View Full Version : Sun Optical 9cm f/4
I picked up this lens today at the camera show for $5. It's marked Sun Optical Co. Sola 9cm f/4 and is rf coupled 39mm LTM.
Anybody have any experience with this lens? Is it any good??
The glass is scratch, haze, fungus free and it came with its front and rear metal caps..
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Send it to me, and I tell you things about it.
I think,we had a thread on such a lens. It seems to be OK.
David Murphy
09-13-2008, 17:41
I own one - it's better than an Elmar 90/4 in my opinon. I love it - beautifully made and uncommon. Mine is in excellent condition.
I own one - it's better than an Elmar 90/4 in my opinon. I love it - beautifully made and uncommon. Mine is in excellent condition.
I'll have to give it a try..
I had never heard of it till I saw it today..
Colyn,
KevinCameras has a Sun Optic 9cm 4 listed for over $2000. It seems to be a rare model in his case. Still, you got its cousin.
Colyn,
KevinCameras has a Sun Optic 9cm 4 listed for over $2000. It seems to be a rare model in his case. Still, you got its cousin.
I'd take 2 G's for mine....:D
How about 2000 Iraqi Dinars? Tempting?
photomoof
09-13-2008, 19:00
Rare lens, but $2000 is a bit high for a SOLA in this market.
David Murphy
09-13-2008, 19:04
Even though Kevin's Web site is hard to navigate, I love perusing it when I am shamelessly wasting my time. It's sort of a museum of rare and almost forgotten Leica Thread Mount lenses and other interesting and obscure luxury camera items.
How about 2000 Iraqi Dinars? Tempting?
:eek: A buck 70???? :eek:
Even though Kevin's Web site is hard to navigate, I love perusing it when I am shamelessly wasting my time. It's sort of a museum of rare and almost forgotten Leica Thread Mount lenses and other interesting and obscure luxury camera items.
I've looked it over a few times and can't help but wonder if he really sells these high priced items...
:eek: A buck 70???? :eek:
Think of the historical value of the money. It is "vintage" and has a Sonnar look to it. Trust me :D
Trust me :D
Isn't this what politicians say to us??:p :p :p
Here is a sample taken with this lens.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2878065776_26a69f0ab5_o.jpg
This is a very sharp lens, Colyn.
This is a very sharp lens, Colyn.
I was somewhat surprised at how good it did.
I'm going to do some comparisons between my Elmar and the Sun.
jolefler
09-22-2008, 05:58
Hmmm... on a whim I picked up a Sun/Sola/135. Haven't really tested it out yet, but looking at your 90 results, I oughtta' go do that soon.
I'm impressed with the way the coating looks on mine, looks like your 90 has that heavy blue cast to it, as well.
Jo
wjlapier
09-22-2008, 06:37
I've looked it over a few times and can't help but wonder if he really sells these high priced items...
I'm not sure he owns all that stuff too. I bought my Zeiss 21 from him and a front cap. The lens came from him, but the cap came from someone else. In fact, the cap came from a guy I did a trade with once.
Lots of neat stuff though.
Hmmm... on a whim I picked up a Sun/Sola/135. Haven't really tested it out yet, but looking at your 90 results, I oughtta' go do that soon.
I'm impressed with the way the coating looks on mine, looks like your 90 has that heavy blue cast to it, as well.
Jo
If your 135 is anything like my 90 you'll be happy with the results..
David Murphy
10-11-2008, 11:59
Colyn, is that bulding in Fort Worth?
Colyn, is that bulding in Fort Worth?
Yes it is.
Just across the street from the Fort Worth Convention center.
David Murphy
10-11-2008, 18:10
Yes it is.
Just across the street from the Fort Worth Convention center.
I was there just recently. I lived there from about 1958 to 1964 when people went downtown to shop for supplies at Leonards on Saturday and real cowboys came to town for supplies. I still have relatives in the area. It is of course quite different now, but I still like it. I was amazed to see a sort of upscale trend there recently - maybe that gas money is kicking in.
David Murphy
10-11-2008, 18:18
I picked up this lens today at the camera show for $5. It's marked Sun Optical Co. Sola 9cm f/4 and is rf coupled 39mm LTM.
Anybody have any experience with this lens? Is it any good??
The glass is scratch, haze, fungus free and it came with its front and rear metal caps..
63457
63458
Colyn, you got a good deal too. These often get more than $50 on eBay. I think I paid about $70 for mine, but it's in very good shape.
David Murphy
10-11-2008, 18:25
Just for reference on Sun Sola lenses, the following are listed at http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/39mm_screw_lenses
* Sun Xebec 5cm f/2, all chrome collapsible, successor of the K.O.L. Xebec 5cm f/2
* Sun Sophia 5cm f/2, all chrome
* Sun Xebec Telephoto 9cm f/4, black and chrome
* Sun Sola 7.5cm f/3.5, black and chrome or all chrome
* Sun Sola 9cm f/4, all chrome
* Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8, all chrome, direct mount
* Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.8, all chrome, for a reflex housing
* Sun Telephoto 13.5cm f/3.5, direct mount (reported only)
A couple of years ago I saw a Sun lens on eBay that was *not* on the above list. It was a 5cm F3.5 Elmar-like collapsible being sold by a Greek camera dealer (I think he's still active there). It finished well over $300. Obviously a real collectible by those into these sort of rarities (I'm one of them!).
I lived there from about 1958 to 1964 when people went downtown to shop for supplies at Leonards on Saturday and real cowboys came to town for supplies.
Back then most of today's suburbs were farm and ranch land and Stripling and Cox were to different dept stores. Now they no longer exist..
Those were the days......
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