I bought an Astra 35/3.5 What is it?

trittium · 02-02-2007

Supposidly this lens is a leica screw mount lens, but I cannot find any information about it online, and it was the only one on ebay. Any information about this lens would be greatly appreciated. The lens is maked W.A. Astra 1:3.5 f=35mm

Nachkebia · 02-02-2007

Astra was the cheapest so most awful cigarette in soviet union!

trittium · 02-02-2007

I hope the lens isn't a promotional item for the nasty cigarettes!

Nachkebia · 02-02-2007

LOL, I hope not, congrats btw

trittium · 02-02-2007

thanks nachkebia

physiognomy · 02-02-2007

It looks like a nice lens Matt... Congrat's! Maybe it's just me, but the scalloped focus ring looks very similar to the Soligor lenses I have (T4 interchangeable mount for slrs)... Maybe it is a rebadged/clone lens??? From what I have read some Japanese lenses were sold under a few different names. I know Soligor made a lens or two for the Argus C3, but can't recall if they also made ltm lenses. I think they may have...

Peter

kbg32 · 02-02-2007

Almost looks like an enlarging lens, except that it has a depth of field scale. BTW, why would you buy something that you know nothing about?

trittium · 02-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbg32

Almost looks like an enlarging lens, except that it has a depth of field scale. BTW, why would you buy something that you know nothing about?

I trust the seller that it is a leica thread mount lens because he is selling other ltm lenses and his name is can-rf. It was a decient price for a 35mm, and even better concidering it is rare. Plus it will be fun to see the results of an unknown lens.

trittium · 02-02-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by physiognomy

It looks like a nice lens Matt... Congrat's! Maybe it's just me, but the scalloped focus ring looks very similar to the Soligor lenses I have (T4 interchangeable mount for slrs)... Maybe it is a rebadged/clone lens??? From what I have read some Japanese lenses were sold under a few different names. I know Soligor made a lens or two for the Argus C3, but can't recall if they also made ltm lenses. I think they may have...

Peter

It could be a soligor. According to camerapedia soligor did make a 35/3.5 in ltm

trittium · 02-02-2007

wait no, I looked up the soligor. It is a completely different lens.

David Murphy · 02-02-2007

This looks a lot like the Kyoei W.Acall 35mm F3.5 which was sold in the 1960's by New York camera dealers. I've owned a couple and they are very good lenses (I am looking for a new one). I have heard, somewhere (or read) that the Acall was actually a rebranded Komura lens (also good), but I doubt anyone really knows. My guess is that it is a result somehow of tooling and processes left over from the Japanese surge in LTM lens/camera production in the 50's.

trittium · 02-02-2007

I think you are right Dave. This does amazingly close to the komura 35/3.5.

Now I am really excited about this lens. I hear komura's are excellant.

David Murphy · 02-02-2007

Here a few photos with the Acall 35/3.5 (Vancouver, LA, Hong Kong). The photos are degraded a lot by the posting size restriction here -- the night shot of HK is really quite sharp and taken with the lens wide open -- it can be seen in one of my galleries in higher resolution here:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/phot...hp?photo=36740

Matt if you ever get tired of this lens and want to trade or sell it let me know!

dberger · 02-02-2007

I would say that it's a rebadged Komura 35mm f3.5 lens, which was manufactured by Sankyo Kohki. The same lens was also rebadged as a W. Acall (as already mentioned). I've only seen one other Astra lens, a 135mm f3.5 Tele Astra that I got a while ago. That lens too is identical to a Komura 135/3.5 and Super Acall 135/3.5.

I think that Sankyo Kohki is the manufacturer because there was quite a full line of Komura lenses made in many mounts (as well as large and medium formats), while there were only a few Acalls and Astras. I also have a few Soligor lenses in Leica screw mount that do not resemble Komuras.

Anyway, I have both Komura and Acall samples, and, as David Murphy wrote, they are pretty good lenses, particularly around f5.6. Have fun with it.

David

xayraa33 · 02-04-2007

the same styled lens was also sold with the ACCURAR label also.
they must have a common source, Komura is the best bet.

trittium · 02-06-2007

It came in the mail today! Time to test 'er out.

trittium · 02-06-2007

It is definately a nice lens. Some quick shots.

Nachkebia · 02-06-2007

Very good lens! yeah! congrats...

Stephanie Brim · 02-06-2007

How much was this? Perhaps I should look for one to mount on my Zorki.

trittium · 02-06-2007

Thanks Nachkebia! I was definately happy with the results. Stephanie, didn't you mother teach you not to ask that question? Just kidding. It was pretty pricey, but I think I got it for a steal anyway considering it's rarity. Since you are looking to save money for that house, you might want to look into a jupiter-12. My friend has one, and it takes nice pictures. He purchased his with another zorki for under $40

John Shriver · 03-02-2007

eBay item 330081190099, $158.38. (Easy to find through the feedback.)

Sankyo Kohki made interesting lenses. Some are indeed rare and valuable. I've got their SLR 100/1.8 and 200/3.5 lenses, first in Unidapter, second in Uni-Auto adapter. Well, I also have a 135/2.8, but I bought that just for the Exakta Unidapter to feed my Topcon.