Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/06/26
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A few years ago an Australian collector named John Keesing wrote and published a wonderful little book about Contax rangefinder lenses. It's now about five years old and a lot has been learned in that time, but he lists twenty variations on the 5cm f2 Sonnar and nearly that many for the f1.5. I don't know if he's still around but his email address was jkees@bigpond.com. Good luck! Richard >From: B Entus <bruent@shaw.ca> >Reply-To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> >To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> >Subject: [Leica] Re: Zeiss Sonnar Versions >Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2005 13:23:31 -0700 > >Thanks for the answers so far. I get the LUG in digest so there is a bit >of latency in my reply. > >I am trying to get one- either a coated version in chrome on brass, or the >early (1930's) uncoated version (apparently a different design which >minimized the number of air-glass surfaces as an important parameter) in >Contax mount. For internet searches the simple visual discriminators are >helpful. > >From replies and other sources, there seem to be at least 2 variants of the >uncoated design (black for the 1st Contax, chrome for the Contax II/III, >but same optics(?), minimum f stop 11), and at least 3 coated (postwar East >German in aluminum with Jena and T designation minimum stop 22; post war >West German in chrome with Opton and T designation minimum stop 16; later >West German designated just CarlZeiss minimum stop ??). One source >indicates that focal length marked in mm indicates post war and in cm >indicates earlier versions. There may also be Ukraine copies with >counterfeit Zeiss engravings. > >Not certain how many different optical designs there are, or if there are >coated version versions from before the end of the war (with or without the >T designation). > >> >> What versions are there of the Contax (classic range finder) Sonnar >> >> f/1,5 5cm/50mm lens? >> >> What visual cues (in particular serial number and other engravings) >> >> that allow simple identification of the version? >> >> Are there any guides available on-line? >> > > What are you trying to accomplish? ID a lens you have or want to buy? > > tell us what you have and see if I can remember it...... > > >_______________________________________________ >Leica Users Group. >See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information