LocalHero1953 Posted February 6, 2022 Share #1 Posted February 6, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) That's the question - my starting point for Leica lenses is the wiki here, to be followed up elsewhere if necessary. I am interested in: Who made lenses in LTM Compatibility e.g. rangefinder coupling Performance: contrast, sharpness, vignetting, flaring All advice welcome! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 6, 2022 Posted February 6, 2022 Hi LocalHero1953, Take a look here Sources of info on non-Leica screw mount lenses. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
pgk Posted February 6, 2022 Share #2 Posted February 6, 2022 For starters try: https://cameraquest.com/ltmlens.htm https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22587831-non-leitz-leica-thread-mount-lenses I have some info on Stewarty lenses (National Optical Company - actually Taylor Hobson) if this is of interest. There were a lot made so web searches will help once you have identified a lens of interest. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #3 Posted February 6, 2022 You might look at Marc James Small's book " Non-Leitz LEICA Thread-Mount Lanses - A 39mm Diversity" ( Wittig Books 1997). It mostly covers LTM lenses by Zeiss, Schneider or Meyer, which were (in most cases very rare) variants of the production for other lens mounts. Besides this Cooke "Amotal" or Schacht "Travegon" and "Tranenar" are described in some extent as well as the large Russian production. For the latter I miss the discussion whether they really fit the flange to film distance necessary for the Leica (which many of them don't). Unfortunately the book completely leaves out the largest sector of "non-Leitz" LTM production, which came from Japan. I think Canon does a good job with their "Canon Camera Museum" which has a section for "S-lenses": https://global.canon/en/c-museum/series_search.html?t=lens&s=s I don't know similar ressources for Japanese LTM-production and would be interested if they existed (I am rather sure they exist in Japanase, though ... ). 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted February 6, 2022 Share #4 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, LocalHero1953 said: That's the question - my starting point for Leica lenses is the wiki here, to be followed up elsewhere if necessary. I am interested in: Who made lenses in LTM Compatibility e.g. rangefinder coupling Performance: contrast, sharpness, vignetting, flaring All advice welcome! and so it begins........... 195 leica M39 lenses here > https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/systems/c_55.html 181 M39 lenses here, some will work fine some may not > https://allphotolenses.com/lenses/systems/c_14.html 14 pages here > https://www.kentfaith.com/mount_27?page=1 74 Companies List here > https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/39mm_screw_lenses more > https://www.canonrangefinder.org/Nikkor_50mm.htm https://www.canonrangefinder.org/Minolta_lenses.htm https://www.canonrangefinder.org/M39_lenses.htm Edited February 6, 2022 by frame-it 1 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted February 6, 2022 Share #5 Posted February 6, 2022 Yes, I am re-reading a copy of the Marc James Small book I bought at Christmas. It has a lot of references in it, but as said it does not cover the Japanese lenses, though they are fairly well covered in the Canon and Nikon books. I was about to post something about my Nikon 35mm Leica screw lenses, so this seems a suitable place. I now have four of them, not counting four more in Nikon S rangefinder mount. Two are from the earlier “occupation” period when they were inscribed “Tokyo” and two the slightly later “Japan” inscription. Different serial number batches. Three are the f3.5 model, one of which is the “black band/belt” version. The other is the f2.5 model. 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! 4 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/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377750'>More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share #6 Posted February 6, 2022 Thank you, everyone - that's plenty to look into! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted February 6, 2022 Share #7 Posted February 6, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) and the nippon kogaku lenses have a delicious organic rendering 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted February 6, 2022 Share #8 Posted February 6, 2022 1 hour ago, UliWer said: I think Canon does a good job with their "Canon Camera Museum" which has a section for "S-lenses" The Canon History Museum is full of errors, and with each update the errors get worse. If you are really interested in Canon lenses, Peter Kitchingman's book Canon M39 Rangefinder Lenses is a must-have. HPR's book Leica Copies has an excellent list of non-Leica LTM lenses. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeitz Posted February 6, 2022 Share #9 Posted February 6, 2022 Nikon made many LTM lenses. They only stopped making LTM lenses when the release of the Nikon F stressed their manufacturing capability. The definitive work on Nikon lenses, including the numbers of LTM lenses produced for each lens type, is Robert Rotoloni's The Complete Nikon Rangefinder System. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyrogallol Posted February 6, 2022 Share #10 Posted February 6, 2022 I have also managed to put together the set of three early Canon 35mm lenses, f3.5, f3.2 and f2.8 I had, but sold, the later black plastic and chrome lenses which are prone to getting a haze that is impossible to remove. The Canon website is good for identifying models https://www.canonrangefinder.org/Canon_35mm.htm and has information about other non-Canon lenses 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! 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/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377898'>More sharing options...
