Simlar 1.5/50 - A First Macro Test

themoleman342 · Expire: 2013-01-24

For a long time now I've wanted to try out my Simlar 1.5/50mm lens that came off a broken leotax my uncle gave me. The names may not sound familiar but apparently they are one of the best Leica copies around. You can find pictures of this lens here:

http://flickr.com/photos/10403737@N03/2173095705/
http://flickr.com/photos/10403737@N03/2173885744/
http://flickr.com/photos/10403737@N03/2173887346/

The Simlar is supposedly a Sonnar copy much like the Russian Jupiter-3. I don't have a rangefinder to test the lens in it's proper focus range but I wanted to see what kind of results I could get out of it with my Zenit B (using a m39-m42 adapter). Most of the shots are done between f1.5 and f4. Shot on fuji reala 100. Scanned from print (unfortunately a neg scanner is way out of my league). Adjusted levels only to compensate for scanner washout. No sharpening. I will be sure to upload more if there is any interest. The cat pictures are more difficult than they appear considering I was inches away from her face and had to deal with a loud mirror slap. haha

~Marc

Brian · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 83 Location: Virginia, US

I just picked up an Early Leotax D-IV (or D-III?) with a very early 5cm F1.5 Simlar. "Ebay Estate Sale", gotta good price and the glass and aperture cleaned up... Focus Mount is soaking in solvent to loosen up. The screws came out now! From the pictures of yours, I can see they changed the design of the mount. The retaining screws are on the inside of the mount of lens #74.

ANYWAY! the camera is near perfect cosmetically, and wants to work. I sent it in to assess for new curtains and a CLA.