Carl Zeiss Hologon for Leica M

[gvaliquette]

I don't usually do this, but this one seems rare enough to bend the rules.

A carl Zeiss Hologon 15mm f8 has appeared on e-Bay:

eBay: LEICA LEITZ CARL ZEISS 15MM F8 HOLOGON FOR LEICA M BOX (item 130104220112 end time Apr-30-07 14:30:00 PDT)

It's way beyond my reach!

Less than 24 hours left.

Anyone interested?

Guy

[dkpeterborough]

Originally Posted by gvaliquette

I don't usually do this, but this one seems rare enough to bend the rules.

A carl Zeiss Hologon 15mm f8 has appeared on e-Bay:

eBay: LEICA LEITZ CARL ZEISS 15MM F8 HOLOGON FOR LEICA M BOX (item 130104220112 end time Apr-30-07 14:30:00 PDT)

It's way beyond my reach!

Less than 24 hours left.

Anyone interested?

Guy

There is also one attached to a Contarex on Ebay if you do a search ... and the starting price is very much lower

dunk

[gvaliquette]

Sigh!

I sold my Contarex gear, which I had been using for 30+ years, to start up my Leica gear with the R9, DMR, R6.2, lenses.

My Contarex outfit included 2 Super bodies, 4 magazine backs, 16mm f2.8 Fisheye-Distagon (yes!), 18mm f4 Distagon, 25mm f2.8 Distagon, 35mm f4 Blitz Distagon, 50mm f2 Planar, 85mm F2 Sonnar, 135mm f2.8 Sonnar, 250mm f4 Sonnar, filters, etc.

Comparing the Leica-R to the Contarex, I must say that I am happy with the R9 and R6.2 and their lenses. There are, however, things and features that I regret not being able to find ANYWHERE anymore: Interchangeable magazine backs and Bayonet-mount filters in standardized sizes to fit many lenses.

However, the choice of lenses in Leica-R mount is sooo much wider. Look at the Angenieux lenses, for example.

Oh well, such is life.

Guy

[hektor]

Originally Posted by gvaliquette

I don't usually do this, but this one seems rare enough to bend the rules.

A carl Zeiss Hologon 15mm f8 has appeared on e-Bay:

eBay: LEICA LEITZ CARL ZEISS 15MM F8 HOLOGON FOR LEICA M BOX (item 130104220112 end time Apr-30-07 14:30:00 PDT)

It's way beyond my reach!

Less than 24 hours left.

Anyone interested?

Guy

I bought one new in the seventies. Leitz couldn't give them away! By today's standards not much of a performer, but nice investment.

Don't waste your money.

[doubice]

Originally Posted by hektor

By today's standards not much of a performer, but nice investment.

Don't waste your money.

Very true. The Hologon had only one f-stop, f:8 and even that was unrealistic, as it had to be used with the graduated filter, which turned it into an f:16 lens. Its main forte was lack any barrel or pincushion distortion, but at what price and inconvenience.......

Today's CV 15mm Heliar will produce as good, if not better results, at a miniscule fraction of the price.

Excellent investment, yes. Useful photography tool, no.

Justin, I can see two M8's in place of that Hologon......

All the best,

Jan

[luigi bertolotti]

Agree with doubice: if You are a collector and can afford the high price, a good investment: about 300 M-Hologon were built, it is quite rare and a complete outfit lens+filter+viewfinder is a fascinating item for a collection that is "lens-oriented": its optical design was very unique (the only similtude can be with the ancient Goerz Hypergon) : by myself , I would like a lot to have one, and surely would use it even if knowing well that the CV 15 performs better. I have red with simpathy the post by he who sold his Contarex gear: I have almost the same items (not the fish eye) and one of my thoughts, sometime, is that the only reason for I could sell my "Contarex block" is to finance a Hologon.. but my Zeiss "extremes" (18 and 250) are so fine... I cannot decide myself...

[gvaliquette]

Originally Posted by luigi bertolotti

I have red with simpathy the post by he who sold his Contarex gear: I have almost the same items (not the fish eye) and one of my thoughts, sometime, is that the only reason for I could sell my "Contarex block" is to finance a Hologon.. but my Zeiss "extremes" (18 and 250) are so fine... I cannot decide myself...