romanus53 Posted February 6, 2022 Share #11 Posted February 6, 2022 Don't forget https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/268173-the-view-through-older-glass/#comments to explore the quality of old non-Leica ltm-lenses 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #12 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) empty (sorry, posted too early) Edited February 6, 2022 by UliWer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted February 6, 2022 Author Share #13 Posted February 6, 2022 1 hour ago, romanus53 said: Don't forget https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/268173-the-view-through-older-glass/#comments to explore the quality of old non-Leica ltm-lenses Thank you - I'd forgotten that thread Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #14 Posted February 6, 2022 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! Canon 19mm 1:3.5 One of the first lenses to brake the barrier of 21mm. Largest f-stop of 1:3.5 is not slow still today. Though you will see "some" vignetting to say the least. It needs a lot of light to show it's qualities. On a - colour - digital body it will show rather extreme "italian flags" (though of course I havn't seen any results from the M11), but it is an interesting lens for monochrom bodies. 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Canon 19mm 1:3.5 One of the first lenses to brake the barrier of 21mm. Largest f-stop of 1:3.5 is not slow still today. Though you will see "some" vignetting to say the least. It needs a lot of light to show it's qualities. On a - colour - digital body it will show rather extreme "italian flags" (though of course I havn't seen any results from the M11), but it is an interesting lens for monochrom bodies. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377962'>More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #15 Posted February 6, 2022 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! I think the Orion-15 1:6/28mm is one of the most interesting LTM lenses of Russian origin. The results are no worse than from a 28mm Summaron, perhaps less vignetting. Made of alloy therefore much lighter than the brass Summaron, but I can't complain about the built. The only problem I have with the lens, is that I often see my finger on the photo, when I shoot still touching the lenses side... 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! I think the Orion-15 1:6/28mm is one of the most interesting LTM lenses of Russian origin. The results are no worse than from a 28mm Summaron, perhaps less vignetting. Made of alloy therefore much lighter than the brass Summaron, but I can't complain about the built. The only problem I have with the lens, is that I often see my finger on the photo, when I shoot still touching the lenses side... ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377969'>More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #16 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) 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! The Schacht Travegon-R 1:3.5/35mm was one of a series of LTM lenses offered by Schacht in the late 60s. The suffix "R" does not mean that they were made for the Leica R-system, they were offered for the Exakta, the Lordomat and also in 39mm LTM. The designer was Ludwig Bertele, famous for his Sonnars and Biogons - though the lenses design shows no acquaintance to these Zeiss lenses. It is a reliable performer certainly not worse than a 1:3.5/35mm Summaron, with just a little vignetting in the edges. Very resistant against flare. Though if one expects "character" from the results - stay away from it: the lens does not have any (which may be a good or a bad quality...). I think it's too big to be used on a Leica screwmount camera though made from alloy it's lighter than it looks. Edited February 6, 2022 by UliWer 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! The Schacht Travegon-R 1:3.5/35mm was one of a series of LTM lenses offered by Schacht in the late 60s. The suffix "R" does not mean that they were made for the Leica R-system, they were offered for the Exakta, the Lordomat and also in 39mm LTM. The designer was Ludwig Bertele, famous for his Sonnars and Biogons - though the lenses design shows no acquaintance to these Zeiss lenses. It is a reliable performer certainly not worse than a 1:3.5/35mm Summaron, with just a little vignetting in the edges. Very resistant against flare. Though if one expects "character" from the results - stay away from it: the lens does not have any (which may be a good or a bad quality...). I think it's too big to be used on a Leica screwmount camera though made from alloy it's lighter than it looks. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377982'>More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #17 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) 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! Steinheil from Munich is producer of photographic lenses with a tradition going far back to the 19th century. The Quinon 1:2/50mm was made in 39mm LTM for the Leica - though Steinheil also produced a series of lenses with 39mm mount for Braun cameras, which use a different lens to flange distance and will not work with a Leica. The Quinon is a surprising lens. It is based on the Sonnar design but is almost free of the Sonnar's "bad habits" (i.e. distortion and focus shift). I think it shows more resolution and overall contrast than the collapsible Summicron, almost equalling the rigid Summicron. Almost no flare and low vignetting. You could close focus it down to 60cm - of course without rangefinder coupling which will only go to 1m. Well built of brass. It is a rather rare lens and difficult to find outside Europe. Edited February 6, 2022 by UliWer 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Steinheil from Munich is producer of photographic lenses with a tradition going far back to the 19th century. The Quinon 1:2/50mm was made in 39mm LTM for the Leica - though Steinheil also produced a series of lenses with 39mm mount for Braun cameras, which use a different lens to flange distance and will not work with a Leica. The Quinon is a surprising lens. It is based on the Sonnar design but is almost free of the Sonnar's "bad habits" (i.e. distortion and focus shift). I think it shows more resolution and overall contrast than the collapsible Summicron, almost equalling the rigid Summicron. Almost no flare and low vignetting. You could close focus it down to 60cm - of course without rangefinder coupling which will only go to 1m. Well built of brass. It is a rather rare lens and difficult to find outside Europe. ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/329530-sources-of-info-on-non-leica-screw-mount-lenses/?do=findComment&comment=4377984'>More sharing options...
