The Definitive Komura & Acall thread, post your shots!

[buzzardkid]

Hi all,

browsing the Screw Mount Copies forum, I found the Komura and Acall information scattered over at least four different threads, and thought it a good idea to compile an overview thread so everything on these vintage, well-made, highly usable and even collectable lenses can be found in one place.

To kick start this today I will upload whatever information I have and include some shots I took with the lenses I have owned / still own. If you have any shots to contribute, please feel free!!!

[buzzardkid]

Brand * Focal length * Max Aperture * Min Aperture * Filter size

Komura * 28mm * 3.5 * 16 * 55mm


Komura * 36mm * 1.8 * 16 * 46mm
W-Komura- * 35mm * 2.8 * 22 * 43mm (focus tab)
Asanuma King * 35mm * 2.8 * 22 * 43mm (focus tab, identical to the W-Komura- 35/2.8 lens but 'zebra' focus ring)
W-Komura- * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 43mm (focus tab, identical to the W-Komura- 35/2.8 design)
Asanuma King * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 43mm (focus tab, barrel identical to the Asanuma King 35/2.8 design)
W-Komura- * 35mm * 2.8 * 22 * unknown filter size, example shown online had rear ring of hood attached (no focus tab, 6-digit number)

W. Acall * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm
W-Komura- * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (design identical to the Acall above)
W? Telesar * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (design identical to the Acall above)
W.A. Astra * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (design identical to the Acall above)
Force * 35mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (design identical to the Acall above)


Acall * 80mm * 1.8 * 22 * 48mm
Komura * 80mm * 1.8 * 22 * 48mm (identical to Acall)


Sankyo Optical Works Ltd * 80mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (full chrome, 4-digit number)
Sankyo Optical Works Ltd * 80mm * 3.5 * 22 * 34mm (chrome and black, zebra focus ring, 5-digit number)


Komura * 105mm * 2.0 * 16 * 58mm
Komura * 105mm * 2.8 * 22 * 48mm


Komura * 135mm * 2.8 * 22 * 55mm
Super-Acall * 135mm * 3.5 * 22 * 46mm
Komura * 135mm * 3.5 * 22 * 48mm
Tele-Astra * 135mm * 3.5 * ?? * ??
Bittco Super Vemar * 135mm * 3.5 * 22 * 48mm


Komura * 200mm * 4.5 * 22 * 55mm


Komura * 400mm * 6.3 * 45 * 67mm





This is a preliminary list. If you can include any data that currently is question marked, just post it to the thread and I will include it here. Always interested to list more lenses, just let me know.

[radi(c)al_cam]

recently seen on Leicshop:

Sankyo Kohki f. M39 400/6,3 Komura

amongst 14 Komura exotics...
https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/ad...komura&x=0&y=0

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by radi(c)al_cam

recently seen on Leicshop:

Sankyo Kohki f. M39 400/6,3 Komura

amongst 14 Komura exotics...
https://www.leicashop.com/vintage/ad...komura&x=0&y=0

Right!

I'll include it, as well as the 200/4.5 they made

That signature of yours cracks me up every time, the whole ebay listing you took it from is a killer, ROFL!

[je2a3]

Brand * Focal length * Max Aperture * Min Aperture * Filter size

Komura * 36mm * 1.8 * 16 * 46mm



After searching the archives, I realized I posted on a Komura thread back in early 2006 alluding to an excellent article on Komura LTM lenses written by Takehiko Kobayashi for LHSA Viewfinder Volume 32, Issue 4, 1999. According to the author this lens was manufactured only for a year, 1963, thus seldom seen.



As found in original leather case, VF and rear cap but front cap missing. 46mm hood and cap from Heavystar.

[jan normandale]

Interesting thread, I've a large format Komura 210mm in a Copal No 1 shutter.

[radi(c)al_cam]

Back to topic:
here I found again something interesting:

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/komura_1.html

[ferider]

To add:

Brand * Focal length * Max Aperture * Min Aperture * Filter size

Komura * 135 * 2.8 * 22 * 55mm
Komura * 105 * 2.8 * 22 * 48mm
Komura * 105 * 2.0 * 16 * 58mm
Komura * 200 * 4.5 * 22 * 55mm

[buzzardkid]

Originally Posted by PAN F

Johan,
This is a very good idea to compile all the Komura and Acall lens information on one thread.
Perhaps it would be a good idea to see if the moderators could make it a "sticky".

Regarding the Komura 80mm F1.8 the minimum aperture appears to be F16.

Thanks Pan-F,

I'll include that minimum aperture in the list!

Regarding your newly-acquired 80mm: I have filters that you can have. A Pallas 48mm UV R1.5, a Pallas 48mm Softon filter, a Vivitar 48mm polarizing filter and a 48mm Cokin ring. Mail me off the board if interested, these go for petty cash since I do not own a 48mm lens.

