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Archive 2016 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

SlowDriver
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p.3 #1 · p.3 #1 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

rscheffler wrote:
Seems they've gone up in price.

I recall looking into them perhaps 5 years ago and then they were around $4K on eBay. I would never pay $7K for one.

Jul 14, 2020 at 09:15 PM

rscheffler
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p.3 #2 · p.3 #2 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

I agree. Unfortunately it has become a collector's lens. IIRC, only 200 were made?

rico wrote:
For that kind of money I would sooner pick up an Otus.

Instead of Otus, I'd rather get the Canon 50 and 85 f/1.2 RF lenses. Otus level quality with AF.

But on M mount, there aren't many modern > 75mm f/2 or faster options... Just the 90AA and it's around $5K or the $12.5K Summilux.

Jul 14, 2020 at 09:39 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.3 #3 · p.3 #3 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

Map Camera has 2 of them currently:
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008645054
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717009687244

Both are priced at around USD 3835 (each) currently.
According to those listings, the official price of the lens was 275000 JPY in Japan (around USD 2575) originally.

And there are 3 hoods available sold separately:
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717009389094
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008428077
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008645061

Those are priced at around $400 each.

Anyway, much cheaper than at eBay

These are rated to be in "average / normal" condition, which means that they are not especially mint. Prices would probably be quite much higher for samples in perfect / like new condition.

Jul 15, 2020 at 07:13 AM

Fred Miranda
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p.3 #4 · p.3 #4 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

Not only exists, it's for sale here:
https://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1633549

Jul 15, 2020 at 01:58 PM

rscheffler
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p.3 #5 · p.3 #5 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

That's the lens I used for the images on the earlier page when I had a meet-up with Andrew back in 2012! At that asking price, you can safely assume he's making a tidy profit.

Juha Kannisto wrote:
Map Camera has 2 of them currently:
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008645054
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717009687244

Both are priced at around USD 3835 (each) currently.
According to those listings, the official price of the lens was 275000 JPY in Japan (around USD 2575) originally.

And there are 3 hoods available sold separately:
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717009389094
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008428077
https://www.mapcamera.com/item/3717008645061

Those are priced at around $400 each.

Anyway, much cheaper than at eBay

These are rated to be in "average / normal" condition, which means that they are not especially mint. Prices would probably be quite much higher for samples in perfect / like new condition.

Juha, what's your 'handling fee' to facilitate a purchase?

Jul 16, 2020 at 11:17 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.3 #6 · p.3 #6 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

rscheffler wrote:
That's the lens I used for the images on the earlier page when I had a meet-up with Andrew back in 2012! At that asking price, you can safely assume he's making a tidy profit.

Juha, what's your 'handling fee' to facilitate a purchase?

So far I've been just hunting lenses for myself and I haven't really thought of it but if you are really interested in getting one I could certainly try & help with the arrangements without much of a fee but should get all expenses covered in advance

There's one more now at Yahoo Japan Auctions, but this one is at a higher price and includes the hood (bidding starts from 698000 JPY and buy-it-now is 738000 JPY), they claim it's in like-new condition with just some little signs of use inside the hood: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g216271929. Probably won't sell very soon at that price and they'll keep relisting it over and over again...

Last week I was bidding on a Konica UC-Hexanon 35/2 (LTM) in great condition but I wasn't willing to go that high and the price went to 147K yen in the end and it wasn't a complete package as front cap and box etc. were missing... Map Camera had one of those at 189K yen at the same time (full package optical condition was not as perfect)... That's one lens I currently still lust over but it's usually too expensive considering that it could well be a disappointment adapted on my digital cameras.

Jul 17, 2020 at 01:57 AM

rscheffler
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p.3 #7 · p.3 #7 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

I posted somewhat in jest, but appreciate the thoughtful consideration. I'll keep it in mind! Roughly $4000 is definitely more than I would want to spend, considering it wouldn't be a staple lens in my inventory.

Good luck with the UC-Hex hunt!

Jul 17, 2020 at 02:43 AM

rico
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p.3 #8 · p.3 #8 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

I have serious doubts the modern Konica 35mm reissues will work on Sony Alpha with its thick sensor cover. The UC version never appealed to me but the LTM looks totally awesome (and is cheaper).

Jul 17, 2020 at 07:26 PM

nehemiahphoto
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p.3 #9 · p.3 #9 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

Juha Kannisto wrote:
So far I've been just hunting lenses for myself and I haven't really thought of it but if you are really interested in getting one I could certainly try & help with the arrangements without much of a fee but should get all expenses covered in advance

Jul 17, 2020 at 07:33 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.3 #10 · p.3 #10 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

nehemiahphoto wrote:
Did our recent discussion on the Konica 35/2 spur your interest? I have been eyeing it myself since...

