Carl Zeiss LTM Finally! ~ I bought a "wartime" 1943 CZJ Sonnar T f1.5/50 in LTM

Carl Zeiss M39 lenses
john,

I wonder what that lens was intended for. And, what is was made up from.

There's no focusing helical, and I have never seen angled aperture blades like that on a Sonnar. Maybe it's been an X-ray lens?:confused:
Those were often very fast lenses. If it was, it would likely glow in the dark ;)
 
Johan,

I did wonder if it was made up to use on some other 39mm equipment because the mount doesn't look to have a proper focus ring or tab (could just be my eyes) - e.g. Russky SLR, enlarger, etc, but had not thought of X-Ray use.

I was interested to find out if the optic module would fit in a J3 if the mount didn't focus on a Leica. Guess we'll never know.
 
http://bit.ly/e446OS

!CBTDn5QEWk~$(KGrHqV,!mEEz+2E7be7BNHCjRHdI!~~_12.JPG
 
Did anybody here buy this one of the great auction site:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190481276171&ssPageName=ADME:B:WNA:GB:1123

I was following and put in a bid, but it finished when I was in bed, and much higher than I would have paid, so I missed it.

Brian - what's your verdict on this one?

Just saw this: this is a West German Zeiss, will not fit into a J-3 mount.

I bought a 5cm F2 Sonnar in a mount that looks like this, transplanted all of the optics into another fixture. Works Great, it was a 1935 lens that was coated after leaving the factory, and used in a fixed M39 mount. Probably on an enlarger or "something". I would not use a Sonnar for an enlarger lens.
 
And gone it is, to the happy new owner for the futile sum of USD 250!!! :eek:

Save from one grub screw, this is as original as they come, with a simple CLA it'll be back in business as usual.

Hope someone here got it!?!?
 
Looks like a 272 series with the chrome nose.

Good price, depends on condition. Some of these lenses led rough lives. I paid $170 for my beat up wartime Sonnar, spent a lot of time to make it work. Had to make a sleeve to keep the helical from wobbling. The J-3 focus mount is simplified and more durable. The pre-war lenses used better material.

But my mint 272 series Sonnar is "knock your socks off".
 
Hope someone here got it!?!?

Yup, Johan. It'll be at my house in a few days...and yes, that's exactly what it will be doing, Tom! Taking pics. :)

First thing I will do, is shoot a comparison vs. an Opton Sonnar 50/1.5.

Mark, yes it was a BIN.
 
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Nice!

I've been meaning to ask, how does the Sonnar compare to the Xenon 50mm f/1.5?
I was following one on ebay for a few days (it was cheap, scratched, fungussed and needed lubrication), and I got outbid by
$5 on the last second (by a bidder who has been on Ebay longer then me and had only 20 feedback, which made it all very suspect grrr.)
 
Yup, Johan. It'll be at my house in a few days...and yes, that's exactly what it will be doing, Tom! Taking pics. :)

First thing I will do, is shoot a comparison vs. an Opton Sonnar 50/1.5.

Mark, yes it was a BIN.

Wished that I had seen that in time! Looks like a beauty, and would be a good match on a IIIc stepper.
 
wow, lens exhibits lots of flare, (i.e., "glow" for fanboys). As evidenced by leicatom's portraits, good for a certain look in some situations. The lens will prolly sell for a lot of money.
 
The Xenon was "tweeked" and became the Summarit. Some write that the Summarit was simply a coated Xenon, but I suspect the formula was tweeked and maybe newer glass was used. The wartime Sonnar seems to be "tweeked" as well compared with the pre-war uncoated Sonnars.

On the Wartime Sonnars: there are hidden set screws holding the front namering in place, and holding the rear optical fixture in place. Be aware of that if you intend to have one cleaned.
 
Tom, if you stop down the Xenon to say f/2, what happens with the glow?

I know on my Opton Sonnar, there is plenty of glow at f/1.5 but by f/2 it's gone.
 
Very nice, Brian.

I had an essentially mint Summarit in LTM about a year ago, it had a UV filter on it since new and the glass was flawless. The mechanical feel of that lens is unsurpassed, in my opinion. But I prefer the Sonnar 'look.'
 
Robert,

My 1942 IIIc Stepper arrived today and I shot some pictures of the whole set with IIIc, lyre-VIOOH, 50/1.5 and 135/4.0 Sonnars T and a 1939 uncoated Elmar 90/4.0.

Tonight, I'll have a look how the shots turned out and if acceptable, will show off my little kit with the CZJ 50mm f1.5 Sonnar T so you can have a look!
 
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