Luigi:

I am "he who sold his Contarex"!

The reasons I finally did are many, even though it was a very difficult decision:
- I could not find a competent technician to repair the equipment.
- My magazine backs were developing light leaks.
- I could not find any tele-extenders and wanted one of those.
- 250mm was a little short for some applications, and I saw a 400mm Sonnar in Contarex mount at B&H only AFTER I had sold the Contarex gear.
- My polarizing filter was beginning to delaminate.
- I wanted digital photography with good/great lenses.
- The whole Contarex system seemed to be frozen in time.
- $$$ were/are a limited resource!

I now have an R9, a R6.2, a DMR, a 21mm f4 Super-Angulon-R, a 24mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 35mm f4 PA-Curtagon-R, a 35mm f2.0 Summicron-R, an 80mm f1.4 Summilux-R, a 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 135mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 350mm f4.8 Telyt-R, a 28-70mm Vario-Elmar-R, an 80-200mm f4.0 Vario-Elmar-R, a 35-70mm f2.8 Angenieux, a 45-90mm f2.8 Angenieux, a 70-210 Angenieux, 2X APO-Tele-Extender-R and the Novoflex bellows.

Parting with the contarex was painful, like a difficult divorce. But now, I am happy in my second marriage!

Ciao'

Guy

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by gvaliquette

Luigi:

I am "he who sold his Contarex"!

The reasons I finally did are many, even though it was a very difficult decision:
- I could not find a competent technician to repair the equipment.
- My magazine backs were developing light leaks.
- I could not find any tele-extenders and wanted one of those.
- 250mm was a little short for some applications, and I saw a 400mm Sonnar in Contarex mount at B&H only AFTER I had sold the Contarex gear.
- My polarizing filter was beginning to delaminate.
- I wanted digital photography with good/great lenses.
- The whole Contarex system seemed to be frozen in time.
- $$$ were/are a limited resource!

I now have an R9, a R6.2, a DMR, a 21mm f4 Super-Angulon-R, a 24mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 35mm f4 PA-Curtagon-R, a 35mm f2.0 Summicron-R, an 80mm f1.4 Summilux-R, a 90mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 135mm f2.8 Elmarit-R, a 350mm f4.8 Telyt-R, a 28-70mm Vario-Elmar-R, an 80-200mm f4.0 Vario-Elmar-R, a 35-70mm f2.8 Angenieux, a 45-90mm f2.8 Angenieux, a 70-210 Angenieux, 2X APO-Tele-Extender-R and the Novoflex bellows.

Parting with the contarex was painful, like a difficult divorce. But now, I am happy in my second marriage!

Ciao'

Guy

Hi Guy, former Contarex user...
my problem is that Contarex is THE ONLY SLR I have ! I love a lot Leica, but, to be clear, can anyone (I'm not a pro, to be clear) have not a single SLR at all? So I do not decide... You are right... "frozen in time", but here in Italy there are also good repairers for Contarex, even not too costly... oh, I really do not know if I ever decide to sell... and that fabolous Distagon 18 is the widest lens I have (Leica limited to 21... one reason could be I buy a CV 15).
Just to joke, if one day You shall suffer a lot for "lack of Contarex"... write to me... at least I will be sure it shall go in the right hands...

[hektor]

Originally Posted by doubice

Justin, I can see two M8's in place of that Hologon......

All the best,

Jan

Dear Jan,
My jury is still out on the M8. Until "digital" projection can equal the Pradovit (with bright light kit) and Colorplan, I will stay with slides. Interestingly, the professional photographers I know, some of whom work for Getty and Black Star, still shoot tranny for archival purposes and lug a scanner with them for speed of getting images back to New York.
As to the M8, I acknowledge it is a magnificent camera but until a fold-up tin cover is put over the LCD screen I would not even consider it. The viewfinder frame lines are no more than a guide and in this country where the sun shines almost too much (we are in the depths of one of the longest and worst droughts in my lifetime) the LCD screen is not visible. Finally I focus with my right eye, one of the delights of the Leica being able to poke one's nose around the side, however I am told by our left-wing brethren that left eye focusing leaves greasy marks on the screen. A simple fold-up tin cover would fix both problems.
At present I am using the hybrid method of scanning slides at 4000dpi for A4 prints, drum scanning for larger, manipulating in Photoshop and then "wet" printing. How I love Photoshop; it has turned many of my old slides into something worth printing after removal of powerlines and other distractions.
Here endeth the lesson!
Justin
Incidentally my friend in France is still delighting in the Visoflex he bought from you.

