[Leica] Another 50 for the Jeffster

[jsmith342 at cox.net (Jeffery Smith)]

Hello Luis,

It appears that there are two varieties of Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 that have a 
Leica LTM mount: (1) lenses that were manufactured in such a mount, and (2) 
Contax lenses that were retrofitted for an LTM mount. One ebay seller claims 
that you can tell the difference by the letter "m" stamped on the lens...a 
lowercase "m" is a Zeiss lens made in Leica mount, and an uppercase "M" is a 
Contax Zeiss lens retrofitted to a Leica mount (possibly by the Russians).

John Van Stelten told me that you have to be careful of separation of the 
lens elements, but that the lens is not difficult to work on. I got mine 
from Ritz Camera. Kevin Camera in Los Angeles has some as well. Check ebay 
from time to time, Luis. It seems like I have seen some from Europe on ebay.

Tonight I'll post a few shots that I took with mine yesterday.

Jeffery 

> 
> From: "Luis Ripoll" <luisripoll@telefonica.net>
> Date: 2006/03/30 Thu PM 05:04:34 EST
> To: "Leica Users Group" <lug@leica-users.org>
> Subject: RE: [Leica] Another 50 for the Jeffster
> 
> Hi Jefferey,
> 
> When I was 13 years old (many years ago) I've used the Contax of my father,
> this camera had a Sonnar 50/1,5 and I remember it as a very nice lens, but
> with much more contrast (but not strong) than a Leica lens or Elmar, it was
> a sharp lens given very good detail, IMHO it is a very good lens. The 
> Contax
> of my father was unfortunately stolen, I've asked some week ago in a shop
> for a similar Contax, I know the owner and he saids me that lens was lovely
> but the Contax was in the mechanical sense a delicate camera... I don't 
> know
> on which other cameras can you adapt a Sonnar, if you know it, please let 
> me
> know, I have some nostalgia for that lens.
> 
> Saludos desde Barcelona
> Luis
> 
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org
> [mailto:lug-bounces+luisripoll=telefonica.net@leica-users.org]En nombre de
> Jeffery Smith
> Enviado el: jueves, 30 de marzo de 2006 3:42
> Para: 'Leica Users Group'
> Asunto: [Leica] Another 50 for the Jeffster
> 
> John van Stelten is getting ready to polish, clean, uncement, cement, and
> coat a nice Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5 LTM lens for me. Wish me luck. I have a
> 50/1.5 in Contax mount, but my Contax is not terribly light-tight, and I've
> never been able to give that lens a good workout.
> 
> Any of you have experience with the 50/1.5 Sonnar?
> 
> Jeffery Smith
> New Orleans, LA
> http://www.400tx.com
> 
> 
> 
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Jeffery