft, so finding a healthy "Ur-Sonnar"
is almost impossible.

I did keep a "ZK" 50/1.5, built similarly, that has the Zeiss serial nr.
on the optical barrel and focuses accurately to LTM standard,
out of the box. At least, with the ZK lenses, there was little reason
to fake them :). I have a ZK 85/2 too, with beautiful signature ...

Joseph's advice is a good one: with one of Amedeo's adapters, you get
access to the post-WWII West German Optons that are of great built quality. And
if I remember right, there are Z-LTM mount adapters available.

Roland.
 
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Roland is spot on about the build quality. I have a Jena that has a correct serial number and engraving, though I still wonder about its authenticity. The aluminum is definitely not up to the quality of the brass Nikkor. Nor is the glass, which shows a number of bubbles and inclusions. And the iris opening is decidedly elliptical when stopped down. Even after a comprehensive cleanup by DAG the focus is not smooth. But I like the images I have made with it. It seems sharper than the Nikkor wide open.
 
I use a Zeiss-Opton 50/1.5 with an LTM adapter. It is on my Canon 7 now. Focus is accurate, but the "feel" is not as good as my 1959 J-3. The J-3 is now "perfect" and every bit as sharp as the Zeiss lens. I moved the rear module in to reduce the focal length and shimmed the optics module in the mount.

The Pre-war/uncoated lenses will give a different look from the coated lenses. And I'm still waiting for the J-8...

Next project- Pre-war 5cm/1.5 in a J-3 mount.
 
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