frame-it Posted February 6, 2022 Share #18 Posted February 6, 2022 4 hours ago, UliWer said: 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! Though if one expects "character" from the results - stay away from it: the lens does not have any (which may be a good or a bad quality...) i have this same lens in M42 mount, which i use on my SL2-S sometimes., it has a very clean neutral feeling Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
frame-it Posted February 6, 2022 Share #19 Posted February 6, 2022 i think ill drop in this "partial" List here as well: https://lenslegend.com/radioactive-lenses/ https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Radioactive_lenses Lenses That May Contain Thorium or Lanthanum Kodak Ektar 101mm f/4.5 (Miniature Crown Graphic camera) lens mfg. 1946 Kodak Ektar 38mm f/2.8 (Kodak Instamatic 814 camera) lens mfg 1968-1970 Kodak Ektanar 50mm f/2.8 (Kodak Signet 80 camera) lens mfg. 1958-1962 (3 examples) Kodak Ektanar 90mm f/4 (Kodak Signet 80 camera) lens mfg. 1958-1962 Kodak Ektanar, 44mm f/2.8 (Kodak Signet 30, Kodak Signet 50, Kodak Automatic 35/Motormatic 35 cameras) lenses mfg. 1959-1969 Kodak Ektanon 50mm f/3.9 (Kodak Bantam RF camera) lens mfg. 1954-1957 Kodak Ektanon 46mm f/3.5 (Kodak Signet 40 camera) lens mfg. 1956-1959 Kodak Anastar 44mm f/3.5 (Kodak Pony IV camera) Kodak Color Printing Ektar 96mm f/4.5 lens mfg. 1963 WEP Auto Weiton 35mm f2 Argus Cintagon 50mm f/2.8 Agfa Color Solinar 2.8/50 Bell & Howell Director Series (Model 1208?) XL Super 8 movie camera; Zoom Lens f: 1.2 \ F: 9-22.5 mm Canon FL 50/1.4 (very early version) Canon FL 50/1.8 I Canon FL 58/1.2 Canon FD 17mm f/4 Canon FD 35mm f/2.0 (versions from the early 1970's - concave front element) Canon FD 55mm f/1.2 S.S.C. Aspherical Canon (SUPER-CANOMATIC LENS) R 50mm 1:1.8 Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 55mm f1.4 Carl Zeiss Jena Pancolar 50mm f1.8 "Zebra" (1964-67, up to serial number 8552600) Carl Zeiss Jena Biometar 80mm f2.8 "Zebra" "(Only P6 mount version ) Carl Zeiss Jena Flektogon 50mm f4 "Zebra" "(Only P6 mount version ) Carl Zeiss Jena Prakticar 50mm f1.4 (1st version with engravings around the outer side of barrel) Carl Zeiss Tessar 80mm f/2.8 (old silver Hasselblad version) Enna München Lithagon 1:3.5 35mm (M42) Focal 35mm f/2.8 Fujica Fujinon 19mm f/3.5 EBC (Arkku at mflenses.com) Fujica Fujinon 35mm f/1.9 EBC (Arkku at mflenses.com) Fujica Fujinon 50mm f/1.4 non-EBC early style Fujica Fujinon 50mm f/1.4 EBC early style Fujica Fujinon 100mm f/2.8 EBC Fujica Fujinon 400mm f/4.5 EBC Fujica Fujinon 600mm f/5.6 EBC GAF Anscomatic 38mm f/2.8 Kodak Aero-Ektars Kodak Ektanon 4-inch Projection Lens f/3.5 Kodak Instamatic M24/26 Super 8 Camera YouTube Kodak Ektar 80mm f/2.8 (for Hasselblad 1600F and 1000F, made 1948-1950) Kodak Ektar 135mm f/3.5 (for Hasselblad 1600F and 1000F, made 1949) Konica Hexanon AR 50mm f1.4 (smallest aperture 16; green AE marking) Konica Hexanon 57mm f1.2 Konica Hexanon 21mm f4 Leica 50mm f/2 Collapsible Summicron Leitz Wetzlar Summicron 