Author Topic: L-mount, 21mm f2,8 Avenon. (Read 14516 times)

Skorj · « **on:** June 23, 2009, 09:29:32 AM »

Looking for a faster wide over my f4,0 21mm Voigtlander today I discovered - courtesy of a well-placed friend - the Avenon 21mm f2,8:

Made by a small company in Yokohama to about 2002, the interwebs seem to compare it favorably to the otherwise expensive Leica glass in their 21mm f2,8 version. USD3000 something for a used Leica, vs. a minty Fujipet in bag. Not a bad deal. Not even thinking about how much the stonking f1.4 21mm bazooka costs here either...

L-mount equipped it has the same internal element dimension as the Voigtlander 21mm (also L-mount), and it screwed in perfectly. Focus is smooth and aperture ring has nice solid detents too. For some reason this one does not have a serial number.

It is about four times as large, and ten times as heavy as the sweet little 21mm Voigtlander, so time will tell if I can be bothered with not being able to tuck it into my pocket, and to lug about the extra weight.

Test photographs to follow. See ya! Skj.

Brian Scott Peterson · « **Reply #1 on:** June 23, 2009, 04:45:18 PM »

I WANT!!!

LT · « **Reply #2 on:** June 23, 2009, 05:28:01 PM »

nice looking lens Skj - never heard of them before. I'm keen to know how it performs

Quote

USD3000 something for a used Leica, vs. a minty Fujipet in bag

I dont really understand that bit ... do they cost 3000 usd?

Francois · « **Reply #3 on:** June 23, 2009, 10:58:52 PM »

I think they cost probably as much as a green Fujipet...

Sweet looking piece of glass... I just love the knurling on it, makes it look robust and vintage

Skorj · « **Reply #4 on:** June 23, 2009, 11:59:04 PM »

Quote from: leon taylor on June 23, 2009, 05:28:01 PM

I dont really understand that bit ... do they cost 3000 usd?

Sorry! Instead of buying a Leica lens, which are expensive, I was able to trade this one for a Fujipet, because they are not expensive.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #5 on:** June 24, 2009, 12:58:02 PM »

Quote from: Skorj on June 23, 2009, 11:59:04 PM

Quote from: leon taylor on June 23, 2009, 05:28:01 PM
I dont really understand that bit ... do they cost 3000 usd?

Sorry! Instead of buying a Leica lens, which are expensive, I was able to trade this one for a Fujipet, because they are not expensive.

I'm feeling smug because I managed to translate the Skorj-patois correctly...although it did have me wondering for few minutes

Looking forward to seeing the test shots, Skj. I'm a big fan of the wiiide; esp when it looks this good.

Skorj · « **Reply #6 on:** June 24, 2009, 02:32:52 PM »

Quote from: ed.wenn on June 24, 2009, 12:58:02 PM

although it did have me wondering for few minutes

You guys. Always bragging English is your first speaking languageness. Some of us have had to learn to speak it judiciously...

Brian Scott Peterson · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2009, 04:45:58 AM »

Skorj, Where can I get one. I seriously want one asap...preferably black, 3rd gen - "millennium". Looked all over the tubes, can't find one.

Japan Exposures · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2009, 08:34:03 AM »

These are rare, my friend... almost like unicorns... good luck!

Skorj · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2009, 10:11:15 AM »

Quote from: Brian Scott Peterson on June 25, 2009, 04:45:58 AM

preferably black, 3rd gen - "millennium"

With the native finder too I suppose? I suspect you're looking at something close to unobtainable. The native finders it seems are even harder to come by:

An alternative might be the GR-21, though faster than my Voigtlander's f4, it is still only f3.5:

Brian Scott Peterson · « **Reply #10 on:** June 26, 2009, 02:54:02 AM »

Yeah, I called Map Camera and Lemonsha and they both had to check to make sure they didn't have any. They both said they get both a few silver and black ones in every few months and they both said that usually go for around ?30,000 with the viewfinder...WTF? Having a closer look at yours, particularly the lenscap, I now realize I have seen this lens several times in various shops. I always thought it was some overpriced toy lens, or some hokey chinese knockoff. Just never gave it a chance...Maybe its the font? Don't even know. Anyway, I scouring Tokyo this weekend for one...Wish me luck.

Oh, and as for the GR, Its sweet glass but hella expensive and I hate the focus knobs at the bottom. I like the machined "_____" on the Avenon....cuz I'm all grippy on my lenses...

Skorj · « **Reply #11 on:** June 29, 2009, 01:16:15 PM »

Well, they do an OK job! Here's the usual weekend haikyo from Bessa with the Avenon 21mm and Kodak Ektar:

Nice! See ya. Skj.

