Greedy Zhenya, or another uncoated 135/4.5 lens for $30... :)

eumenius · Jul 5, 2006

Hello friends,

it looks like I'm going down the Detective Brettschneider's route, remember this guy from Hasek's Brave Soldier Svejk? He kept buying dogs from Svejk to wheedle out some info from him, and he ended up being eaten with all the pack collected

Today I've got a speckless, perfect specimen of Schneider Xenar 135/4.5 in dial-set Compur (working fine, a small handle on the diaphragm lever down there is broken off - that's nothing). Made around 1929, the glass is perfect - there's not a single scratch. Well, that's the third lens of this class I possess, am I nuts? But that was only $30... would this Xenar be any good, or pictorially different with, say, echt Zeiss Tessar 135/4.5 of the same time?

Call me crazy, but looks like there I am - Zhenya

BradS · Jul 5, 2006

No, I would not call you crazy. I call you very fortunate....who could pass up such a great deal? Good show!

clogz · Jul 5, 2006

A clear case of GAS, Gear Acquisition Syndrome, but there is no need to see a shrink about that. lol

Hans

Bruce Osgood · Jul 5, 2006

I have this lens and like it a lot. The only problem for me is that it has a coverage of 160mm, just covers 4X5 without ANY movement. I can't speak to the Tesar but I do not see any reason to replace mine except for the coverage.

Ole · Jul 6, 2006

Welcome to the club, Zhenya!

I've got one of those too - and a 135/3.5 Xenar Typ D, a 135/4.5 Tessar, a 150/4.5 Xenar (late-ish), a 150/9 G-Claron, a 150/9 Germinar-W, a 150/4.5 Apo-Lanthar, a 150/4.5 Heliar, a 135/4.5 Eurynar - and that's only the ones in working shutters!

Claire Senft · Jul 6, 2006

I have just dispatched 3 guys..big and burly..along with what I hope is a jacket that will fit you. You should be able to lick this insidious disease..it has been given the name of Oleoldlensdeepfiord syndrome..if you stay away from your computer and do not drink beverages sold by Olaf and James Galli vinters of diffraction.

BrianShaw · Jul 6, 2006

I'd rather lick an ice cream cone than lick an insideous disease. But that's only me.

Claire Senft · Jul 6, 2006

I agree with you Brian. An ice cream cone makes a wonderful choice if nothing better is available.

Dan Fromm · Jul 6, 2006

Zhenya, the next time you feel tempted to buy a lens that's like several you have already, calculate how many ice cream cones you'll have to give up to pay for it. Is the lens worth it? I bet not!

Cheers,

Dan

Donald Qualls · Jul 6, 2006

Zhenya, I have no direct experience with Xenar lenses, but I don't find there's a visible difference between my ca. 1935 Skopar 13.5 cm f/4.5 and my pair of ca. 1926 CZJ Tessars of the same specification. I'd have to do side-by-side testing to be certain, but surely there's no difference that would show in, say, an 18x24 cm print from 9x12 cm film...

Ole · Jul 6, 2006

Donald Qualls said:
... ca. 1935 Skopar 13.5 cm f/4.5 ...

Dang. I knew I had forgotten one.

Yes, there's one of those too in my "accumulation". It lives on a 1934 Voigtländer Avus 9x12cm.

Greedy Zhenya, or another uncoated 135/4.5 lens for $30... :)

eumenius

BradS

clogz

Bruce Osgood

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Greedy Zhenya, or another uncoated 135/4.5 lens for $30... :)

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