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Finally found Contax Planar 50mm f1.7 with 8XXXXXX serial
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
AhamB wrote:
bleach551 wrote:
AhamB,

the known improvement in 69XXXXX serial number, which was the change from AE version to MM version.


There is a Planar 1.7/50 in the Marketplace now (sold) which has a 679xxxx serial, and it was a MM version (green f/16 aperture and MM function works on Contax body that supports it). It had a ninja-star aperture at f/2 and 2.8 though...

It seems that this AE to MM transition was not so black and white as you put it.


yep it was mine (i was the seller)
And you're right Wink MMJ green f/16 (also tested in MM mode on Contax 159MM)

Strange MM planar f/1.7 Laughing


Here a picture (soory for the awful quality, but it's the only pic where we can "see" a little the green f/16)


PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
fourmix and ahamB,

I stand corrected. But for the longest, that has been want I have been led to believe.

Fourmix, to I apologize for inferring that there might be something " not right" about you your lens. I have been educated like I knew I would when I joined this forum. And I will continue to be educated by those more knowledgeable than myself. Smile


PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
No Problem.

I was surprised by this AEMM lens to Wink


PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2010 6:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks Fourmix,

No more "absolute statements" from me. Laughing


PostPosted: Wed Mar 21, 2012 2:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Wow, lots of talk in this thread about the 1.7/50 Contax!
Let me set a few things straight:

1- I am the guy responsible for spreading around the rumour that the 8x serials of the 1.7/50 Contax have been improved optically. Very Happy
As far as I know, no one else other than me has stated that, probably also because 8x copies are not easy to find.

2- I have owned several copies of this lens, numbered 5x, 6x and 7x. I currently own two copies 8x, both bought new (old stock).

3- Based on my experience, I have no doubt that the 8x copies are better optically than the 5x 6x 7x copies that I tried.
Of course, I can not make of this an absolute statement. I can not tell, for instance, if there may be 7x copies that are as good as the 8x.
Mine was not. But I have no evidence to say from what precise moment that change occurred. It might be that some 7x may be included. Or might not.
And no, sorry, I don't think I have written down anywhere the complete serial of the 7x copy that I owned.
I sold my 1.7/50 copies over the span of some years. The latest was sold when I bought the 8x copies.
And neither I can exclude that all 8x copies might be as good as those that I have. Maybe some earlier ones are not. Who knows?
The only thing I know is that my two copies are both of superior optical quality

4- The Planar 1.7/50 is NOT in the list of lenses that have been confirmed to have been improved optically with the passage from AE to MM.
Those lenses are the Distagon 2.8/25, Distagon 2.8/28 and Sonnar 2.8/135.
All the other lenses rumoured are just rumours.

5- The passage from AE to MM is NOT linkable to any serial number limit. Serial numbers in Zeiss Oberkochen do not appear to be chronologically always subsequent.
Most AE/MM switch seem to have happened between serials 68x and 72x, but there is no safe rule to assume.

8- One thing I can add about the 8x copies of Planar 1.7/50, is that their materials build seems poorer than the previous copies. The metal alloy seems lighter and of poorer quality.
The lens overall is lighter in weight. Also the focusing action shows a little "play" whereas the older copies (especially the 5x copies) were much tighter and felt more solid.


PostPosted: Thu Nov 17, 2016 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
bleach551 wrote:
AhamB,

I don't know what that was. I have had mulitiple Planar 50mm f1.7, 5 to be exact, 3 with serial numbers from 68xxxxx to 687xxx and unless they produced a few MM's and then went back to producing AE's I don't know what to tell you. The 68xxxxx's I had were all AE's with " black" mounts and "white" 16's. One of the other 2 Planars had a "silver and Black" mount, one of the features on a "MM" but had a "white" 16 and a 67xxxxx serial number. I don't want to accuse anyone of anything wrong, because I only know that "my" planar 50mm f1.7's with 68xxxxx serial numbers were all "AE's" and the general consensus is that the "MM's" were started at around the 69xxxxx serial numbers. Maybe someone vastly more knowledgeable than myself can explain that specific Planar 50mm f1.7 you mentioned. Confused


I know this is an old thread but I found it when searcing for some information and, for anyone else who finds it too, here's my list of 50mm f/1.7 lenses that have passed through my hands along with some details of each:

7383168 MM.
7382032 MM.
6899992 MM.
6806565 MM.
6806479 MM. Originally purchased pre 1990, UK
6798061 AE. Originally purchased 28-3-1988, Germany
6503981 AE. From 139 s/n 189840 and believed bought together new.
6482072 AE. From 139 s/n 202046
6419418 AE. From 139 s/n 068519. Originally sold early 80s.
6412856 AE. From a 137MD
6260210 AE. From 139 s/n 038455. Purchased from original owner.
6249569 AE. With 016973 body.
6243411 AE.


PostPosted: Sat Nov 19, 2016 3:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
monopix wrote:

I know this is an old thread but I found it when searcing for some information and, for anyone else who finds it too, here's my list of 50mm f/1.7 lenses that have passed through my hands along with some details of each:

7383168 MM.
7382032 MM.
6899992 MM.
6806565 MM.
6806479 MM. Originally purchased pre 1990, UK
6798061 AE. Originally purchased 28-3-1988, Germany
6503981 AE. From 139 s/n 189840 and believed bought together new.
6482072 AE. From 139 s/n 202046
6419418 AE. From 139 s/n 068519. Originally sold early 80s.
6412856 AE. From a 137MD
6260210 AE. From 139 s/n 038455. Purchased from original owner.
6249569 AE. With 016973 body.
6243411 AE.


Nice list! Did you have opportunity to test the lenses? I would be interested to hear comments about copy variation and how big is the difference betweeen AE and MM versions.


PostPosted: Mon Nov 21, 2016 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With the 8xxxxxx the formula had changed.

Before the 8xxx the scheme was 4 elements in the front group and 3 at the rear.

Well, from the 8xxx, the front group has 3 elements and the rear has 4.
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