Wartime LTM Sonnar on Fed or Zorki?

Hello!

Yes, a strange question. Generally, a LTM Sonnar is on a Leica...

But mine, a collapsible 2/5cm serial # 2711193 is stamped with an M (capital M for "meter") on the distance scale which means it was specially made for the Russian production. This lens is probably exactly the same as an 1947 or 1948 ZK, apart the inscription.

The symbol "m" (lower-case letter) was used for Zeiss lenses regulated for Leica bodies.

So, this Sonnar must be put on a Russian camera. But which one? Fed eBerdsk, NKAP, or Fed-Zorki? It would be fine on my late S eBerdsk...

Do you have a "historical" opinion?

Amitiйs. Jacques.

I have just tried and as it was likely, the position of the button at the infinity is not right for the Feds: 4 o'clock instead of 7. Of course, it is not impossible to use it that way, but much less comfortable.

My Fed-Zorkis are good for this Sonnar. So, it will be a Fed-Zorki!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

To be more clear, here are the two symbols for "meter" on Zeiss lenses.
First, the m (used for lenses regulated for Leica bodies). The lens is a 1,5 Sonnar (LTM, of course!).


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/342012_meter scale 001.jpg

Then, the M used for the Russian production. The lens is the collapsible 2 Sonnar which looks like the 1948 ZK.



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/342012_meter scale 002.jpg

Finally, I have put this last lens on a late Fed S d type. The lens ring (fixed to the body by four screws) was already turned of 90° clockwise. So, it's perfect!



http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/342012_meter scale 003.jpg

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

I have had a Sonnar 2,0/85 of this series, serial 2847xxx, 6 or 7 years ago. It also had the big "M". But I was an idiot, I've sold it away... :-/

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de

Hi Ulrich!

A 2/85 LTM wartime Sonnar... What a rare lens...

But it's sometimes hard to know what must be done. I sold two years ago some of my earliest and rarest Leicas to buy wartime Contaxes, early Kievs and Jena Contaxes. Now I have all that, I try to find again interesting early Leicas...

The life of a collection is not a long quiet river. Nor the one of a collector!

Amitiйs. Jacques.

Jacques,

what should I say... It was at the beginning of collecting for me and I did not know that it is really rare. Unfortunately I got the ConKie documents years later...

Ulrich

http://fotos.cconin.de