Recently, I've collected three L39 lenses:
- Konica Hexanon 35/2: Derived from Konica's fixed-focus automatic camera Hexar, this lens was limited to 1000 units in 1996. It features a 7-element, 6-group design, reportedly inspired by the Leica Summicron 35/2. It has a minimum focusing distance of 0.9 meters, aperture range from 2 to 16, and a 46mm filter thread. It comes with original lens hood and front/rear caps. The one I have is numbered "853."
- Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5: This lens emulates the design of the Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5. It has a 4-element, 3-group Zess Tessar design, with a minimum focusing distance of 3.5 feet and aperture range from 3.5 to 22. It was first sold in 1955, paired with Japanese-made cameras mimicking the Leica III (L39) such as Chiyotax, Leotax, Nicca, etc.
- Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5: Released in 1999, this is said to be the first 75mm lens with an L39 mount after World War II. It features a 6-element, 5-group design, with a minimum focusing distance of 3.5 feet or 1 meter, and aperture range from 2.5 to 16. It has a filter thread of 43mm.
最近收集了三顆L39鏡頭:
- Konica Hexanon 35/2 源自Konica的定焦自動相機Hexar的鏡頭，在1996年限量銷售1000顆，鏡組是7片6群的結構，據說是源自Leica Summicron 35/2的設計，最近對焦距離為0.9米，光圈為2~16，濾鏡口徑46mm，附有原廠遮光罩與鏡頭前後蓋，我手邊的這顆是編號"853"。
- Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 模仿 Leitz Elmar 5cm f/3.5 設計的鏡頭，鏡組同樣是是4片3群的Zess Tessar設計，最近對焦距離為3.5英呎，光圈為3.5~22，濾鏡口徑34.5mm。首次銷售是在1955年，搭載一樣是模仿Leica III (L39)相機的日本製相機，如Chiyotax、Leotax、Nicca等品牌。
- Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5 1999年上市，據說是二次世界大戰後的第一顆L39接環的75mm鏡頭，鏡組是6片5群的結構，最近對焦距離為3.5英呎/1米，光圈為2.5~16，濾鏡口徑43mm。
The 1955 Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 lens, paired with the 2015 Sony A7 II, demonstrates how the advent of full-frame mirrorless digital cameras has revived many vintage lenses in the digital imaging era. Additionally, it's suggested to consider versions of Leica L39 to Sony E mount adapters with close focusing functionality, allowing traditional rangefinder lenses with limited focusing to focus closer than 1 meter.
1955年的 Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5 老鏡搭上 2015年的 Sony A7 II，多虧全幅無反數位相機的問世，讓許多老鏡可以在數位影像時代重生。另外，也建議Leica L39 轉 Sony E接環的版本可以選購有微距條焦功能的版本，可讓傳統只能對焦到1米左右的測距相機鏡頭可以近拍到1米以內。
Sony A7 II with Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
Leotax K with Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
Left to right: Konica Hexanon 35/2, Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
and Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5
Left to right: Konica Hexanon 35/2, Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
and Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5
In late August 2021, as the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in Taipei gradually subsided, restrictions began to ease, and kids' soccer training resumed. During a few days when I had spare time while accompanying my child to classes at Da Jia Riverside Park, I took a stroll nearby with these three L39 lenses and the Sony A7 II camera, capturing some test shots.
2021年8月下旬，台北第一波Covid-19重大疫情逐漸消退，大家也開始解封，小孩的足球集訓也展開了。趁著幾天到大直迎風河濱公園陪小孩上課的空檔，我帶這這三顆L39鏡頭和Sony A7 II相機在附近逛了一圈，留下一些測試相片。
Konica Hexanon 35/2
Konica Hexanon 35/2
Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5
Voigtlander Color-Heliar 75/2.5
Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5
Kinishiroku Hexar 50/3.5