Zeiss 40MM Sonnar ?

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casualuser

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ABout 15 years ago I used to have a Rollei 35SE with a Zeiss 40 2.8 Sonnar. I was reviewing photos taken with that camera and I believe it was softer than the new 50 Sonnar, with great transition through the full DOF. I am one of those who thinks the 40 is a very natural FL and works as the "one" lens to have if you could only have one. Does anyone believe that Zeiss would have any interest in an M version of a new 40 Sonnar? Thoughts?
 
There is a Rollei 40/2.8 Sonnar that was part of the Rollei RF system. They come on the market every now and again.
 
With the Rollei version still available, it's hard to say whether Zeiss would release its own version of the same lens.

I agree that the Rollei version is a great lens. And it even works better on the Zeiss Ikon than the Rollei 35 RF. Too bad it's a tabbed lens. Tabs suck -- although I tolerate it on this one.

Paired with the Zeiss Ikon, it's a very compact lens. Originally, this only came in a satin chrome and only as a set with the body, but there was enough demand for this lens that eventually it was released in black and as a standalone lens.
 
According to user reports/tests (especially by AWilder), the LTM version is incredibly sharp with high resolution in the center and somewhat softer in the corners wide open.

I like mine very much for its compact size and fine images. It's not quite as special as the ZM C Sonnar, to be sure. The C Sonnar at 2.8 has much more cream-n-dream than the Rollei LTM Sonnar. The color rendering of the latter is a little more reddish than the ZM line. It shines for B&W and is especially suited to portraits, but I use it for landscapes and items of interest.

You should be able to pick one up for around US$400, making it competitive with a Rokkor 40/2 or Summicron-C. Which to choose is up to you. The tests that Alan did showed that the Rollei outresolves the Summicron-C on center (it equals the Summicron 50), while being less sharp in the extreme corners. Sonnar-ish, in other words.

I have some fine examples of photos with this lens but can't upload anything till my container arrives from Taipei...
 
Originally, this only came in a satin chrome and only as a set with the body, but there was enough demand for this lens that eventually it was released in black and as a standalone lens.
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Thats not quite how it was with the LTM 40mm Sonnar, demand was poor on all fronts for this lens, with only approx 400 of them made and 50 of them being black. It was pretty much a one batch run. Its true the black ones were available as stand alone lenses but they were available from the start not due to popular demand as there simply wasnt any. It was initial pricing that did them in in the end. That and the Rollie RF was too close to a Bessa R2 to warrant its higher price as well. Shame too the lenses are great and there was talk of a 28 and a 50 that were going to be released but poor cameras sales finished the line off. I wonder if there are a few rare prototypes around? I predict the 40mm Sonnar to become a rare classic collectable, im still surprised how little they go for.
 
AFAIK, the Rollei RF 40/2.8 LTM is the same design as the HFT 40/2.8 in the Rollei 35S[E].
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Ferider is correct but has anyone else compared the LTM version in comparison to a 70's 35S? I didnt get a LTM version at first because I expected the results would be the same as my Rollei 35's but when I did get one I was quite surprised. The lens seems to be improved with greater contrast and definitely more flare resistance. Images appear sharper too but Im not totally convinced thats not down to the extra accuracy of rangerfinder assistance. I dare say the later Rollei 35 commemorative models with the hotshoe on top would have the same modernised glass as the RF version but they have been too expensive for me to acquire one yet. I was fortunate to get one of the LTM versions in black which looks quite at home on a CLE.
 
Palaeoboy said:
demand was poor on all fronts for this lens, with only approx 400 of them made and 50 of them being black. It was pretty much a one batch run.
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this may well be true, but i have seen so many of these lenses available as NOS lately in tokyo that i have a hard time believing it.
 
Threads from a few years ago discussing this lens in depth with a lot of attention to the details of production generally indicate a higher run of about 2000 units total, with 500 in black. Joel, where did you come by your figure of 400 units?

No question it is a cool lens, underappreciated.
 
Palaeoboy said:
... the lenses are great and there was talk of a 28 and a 50 that were going to be released but poor cameras sales finished the line off. I wonder if there are a few rare prototypes around? I predict the 40mm Sonnar to become a rare classic collectable, im still surprised how little they go for.
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Actually, the announced lenses were a 50mm Planar and an 80mm Planar.

As far as I know, only the 80mm Planar was produced. I've never seen the 50mm Planar for sale.

The three lenses represented the three standard lenses for the Rollei 35, the Rolleiflex SL 35 cameras and the Rolleiflex 2.8F TLR, as well as the Rolleiflex SL 66.

The camera had framelines for 40, 50 and 80. I don't recall them planning a 35mm lens, and it probably wouldn't have made any sense, because it's too close to the 40mm Sonnar.
 
As far as I know, only the 80mm Planar was produced. I've never seen the 50mm Planar for sale.
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Yes the 80 was released but I was more referring to 2 lenses that they had in the works which was the 50mm to be released next then a 28 but the last two never came about.
 
Threads from a few years ago discussing this lens in depth with a lot of attention to the details of production generally indicate a higher run of about 2000 units total, with 500 in black. Joel, where did you come by your figure of 400 units?
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I have never seen the figures you have quoted mentionrd anywhere. Mine come from a forum member who posted a copy of an email the from Manager Service & Logistics of Rollei GmbH in Braunschweig Germany, stating that 380 chrome versions of the 40mm Sonnar and 50 Black versions. The 80mm is rarer still with less that 100 units total.

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=883992&postcount=17

Here is one post that refers to the figures thats currently active. I will try find the original thread when the figures were first released but I think it was jsuominen that got the email from Rollei in the first place.

this may well be true, but i have seen so many of these lenses available as NOS lately in tokyo that i have a hard time believing it.
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It can be quite deceptive. I remember looking at a rare 40mm 1.8 Helios Lens and they came up for sale every few months and I wondered how many were produced so kept track of the serial numbers only to find there were only about 6 prototypes recirculating. Alot of the production of the Rollie RF and lenses went to Japan, more so than anywhere else so that could account for you seeing more there.
 
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As a prior user of the venerable 35S/SE and RF 40/2.8 HFT Sonnar LTM from Rollei/CV as well as the 50/1.5 ZM Sonnar, I can honestly say the RF 40/2.8 Sonnar was among the best of the group. No focus shift like the high speed ZM 50/1.5, great flare resistance like the ZM and tack sharp even wide open with due to less spherical aberration than the ZM 50/1.5. The only reason it was probably sharper than the 35S/SE series was the advantage of a coupled rangefinder. Edge softness was not that significant, about the same amount you would expect on a modern Tessar design like the 45/2.8 AI-P Nikkor, a lens that performs as good, if not even bettter when I compared them side by side.
 
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