Komura 35mm f2.5

I received my W-Komura Sankyo Kohki 35mm f2.5 lens today, a brand that I'd never heard of before. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by what I got. It's had a bit of use, so wear on the outside is eveident, but mechanically it works fine and the optics appear to be 100%. It's all metal and has 10 aperture blades.

It's actually an m42 thread mount lens, but has a Pentax K bayonet screw mount adapter attached. Overall, it's not a very large lens for a relatively fast wide angle, though I think there are smaller and faster lenses in the M mount inventory. It doesn't appear to be a multi-coated lens and looks more single coated.



What's really interesting about this lens is how the aperture is selected. I've never before encountered a lens that works like the Komura. As you can see from the photo, it has two aperture rings and you have to use both to select your aperture. If you set the top ring to f2.5, that's all that you can get, using the lower ring; however, if you set the top ring to anything else, say even down to f22, you can use the lower ring to set the aperture to any setting between 2.5 and 22. The two rings are connected lock step to the maximum opening, but the lower ring allows any variation in between. Most unusual.



I don't really care about the technical features, as I look forward to exploring where and how this lens will be in its element, if that's possible. Even if it turns out to be a bit average, I just like the idea of experimenting with these lenses that are my vintage or older.

Cheers

Ray

 

I did some checking about this, before I bought the lens, but couldn't make out how it all worked. Only after I actually got the lens, did it make sense. In a way it does make sense and could be quite useful, but there's nothing intuitive about it whatsoever. But that's what I like about all these old lenses.

Cheers

Ray

 

I'll see what I can do, but some of my early testing didn't indicate that this was an exceptional lens, but I was also trying out some more interesting lenses as well.

Cheers

Ray

 

The most important thing is that the font and especially the rear elements are in excellent condition.

I have on C mount lens, a Sony 16-64mm f2 zoom, which i got for next to nothing, but it really doesnt work (just vignettes throughout).

Cheers

Ray

 

I don't think this lens is the greatest, but might be OK for selective work. My Komura 200mm, on the other hand, is a lot sharper. I suppose you win some and you lose some, but that's half the fun, as long as it doesn't cost you an arm and a leg doing it.

Cheers

Ray