Barnack Leicas

[Dali]

They did produces some Sonnars in LTM in-house. They stopped somewhere towards the end of World War 2 (1944 IIRC) . There was a sharp increase in custom Contax-to-LTM conversions after VE-day.

And a lot of fake LTM Zeiss lenses too...

 

[Don_ih]

I have a Sonnar 50 1.5 in ltm. It came on a Leica IIIb.

 

[Don_ih]

Is this a Jena Sonnar lens? Or one of the lenses made with transplanted Zeiss glass in the Soviet Union?

It's a genuine Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5 T coated lens, the serial dates it to 1941, in a very Leitz-looking mount - but the finish of the mount is slightly different from the rest of the lens. The camera dates to 1938. I bought them in Midland.

 

[Kodachromeguy]

It's a genuine Zeiss Sonnar 50 1.5 T coated lens, the serial dates it to 1941, in a very Leitz-looking mount - but the finish of the mount is slightly different from the rest of the lens. The camera dates to 1938. I bought them in Midland.

Coated from 1941? How interesting. Nice item! Do you think it is possible that the lens was remounted at a later date in a Leitz mount and coated at that time?

 

[Don_ih]

Coated from 1941? How interesting. Nice item! Do you think it is possible that the lens was remounted at a later date in a Leitz mount and coated at that time?

Apparently, the rumour is that Zeiss lenses under serial number 3000000 were for military use during the war and the coating was applied only to military lenses - and marked as such.
I also read (not sure where) that, by the middle of the war, Leitz had a supply of camera bodies but no lenses for them.
This lens also looks almost identical to a Contax mount Sonnar 50 1.5 I have from 1937 that is not T coated (which I just noticed needs oil cleaned off the aperture blades).

 

[JerseyDoug]

Is it possible to get a 50mm Zeiss Planar to fit onto a Barnack camera?

It's not a Planar, not even a Zeiss, but the LTM Canon 50/1.5 is a Sonnar design AFAIK. I had one for a while. It exhibited the usual Sonnar foibles. I eventually replaced it with an LTM Canon 50/1.4, AKA the "Japanese Summilux."

 

[Timmyjoe]

I've got a couple Leica IIIc cameras and a bevy of Nikkor glass for them. I mean, if it was good enough for DDD and Robert Frank, I guess it is good enough for me. If I had earlier Barnack cameras, I might feel differently.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Wallendo]

I enjoy my Canon 50/1.8 on my IIIc. I also use a Jupiter 12.

 

[mshchem]

I picked up a rather old Leica in a box of stuff. Camera dates from 1931, first model with rangefinder.

Along with the camera, mounted on the camera is a Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm Planar lens. It's old, not sure what it is exactly. Tiny lens, the grease on the helical is frozen. Serial number is 137624. f4,5 DRP92313

Not sure what to make of this lens?? Any ideas? I would like to find someone to clean the lens, looks to be fine glass and aperture wise.

 

[davela]

Leica themselves marketed Schacht lenses in screw mount after they discontinued their own LTM lenses by early 60's. I own the 35mm F3.5 Travegon by Schacht in LTM and it is a very fine wide angle lens. So, if you are a Leica purist, these should be quite acceptable!

That said, there is no doubt in my mind that many of the aftermarket LTM lenses from the 1950's forward equal or exceed those of Leica, probably because of the very high bar set by Leica themselves. As an example, the Schneider Xenogon 35mm 2.8 LTM is an early aftermarket LTM standout, and German made too. There were many others (Nikon, Canon, etc.), unfortunately many of the early greats are uncommon today.

 

[Don_ih]

mounted on the camera is a Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm Planar lens.

That sounds like something quite unique. Anyone who services old lenses should be able to clean it up, and it would probably be worth doing. It's definitely something a collector would want, also, and is possibly worth more than the camera.

 

[guangong]

They did produces some Sonnars in LTM in-house. They stopped somewhere towards the end of World War 2 (1944 IIRC) . There was a sharp increase in custom Contax-to-LTM conversions after VE-day.

Correct!

 

[mshchem]

That sounds like something quite unique. Anyone who services old lenses should be able to clean it up, and it would probably be worth doing. It's definitely something a collector would want, also, and is possibly worth more than the camera.

