Nikkor 135 f/3.5 ... Any experiences?

physiognomy · 01-22-2006

Hi, I just stumbled upon this....

NIKKOR 135MM F/3.5 T-PHOTO, RANGEFINDER LENS 4 CONTAX

Ok, I'm busted, but what else is there to do on a chilly sunday morning while you are waiting for the football? Go Donkeys! ... Seriously, this isn't a plug for the seller and/or sale (as always), but I was curious as to whether it would really work on a Contax/Kiev...

I haven't seen this lens before, but I was under the impression that only wide-angle nikkors (non-ltm) could transfer to Contax/Kiev bodies. If anyone has used or seen pictures with this lens I would appreciate any comments... I have started a roll with my Jupiter-11 and am interested in seeing whether the longer RF lenses will make me forget about the F3/F100/RTS/etc, etc, etc

Cheers!

Peter

Brian Sweeney · 01-22-2006

It will fit a Contax, but this looks like the Nikon version. The COntax version has a big 'c' on the side of the lens barrel. I do not see one on this one. Most likely, it is for the Nikon. IF the 'c' is on a side not shown, it will work. About the only person who will bid on this auction is someone with both Contax and Nikon cameras.

physiognomy · 01-22-2006

Thanks Brian!

I didn't know that Nikkor made 'Contax' lenses as well... Are they the only maker to have had lenses in 3 RF mounts?

Cheers!

Peter

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Sweeney

It will fit a Contax, but this looks like the Nikon version. The COntax version has a big 'c' on the side of the lens barrel. I do not see one on this one. Most likely, it is for the Nikon. IF the 'c' is on a side not shown, it will work. About the only person who will bid on this auction is someone with both Contax and Nikon cameras.

Brian Sweeney · 01-22-2006

You can also find Tanar lenses in Contax, Nikon S-mount, and Leica Thread Mount.

The Nikkor 13.5cm F3.5 was also available in Exakta mount, and had a special focus mount to use it on the Nikon F. The lens module unscrews from the focus unit and goes into a focus unit made for F-Mount.

So this lens could be used in 5 different mounts.

Honu-Hugger · 01-22-2006

I thought I had a shot of one of these tucked away. I was surprised to see how different the lens in the auction you referenced looks from mine; this is a 135/3.5 Nikkor with "C" as Brian described (original hood and caps).

doubs43 · 01-22-2006

Honu, that's one beautiful Contax!

Walker

darkkavenger · 01-22-2006

Ooh!! How lovely is this Contax! I swear it's the first one I see in such a beautiful shape! Congrats!!!

Honu-Hugger · 01-22-2006

Thank you for the compliments on the camera; it has shown its face in a couple of "Camera and Coffee" posts. Peter, as for experience with the lens I am a little embarassed to admit that I have not used this particular lens yet. Brian Sweeney has a great deal of experience with the Nikkors and he can correct me if I am mistaken, but I believe there is a slight difference in the focus calibration (having to do with the thread pitch?) with Nikkors designed for Nikon cameras versus those Nikon built for Contaxes; this is of less significance with the wide-angles but is of more importance with the longer focal lengths.

Brian Sweeney · 01-22-2006

D2: You have the last ("black and Chrome" ) version of the 13.5cm F3.5. For the 'C'ontax lenses the helical is different, and the shimming tends to be thicker than the S-Mount lenses. The one in the auction is the second version of the lens, all-chrome with f-stops to F32. I have the second version, "all-black" which looks like the chrome lens in black paint. The chrome and black version is lighter. The lens module unscrews from the mount and can be interchanged across all of them.

It is a fine lens, and the formula went virtually unchanged into the 1980's with the AIS series SLR lens.

VinceC · 01-22-2006

These lenses were a "must have" in the pre-SLR era, but today nobody wants one, and they go for really, really cheap. For that reason, you might as well get the best one you can find. The easiest one to use is the black-and-chrome barrel because it's so light. The chrome barrels are very heavy. As mentioned, the same formula for both chrome and black and for later SLR versions.

raid · 01-22-2006

I have the chrome 135/3.5 in LTM. It looks great and is great optically. I will post some shots with it soon.