Leica LTM Zeiss 50/1.5 Sonnar in LTM - REAL OR FAKE?

Leica M39 screw mount bodies/lenses
Here`s what seems to be a FAKE on the Evilbay........big letters up front, large focus triangle and that Russian filter laying next to it does`nt help things either
(though they did take the "ears" off the front ring.....I guess the fakers are getting smarter)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Zeiss-Sonnar-1-5-5cm-T-50mm-Leica-screw-mount-m39-NR_W0QQitemZ150150946092QQihZ005QQcategoryZ30063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Careful!

Tom

PS: I`ll recommend the Canon f1.5 50mm to anyone who want`s that "Sonnar" look.......WW2 CZ Leica lenses are just collectable and on the most part as I see 85% of the time very worn out and there`s also that BIG chance it`s a fake - they have`nt faked the Japanese lenses yet LOL! :)
 
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Harry Lime said:
I think the pre-ASPH Lux is a modified Schneider Xenar design, which I believe is similar to a Planar. If I remember correctly Leica reworked the formula considerably over the decades, so it's been modified.

The Lux evolved from the pre-war Xenon, which was a Taylor-Hobson / Schneider design. Leica need something in a hurry to compete with the 1.5/50 Sonnar.

Xenon -> Summarit -> Summilux vers. 1 -> Summilux vers. 2 -> Summilux-ASPH (although the Lux-ASPH is based on the 2/75 ASPH and perhaps the 35 Lux ASPH)

The Sonnar was supplanted by the Planar in the late 1950's early 60's.
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The Schneider Xenar is a Tessar design.

The Xenotar is of the same design as the Planar.
 
I purchased a trunk load of leica gear twelve years ago and in the lot was a 50 1.5 sonnar LTM. Unfortunately the front element was badly scratched so I never shot with it.
 
x-ray said:
I purchased a trunk load of leica gear twelve years ago and in the lot was a 50 1.5 sonnar LTM. Unfortunately the front element was badly scratched so I never shot with it.
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The front can be recoated (easier than the back), x-ray. If it's the real thing
it might be well worth it.

Roland.
 
x-ray said:
I purchased a trunk load of leica gear twelve years ago and in the lot was a 50 1.5 sonnar LTM. Unfortunately the front element was badly scratched so I never shot with it.
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I have a badly scratched tessar copy too and it still gives good results. It is more prone to flare and a little soft though. Try it out, you might like it. If you don't, how expensive is film anyway?

Regards,
Samuel
 
Lens arrived - EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

Lens arrived - EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED

Hello everyone,

well, this lens arrived and I opened the box with excitement. Unfortunately this didn't last long. The lens is pretty badly hazed up, there's oil on the aperture blades, the focus is stiff, and worst of all, when I open the aperture up to f/1,5 the 1.5 number does not at all line up with the little black dot on the lens barrel. When closed down all the way, the dot lines up with like f/5.6 on the aperture ring (am I making any sense?).

I tried the lens on my Epson RD-1 and the images are soft and the highlights are very flary due to the haze. SO, DISAPPOINTMENT.

I wrote to the Ebay seller expressing my lack of satusfaction and asking if I could return the lens. I hope he writes back soon.

On a more positive note, I also bought a black Jupiter-3 from Moscowphoto recently (also Ebay) and it turns out to be a cracker of a good lens. Clear optics, focus is perfect on my RD-1 and very smooth mechanically. This lens cost about one-quarter the Zeiss Sonnar in LTM.

So, sometimes the Russian lenses rally do pay off.
 
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sleepyhead said:
Hello everyone,

well, this lens arrived and I opened the box with excitement. Unfortunately this didn't last long. The lens is pretty badly hazed up, there's oil on the aperture blades, the focus is stiff, and worst of all, when I open the aperture up to f/1,5 the 1.5 number does not at all line up with the little black dot on the lens barrel. When closed down all the way, the dot lines up with like f/5.6 on the aperture ring (am I making any sense?).

I tried the lens on my Epson RD-1 and the images are soft and the highlights are very flary due to the haze. SO, DISAPPOINTMENT.

I wrote to the Ebay seller expressing my lack of satusfaction and asking if I could return the lens. I hope he writes back soon.

On a more positive note, I also bought a black Jupiter-3 from Moscowphoto recently (also Ebay) and it turns out to be a cracker of a good lens. Clear optics, focus is perfect on my RD-1 and very smooth mechanically. This lens cost about one-quarter the Zeiss Sonnar in LTM.

So, sometimes the Russian lenses rally do pay off.
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Even Leicas sometimes need to go for a CLA, so why not a 50 year old lens?

Unless the seller did not describe the condition truthfully. Then you should be seeking some form of compensation for his lie.

Btw, I agree with your last statement. I bought a J3 of the net that came with scratches and a black dot on the rear element and it turned out very fine indeed. :)

Samuel
 
alternatve said:
Even Leicas sometimes need to go for a CLA, so why not a 50 year old lens?

Unless the seller did not describe the condition truthfully. Then you should be seeking some form of compensation for his lie.

Btw, I agree with your last statement. I bought a J3 of the net that came with scratches and a black dot on the rear element and it turned out very fine indeed. :)

Samuel
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I have often had older equipment CLA'd, and I would like to keep this lens.

I'm upset because the seller's description read: "clean optics", and "...in perfect working order", both of which are not true. Therefore, I feel I should get some money back towards the CLA or I would like to return the lens.
 
Followup: the seller has been a gentleman and apologised for his poor description and has offered a full refund if I return the lens.

While I would like to keep it and get it CLA'd, I already have two GOOD J-3s in LTM, as well as a Canon 50mm 1.5, so I think I need to let this one go. It was NOT love at first sight...
 
I`m STILL kicking myself for not buying the "first" Leica I`d ever found.......


Imagine this - a 1941 Leica IIIC "Red Curtain" with a REAL CZJ Sonnar f1.5 50mm from the nachlass/estate of a WW2 German Army Officer in Nuremberg
(this was back in 1990) for like $350 (the man`s widow had the camera advertised in the local newspaper and alot of $$$ for an old camera then)

I knew NOTHING about what`s uncommon or rare, I was looking for a really clean and functional camera, this IIIC had wear marks and I was really suspisious that the lens didn`t have Leitz on it......so I turned it down

I bought a really clean *near mint* 1939 Leica IIIa with a matching numbers early uncoated f2.0 50mm Summitar and case instead for $275

I used the IIIa for like 6 years and sold it for $375 to another German collector

But I always will remember the first time I saw a strange Leica with a red shutter and Jena on the lens, I`m sure it made some German collector VERY HAPPY!

I would really like to have a real Zeiss Sonnar for shooting in LTM and not because it`s collectable, I just want the GLASS for the outcome, maybe I`ll buy a J3 just for the heck of it so I can have another lens that gives that amazing "sonnar" glow

Tom
 
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