[hektor]

Originally Posted by doubice

Very true. The Hologon had only one f-stop, f:8 and even that was unrealistic, as it had to be used with the graduated filter, which turned it into an f:16 lens. Its main forte was lack any barrel or pincushion distortion, but at what price and inconvenience.......
All the best,
Jan

PS. In thirty three years I have taken two shots with my Hologon and that was the urgent necessity for vertical shots of a tall building for 35mm projection. Normally in that situation I use a Linhof and make a 35mm duplicates from the 4"x5" original. As Jan said, at f/16 it was/is a tripod only lens, and if one is restricted to a tripod why use a Leica?

[doubice]

Dear Justin,

I hear you as far as slides are concerned...... That is why I still have two Pradovits, with 2 Colorplans, 2 50mm Elmarons, a dissolve unit etc.... And that is why I am still sitting on the fence regarding the M8. As to greasy nose marks - have you never stuck your nose into the finder of the M (4, 5, 6, 7 etc) when sighting through an accessory finder with your right eye? I have the advantage of being ambidextrous and can shoot using both eyes; I do prefer to use my right eye though, while keeping the other open to survey the scene.

"Your friend in France" Olivier ventured onto this forum a couple of months ago with some of his close-ups and than disappeared again. He does indeed enjoy the Visoflex and all his LTM treasures!

All the best,

Jan

[hektor]

Originally Posted by doubice

"Your friend in France" Olivier ventured onto this forum a couple of months ago with some of his close-ups and than disappeared again. He does indeed enjoy the Visoflex and all his LTM treasures!
All the best,
Jan

Jan,
Olivier was working on the Airbus project, however has moved to a new and more demanding job elsewhere in the aircraft industry. I am hoping to spend a weekend "bush walking" with him later this year, so will suggest he posts a few more photos. He is a naturalist by inclination, flowers and landscape.
Greetings.
Justin

[Olof]

What was so special with this lens, that i should pay 15.000 US $ for a 15mm lens when i can get a much cheaper new Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM ?

[luigi bertolotti]

Originally Posted by Olof

What was so special with this lens, that i should pay 15.000 US $ for a 15mm lens when i can get a much cheaper new Zeiss Distagon T* 2,8/15 ZM ?

No technical reason, and of course no economical justification: as I said in my previous post, Hologon 15 for Leica M is simply a very rare collector item, and a lens almost unique as design : 3 elements - 2 "domed" elements plus an intermediate element that is, de facto, the intersection of two small elements; impossible to have a diaphragm, no space for it. Despite enormous DOF, Leitz decided to add a focus mount (to 20 cm): on the contrary, the same lens fitted into the Zeiss Hologon Ultrawide camera was fixed focus: it is significant of the "vitality" of the Leica collector market the fact that the Leica M Hologon brings extremely high prices, while the Zeiss Hologon Camera has a significantly lower quotation: also this camera (based on Contarex body, with mirror+pentaprism "removed") was bult in small quantities and the lens is exactly the same.
Just to joke: "purists" of Leica collecting (as myself... ) DO NOTsearch for the M-Hologon !!! It was the only Leitz-catalogued lens that did not bear the Leitz name (*) (it is engraved, not surprisingly, Zeiss Hologon) and HAD NOT the "natural" serial numbering of Leitz Lenses !!!! We collectors have a sort of cult for lens numbering... a super common Elmar that happens to have, say, number that ends with 999 or even 777 is surely valued MORE than one with a "casual" number... and the "rough" Zeiss numbering of the Hologon is terribly disturbing... the fact that it is so costly no matters for me!!! ( ) It is not a real Leica lens !!! I would not buy it even if one would offer me a perfect item at 500 US$!!! (at least...maybe....)

(*) correction : true for RF Leicas, for SLRs Leitz catalogued the Schneider PA-Curtagon.