Brian Scott Peterson · « **Reply #12 on:** June 29, 2009, 05:35:05 PM »

I found one btw, in Asakusa. Silver, $300 without viewfinder. Thinking about getting it.

Brian Scott Peterson · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2009, 02:37:10 PM »

Went and picked up that Avenon today from my local guy in Asakusa. Just couldn't resist. Also picked up an interesting story about it...

Turns out it was made as a copy of a Leica 21mm f2.8 Elmarit in a small Yokohama workshop, single-handedly by Mr. Abe , who was the founder and president of the now defunct Japanese camera and lens maker, Komura. Mr. Abe (hence the name "Avenon" -'B's and 'V's are tricky ones in Japanese), died about 10 years back or so and apparently left a stockpile of lenses and camera equipment behind him. Not knowing what to do with the rest of the goods, the family and person's managing his property sold off most of the stuff in bulk, apparently much of it without serial numbers, perhaps Skorj's lens is one of these.

So I got a smokin' deal for it. This one has a funky aluminum capped lens cover with one ugly type face. No viewfinder, but I was led to believe that the OEM ones are easy to come by for less than JPY5000. My guy tried to pawn a cheap Russian 20mm viewfinder off on me, but I opted for his quote:"back lens cover" with functioning external meter instead, free of charge and pictured below... (Patronizing the same shop over and over has its perks...)

[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]

Skorj · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2009, 01:37:33 AM »

Thanks for the update, and extra info. Mine for sure is a no serial number sale then! Love the rear lens cap too, it looks as if it would also fit a range of lenses... Skj.

Japan Exposures · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2009, 03:34:23 AM »

Great background story. Japan, Japan, it is endless.

Ed Wenn · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2009, 03:10:19 PM »

Great follow-up posts, guys. Good to see you found a lens & I love that back lens cap too!!

Looking forward to seeing more 21mm action from both of you in the future.

LT · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2009, 03:20:53 PM »

I've been reading Brian's last post over and over again looking for a rear lens cap, and a meter .... then I got it - only 3 days late - what an idiot. I must admit, I got one of those wonderful (if a bit big) rear lens caps when I got my 21mm skopar, A nice way of keeping the rear element clean

moominsean · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2009, 11:12:41 PM »

you people are making me want to spend more money on cameras. =P

Japan Exposures · « **Reply #19 on:** July 10, 2009, 04:24:04 AM »

Have a look here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplemindedone/

I know the seller (based in Canada) and can vouch for him. But who can vouch for me?

Skorj · « **Reply #20 on:** October 22, 2009, 12:13:08 PM »

Damn! I like this lens:

That and my FujiPro 400 too of course. How's them flouro colors rendered like that? Sweet film! The Sub with its funny lump of glass certainly amused most pros I was rubbing shoulders with yesterday at the Tokyo Motor Show. See ya. Skj.

(Incidentally, you should see eBay for a sweet 21mm full set on sale there now. Can I say that?)

moominsean · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2009, 03:46:08 PM »

very nice output! i'm giving some serious thought on the bessa. probably sell the natura, rather have something a bit more versatile...

Francois · « **Reply #22 on:** October 22, 2009, 05:17:19 PM »

Quote from: leon taylor on July 02, 2009, 03:20:53 PM

I've been reading Brian's last post over and over again looking for a rear lens cap, and a meter .... then I got it - only 3 days late - what an idiot. I must admit, I got one of those wonderful (if a bit big) rear lens caps when I got my 21mm skopar, A nice way of keeping the rear element clean

Not an idiot at all... I just got it after reading your post

As for making me want to get more gear... I feel like I'm having serious good glass withdrawal syndrome... but luckily there's the Montreal Camera Show on the 8th of November...

Nigel · « **Reply #23 on:** October 22, 2009, 08:28:00 PM »

Following the rangefinder post sometime ago I'd basically settled on the Bessa R3A as my long term purchase, and this post just confirms that decision.

LT · « **Reply #24 on:** October 22, 2009, 10:25:53 PM »

A fine choice Nigel. I love mine. A very nice and solidly built camera.

tkmedia · « **Reply #25 on:** October 23, 2009, 12:04:31 AM »

no shots of the Honda cub EV?

Skorj · « **Reply #26 on:** October 23, 2009, 06:08:16 AM »

Quote from: tkmedia on October 23, 2009, 12:04:31 AM

no shots of the Honda cub EV?

Not on film! While 99.9% of the people working the show were shooting digital, I did see at least two shooting film; one a Nikon SLR, and another Hassy on a tripod.

Ooops. How did that get there...