The Definitive Komura & Acall thread, post your shots!

[buzzardkid]

So, there was an interesting Komura 35/3.5 in the classifieds today. Not the smaller edition but one in a barrel similar to that of the 35/2.8. I had never seen one before and it was gone in under 60 seconds I reckon.

Just 'fess up, who got it? Can we see shots?

[Phil_F_NM]

While this thread does provide incredible information about great third party lenses, what it really proves is that I need to go to the Netherlands!

Phil Forrest

[David Murphy]

Yes, excellent shots. Too bad they are so darn rare!

Originally Posted by Krosya

A couple more from Komura 35/2.8 all pics at f2.8 wide open - excellent lens IMO:

[Phil_F_NM]

So the Komura 135mm f/2.8 arrived today. A day early, actually so it was a pleasant surprise when I got home.
I immediately checked it for physical soundness, ability to focus and change aperture then I stuck it on my M9 and went outside to shoot a few photos before the rain started (and did it start! It's been raining here for a few hours.) One thing I found was great is the accessory VF! It's a 1x magnification with an etched 135mm frameline. I might actually use this one cause it's almost as good as my old Leica 135 VF I had when I had a Hektor.
Anyways, the lens is fantastic. It takes a lot of work to focus but I did it.



higher res version here by clicking on the icon next to the camera above the image:
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/Phi...497_E.jpg.html

After I shot a bit on my porch I saw that it was back focusing. Actually back focusing by inches.
I went and looked at it in my room, grabbed a screwdriver, found the adjustment and got it as close as I could get it but that wasn't enough...
The lubricant in the helicoid had turned to something like hard cosmoline (and it smelled the same) so I decided to completely clean it and re-lube it with a bit of white lithium. Now the focusing feel is much nicer but deep inside the barrel was about 1/4 inch that I couldn't really get to without disassembling the optics in the back, so there's a bit of a bind just towards infinity which is going to drive me nuts until a hot day when some of the old lube softens and is hopefully displaced by the new white lithium (I can dream.)
Regardless, I'm happy with the lens so far. It's smaller than I thought it would be. I was thinking it would have been the size of the 135 Elmarit. This one is just a tad bit bigger than an Elmar.
It came with the case and finder but no hood. I'm willing to bet it's flaretastic with a light source hitting the front element. I'm sure finding a proper good quality hood is going to be a pain. Oh well.
I'll post photos of it in the camera perhaps tomorrow.

[Phil_F_NM]

After about 10 hours of working on the Komura 135mm f/2.8 lens to attempt to "precisely" or "accurately" collimate it, at it were, I've found that I could only get it a bit closer than the factory setting. At this setting though, I notice backfocus of a few inches at closest range but when I'm shooting from a tripod and really taking my time, I can get it within about one inch.
The issue is that it wanders between back and front focus. I'm thinking that the very shallow focus of the lens, added to the fact that I wear glasses and a possible error of the placement of my eye in the center of the viewfinder is causing the focusing to wander.
I'm shooting the lens on either a M9 or M8 with aftermarket 1.25x VF magnifier. The one thing I've noticed about the magnifier is that since it increases the length of the telescope, it increases the possible error in centering of the eye in the VF, so I can get a lens longer than 75mm in focus about the same amount with as without the magnifier eyepiece.
Anyways, the lens is a tack driver. Incredibly sharp at f/5.6-f/11 as long as the plane of focus can be found. At infinity it's fantastic!
Has anyone else had this issue with this same or a similar lens and camera setup? Wandering focus?
Thanks all.

Phil Forrest

[buzzardkid]

Hi Phil,

haven't had any issues like yours with the 135/3.5 Komura I owned.

That was an Ernostar design and really sharp as well.

Maybe somebody else can chime in on the issues with a magnifier and glasses, since I have neither

Anyway, can we see some shots, when you're up for it?

[Phil_F_NM]

Back to the drawing board.
Turns out that the tool I was using to collimate the lens (the M8) is off at infinity.
So that several days' work is out the window and I'll have to start fresh with the M9 later in the week.
But anyways, when the lens is in focus, the plane of focus is sharp. Good stuff.

EDIT:
I got the focus figured out at closest range out to infinity. Used the M9 to collimate the lens. What was wrong was that the secondary helicoid was rotated 180 degrees inside the lens barrel. This allowed infinity to be right on and the fine adjustment of focus was "wandering" due to small adjustments as well as probably a little bit of slop between the primary helicoid, secondary helicoid, lens mount and RF cam follower. The 180 degree rotation allowed me to get close but not spot on. I just went outside to check infinity against distant lights and it lines up fine. Close focus is good and repeatable as long as I'm holding still. I'll post some real photos from the lens soon.
Thank goodness I got this issue fixed!

Phil Forrest

[Phil_F_NM]

The 135mm f/2.8 is all adjusted and good now. I hate lens testing! I just want to shoot but when I saw the focus error at first, I just had to fix it.
Here are a few images I shot out in the backyard of some flowers. Nice, static subjects for my last test.

At f/2.8


At f/2.8


At f/5.6

So, this lens can definitely deliver the goods. The only other 135mm lens I've used on a Leica was an M mount Hektor which was very sharp but different. This Komura is 2/3 the size of the Hektor and a full stop faster. It's definitely a good shooter as long as I do my job and focus correctly.

(Sorry to take over the last half of the page)

Phil Forrest

[hipsterdufus]

Does anyone else have any shots from the Kyoei/Acall 35mm f3.5 lens? I won one on the 'bay for what seems like a reasonable price, but there is very limited information about it and even less pictures from the lens. Thanks!

