1938 leitz Hektor 13.5 (black lens) Photos added

[mo]

I just picked this lens up off of ebay...should arrive next week! Anyone have any experience with this lens.I don't have a M39-M42 adapter yet so when I get the lens it will be mainly for close up/macro.
Here it is...I am afraid the pentacon 1.8/50 is not a good lens with bad lighting and close ups...sorry about the image quality(I will upload some more when time permits)







The inside...described as lense separation..maybe just oil?

[scsambrook]

If it's in good optical condition you'll be pleased with it. If it's not, then who knows!

I have one made in 1953, in M fitting, which is the same design but with coating. Condition is "quite good" optically, some dust bits inside and some minor scratches of the front element. I rarely use it on my Leica rangefinder but regularly use the lens head on a bellows with my Pentax DSLR. The thread of the head is 42mm diameter like the Praktica/Pentax BUT with a different pitch. Happily, it will engage firmly enough in a Praktica/Pentax mount to be safe. So what you need is a bellows and an M42 adapter if you don't have them already, and then you're readyto go - Using it this way will let you unlock its potential. And bellows can still be bought reasonably.

Do try to get a lens hood to fit, and as deep as possible. My lens loses contrast without one if it's pointed towards the sun (if we're lucky enough to get any here!). You can pick up the Leitz telescoping A36 fitting hood on eBay quite cheaply sometimes, especially if it's a scruffy one.

I hope it's a nice one when it arrives.

[LucisPictor]

[scsambrook]

LucisPictor is absolutely correct, but the bellows method will cost less and permit an even wider focus range - from infinity downwards. And if you add an extension tube, you can do ultra close ups!

But I recognise that the bellows can be a bit bulky if you want to go walkabout. I have a BPM bellows which is quite solid (and has interchangeable mounts) and the weight of it on the K10 body is a fair burden on a neck strap. It's never bothered me as I almost always use it on a tripod.

[LucisPictor]

Indeed, bellows are great, but sometimes a nuisance.

[mo]

Thanks for the ideas,I will post up some photos when it arrives.I am trying to stay away from buying any bellows (mainly because it seems like hard work??)...but it looks like I will have too buy some one day.

[scsambrook]

Bellows are great - ! Not hard work at all and they open up all sorts of new avenues such as using enlarging lenses which can be bought cheaply very often and make great experimenters . . . "Don't Delay - Buy Today" as the adverts used to say.

[mo]

[martyn_bannister]

[RioRico]

[mo]

Photos added in first post.It looks like it has taken a beating over the years but I like character...
What do you think?

[martyn_bannister]

You have to try it out. The proof of the pudding is in the eating

[mo]

I know but it is night here...and I have such a busy day tomorrow...arghhhh. A new toy has arrived and I have no playtime!

[martyn_bannister]

It's only early eveing! Haven't you got any children you can pull out of bed for a quick "midnight portrait"

[MacTak]

I have a later LTM Hektor lens barrel only (missing the entire optical component)--quite a useful thing to have in and of itself. Mine has a front M42 thread (same pitch, or at least fully workable, with regular M42 lenses), so I use it as a variable extension tube for M42 lenses, as well as M39 enlarging lenses with a M39-M42 adaptor (naturally, you need another M39 adaptor to whatever your camera takes on the rear). I've had great fun using it with a El-Nikkor 135mm (a combination I have dubbed the Leikon); quite convenient that way although you don't have a ton of focusing range, I can take it when I normally couldn't lug around my bellows for fear of damaging it. Anyone looking for a very cheep yet quite large extension tube with some variability, try one of these out.

[Attila]

[mo]

http://forum.mflenses.com/ernst-leitz-wetzlar-hektor-13-5-14-5-lens-image-samples-t40758.html
Here they are...I was rushed for time so not great subjects.

[martyn_bannister]

Certainly seems to render the colours very well

[mo]

At the moment I am limited to about 5ft focusing at the minimum mark and when I use the infinity mark I get a about an extra foot...
I will be investing in a bellows set as I want to try this lens out properly.

[Olivier]

Hello.
I was wondering what would be a reasonable price for a Hektor 13.5cm and visoflex "short screw" ?

[mo]

Hi Olivier...not sure what a visoflex "short screw" is, I am guessing it is an adapter of some sort.The Hektor I bought for $87au BIN on ozebay....unsure if it is a good price or not...I had the money to buy it at the time and that is what counts...

[Olivier]

[scsambrook]

I think the "short focusing mount" is for the Visoflex I which had a lengthy body - longer than the register on an EOS. You might actually need an extension tube to get get ininity focus - !

At around 170 Euros, it's not really cheap. Good Hektors can still be bought for well under £100 - typically nearer £75. A bellows unit should be available for less than £30 and would allow much greater flexibility, at the expense of some reduced convenience.

[Olivier]

Thank you Stephen for these informations.

[iangreenhalgh1]

Russian bellows in M42 or M39 can be had very cheaply, I have three, paid less than 6ukp for each.