Ultranon/Leonetti Superspeeds?

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Looking for some information on these lenses.

Did the Leonetti rehousing add anything significant to the Zeiss original housing? Better scales, longer focus throw?

Any particular problems getting them serviced?

BNCR mount... easy to convert to hard PL mount? I know you can get adapters and camera BNCR mounts...

Most importantly, they're said to be T1.4 so I presume they're Mark 1 Superspeeds? Or... are they real Superspeeds at all? I'd heard they might actually be rehoused Zeiss (?Contax?) stills lenses?

Anyone worked with them and have any general observations on them?


Thanks!

Mike

[Brett Reynolds]

May have been built around the late eighty's and used along with Leonetti's Ultracam.

[Peter Lyons Collister, ASC]

Matt Leonetti Jr. just bought an old Ultracam as a surprise for his dad. His grandfather invented the Ultracam. The lenses were rehoused but I would be happy to connect you with Matt Junior who may have more info... Also I believe he bought the camera from one of this forum's members overseas....
There were only about 13 cameras built......

The viewing system was pretty cutting edge....

[Nick Morrison]

I remember reading somewhere that these lenses were a mixture of stills lenses - some Contax yes for the 1.4's (I think), but maybe even some Leica's and Nikons? The point is....I remember reading that they weren't ALL Contax, as I'd imagined. They were a mix. Maybe they were all given the same coating, so they'd match?

And...if my memory isn't foggy...wasn't Poltergeist shot with these?

Forgive any inaccuracies here, I'm really jogging my brain on this one.

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Thanks for the info so far, still nothing really solid.

Yes, I believe 'Poltergeist' was indeed shot on them.

Another piece of evidence that they aren't simply rehoused Superspeeds or B-Speeds is that a couple of sets I've seen discussed include a 135mm T1.4 - a focal length that was never part of a Zeiss Superspeed set. I do find it hard to believe they mixed and matched Leica or Nikon lenses, that's no way to produce a set.

Anyone with anything more solid?

Mike

[Kobe Van Steenberghe]

I asked for some information on this set: http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/ws/eBayI...#ht_500wt_1413

This is the info I received: They cover Super 35mm. 18mm T1.9, 24mm T1.4, 28mm T1.8, 35mm T1.4, 50mm T1.4, 85mm T1.4, 135mm T1.8.

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

I asked for some information on this set: http://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/ws/eBayI...#ht_500wt_1413

This is the info I received: They cover Super 35mm. 18mm T1.9, 24mm T1.4, 28mm T1.8, 35mm T1.4, 50mm T1.4, 85mm T1.4, 135mm T1.8.

Very interesting thanks... a neat-looking set... but 135mm indeed, plus the 18mm is T1.9 = definitely not 'real' superspeeds. Of less interest to me now.

Can I drift the thread slightly? The other option for fast cheapish primes that's occurred to me would be Canon K35, any opinions on how they stack up against Zeiss Superspeeds? Are they equally strong in rental market?

And, what of the new CP.2 Superspeeds? OK they're not *quite* as fast, at least going by the engraved scale, but at $4500 per lens are they going to make a significant dent in MK 1 & 2 Superspeed pricing on the used market?

Mike

[David W. Jones]

In my opinion the Canon K35 lenses are superior to the early Zeiss super speeds, if you get a set that is taken care of, and or rehoused.

As far as rentals goes, most people know super speeds, and have no idea that the award winning K35 lenses are both fast and yummy.

Good Luck!

Dave

[Paul Schneider]

Very interesting thanks... a neat-looking set... but 135mm indeed, plus the 18mm is T1.9 = definitely not 'real' superspeeds. Of less interest to me now.

Can I drift the thread slightly? The other option for fast cheapish primes that's occurred to me would be Canon K35, any opinions on how they stack up against Zeiss Superspeeds? Are they equally strong in rental market?

And, what of the new CP.2 Superspeeds? OK they're not *quite* as fast, at least going by the engraved scale, but at $4500 per lens are they going to make a significant dent in MK 1 & 2 Superspeed pricing on the used market?

Mike

K35's are known by many DP's, however most have never shot with them so there may be some hesitancy renting them when other options exist...especially newer options. However they are lovely, fast and cover a full frame chip, which many other lenses can't claim.

If I found a solid set for the right price I'd snatch em up quickly.

[Mike 'Fireman' Ross]

Thanks for the thoughts folks, keep 'em coming. If I find out more about the Ultranons I'll post it here for reference.

Looking at it all round, I think I'm going to try to make the case for the capital investment to buy MK 2 Superspeeds; the only reason I'm buying T1.3 lenses is that T1.0 aren't available... apart from budget constraints, speed is first requirement with rentability a close second and size/weight a close third. RPP and Cine Xenar are big and aren't fast enough, K35 are good lenses but not quite so fast and less well known, CP.2 aren't fast across the range (nothing to touch 18mm T1.3), and I haven't heard many with a good word to say about Illuminas...

Of course what I really want are a set of RPSSs but they don't exist... yet... (RED Pro Super Speeds :D )

Mike

Mike