Flektogon 35 2.4

[Neil Grant]

...now I have one. The close focusing is outstanding - it was supposed to be a budget lens. What on earth were they thinking of? Very strange viewing when mounted on my 'foundling' Chinon M1 - it's course screen suggests less depth-of-field when compared against my Nikon FM2 with 35f/2. Peripheral viewing quality isn't too good - but the films tell a different story - showing good sharpness. Fine lens, damn fine lens.

 

[anfenglin]

The older versions of the 2,8/35 Flektogon even focus down to 0,18 meters!

 

[naeroscatu]

I have the 2.8/ 20mm Flektogon on my Exakta VX, it is amazing

 

[Neil Grant]

...now you tell me!

Actually the focus ring goes below 0.2 m on the f/2.4. As it is, focused on min distance the object is almost touching the font element.

 

[blockend]

Old designs with modern coating are being sold for eye-watering prices. Why bother when you can pick up a Flektogon?

 

[Neil Grant]

I have the 2.8/ 20mm Flektogon on my Exakta VX, it is amazing

...aaah, but how close does it focus?

 

[R.Gould]

I have a Flektogon for my Werra cameras, amazing lens and will focus to 0.8 meter, which is 2 feet,

 

[naeroscatu]

Ah, sorry mine is the F4 version (zebra) and here are the specs:

 

[Theo Sulphate]

Here's a Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon, 35/2 (max aperture f/22). Closest marked focus is 0.18m.

Info on Exakta mount Flektogons is at the bottom of this nice page:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/lens-list.html

Main page:

http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/exakta/index.html

 

[Neil Grant]

Ah, sorry mine is the F4 version (zebra) and here are the specs:
View attachment 186707

...again, an uncommonly short min focus distance. Must permit a unique perspective. A number of vintage German lenses seem to be very generous in this respect. My Zeiss Jena 135mm f/3.5 goes to 1m - about half a metre better than my Nikon Ai 135mm f/3.5. I believe the 'reincarnated' MOG Lydith 30mm also now has a reduced min focus compared to the famous original. It's so useful to be able to get really close without with recourse to tubes or diopters

 

[Theo Sulphate]

The closest focusing lens I have is a 40/2.8 Kilfitt Makro-Kilar D in M42 mount. I believe I can focus on a subject only a few millimeters from the front rim of the lens (the objective is recessed about 2cm, I think). Specs say it focuses 1:1.

I tested both the Exakta mount and M42 mount; for some reason the lens in Exakta mount didn't focus as close (maybe it was the 1:2 E version), so I bought the M42 version. Not only did I get stunning closeups, the soft bokeh was outstanding. A favorite lens!

http://www.kilfitt.org/Lenses/MakroKilar40.htm