Zeiss Sonnar Jena 5cm f1.5, real?

[R Cutting]

Woulds like some opinions on my lens as to if its real.
Ive read most of the posts and it seems to have some of the things that a real one is supposed to have, like the "." between numbers, the size of the numbers compared to a J3, the little "m".
What do you think Brian?

 

[R Cutting]

another pic

another pic

pic of the bottom

 

[dexdog]

I am sure that Brian will check in, but it shows several signs of being authentic. Of course, the only way to be sure is to take it apart.

 

[furcafe]

If you go through the threads (use google to search rangefinderforum.com), you'll see 1 where 1 of the posters gave instructions on how to unscrew the optical unit. Do that, & see if it has numbers that match the last digits of the serial # on the front. If they do, you @ least have a genuine Zeiss optical unit.

Woulds like some opinions on my lens as to if its real.
Ive read most of the posts and it seems to have some of the things that a real one is supposed to have, like the "." between numbers, the size of the numbers compared to a J3, the little "m".
What do you think Brian?

 

[dexdog]

If you go through the threads (use google to search rangefinderforum.com), you'll see 1 where 1 of the posters gave instructions on how to unscrew the optical unit. Do that, & see if it has numbers that match the last digits of the serial # on the front. If they do, you @ least have a genuine Zeiss optical unit.

I think that you may have to remove the screw that is visible below the infinity mark in your third picture to unscrew the optical unit. In any case, Brian has posted in several RFF threads about how it is done.

 

[rxmd]

Looks good!

Of course, the image quality will be the same as a good J-3 😉

 

[R Cutting]

Sonnar

Sonnar

I tested it against my cla'd J3 and it renders back ground bokeh similiar but not quite the same, i also compared it to my 50mm sonnar zm, xenon, summarit,lux and nokton.
It was most similiar to the sonnar zm, and close to J3, next closest would be the summilux, but the summarit and xenon are very different, bokeh circles are generally not round with these lenses, they are kind of cresents.
Over all i am very happy with this lens regardless of what it is made up of.
I did just take the back mount off, and could not see any numbers.

 

[R Cutting]

bokeh samples

bokeh samples

I thought i would share some bokeh samples, these pics are by no means samples of good photgraphy, only comparison pics i took in last few days, i havent had a chance to get out to test it well.
The sample pics compare the bokeh circle shape between the lenses.
The lenses are sonnar ltm, jupiter 3, sonnar zm, xenon, summilux and nokton, i left out summarit as it looks the same as xenon.

 

[R Cutting]

more samples

more samples

more samples

 

[R Cutting]

more samples

more samples

last samples

 

[R Cutting]

samples

samples

if you hold mouse over pic, the lens used is in the file name.
By the way, i did not attempt to get super acurrate focus on block, i was only interested in background.
all lenses shot at 1.4-1.5

 

[R Cutting]

disassembly

disassembly

I dont think i took it apart far enough to see the serial numbers, i removed the rear mount to expose the focus ring, but i think the numbers are hidden by this focus ring?

 

[R Cutting]

disassembly

disassembly

here is pic of it disassembled, and still no numbers on rear element, but optics mount is brass if that matters.
Oh, by the way its a 285XXXX serial number

 

[former member]

It looks like a post-war "Transition Lens" made with mostly parts from the wartime production. Not a "counterfeit", or "Fake", but not regular wartime production. The variable stand-off ring and bright material for the optical fixture is the give-away. The wartime lenses are made of an alloy material.

Attached is an image of my 285xxxx optics module. The earlier 272 lens looks the same.

 

[R Cutting]

Sonnar

Sonnar

Thanks for the info on my lens, im happy its real.
One thing i noticed on this lens is, ive never seen one with this many bubbles in the glass, my summarit has about 15 bubbles but this sonnar has about 50!!!.
The pic im showing, shows the bubbles, those are bubbles not dust!
Crazy amount.

 

[LeicaTom]

Thanks for the info on my lens, im happy its real.
One thing i noticed on this lens is, ive never seen one with this many bubbles in the glass, my summarit has about 15 bubbles but this sonnar has about 50!!!.
The pic im showing, shows the bubbles, those are bubbles not dust!
Crazy amount.

Bubbles = quality 😀

Very nice 1945 Sonnar T f1.5/50 you have there!

Enjoy!

Tom