Corfield Retro -Lumax 35mm F3.5 lens M42 mount

[Stephen]

An unusual lens for the producer of the Periflex camera, Ken Corfield, a 35mm Retro-focus Wide Angle in M42 mounting. Normally Corfield supplied only L39 lenses to fit the Periflex, but one late model was M42, the Interplan.

After closure of the Northern Ireland plant, Corfield marketed some M42 lenses to clear stocks. This was about 1960. the maker is probably Steinheil, it matches in finish. Made in Germany is engraved on the mounting ring.



The Lens came in the plastic tube box, but needs an external clean up. The glass is 100% clean and fungus free.

Retro focus designs for wide angles place the glass elements artificially forward, allowing reflex cameras to take wide angle lenses.



The lens also fits Leica screw via an adaptor, on the Periflex it does not need any rangefinder, and on an M42 reflex focuses via the mirror. It is manual diaphragm, with stops to limit the range to ease snapping between full aperture and final setting. The minimum stop is F22.



Stephen.

[philbirch]

A great little lens. Did you make the adapter? I have a home made one but although it works with a very wide lens I'm not sure about longer than a 50.

[Stephen]

The adaptor was made from brass, with a bronze screw section fitted to the back, and an old Zenith screw mount on the front. To cut the l39 screw it was made as a sleeve, then had half of the thread removed, and then fitted into a turned recess in the adaptor, held in by soft solder.
This method allow the full thread to run up the the face of the adaptor back face.
Such an adaptor will take all normal lenses. It may vignette very slightly with super long lenses, 1000mm plus, all wide angles fit that fit any M42 camrera.
The lens works well on an M4/3 adaptor with the Olympus PM-1 etc.

Stephen.

[Stephen]

Most of the lenses for the Periflex were made by Enna in Germany, but Steinheil made a 35nn F3.5 retrofocus in m42, for the Edixa basically, and I think this lens is the same basic model. Enna's lenses for the Perifex were usually black and Zebra strip finish, not satin aluminium.
Ken Corfield was the importer of Enna at one point, along with Exakta and Steinheil. They also marketed lots of darkroom equipment in the 50's.

[Stephen]

Trawl through the net shows it is not a Steinheil, but is ENNA, an M42 Enna Munchen Lithagon 35mm F3.5, so Ken Corfield did remain with his favourite supplier after all.
Stephen.

[Deleted]

I have an M39-M42 adapter I got from a guy in Macau several years ago. Works best with stopped down WAs. You have to guesstimate focus. Used it with a 20mm Vivitar. The lens was almost larger than the camera.

[philbirch]

I have one Corfield lens, it came with a bag of stuff from a charity shop. A lovely lens I've used it many times on mt NEX but the focus scale if out. I've taken it apart and lined it all up but when it goes together the scale is all to cock. Making it useless on my rangefinders. Sharp though, and great for video - lots of character. I think that video shows the character of a lens better than still image.

Who made this one?

[Stephen]

The Lumax you have is the Periflex standard lens, which never required any rangefinder connection. If the lens focuses to infinity on a mirrorless adaptor, test screen, or on a Periflex, then it is the scale twisted to the wrong alignment. Might be some grub screws to release the scales to line up better.

They were made by Enna in Germany to Ken Corfield's specification.

Stephen.

[philbirch]

Yes I know there is no RF coupling but I'd like to use it on a Zorki but its hard to set the focus. I've had it apart, re screwed everything but can't get the scale to line up.

It looks like an Enna lens, its very similar to a Lithagon that I have.

[Stephen]

The Leica L39 to M42 adaptor, needs a new coat of black paint

At the time of the Periflex production, Corfield claimed the lenses were made to their designs or cherry picked from standard production at Enna. Sounded good in advertising terms as Robot claimed to test all lenses supplied to them from Schneider and returned all that failed the tests.

Ken Corfield had used British standard lenses at first, but failed to get them supplied on time or in quantity. There were batches of Dallmeyer made, also Wray. TTH were never involved as there were lots of unused TTH around in Leica mount intended for the Reid.

Stephen.