W/NW - In praise of the Sonnar

[Gabriel M.A.]

I really like my 50mm f/1.5 Zeiss-Opton Sonnar. The Carl Zeiss Jenna 135mm f/4 Sonnar ain't too shabby for having a scratched element (the rear one).

I find myself shooting with it more and more along with my 50 'lux. Two different flavors. I like this one.

http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/images/20060406121453_pblog_2006-03-18b_19_2.jpg
Contax IIIa + 50mm f/1.5 Zeiss-Opton (wide open) / Fuji 400 X-tra (http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/index.php?showimage=80)

[furcafe]

http://static.flickr.com/54/120606165_1fd56b970f_o.jpg

Kodak BW400CN, Zeiss-Opton 50/1.5 Sonnar (c.1953-54), 1/8th sec. @ f/1.5, Premier Instrument Kardon (c.1947-48) w/Cook & Perkins adapter (c.1950).

[rover]

Very nice ;)

[Berk Sirman]

Is this lens the same formula as the russians used on Jupiter 3?

Nice photo. But I find the background distracting.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Very nice ;)
Oh, it is! :) Thanks for selling it to me, Ralph. I scrimped and saved; very much worth it.

[Berk Sirman]

Note: My comment is for the first photo.

Is this lens the same formula as the russians used on Jupiter 3?

Nice photo. But I find the background distracting.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Note: My comment is for the first photo.
I know. That's ok. Such is life.

[drmatthes]

I like both shots, the second being slightly more balanced. The bokeh is great in both, the DOF so small and sharpness concentrated upon the point of interest - what else would one wish in a good portrait? Hang on, guys!

Jesko

___________

2006 AD
800 yrs Dresden
80 yrs Zeiss Ikon

[furcafe]

http://static.flickr.com/49/109087141_4299afc1bb_o.jpg

Kodak Plus-X, CZJ 5cm1/5 Sonnar (T-coated, c.1941), 1/250th sec. @ f/2, Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa (color dial, c.1955-56).

[Gabriel M.A.]

Very nice, furcafe!

[Gabriel M.A.]

Another distracting one (if you're working)...

http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/images/20060128171216_pblog_2006-01-14b_07_2.jpg
Contax IIIa + 50mm f/1.5 Z.O. (wide open) / Fuji X-tra 400 (http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/index.php?showimage=60)

[furcafe]

The uncoated Sonnars shouldn't be discounted, either.

http://static.flickr.com/21/25327859_6c151a0add_o.jpg

Kodak Tri-X, CZJ 5cm/2 Sonnar (collapsible, c.1936-37), 1/50th sec. @ f/2.8, Zeiss Ikon Contax IIa (color dial, c.1955-56).

http://static.flickr.com/30/43707540_8c2f6526ec_o.jpg

Kodak Ektachrome 100, CZJ 5cm/2 Sonnar (rigid, c.1936), 1/500th sec. @ f/4, Arsenal Kiev IIa (c.1956).

[Berk Sirman]

I am not sure what you meant by "if you're working" but I like this shot very much. And I see nothing in it that's distracting.

Another distracting one (if you're working)...

[Mike Kovacs]

Its safer to say the Jupiter 3 is based on the prewar 50/1.5 Sonnar design. Both are 7/3 elements/groups but I can't be certain Zeiss didn't improve the 50/1.5 over a 25 year period. Talk to the guys that have a recomputed Tessar on the 1960's Contaflex and you'll see what I mean.

My contribution - Carl Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5, postwar (last type)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/2540/U2540I1119902265.SEQ.0.jpg

Carl Zeiss Sonnar 135/4, postwar (last type)

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/rffgallery/gallery/2540/U2540I1122089479.SEQ.0.jpg

[Gabriel M.A.]

I am not sure what you meant by "if you're working" but I like this shot very much. And I see nothing in it that's distracting.
I just meant for anybody that would be at work. She's quite attractive... ;) This is not the best picture I have of her, though.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Mike: that's a great shot with the 135 f/4. I have a very beat-up 135 f/4 CZJ. The rear element is pretty roughed-up, and it flares easily, but it makes for some interesting shots:

http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/images/20060406141108_pblog_2006-03-18b_04_4-ni_2.jpg
Contax IIIa + Carl Zeiss Jena 135 f/4 Sonnar (wide open) / Fuji X-tra 400 (http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/index.php?showimage=81)

Great shots so far, all!

[SteveM(PA)]

I just meant for anybody that would be at work. She's quite attractive... ;) This is not the best picture I have of her, though.

She could be your own personal Marta! I *think* I'm correct in saying she's also the one at the cash register on your photo blog...I was very distracted by that shot
:)

[JoeFriday]

here's a sample from my IIa and Sonnar 50/1.5

[Gabriel M.A.]

Hey Brian! Look, I got one picture back, from my Jupiter-3 (I've two rolls yet to develop myself, two to pick up) ...

http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/images/20060406145521_pblog_2006-02-06_14_2.jpg
Leica M6 + Brianov Jupiter-3 (wide open) / Ilford XP2 (http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/index.php?showimage=82)

[Wayne R. Scott]

Contax IIa with 50mm f1.5 Sonnar shots.

Wayne

[Brian Sweeney]

Okay Gabriel, I won't send the lens-retrieval squad after you! Remember. Lifetime Buy-Back warranty on that one.

Nice shot.

And Wayne: I remember the shot well, but I did forget it was with a Sonnar!

And My contribution: Nikkor-P 8.5cm F2 on the Nikon SP, @F4.

[dexdog]

I would post some pics, but software is not letting me upload any photos at the moment. I love Sonnars, definately my favorite lens. Nice shots, folks.

[sockeyed]

Bessa R3A + Jupiter-8 (50/2) + Tri-X in HC-110.

[Gabriel M.A.]

Nice. Nice nice nice

[VinceC]

One of those moments where the lighting was perfect, but her ability to sit still for a photograph wasn't. I was burning up the end of a roll, and after three frames, we both gave up. Nikkor 8.5cm @f/2.

[tom_f77]

Some nice stuff on this thread. I like sonnars too... (J8, J8, Nikkor 50/1.4)

Tom

[Kragmeister]

50mm f1.5 CZ Jena Sonnar, 1937 uncoated, stops to f11. Shot wide open at 1/1250 with 100 ISO color film. Just a test roll with it on a Kiev 4A.

Later,
Greg

[JoeFriday]

how about this.. a two-fer.. a Sonnar taken by a Sonnar

[Trius]

Another distracting one (if you're working)...

http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/images/20060128171216_pblog_2006-01-14b_07_2.jpg
Contax IIIa + 50mm f/1.5 Z.O. (wide open) / Fuji X-tra 400 (http://photoblog.gabrielma.com/index.php?showimage=60)
Distractions like that can pass in front of me any time, any day.

[Chaser]

Both with an m6ttl Jupiter 3 at f1.5 and fuji astia...

http://static.flickr.com/46/143295685_f48ae45ffc_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/51/143295686_e7d71086d4_o.jpg

[ERV]

M5 with 50mm 1.5 Zeiss Opton Sonnar and a Contax to M mount adapter on Fuji Superia 400.

I've wanted one of these adapters for a while and finally found one for a reasonable price on the bay from Lisbon.
Although I have a nice collection of vintage 50's I have to admit there's nothing like a Sonnar.