5cm f2 (M39) Mamiya/Sekor 55mm f/1.4 (m42, chrome+black, flat rear element) Mamiya/Sekor SX 55mm f/1.8 Minolta MC W. Rokkor-SI 1:2.5 28mm (early variants) Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 1:1.2 58mm Minolta MC Rokkor 1:1.7 85mm (the earliest variant of the MC line) Mitakon (Zhongyi) 50mm f0.95 Ver I Speedmaster Mitakon (Zhongyi) 50mm f0.95 Ver II Dark Knight Nikkor 35mm f/1.4 (early variant) Olympus Zuiko MC Macro 20mm f/3.5 Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 1:1,2/55 mm (first version) Olympus Zuiko Auto-S 1:1,4/50 mm "Silvernose" Olympus Zuiko Pen F 1:1.8/38mm Olympus Zuiko Pen F 1:1.4/40mm Rikenon AUTO 55mm f/1.4 Schneider Repro-Claron Schneider 135mm f/3.5 Xenotar SMC Pentax 50mm f/1.4 SMC Takumar 20mm f/4.5 SMC Takumar 35mm f/2.0 Super Takumar 35mm f/2.0 SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4 Super Takumar 50mm f/1.4 (the latest version with 7 elements - red 'infrared mark' being on the left side of DoF scale '4') SMC Macro Takumar 50mm f/4.0 Super Takumar 55mm f/1.8 Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f/1.8 SMC Takumar 55mm f/1.8 (select lenses) Super Takumar 55mm f/2.0 SMC Takumar 55mm f/2.0 SMC Takumar 85mm f/1.8 Super Takumar 6x7 105mm f2.4 Steinheil Auto-Quinon 55mm f/1.9 KE mount Tele-Takumar 6.3 300mm Topcor RE GN 50/1.4 Topcon UV Topcor 50mm f/2 Yashinon-DX 28mm f/2.8 (Yashica) Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.4 (Yashica) Yashinon-DS 50mm f/1.7 (Yashica) Yashinon-DX 50mm f/1.4 (Yashica) Yashinon-DX 50mm f/1.8 (Yashica) Yashinon-DS-M 50mm f/1.4 (Yashica) Yashinon-DS-M 50mm f/1.7 (Yashica) Yashinon-DS-M 55mm f/1.2 (Yashica) Yashinon-ML 50mm f/1.7 (Yashica) Yashinon 55mm f1.2 (Tomioka) Ultragon 115mm f/5.5 Vivitar Series 1 28mm f1.9 Voigtlander 50mm Nokton Prominent Voigtlander 15cm Apo-Lanthar Voigtlander 21cm Apo-Lanthar Voigtlander 30cm Apo-Lanthar Voigtlander Zoomar 36-82mm f2.8 Wollensak Raptar 28-75mm f2.3 Zenitar-M 50mm f1.7 2 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
UliWer Posted February 6, 2022 Share #20 Posted February 6, 2022 (edited) I fear, a long list with lenses containing this or that material does not add much to the topic of this thread. Whilst glass which contain Thorium may be radioactive, those which contain Lanthanum are not. For the earlier 1:2.8/50mm Elmar glass with Lanthanum was used which enabled the larger opening without too much loss of contrast (it still is not as good as the older 1:3.5/5cm Elmar). There is a long story about Thorium being used for the early production of the collapsible 50mm Summicron, and many threads here deal with it. But later examples (still in LTM) don't contain any radioactive material. I can't find any other 39mm LTM lens in this long list. Edit: here you find optical glasses whith contain Lanthanum and are still in use today: https://www.schott.com/shop/advanced-optics/en/search?search=Lanthan Edited February 6, 2022 by UliWer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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