Always happy to help out!

[buzzardkid]

Thanks Roland, I'll include those as well!

[jan normandale]

here's a useful link showing all the 35mm, MF and LF Komura glass. It was helpful for me regarding my LF work.

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/komura_1.html

[buzzardkid]

From the Czech Republic, 2008:


Shot with Leica M8 and Komura 28/3.5 Wide open @ 1/60th, ISO 160

[buzzardkid]

From the Czech republic, 2008:

Shot with Leica M8 and Komura 28/3.5. Aperture approx. 5.6 @ 1/45th, ISO 160.

[ferider]

Great colors, Johan.

If anybody ever comes across this: Asahi Camera (no. 63 ?) published Komura lens info in Summer 1957. Still looking for that magazine ....

Roland.

Johan,

Great thread, god I'm really going to have to get shooting that Acall 35 and make a contribution! Its on the M2 now and I'll be out and about tomorrow...

Did you ever use a filter or hood with that lens? Any suggestions as to whether a hood is needed or not? I'd like to find a mild yellow filter for it, 34mm seems to be the size as per the info above...

Simon

[buzzardkid]

Simon,

I only needed a hood to keep my fat fingers out of the frame

Shortly after selling my W.Acall 35/3.5 copy to you I had a serious stroke of sellers remorse, and when I ran into a W-Komura 35/3.5 last week I hit the button the moment I saw it. This time, I will look for a 34mm screw in hood until I find one, so my fingers will stand aside whenever I take a shot!

If you wanna go fancy-looking, get yourself a Leitz clamp-on yellow filter, the lens takes Summar and Elmar sized accessories

[buzzardkid]

To see a 6MP-sized shot with the W.Acall 35/3.5, click the picture featuring my German Shepard dog Belle.



Shot with Leica M8, aperture 5.6 @ 1/250th, ISO 160.

[rlouzan]

Hi Johan,

The 35mm f3.5 W Acall Kyoei appears to have been sold under the Accura, Tanar and W Honor brands as well.

Interestinly enough, Komura LTM lenses stops down in the opposite direction.

Regards,
Robert

[buzzardkid]

Just edited the lens overview in post 2.

I received a Komura 135mm 3.5 today, and it is definitely NOT the same lens as the Super-Acall 135mm 3.5!

Not only is the Super-Acall 46mm filter thread, as opposed to the Komuras 48mm thread, the Aperture ring on the Super-Acall is rotating the other way from the Komura, and the Komura is 540 grammes, while the Super-Acall is 445 grammes. A 95 grammes difference. Coating on the two also is different, the Super-Acall is honey colored, the Komura is blueish.

Will show shots in an article on my website soon.

[dberger]

Don't be so definitive yet -- I have, or have seen, at least 5 versions of the Komura 135mm f3.5 lens, with quite varied cosmetics. Among those, only 1 clearly had different optics -- an all chrome number. In fact, the Komura M39 section in camerapedia is mostly my doing, and I've never found the drive to list all the 135/3.5 variations. Which reminds me: I need to update it with other items.

Most, if not all of the Acall Leica screw mounts lenses I have or have seen, however, have identical Komura counterparts (excepting the beauty ring and, sometimes, the rangefinder cam). Perhaps you found an Acall that is not a rebadged Komura. Or, there are additional Komura varieties out there yet to be found. Or both.

Cheers,

David

[tooffy]

My Komura 80mm f1.8 looks different from Pan-F's:


Samples taken with M8 @f1.8

[buzzardkid]

Nice shots from the 80/1.8.

Tricky situation: should I extend the 'definitive' list with model variations, or just optical/mechanical variations?

Like David said, there might be so many variations in models that it might be hard to reach a list with a definite character in the end...

Anyway, more shots of and with Komuras / Acalls welcome, lets see what else is posted here.

[David Murphy]

I don't have one, but I was thinking of getting one. They look fun.

[radi(c)al_cam]

Originally Posted by CLE-RF

Anybody have/use a Komura Telemore set like this one?

I'd like to read on ease of use/ergonomics, and see results!

I do... I have the silver-coloured one, like item # 310205210260, I also paid in that price range.

Another seller wants for it USD 400 (#270506302657) -- do you think, the black version is USD 250 better?

;-)

I must confess, my copy is still in the box. I'm afraid, it was a GAS related purchase, and so I have no motivation to open the postal carton :-(

[David Murphy]

Originally Posted by radi(c)al_cam

I do... I have the silver-coloured one, like item # 310205210260, I also paid in that price range.

Another seller wants for it USD 400 (#270506302657) -- do you think, the black version is USD 250 better?

;-)

I must confess, my copy is still in the box. I'm afraid, it was a GAS related purchase, and so I have no motivation to open the postal carton :-(

This is clear symptom of the advanced stages of GAS: boxed items that are too precious to either actually use or sell (I suffer this as well).