more Super Paxette II lenses

[nikkortorokkor]

I got a Super Paxette II L the other day with a nice Color-Ultralit 2.8/50. It is a much more modern design than the Staeble-Werk Katagon 2.8/50: bulkier, but with superior ergonomics and a front element recessed into a nice, deep, ridged black ring that acts like a built in hood. The body is very near mint and functions perfectly. Not bad for NZ$15.

I then picked up a Tele-Ennalyt 3.5/135: a truly handsome lens. No fungus, but someone has cleaned the back element with a Brillo Pad, or so it seems.


Art Cente Food Alley. Color-Ultralit


Christchurch Art Centre (the old Canterbury University College campus). Color-Ultralit


Punt on the Avon River, Christchurch New Zealand. Tele-Ennalyt

The Color-Ultralit is, IMHO, a belter. More ergonomic than the Katagon and much less flare-prone. The contrast blows me away.

The Tele-Ennalyt tends towards annoying softness at the edges. Colour rendition is, however, interesting, almost 'vintage' in an agfachrome kind of way.

I have to admit that shooting action (if you call a slow moving punt action) with a 135 lens on a Super Paxette, which hasn't the brightest rangefinder patch in the world, results in a somewhat higher workload than I enjoy. Although I have better composed shots of the punt, this is the only one I'd call sharp. The 8x10 crop is the result of a bloody great tree that crept into the original. Conversion from SLR to rangefinder sure ain't painless

P.S., yesterday, I made the most of a nice day, going for a spring bicycle ride. I threw 2 cameras in my handlebar bag, an Oly digital and a Super Paxette. I was busy using the Oly, making the most of its 300mm equiv lens when, you gessed it: *Beep* *Beep* *Beep* dead battery. Thank goodness for the selenium metered, fully manual Paxette!

[ben]

Some beautiful photographs Michael, especially the last one; wonderful color and detail. That Ultralit looks like its a very good performer, and I don't see any softness with the Enna, but you may have cropped the edges.

I have a couple of BL's, and a handful of lenses too. Neither is working well, but one is with Dean Williams getting overhauled. Maybe we can compare notes when I get a chance to shoot it.

I've been picking up lenses as I find them, and have several fairly rare examples. Including a very rare 6-element Steinheil 45/2 Quinon (most are 50/2 examples), Roeschlein 90/3.8 Telenar and the 135/3.5 Tele-Ennalyt that you have. I have several of the non-RF Stable 35's, but I'm still looking for a later RF version like the Lineogon.

[John Farrell]

One thing you can say for the Paxette..it has a huge range of lenses. I have a Super Paxette II with the 45mm Cassarit, and a IIL with 50mm Katagon. I also have a Staeble-Telon 1:5.6/85, and a Roschlein-Kreuznach Telenar 1:5.6 13.5cm, neither rangefinder coupled.

[bcomber2]

I have a Staeble - Telexon 135mm f3.8 and a Staeble - Color Ultralit 50mm f2.8.