Sonnar Formula Lenses: "Normal Lenses" 40mm to 60mm, 4cm to 6cm, Any Make

[dexdog]

CZJ 5cm/1.5, 166 series on a Contax II.

 

[dexdog]

5cm/1.5 ZK from 1949 on a Sony Nex 5. Probably my favorite dog pic. I have posted this before, but fits the thread. Argo the dog

 

[f.hayek]

Nikkor H.C. 5cm f2 from my first time using this lovely lens. Stopped down a bit.
_OSR4332 by Brusby, on Flickr


_OSR4035 by Brusby, on Flickr

You don’t seem to do things the “first time” in an understated fashion

 

[brusby]

You don’t seem to do things the “first time” in an understated fashion

Haha, thanks. I figure I'm only gonna have the opportunity to make a limited number of photos in my life, so why waste any of them on something mundane when I can as easily make something meaningful or inspiring, at least to me.

p.s., I do have my share of completely uninspired shots of brick wall type stuff when I'm doing basic testing, but whenever possible I try to make something memorable. When I first got the lens I probably tested it on a model head like cosmetology students use just to make sure it worked properly. But this session was its first real use. We were comparing this lens to a Canon 50mm f1.2 and a Leica Summitar. If you go to my Flickr page by clicking on this image you can see the results from all three lenses during this session.

 

[Bingley]

Some photos made with the Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm f1.5, which I have in Contax RF mount.

Contax IIa, TMax 400 @ iso 200 in Perceptol 1+2:

Steve A. by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Bessa R2A, TMax 400 @ iso 200 in Perceptol 1+2:

Cypress grove by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Canon IV-L, Tri-X @ iso 200 in Legacy Pro 1:31:

Tackle by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm f1.5 on color film:

Contax IIa, on Portra 400:

American River by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Contax IIa, on Kodak Color Plus 200, shortly after I got the lens and before Henry Scherer serviced it. This photo is wide open.

Autumn VI by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Contax IIa, on Portra 400 (after the lens and camera came back from Henry):

American River Parkway by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Bingley]

A few other color photos taken with the Zeiss Opton Sonnar 5cm f1.5; this lens sings with color film:

Leica M2, Kodak Color Plus 200:

Morning Reflections by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Same camera, same film:

Frost by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

Contax IIa, Kodak Color Plus 200:

Midtown Mural by Steve Macfarlane, on Flickr

 

[Out to Lunch]

Is there a comprehensive list of Sonnar design lenses? If so, thanks for sharing. Cheers, OtL

 

[Sonnar Brian]

This old thread has a good start to it.

List of Sonnar Lenses

I'm trying to compile a list of LTM/M-mount Sonnar lenses (and earlier Ernostar lenses), and I'm hoping the more learned ones can help. This is what I have so far. "The Sonnar is a photographic lens design, invented by Dr. Ludwig Bertele in 1924 and originally patented by Carl Zeiss, notable...

rangefinderforum.com

The Jupiter-3 5cm F1.5 and Jupiter-8 5cm F2 should be separated out as the optical formula changed throughout the run. There are two distinct Jupiter-8M, at least two distinct Jupiter-8 designs, and four distinct Jupiter-3 formulations that I've inspected.

Add the 7Artisans 50/1.1, very close to the Zunow 5cm F1.1.
There are two versions of the Zunow 5cm F1.1- different number of elements, the 7Art is similar to the latter.

And can add the Bertele Sonnar from Skyllaney to the list.

 

[Out to Lunch]

Thanks, Brian!

 

[splitimageview]

@Bingley love the contrast in your B&W pics.

 

[Bingley]

@Bingley love the contrast in your B&W pics.

Thanks much!! That’s one reason I don’t shoot wide open that much: I prefer the contrast I get at f2 or f2.8.

 

[splitimageview]

Yes, it's pretty amazing how much the contrast improves just by stopping down a bit with the 50/1.5.

 

[wlewisiii]

A couple with the 7Artisans 50/1.1 on my Leica M 240

 

[Sonnar Brian]

1936 CZJ Sonnar, uncoated optics, Light Orange filter.

F4 outdoor shots,


Wide-Open

 

[dexdog]

Iwo Jima veteran, Memorial Day 2009. Nikkor HC 5cm/2 collapsible in LTM.

 

[wlewisiii]

That's exquisite. I may be army rather than marine but that one needs a Thank You.

 

[dexdog]

It was a blistering hot day. An admiral in white dress uniform was keeping an eye on the old gentleman, and gave him a bottle of cold water. He had a chestful of medals, I can't imagine what he had to endure to earn them

 

[wlewisiii]

Can't get a close up to look at them but 2009, Iwo Jima vet? I can guess and all I'd do is offer a hand salute and say 'Yes, sir""How may I help you, sir" to him.

I can't see it in this image but if there isn't a third rocker on his rank insignia I'd eat my shorts. That's the kind of NCO the Corps was built on. And I say _that_ as a US Army NCO. We did the same job but with different needs and different outcomes. The men I had to lead had longer term jobs to accomplish; his had short, sharp, insanely hard shocks to achieve. Very different missions but both equally critical.

 

[raid]

Milan 2023
Zeiss Sonnar 5cm 1.5 ltm (1937) with Leica M10. Brian put together this lens for me many years ago. Thank you Brian. I could have used many different lenses in this vacation trip, but I chose this one. I copied the DNG to JPG and I did no other adjusting.