Zeiss 40MM Sonnar ?

[ZeissFan]

I bought my camera within a day of it being released. I think that I was one of the first to buy the camera + lens in Hong Kong.

I was in the shop about three months earlier when the Rollei rep was there, and he let me handle an early demo model.

I could tell it was a Bessa clone, but that didn't matter much to me.

Overall, nice camera. Has much more metal than the earlier Bessas. And the lens is very solid -- it has some heft to it for a lens that small.

 

[fuwen]

The Rollei HFT 40mm Sonnar is labelled made in Germany. I guess the parts are from Cosina Japan, but the workmanship is very refined typical of German standard. The damping and smoothness is equal or better to the MIG ZM 15/2.8 and 85/2. MIJ ZMs are not that smooth and well damped but then u pay much lower prices for them.

 

[ZeissFan]

As I recall, final assembly of the lenses occurred in Germany. However, this was the story that was making its way around the Internet, so you can take that for what it is.

I agree -- the quality of construction of the lens, as well as the choice of materials is first-rate.

 

[noimmunity]

Picked it in one, Jon! That black sonnar has haze, hence the low price.

I didn't think to check more closely when I was in the store, but the 68,000 yen price tag on the silver sonnar at MAP seems high. Maybe it comes with extras (hood etc.).

Well, the lens comes with an integral hood. Maybe the 68000 yen one has a unique serial number?

I found the build quality very similar to that of the CV 28/.3.5 . The Rollei Sonnar is also made of chrome, not anodized silver, and the aperture/focus action feels very similar.

The story I heard was that Cosina made the barrel but the glass and coating and assembly were done in Germany.

I really wish I could upload some of those photos I took on Eastman Double X with the Rollei Sonnar on my last backpacking trip, but my stuff is stuck between Shanghai and Taipei...

 

[jonmanjiro]

I found the build quality very similar to that of the CV 28/.3.5 .

That's exactly what I was thinking. The barrel certainly looks like it was manufactured at same factory.

 

[axiom]

9250002
black

 

[Palaeoboy]

Thanks for the serial numbers, I didnt have many black numbers so its terrific thankyou, keep them comming

 

[Palaeoboy]

I found the build quality very similar to that of the CV 28/.3.5 . The Rollei Sonnar is also made of chrome, not anodized silver, and the aperture/focus action feels very similar.

The story I heard was that Cosina made the barrel but the glass and coating and assembly were done in Germany.

More closely its the barrel off the 50mm f2.5 (But with differences at the base). The lens is definitely assembled in Germany. The optics are made their too. The coating of the Sonnar is identical late model Rollei 35's and unlike anything seen on the Voigtlander range. So too the barrels were not finished in Japan but with Rollei in Germany. The black finish on Voigtlanders 28 and 50 3.5's are really poor. Its the biggest flaw of those particular lenses but the Black Sonnars with the same barrel are much better coated and finished.

 

[pclee]

Thanks for the serial numbers, I didnt have many black numbers so its terrific thankyou, keep them comming

I managed to have one black and one chrome.
Serial Number:
Chrome: 9251756
Black: 9250071


Cheers!

 

[jonmanjiro]

I love your Japanese Camera shop pics they make me drool (Especially your latest Nikon RF ones)

The serial numbers were most helpful but I still dont have definitive proof of the numbers quoted by Rollei as yet based on the numbers I have so far. If anyone else who owns the Rollei 40mm RF could private message me the serial number of their lenses and tell me if its chrome or black I would be very grateful. (I may start a new thread if not many 40mm Sonnar owners are reading this thread. Thanks

Joel, I dug up Jari's post from 2007/06/21 about the email he received from Zeiss regarding the production numbers of this lens. Interesting that the quoted numbers do not include the lenses sold directly to Japan.

This information came about 30 minutes ago from Germany:
---
The figures from our old EDP system:

Ident 22120 - Sonnar 2.8/ 40 silver - quantity 380 units
Ident 22125 - Sonnar 2.8/ 40 black - quantity 50 units
Ident 22130 - Planar 2.8/ 80 silver - quantity 50 units
Ident 22135 - Planar 2.8/ 80 black - quantity 40 units

Each plus the quantities sold directly to Japan, however, I cannot find the
figures for this. Anyhow, the quantities mentioned above are quite small
to make the lenses rare.

These figures include already those lenses sold in the kit with the camera
body - and yes, they all were silver.

Andrea Fahlbusch
Manager Service & Logistics
Rollei GmbH, Braunschweig
---

So, the lens is indeed quite rare... Adorama and B&H might have still the black 40/2.8 version on stock.

 

[david.elliott]

Anybody got a photo of the lens on a camera? Curious to see just how small it is. 🙂

 

[jdvf]

Anybody got a photo of the lens on a camera? Curious to see just how small it is. 🙂

Very small:

Greg

 

[noimmunity]

Thanks for the serial numbers, I didnt have many black numbers so its terrific thankyou, keep them comming

silver: 9251454

 

[david.elliott]

Very small:

Greg

Ooo that is pretty tiny! Thanks.

 

[Palaeoboy]

Joel, I dug up Jari's post from 2007/06/21 about the email he received from Zeiss regarding the production numbers of this lens. Interesting that the quoted numbers do not include the lenses sold directly to Japan.

Yes Jari was kind enough to send me a copy of the email and already picked up on that. (Thanks Jari, I sent a thank you reply but it said your inbox is full). Regardless the extra Japan lenses wont number in the thousands, at most 100 to 200. The wording is curious however, what does it mean send directly to Japan that would warrant the figures to be kept separately? Directly from where if they aren't sent from Germany? But they are assembled in Germany? It implies that they were made somewhere else? So it all throws up a few extra questions. There was more to the email that did offer a bit more to the puzzle that I will mention when I collect more numbers. Keep them coming thanks all.

 

[Bavaricus]

Anybody got a photo of the lens on a camera? Curious to see just how small it is. 🙂

#9251325

I would let the lens go - make a bid 😉

 

[Bavaricus]

Two random examples, quick and dirty scans from print (ilford XP2), @2.8

 

[swatch]

at f/2.8 how would Sonnar 40mm LTM compare with Nokton 40mm M-mount?
would Nokton 40mm M-mount be sharper?

 

[noimmunity]

at f/2.8 how would Sonnar 40mm LTM compare with Nokton 40mm M-mount?
would Nokton 40mm M-mount be sharper?

I doubt it, at least not on center.

 

[swatch]

Sonnar ... 40mm f2.8 or 50mm 1.5 ( optimized at f2.8 )? For size and cost, Sonnar 40mm f2.8 for sure .... what about IQ? Does anyone has both lenses and would share his / her comment / photos?