I had an interest on it since long time ago it was dormant and I think the recent discussion probably re-ignited it again

After that I started looking for it more actively again. I might not be able to ever get it at a price I'm willing to pay though... The older non-UC version is more readily available but the UC is more exciting to me and it seems to show up in Yahoo Auctions only about once in every 2-3 months so I'll keep an eye out. In Tokyo 2nd hand camera stores the prices are usually higher, I even saw one with asking price of 275000 yen.

That one seems to be still available: https://cameranonaniwa.jp/shop/g/g2111020233052/

Jul 18, 2020 at 04:42 AM

Takira71A
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p.3 #11 · p.3 #11 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

nehemiahphoto wrote:
... but the Contarex 85 f2 is an awesome lens, though the character is a bit different.

Another 'underrated' vintage Lens... Is of course the very, nice Olympus OM Zuiko 85mm f/2.

Jul 18, 2020 at 10:35 AM

nehemiahphoto
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p.3 #12 · p.3 #12 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

Takira71A wrote:
Another 'underrated' vintage Lens... Is of course the very, nice Olympus OM Zuiko 85mm f/2.

I’ve heard that but never tried...I did own a oly 100/2 I use to like. Unusually soft bokeh. That oly 85/2 is a Sonnar design right? Would be great to see some samples if you have any

Jul 18, 2020 at 02:34 PM

serhan_
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p.3 #13 · p.3 #13 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

A7R+OM 85mm 2


	https://pbase.com/sc_20170/image/154111698/original.jpg


	https://pbase.com/sc_20170/image/154111699/original.jpg

nehemiahphoto wrote:
I’ve heard that but never tried...I did own a oly 100/2 I use to like. Unusually soft bokeh. That oly 85/2 is a Sonnar design right? Would be great to see some samples if you have any

Jul 18, 2020 at 03:45 PM

Takira71A
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p.3 #14 · p.3 #14 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

nehemiahphoto wrote:
... That oly 85/2 is a Sonnar design right?

____

Yes. I believe that you are correct about that (Ludwig Bertele: Ernostar / Sonnar Lens Design).
For further reading about it, the following URL Links are all extremely informative:

https://olypedia.de/index.php?title=Zuiko_Auto-T_1:2/85_mm
(*Is best viewed in Google Chrome for Translation).

https://www.photo.net/discuss/threads/olympus-om-85mm-f2-the-om-sonnar.460561/
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/olympusom1n2/shared/zuiko/htmls/85mm.htm

Enjoy!

Jul 18, 2020 at 07:32 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.3 #15 · p.3 #15 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

rico wrote:
I have serious doubts the modern Konica 35mm reissues will work on Sony Alpha with its thick sensor cover. The UC version never appealed to me but the LTM looks totally awesome (and is cheaper).

The UC-Hexanon (2001) is also LTM and should be optically quite similar to the original silver LTM (1996) but supposedly with improved coatings. I personally find the newer UC more appearling of the 2.

I also think neither version is going to work very optimally on Sony, but might work better on my Sigma fp (likely with more color shading but that can be removable). I might also go for the older silver version if I found a good deal on it. There are multiple copies of the silver version in Yahoo Auctions all the time but the asking prices are starting at around 130000+ JPY for the copies in great condition with all the original package contents and at that price level I'd rather try to get the newer UC version. Then again, the UC version is more difficult to find and the prices tend to go even higher...

Jul 19, 2020 at 10:27 PM

rico
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p.3 #16 · p.3 #16 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

Juha Kannisto wrote:
The UC-Hexanon (2001) is also LTM and should be optically quite similar to the original silver LTM (1996) but supposedly with improved coatings. I personally find the newer UC more appearling of the 2.

Ah, the UC is LTM! Camerapedia says the release date was 1999 which must be the expiration date of Leica's patent for M mount because Konica was the first third party to release a camera with M mount (Hexar RF). They also released four Hexanon-M lenses that same year but, for some reason, the UC was given LTM mount. I prefer the appearance of the "L" version and its DOF scale but either would attach nicely to my 1939 Barnack.

Jul 20, 2020 at 03:53 PM

Juha Kannisto
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p.3 #17 · p.3 #17 · Does the Zeiss ZM Sonnar T* 85mm f/2 actually exist?

rico wrote:
Ah, the UC is LTM! Camerapedia says the release date was 1999 which must be the expiration date of Leica's patent for M mount because Konica was the first third party to release a camera with M mount (Hexar RF). They also released four Hexanon-M lenses that same year but, for some reason, the UC was given LTM mount. I prefer the appearance of the "L" version and its DOF scale but either would attach nicely to my 1939 Barnack.

This is a nice revised article discussing both versions of the LTM lens:
https://themachineplanet.wordpress.com/2019/08/10/konica-hexanon-35-2-0-l-uc-hexanons/

Original article from 2001 with some small sample shots:
https://www.dantestella.com/technical/hex352.html

In the revised article it is noted that the UC-Hexanon 35/2 was produced in 2000, I had read somewhere else that it was a 2001 release. Not sure about the exact timing. Anyway, I'm keeping an eye out for either version at a bit more attractive price...

Jul 20, 2020 at 11:30 PM

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