Uncommon lens for Ajax-12

Hi,

Would be appreciated to know more about this uncommon lens for spy camera. Visually looks like standard 2.8/28, but with different characteristics indeed. Thanks in advance and HAPPY NEW YEAR!





Best Regards,
Aidas

Hello Aidas and Happy New Year to you my friend!

I don't know of this lens specifically, however one thing I have noticed over the years amy be of help in identifying it.

I have seen that most often when the "N" in the serial number has the two little right angle lines (serifs) at either end of the letter, that this is a bit unusual and seems to appear on optics (mostly lenses) from Kazan / KOMZ. You can see this in a photo of a Jupiter-11 lens (bottom left photo, page 248, of Princelle) and also the serial number on the back of the lens-attachment for the ZOLA (upper left photo, page 198, Princelle). This lens attachment for ZOLA was probably made at KOMZ, although it is not marked with a logo, and of course KOMZ had close links with KMZ during USSR days, so probably they made it for KGB ... special order.

So, maybe the origin of this lens is KOMZ!

Regards, Bill

Bill, very interesting observation! This GOI reflex housing has the same serif N.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Goi-Reflex-housing-Lens-Goi-4-5-30cm-f-Fotosnaiper-Fed_W0QQitemZ350300273707QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCamera_Lenses?hash=item518f85fc2b#ht_5443wt_1165

Vlad

Hi Vlad,

Yes, and so do other military cameras and equipment, so it may not be factory specific, but more a military way of making the "N".

Regards, Bill

Hello Aidas

It looks like it's not a lens for the Ajax-12/F-21, because of the three
screws. The Ajax-12/F-21 use to have four of them. But maybe this could
be a tele lens for the earlier Ajax 9 (see "1200 cameras", page 590)
with three screws around the lens.

Best wishes - Guido

Hello friends and thank you for your observations!

Bill, your thought about KOMZ sounds quite possible, why not?.

Guido, if the lens has date prefix in its serial number (it seems like this indeed ...), my lens is too late for Ajax-9 camera. I did already notice a different number of screws, but it should mean nothing since the lens has screw mount ...

Best Regards,
Aidas