First Session of the Triotar Research Society

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Well it seems that the 8,5cm f/4 Triotar lens for Contax RF is not a well-documented beast on the Net, in comparison with the more famous and sought after Sonnar 8,5cm f/2.

I would invite respectfully all my esteemed colleague, owners of this lens, to contribute to the discussion of the lens' relative merits and weaknesses, even if like me you know in fact squat about lenses.

I posted some purty pictures in the Technical gallery, Triotar on E200 slide film to get started...

 

[Ole]

Most lenses with "Tri-" in the name are triplets. Like all other lenses they can be good, great or crap, depending on who made them and (in the case of triplets) the phase of the moon. Fortunately most lens makers had strict enough quality control (and the triplets were cheap enough to make) that there is very little "crap" that made it out of the doors!

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Some prices and lens designs of the Contax RF lenses, including the triplet design of the Triotar:
http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/zc.htm

My personal copy:

 

[Mike Kovacs]

The 85/4 Triotar is a very good lens. The coverage issues (soft corners) of the triplet are not an issue at 85mm and wide f/4 aperture. I did not get the chance to compare against an 85/2 Sonnar, but the lens was sharper than the 85/2 Jupiter 9 at every aperture except f/4. (f/2.8, f/2 obviously discounted)

Mine was uncoated, 1936 production.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

I've been shooting a number of frames on ortho film lately, so that should give me the final word on resolution and sharpness. Mike, do you know where could I find information about production dates on the basis of serial numbers?

 

[Mike Kovacs]

Zeiss Compedium by Small and Barringer

 

[elekm]

Here's a writeup of the postwar Triotar I did in 2006. I've always felt the Triotar is one of the best triplets available.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Mike Elek, you're just the man who inspired me to incorporate the Triotar Society! I love your writeup on the postwar Triotar, I was so glad I found it the other day to have some infos on the triplet. I'm eager to print some B&W shots, which will not happen before a couple of days or weeks, but I might be one of the first to post such images on the net...

I had a trip to the library today and the McKeown's confirmed that Triotar before serial number 3,000,000 are pre-war ones.

 

[Mike Kovacs]

You have to be careful about that. West German Zeiss (Oberkochen, Opton) started a new series of serials. If it says Carl Zeiss Jena, then the 3,000,000 statement is true.

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Yes, my lens says Carl Zeiss Jena, and is in cm, not mm

 

[elekm]

Michael, it sounds like you have the prewar version. Another lens that I would like to buy one day.

I can't recall seeing a postwar East German Triotar for the Contax in that focal length. I've seen East German Triotars in the Exakta mount, and I've been tempted from time to time to buying one.

The Triotar that's on the Super Nettel also is a very fine lens. I'm shooting some Agfapan APX 400 in a prewar Rolleicord with the Triotar and also a Proxar set. I'm curious to see the results from the Rolleicord.

 

[luvcameras]

The Lens Collectors Vade Mecum

http://members.aol.com/dcolucci/sell.htm

Dan

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

Here is a portrait made on Efke 100, which shows fine detail, pleasant contrast and everything else:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Haven't made a bokeh test yet, but soon.

 

[elekm]

Oh darn. It requires a subscription, and I'm too cheap to pay for one ...

 

[k_jupiter]

Oh darn. It requires a subscription, and I'm too cheap to pay for one ...

Not looking for sympathy are you?

If you don't recognize the value of membership...



tim in san jose

 

[elekm]

While it would be nice to give everyone money who wants it, my current financial situation won't permit this, so I cut corners where I can (which means I have to be very frugal = cheap). Sad but true.