 

[mshchem]

I wonder if the lens came from another camera, and was put in a mount?? It looks "factory" the f stops work perfectly. Thing is the smallest LTM I've encountered.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

I just googled <3.5cm planar> and the first thing that came up was https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254202035823 . Did it out of interest: it's not something I know anything about.

 

[Don_ih]

I wonder if the lens came from another camera, and was put in a mount??

Definitely. It kinda looks like it was hacked into an Elmar 35. But I don't know what camera that would have been.

A microscope lens would likely not give coverage for 35mm.

 

[mshchem]

I just googled <3.5cm planar> and the first thing that came up was https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254202035823 . Did it out of interest: it's not something I know anything about.

I don't know how these crazy prices are established . I paid 30 dollars for a box that had a 1932 Leica II model D with this lens. The black enamel is mostly intact, serviced in 1975, everything works fine on the camera s/n camera 79257. Fun to play with I like to think about who has used it over the decades. I bought the box because it had a Mamiya 6 c 1946, didn't know what I had.

 

[mshchem]

Definitely. It kinda looks like it was hacked into an Elmar 35. But I don't know what camera that would have been.

A microscope lens would likely not give coverage for 35mm.

I need to shoot a little film, the focus is frozen near infinity, so shouldn't be an issue. Probably will just put it on a shelf.

 

[Don_ih]

the focus is frozen near infinity

Looking at it closer, it doesn't look like an Elmar 35 - it looks like a newer mount. Hard to tell. You can put a bit of decent oil on a toothpick and run it around the part of the lens that moves the rangefinder cam - that might seep into the groove of the helicoid and free it up.

I think that's definitely a bench-made thing.

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

I don't know how these crazy prices are established . I paid 30 dollars for a box that had a 1932 Leica II model D with this lens. The black enamel is mostly intact, serviced in 1975, everything works fine on the camera s/n camera 79257. Fun to play with I like to think about who has used it over the decades. I bought the box because it had a Mamiya 6 c 1946, didn't know what I had.

Well that is not a valid parameter. Getting a Leica LTM for 30 dlls is an exception, not the rule . Not saying that the $1500 is a realistic price,but neither is $30 for a Leica II. Just saying

 

[mshchem]

Looking at it closer, it doesn't look like an Elmar 35 - it looks like a newer mount. Hard to tell. You can put a bit of decent oil on a toothpick and run it around the part of the lens that moves the rangefinder cam - that might seep into the groove of the helicoid and free it up.

I think that's definitely a bench-made thing.

The back side says Serie 1a Nr. 2. I think you're correct that it was put together, it's not butchered but it's weird. The serial number of the lens says 1912??? (According to the interweb) I wonder if it's from a movie camera??? I think it's going back to the shelf. I need to stay focused on the present times

 

[Don_ih]

The serial number of the lens says 1912?

Yeah, I saw that. It might be impossible to figure out what it was originally from. Or there might be someone who can rattle it off the top of their head. Anyway, it was a good find.

 

[mshchem]

Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm f3.5 Tessar Leica M mount #252771 .......... Ext. Rare !! | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm f3.5 Tessar Leica M mount #252771 .......... Ext. Rare !! at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Kevin's Cameras Hong Kong, this fellow asks ridiculous prices

He does mention that the lens on Ebay is a re-purposed cinema camera lens. I suspect that after the WWI and hyperinflation in Germany there were creative assemblages of things

 

[Marcelo Paniagua]

Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm f3.5 Tessar Leica M mount #252771 .......... Ext. Rare !! | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Carl Zeiss Jena 3.5cm f3.5 Tessar Leica M mount #252771 .......... Ext. Rare !! at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Kevin's Cameras Hong Kong, this fellow asks ridiculous prices

He does mention that the lens on Ebay is a re-purposed cinema camera lens. I suspect that after the WWI and hyperinflation in Germany there were creative assemblages of things

I guess it is ridiculous until someone actually pays for that.

 

[polka]

I am the real snob : I have 3 Angenieux (french and reputed) lenses for my Leica II and III :
35mm/3.5, 50mm/1.8 and 100mm/2.5. All three couple with the telemeter.