Telisar 35/3.5 preset M42 - tiny mystery

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

I picked this up in a recent lot -

L-R - Telisar 35/3.5, S-M-C Takumar 35/3.5, Soligor preset 35/3.5

What is it ?

Telisar is a very uncommon 3rd-party brand. There are a few 135/4.5 lenses around under this make, plus these 35/3.5's, which are much more rare. So far I have seen Telisars in Leica screw mount and M42 only.

I had one of those 135/4.5's in Leica mount last year, and it had "Made in West Germany" on it. That, plus it had Isco caps and case plus a very similar appearance to the zebra period of Isco lenses in general, leads me to think that "Telisar" was probably a US distributors name for a line of Isco lenses.

The outstanding feature of this thing is its size. This is by far the smallest M42 lens I have. As you can see, its much smaller than the Takumar 35/3.5, and thats small. It is probably about the size of the Industar 50/3.5. The filter size is 40.5mm.

Its well made of brass for the most part, with an aluminum focus ring. The preset mechanism is curious, as the diaphragm ring works in an opposite direction to what one would expect, one turns it in the other direction from the aperture setting ring. The lens protrudes very far in the back, so far that at infinity my Pentax K100D mirror hits it, and that is a crop camera. I think the lens may need adjustment as it focuses a bit beyond infinity, and that should cure the mirror problem, but its still strange. Close focus is not very close for a 35mm, 2.3ft/0.7m, but there is not much room for a long helical on this. There is also some loss of coating on both the front and back elements, which is unfortunately common on these old German lenses.

Performance is exceptionally good I think, for what it is. This is one sharp lens even at f/3.5 in the center. At f/5.6-8 its at least as sharp as the Takumar 35/3.5 in the center and edge. It does rather well with respect to flare and contrast, though not quite as well as the Takumar. I can't detect any distortion, though of course a crop-sensor camera would not be the best for this. All in all, this is quite a surprising curiosity.

sichko · Joined: 20 Jun 2008 Posts: 2475 Location: South West UK

High quality shots.

Mist · Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 134 Location: Toronto, Canada

Pictures quality is very good.
This lens is a tiny gem.

scsambrook · Expire: 2011-11-18

I have a very vague memory of this from the early 1960s - maybe even the the late 50s. But I don't think the brand was sold in the UK and possibly my recollection comes from seeing it advertised in USA photo magazines. I had a collection of them back then.

The long rear protrusion you mention suggests it was originally meant for the Edixa family which had relatively small mirrors. Unless it's focusing way back past its infinity setting I can't see some maladjustment being to blame for it catchnig the Pentax mirror.

Not much positive help, I'm afraid, but it's certainly an interesting and intriguing lens.

LucisPictor · Expire: 2013-12-03

Very interesting!

So, it's finally answered: size does not count. Wink

Séamuis · Joined: 20 Jul 2008 Posts: 157 Location: here & now

its size (and performance) reminds me of the tiny little Auto-Takumar 3.5/35 its about the same size as this little one. neat lens you have there.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Neat lens , great samples!

kevinsullivan · Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Posts: 1

Spotmatic · Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 4045 Location: Netherlands

poilu · Expire: 2019-08-29

nice little lens and great results
welcome Kevin, this 135 is a beauty!

spiralcity · Joined: 02 Oct 2008 Posts: 1207 Location: Chicago, U.S.A

It looks like a Schacht lens I use to own... but that would be the similarity in focus ring only.

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

I had that 135 in LSM also (got it on ebay early last year), subsequently sold it. Thats the only other Telisar I have had.

I agree that it strongly resembles a Schacht. Unfortunately, it also resembles Isco and Enna (maybe more like an early 1960's metal-bodied Enna in knurling), while not being identical to any specific Schacht, Isco, or Enna model that I know of.

The Telisar 135 I had came with properly fitting Isco-labeled caps, if that means anything. It would not be usual for one makers cap that fits over the lens barrel (as opposed to going in the filter ring) to match as there is no outside diameter standard.

carlzeissjena · Joined: 15 Aug 2012 Posts: 15 Location: Munich Germany

Hi there,
came accross this thread only now.

Telisar was/is a tradename of Optische Werke G. Rodenstock in Munich/Germany located very close to Enna (also in Munich ) and also close to Schacht (60 km to Ulm, the city where Schacht was).
I did find recently a fairly unique mirror lens marked "G. Rodenstock Muenchen" and "Telisar 1:12 f=520mm" so there is the link between the Telisar lens name and manufacturer, which might not have been disclosed on OEM lenses delivered or made by Rodenstock for other companies as Schacht and Enna nearby at the time.

Georg

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Many thanks Georg!

luisalegria · Expire: 2018-01-18

Yes, thank you very much!
So its a Rodenstock. I speculate this was a cheaper line they did not want to label as Rodenstock.
That's another mystery solved.
These are very uncommon lenses, more so than the already quite scarce Rodenstock labelled SLR lenses.

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7555 Location: Hong Kong

Those Telisar lenses have a very limited serial range begins with 571 or 572 on most lenses except the early one Click here to see on Ebay.

Rodenstock never officially made any 3.5/35 for SLR. The Eurygon 4/35 is the only 35mm with Rodenstock name.

carlzeissjena · Joined: 15 Aug 2012 Posts: 15 Location: Munich Germany

Hi there,

all what I can say is the engraving "Rodenstock" and " Telisar" on one lens as mentioned. The serial No. being engraved is "6 201 434"
further engraved is "IR" (=Infra Red ?) and " Eltro". Looks very much like an industrial optic, no focus, no "cosmetics", just a plain Aluminum tube black anodized, two mirrors, no fitting nothing.

Will post a picture asap.

Georg

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England

An intriguing lens with an intriguing story. Cracking good photos