M modified lens Planar T* 35mm
A review and photo examples of the Kyocera CONTAX G mount Planar 35mm with the LEICA M typ420.
Table of Contents
Gallery
- The sample photos were taken with a Leica M-P typ240
Review
1．Overview
The Planar T* 35mm F2 is an autofocus lens released by Kyocera in 1996 along with the Contax G2.
Here, I introduce a lens that has been modified by Ms-optics (Miyazaki Optical) to be Leica M mount (rangefinder camera rangefinder linked).
I also used this lens with the CONTAX G1 and CONTAX G2, but after selling them, I had MS-Optics (Miyazaki Optical) modify it to be Leica M mount rangefinder linked. The modified lens uses the MS-35 common helicoid for 35mm.
The main differences between the original lens and the Ms-optics modified lens are the following four points.
- Fixing method for hood and filter frame
- The front part of the lens barrel where the filter is attached moves in a straight line, so the filter does not rotate when focusing, making it easy to use PL filters
- The lens barrel where the filter is attached rotates when focusing on the modified lens, making it difficult to use PL filters
- Aperture click stop
- The original lens has click stops for each aperture
- The modified lens has a stepless aperture from F2.8 to F16
- Rangefinder rangefinder linkage
- The original lens is G mount, so it is autofocus (hereafter, AF)
- The modified lens is linked to the rangefinder of the Leica M camera
- Minimum shooting distance
- Original lens is 0.5m
- Modified lens is 0.7m
2．Usability
Since the Planar T* 35mm F2 is a planar type, the rear lens element and the mount surface are almost in the same position, so there are few problems when using it with various cameras. As shown in the example, the bokeh is beautiful, and the depiction is simple and easy to use.
The MS-35 helicoid part of the lens barrel of the modified Ms-Optics lens has several variations, and the MS-35 of the lens barrel that I own is an old model with a shallow angle at the base of the lens, so it is difficult to attach and remove the lens because it is difficult to get your fingers on it when attaching and removing it.
If you see it used, it is best to attach it to a camera and check that there are no problems with attaching and removing it.
When the MS-35 was first developed, it was designed for very small lenses for compact cameras such as the Kyocera T series used in C and TESS, and it does not seem to have been designed to be used with lenses with large lens barrels like this lens. The MS-45 used in the Planar 45mm F2, which will be introduced on a separate page, has a right-angled base and is quite wide, so it is easy to attach and remove the lens.
Later, I learned that the new MS-35 helicoid had an improved base, so I asked Ms-optics to change the helicoid part, but the owner, Mr. Miyazaki, told me that it was impossible to replace the helicoid on a modified lens due to the structure of the lens, so I gave up.
M-mount modifications to the Planar 35mm are widely carried out overseas, and there are manufacturers that sell not only modified lenses but also helicoids so that users can modify them themselves (see the website in the reference link for details).
3．Summary
In conclusion, to sum up the Planar T* 35mm F2 M-mount modified lens, if you want to attach it to a Leica M rangefinder camera and use it with double image overlap, you have no choice but to buy a modified lens that is M-mount rangefinder linked.
However, if you use it with a mirrorless camera, it is easier to use the original lens via a mount adapter. With lens prices rising in the 2020s, it is a difficult decision to decide whether to buy this or the latest 35mm.
Specification and Series lens
| Name | HOLOGON | BIOGON | BIOGON | PLANAR | PLANAR | SONNAR | VARIO SONNAR |
| Focal length(mm) | 16.5 | 21 | 28 | 35 | 45 | 90 | 35-70 |
| Max aperture | 8(fixed) | 2.8 | ← | 2 | ← | 2.8 | 3.5-5.6 |
| Min aperture | 16(Attached filter) | 22 | ← | 16 | ← | 22 | ← |
| Lens Construction | 5elements in 3groups | 9elements in 7groups | 7elements in 5groups | ← | 6eleme0nts in 4group | 5elements in 4groups | 13elements in 8groups |
| Min distance(m) | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 0.8(*2)← | 0.5 | ← | 1.0 | ← |
| Lens length(mm) | 11 | 35.5 | 30.5 | 31.5 | 38.5 | 63.0 | 54.0 |
| Max diameter(mm) | 57 | 59 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 56 | 60 |
| Filter size(mm) | – Dedicated ND filters are available. | 55 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 46 |
| Weight(g) | 120 | 200 | 150 | 160 | 190 | 240 | 290 |
| Weight(g) M-mount | 124 | 151 | 194 (222)*1 | 115 | 161 | 219 (259)*1 | – |
| Release date | 1994 | 1996 | 1994 | 1996 | 1994 | 1994 | 1999 |
*2: Minimum focus distance of AVENON modified lens
Reference links
- Zeiss Photography Historical Products(There is a data sheet for the CONTAX G lens in the middle of the linked page.)
- FUNLEADER Web-site(Website of FUNLEADER, which sells modified lenses and helicoids for modification)
- Zeiss PLANAR description page by Wikipedia
- AF Planar T* 35mm +CONTAX G1,G2・Shige’s hobby
Update history
- 2024.8.1
- 2024.02.16:Update article
- 2022.03.01:First draft
Affiliate links
- Some external links are advertisements and clicking them may generate income for the site administrator.
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