[buzzardkid]

Hi Eric,

You could ask Robert (Rlouzan) for shots, he might still have his.

I used to have shots of the lens up in Flickr (buzzardkid there too), an Acall on an M5 that was.

It's a great little lens, lucky you! Enjoy shooting it!

[hipsterdufus]

Thanks for the response, Johan! I saw the shot of your German Shepard on flickr; looks like a good lens. I'll look forward to trying it out. Just curious, why did you get rid of yours?

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by hipsterdufus

Thanks for the response, Johan! I saw the shot of your German Shepard on flickr; looks like a good lens. I'll look forward to trying it out. Just curious, why did you get rid of yours?

Hi Eric,
Thanks for the compliment on the shot, Belle really appreciated it too!

In the end I sold that fine lens because it was too small for me, I kept gripping the front ring when shooting it and my fingers ended up in the lower right corner of shot too often.

Meanwhile I have come to grips (pun) with that while using an equally small Canon 28/3.5 LTM and now I wish I had kept that 35, haven't seen one for a while now...

[buzzardkid]

Six months since the last post in this thread... tss.

Fellow member Bobkonos has gracefully helped me out in acquiring a truly nice Komura 35/3.5 LTM lens with lens case and strange, Ehira-marked front cap, from the US. He will forward it to me and once customs are done with it (expect it here early June...) I will shoot this on my real-early Leica II.

Can't wait...! This time I'll gonna keep my fat fingers out of the frame and in due time will find me a nice matching hood for it!

Last month I found a Komura LTM to M adapter, for 35mm lenses. Got that from Italy and it will allow to use the lens on my M2 as well.

Here's a picture from the eBay listing:

[Flat Twin]

Johan,

Very nice and congratulations on finding another Acall/Komura 35/3.5! I hope you'll keep this one, I decided to hang on to the one that you sold me too. Also, I'm looking for a hood for it, any leads as to where to find one?!

Cheers Johan,

Simon

[buzzardkid]

HU: Cheap Komura 80/3.5 in LTM


Have a look at Item nr. 310398582672 on eBay.

Hours to go, only a few bucks on it yet. It's a late-model 80mm 3.5 Komura lens in Leica LTM thread.

Rare lens for which I can unfortunately not bid. The US-based seller has blocked international sales and even international questions so I cannot get in touch with him.


Posting this here hoping a fellow RFF'er gets it, or (gasp) acquire it for me?

[buzzardkid]

1.5 hrs to go and that Komura 80/3.5 LTM is on the rise, currently at USD 12.12





http://www.ebay.nl/itm/310398582672?...ht_1192wt_1398

Come on people, this is a rare and likely stellar lens, see the other shots of Komuras and Acalls in this thread! I'd buy it if I could...!

[buzzardkid]

So, anybody here get it for those measly 78 bucks?

[buzzardkid]

Look here:




Lens for on sale in the UK, asking GBP 149.

This one is branded 'Force'. Must be a label for a camera store or something, as a brand it is unknown for Leica camera's or lenses.


Identical to the Komura / Kyoei Acall / Astra / Telesar model. I never heard of this one before. I added it to the listing in post #2 of this thread.





Seems awfully quiet in this thread lately. Lotsa readers and few posters. Have the Komura's and their kin been reduced to collectors-only status? Nobody shooting these babies anymore?

COME ON, SHOW SOME SHOTS FOLKS!!

[Gazzah]

That has to be one of the worst sites to try and navigate !!

Anyway - back o subject. I have the same 35 2.8 shown by Krosya a year ago.
I have an orginal filter and hood on mine. Nice enought we lens, sharp when I can focus it, but there in lies the problem - the focus throw is so short that Ido have issues with it, that and it front focuses a bit on by R-D1 at close range.
I really do have to start rationalizing my gear- far to many nice bits of kit lying in boxes...

[David Murphy]

I"ve owned three or four of these Acall 35/3.5's over the years. It's a good, but not great lens. Some vignette a bit on the corners, but it's not too distracting and easily cropped in this age of digital editing (or in a dark room of course). In resolution it is on par with the Summaron 35mm F3.5, but perhaps not as sharp as most of the later production 35mm LTM lenses from Canon. The finder is decent too if you can locate one. I had one once branded as "Telesar" - somewhat uncommon I hear. The Acall 35/3.5 makes a nice wide for those putting together a budget, compact LTM kit.

[buzzardkid]

W-Komura 35/3.5 LTM.

Finally have one again!

[varjag]

Taken with Komura 200/4.5 LTM:


Света by varjagg, on Flickr

[David Murphy]

Thanks for that 200/4.5 shot - I've always wondered how this performed - pretty good as I think we can see.

[punctum]

Hi
Just picked up a f3.5 28mm W-komura, it seems to have two threads 48mm inner and 55mm outer? I'm looking to add a hood and assume the outer threads would be better as that controls the aperture (needs to move). The 55 w ones by heavystar on eBay is one choice.
Also any lens diagrams for komura on line?
Thanks
Sven

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by punctum

Hi
Just picked up a f3.5 28mm W-komura, it seems to have two threads 48mm inner and 55mm outer? I'm looking to add a hood and assume the outer threads would be better as that controls the aperture (needs to move). The 55 w ones by heavystar on eBay is one choice.
Also any lens diagrams for komura on line?
Thanks
Sven

Hi, nice find! Had a 28/3.5 myself at one time but foolishly sold it (to David, who in turn sold it as well).

I never found the correct hood but picked up a 55mm hood for an SLR lens and that also did the job.

Wasn't aware of inner threads of 48mm but I would not be suprised, I saw 48mm filters on other Komura and Acall lenses as well!
Any shots of those inner threads? I'm interested!