Pre-War Carl Zeiss Jena 5cm f1.5 remount to LTM.

[Brian Sweeney]

Another conversion from Contax Mount to Leica Thread Mount. This is #9. it came out quite well.

http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1325

http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1328

This is not a hard job, and gives a unique lens.

At F1.5 on the Canon P;
http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1379
Tight Crop:
http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1380

Another close-up at F1.5
http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1372

Distance at F1.5:
http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1378

F1.5:
http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=147&pictureid=1376

How to do it:
http://ziforums.com/showthread.php?t=93
(must sign up to "the free" ziforums.com to see the attachments)


More pictures of and with:
http://ziforums.com/album.php?albumid=147

[Brian Sweeney]

Someone asked me if I made ear rings out of the Contax mounts after doing the conversions.

I don't wear ear rings, and the J-3 is overkill for a film loupe.

So they get "back hacked" into Contax and S-Mount lenses. Entropy is preserved.

http://ziforums.com/picture.php?albumid=152&pictureid=1400

You have to file the first few millimeters off of the Contax shell. The J-3 goes in deeper, almost to the rim of the F-Stop ring. You need to file off enough to uncover the lettering. I use an Amedeo LTM Contax to adapter to use with my TTL viewer to set the focus.

A 1955 KMZ J-3, "Back Hacked" onto a Contax II.

http://camwk.com/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=652
http://camwk.com/picture.php?albumid=62&pictureid=650

[jmkelly]

Brian - is that KMZ 5502293? The one I sent you as the donor LTM shell for the CZJ you built for me? Great pics! That lens could make good images after all.

[Brian Sweeney]

yes- one and the same. This one got a complete teardown to get rid of some internal fungus, came out really sharp. The 1950s J-3's tend to be the best of the bunch, especially those from the KMZ plant.

[tenderobject]

again.. nice work brian! do you have digital RF to test these lenses? might be easier if you do have one :)

the first pic was a j3 right (with carl zeiss jena in the ring)?

[Brian Sweeney]

I test with my film cameras, and use a through-the-lens viewer to set the collimation.

A D-RF will make testing lenses easier. One is in the Plans!

The first picture is the J-3 LTM mount with the CZJ Sonnar in it. The pictures of Nikki are with the 1955 KMZ J-3 optics back in the Contax mount.

[dee]

I love the pics and the entire idea around rescuing lenses ... inspiring me to try mine out - I should be able to find one good J 8 among my 10 or so [ been using the Helios 'cos it's sensational ! ]

[Brian Sweeney]

I have a Menopta 53/1.8, and have sold off many Helios-103's and Menopta's. They are sharper than the J-8's and J-3's. I still prefer the Sonnar look. When that J-3 hits your Kontax, I hope you'll see what I mean.