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My Mandler collection


Marac

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If you are into the 'look' that the Mandler lenses produce (like me)

 

Just also picked up a gorgeous set of early lenses with a IIf body along with some hoods & filters. I use them all on my Monochrome and also (cover your ears) a Fuji X-T1 with great results.

 

It is a collection that has taken me many years to get this far, it is also a collection that gets used regular, I do not believe that keeping this wonderful glass in a presentation cupboard is the way to go. I carry this whole lot with me even if I'm shooting a Wedding.

 

35mm cron v4 / 50mm cron v4 / 90mm tele-elmarit (thin) / Summilux 75mm / Tele-elmar 135.

 

Hektor 2.8cm / Summaron 3.5cm / Elmar 5cm

 

I also have a Canon LTM 50mm f1.2 lens that is really rather nice.

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Nice little lot. Time for a 21mm me thinks

 

I have loaned my 21 ASPH to my brother so can't A-B but my initial impressions of the Mandler pre ASPH 21 are very good. My gut is that close to the main subject are where it really excels having some of that walk in feel. Colouring is perhaps a little more subdued than the ASPH, could be wrong as I am not taking like for like pictures. Definitely a keeper though

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Nice! Although I have to pop one bubble.

 

The 135 f/4 TE is a Wetzlar design, not Mandler. Mandler created the 135 f/2.8's, for both M and R mounts. The Wetzlar 135 is ever so slightly cooler and "drier" in tone and color than the classic Mandler lenses, although it still works very well alongside them.

 

IWC - the pre-ASPH 21 has less contrast than the ASPH, which accounts for the lower saturation as well. And when you get around to an A-B comparison, you'll probably find the ASPH is sharper in the corners at wider apertures (but not at the center, where the pre-ASPH may actually win) - and conversely, shows a bit more lateral color CA.

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Nice! Although I have to pop one bubble.

 

The 135 f/4 TE is a Wetzlar design, not Mandler. Mandler created the 135 f/2.8's, for both M and R mounts. The Wetzlar 135 is ever so slightly cooler and "drier" in tone and color than the classic Mandler lenses, although it still works very well alongside them.

 

 

Very interesting, I was always under the understanding the 135/4 was Mandler... Always up for correction, still a great lens but sadly not very often used..

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I never fully appreciated the size of the 75 lux until now. It is HUGE!

Nice collection, just needs a 21 and a 28 to be complete!

 

Cheers,

Michael

 

I have my eye on a nice 28mm Elmarit on FaceBook sales section, had a play with a 21 Voigtlander, its a bit wide for my shooting style, the 28 would be a perfect addition.

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I have my eye on a nice 28mm Elmarit on FaceBook sales section, had a play with a 21 Voigtlander, its a bit wide for my shooting style, the 28 would be a perfect addition.

 

Given your lone up and camera, i would suggest the 28mm summaron. It isa bit slow, but it sings gloriously on the MM

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I never fully appreciated the size of the 75 lux until now. It is HUGE!

 

With Leica-Goodie's 'steer' it is highly manageable, easier to handle than the 50mm Summicrons without a focus tab. I consider the 75mm Summilux amazing for its sharpness, contrast, OOF, and a message to the Noctilux mavens - it has even less DOF.

 

It is a mystery to me why Leica discontinued it. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

.

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Very interesting, I was always under the understanding the 135/4 was Mandler...

It was indeed according to Viewfinder, Volume 38, Number 2, 2005, page 12 (pic) but your Hektor 2.8cm, Summaron 3.5cm and Elmar 5cm were earlier.

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It was indeed according to Viewfinder, Volume 38, Number 2, 2005, page 12 (pic) but your Hektor 2.8cm, Summaron 3.5cm and Elmar 5cm were earlier.

 

 

Yes I have recently acquired the little chrome lenses, they are amazing on the MM a real treat to use and light to carry, they are definitely not Mandler but instead give a very 40's punchy looking image, all are f3.5 except Hektor at 6.3, I think of those 3 the Hextor is my favourite and will ease the lust for a 28mm Mandler for the moment. They even have me shooting film again on the IIf body I acquired along with them. Thanks for clearing that up.

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lct - however, Erwin Puts' Leica Lens Compendium lists it as designed by ELW (Ernst Leitz Wetzlar) rather than ELC (Ernst Leitz Canada) - First Edition, p.220.

 

So we have dueling historians......

 

I've never seen a Tele-Elmar marked "Made in Canada" - but that isn't definitive in and of itself. Several Mandler designs were built in Germany, even before the consolidation in Solms.

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E.Puts also names the "Elcan 2.4/75" as a Mandler design

A mysterious 75/2.4 designed by the "late Dr. Mandler" our historian wrote but the lens was from the seventies if memory serves and was open at f/2... if i'm not wrong of course... :eek:

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I have the 135/4 as Mandler as well, though over history of compiling and correcting the list things could go wrong in many ways.

 

leica.overgaard.dk - Thorsten Overgaard's Leica Pages - Leitz and Leica Lens Compendium & Leica Serial Numbers

 

Home it can be of help ...

 

It certainly draws like one ;)

 

I am really enjoying the tiny little Hektor 2.8cm f6.3 .... My first inclination was that it would go straight on eBay but now I have definitely decided it is going into my KEEPERS bag instead, beautiful lens in the right conditions, amazing this lens is 80+ years old.

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