zeitz Posted May 3, 2020 Share #1  Posted May 3, 2020 Advertisement (gone after registration) In the detailed 5cm Xenon topic I mentioned the Zoomar 170 - 320 mm f4.0 zoom lens that could be used on Visoflex III.  Luigi asked for more information.  Rather than hijack the Xenon thread, I decided to start a new topic and cover the subject in more depth. In all my research to find everything reflex housing related, I only found four items that address zoom lenses on reflex housings.  I will cover two items in this post and then two items in a second post to avoid the 2.34MB limit on files. First the Zoomar 170 - 320mm f4.0 lens.  This is a late lens in Zoomar production made after Dr Frank Back bought Kilfitt.  The lens used the third Kilfitt/Zoomar mounting system, the WE mount.  The adapter used to mount the lens on a Visoflex II/III is WEVI.  Two pictures are attached.  Many of Zoomar's products stress unique optical characteristics over optical performance.  This lens is not very sharp. Second is the Enna 85 - 250mm f4.0 lens.  In the July 1963 issue of Popular Photography on page 106, in a Photokina report, it is stated "Users of Leica and similar cameras can now have the pleasure of zoom operation.  The 85 - 250mm f4 Enna Zoom lens is now supplied in a short mount to fit Visoflex I or II or similar reflex housings."  In years of searching I have never found one of these lenses.  However, the 240mm f4.5, 400mm f4.5 and 600mm f5.6 were also to be available in short mount.  I have the 240mm and 400mm.  I attached an image of the 400mm; the zoom lens would be similar.  These lens head are very heavy.  The only bellows I dare mount them on is the massive Kilfitt NABA bellows.  Leitz' Bellows two would not tolerate the weight. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309164-zoom-lenses-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=3966375'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 3, 2020 Posted May 3, 2020 Hi zeitz, Take a look here Zoom Lenses for Leica M. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
zeitz Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share #2  Posted May 3, 2020 Third is the Nikon 8.5 - 25cm f4 - f4.5 Nikkor.  On page 43 of Peter Brackzko's book The Complete Nikon System he shows this lens mounted on a Visoflex III.  He says "The firm's press releases of that time also announced a zoom lens for the rangefinder cameras still in production".  "This very rare zoom lens in this version remained only as a preproduction model.  It left the factory in a wood case and is shown here in a Leitz Visoflex mirror lens case."  This is almost certainly not true for several reasons.  Nikon would never violate the Leitz patent on the Leica M mount, not even to show a prototype.  Also Visoflex III does not fit in the case!  Also I think I can see in Brackzko's picture a standard Leitz LTM to LBM adapter.  This Nikkor lens was produced in TV camera mounts, such as the RCA mount.  The TV camera mount lenses have their own serial number sequence.  Wes Loder, the noted Nikon historian, generously sold me his version of the lens.  With a simple adapter I made from a LTM T mount adapter I was able to mount the lens the same way. Fourth is the Transflex T-Flex reflex housing.  This series of reflex housings was made for a brief period in 1965.  The series included reflex housings for LTM and LBM cameras and for T-mount and H-mount lenses.  The T-Flex used a beam splitter instead of a moving mirror, allowing the reflex housings to be very thin.  Thus T-mount and H-mount lenses will focus to infinity when mounted on these reflex housings.  I have included two images.  The first is of the front of the reflex housing; the second shows a Hanimex 90 - 230mm f4.5 H mount zoom mounted on the reflex housing. That is the extent of zooms I could find for reflex housings.  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309164-zoom-lenses-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=3966386'>More sharing options...
frame-it Posted May 3, 2020 Share #3 Â Posted May 3, 2020 (edited) is this the same lens? https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevench0928/albums/72157636508109944/ https://www.ebay.com/itm/Enna-Munchen-Tele-Zoom-85-250mm-f-4-lens-Exakta-mount-/392446003885 Edited May 3, 2020 by frame-it Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share #4  Posted May 3, 2020 Yes, the lens on the two websites is the 85 - 250mm Enna zoom lens.  There was only a single variant, offered in fixed mounts for Exakta and M42 definitely and for Praktina perhaps. But a short mount version would have to have the focusing section removed and a thread mount installed as on the 400mm lens that I show in the photo.  I've thought about having SK Grimes do a conversion for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted May 3, 2020 Author Share #5  Posted May 3, 2020 For completeness, the Zoomar WE mount lens can also be used on Kilfitt Kilarflex and Kilarscope reflex housings if a WEKI adapter is used instead of the WEVI adapter. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted May 4, 2020 Share #6  Posted May 4, 2020 A different take on the subject. Back in the 1990s I was thinking about a zoom on the M body, but it appeared impossible with or without the Visoflex until I stumbled on the Tamron IF-AF 70-210 zoom. I had been using it with an R body, and realized I had an R to M adapter. Focus was manual or electronic. Manual was out of the question since there was no way to view thru the lens,, but I was knew the electronic module would work. The last issue was framing, and, as best as I recall, I used the framelines for 90 and 135mm in the viewfinder. Took the contraption out on a snowy day on the way to work and gave it a shot. To my surprise at both zoom extremes the pictures were in focus, but it was too unwieldy a contraption to really keep in the stable. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309164-zoom-lenses-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=3966483'>More sharing options...
jsjdj Posted January 22 Share #7  Posted January 22 Advertisement (gone after registration) On 5/3/2020 at 11:27 PM, zeitz said: Yes, the lens on the two websites is the 85 - 250mm Enna zoom lens.  There was only a single variant, offered in fixed mounts for Exakta and M42 definitely and for Praktina perhaps. But a short mount version would have to have the focusing section removed and a thread mount installed as on the 400mm lens that I show in the photo.  I've thought about having SK Grimes do a conversion for me. Hi, I’m quite interested in this option. I’m using an MD262 and I wonder if you tried to do this modification and whether it’s feasible? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted January 22 Author Share #8  Posted January 22 6 hours ago, jsjdj said: I wonder if you tried to do this modification and whether it’s feasible? I did not pursue it.  There is a manufacturing break on the lens at the rear of the filter slot.  That would give about 76mm from the break to the film plane.  Visoflex II/III requires 68mm leaving about 6mm for an adapter.  I still think it is quite feasible. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted January 23 Author Share #9  Posted January 23 I removed the camera mount and the rotational mechanism from the rear of an 85 ~ 250mm Enna zoom lens.  See the attached photo.  What I thought was a manufacturing joint appears only to be a circumferential decorative slot.  About 1cm of rear of the lens body would have to be milled off to get a lens that could mount to a Visoflex II/III and focus to infinity.  There then is the question of where the threads would go to retain an adapter.  The filter slot might have to be covered. This lens uses that heavy, yellow grease that is common on big lenses.  It is now more like a wax than a grease.  The zoom ring is very stiff because of this grease. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/309164-zoom-lenses-for-leica-m/?do=findComment&comment=5745260'>More sharing options...
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