Technovision Distagon

[Vincent Borg]

I have this Zeiss Distagon Technovision 1.4/35mm lens, missing the mount and adjuster ring.
The optics appear to be in good general condition; The focussing works and so does the iris, through the actuator lever gap.
I am thinking of having it either rehoused or, somehow put back in a serviceable state, in PL mount.
I have not been able to locate the correct missing parts, or for that matter, where and who to ask.
Rehousing might be a solution, though I am unsure if this lens would be worth the trouble and expense of a higher-end job by Ironglass etc.
Otherwise, maybe a plastic re-house , but this seems to me a little "incongruent".

I guess it all depends on if the lens, in this state is actually worth saving.
Views, impressions appreciated.
 

[Dom Jaeger]

You may be able to turn the focus ring, but does it shift the optics inside? I'm guessing you need the mount part with a mating helicoid to actually focus the lens. If that's the case, you really just have the optics from a 1970s Zeiss Contax 1.4/35 Distagon, which is worth under $1k. 

If you want it useable as a PL lens, I think the easiest route would be just re-housing the optics through someone like TK lenses, GL Optics,  Whitepoint or TLS. Some are more expensive than others, with long wait times. Forget "plastic rehousing", whatever that is, it needs to be done properly or you're just wasting money.  

If you wanted to try and use the original Technovision parts, I think you would need to enlist the help of an experienced lens tech or lens designer and a good machinist and probably spend a decent amount of money working out how to replicate the original keyed mount with  mating helicoid and an iris ring. Or it's possible one of the rehousing companies would take on the challenge, but as a custom job it will likely be more expensive than just rehousing it.

[Vincent Borg]

Hi Dom, thank you for your reply. Turning the focus ring does shift the optics. The internal helicoid is in place; I held up the lence to a bright window and projected the image onto a card and  could see the change.
The iris works as well; You can see the iris actuator lever and inserting a thin plastic strip between the rings, I can open and close the diaphragm ok.
I am a liitle confused about this lens because I could not find any information about Technovision at all; Were ( are?) they just cine lens builders using Zeiss optical elements ?
I have looked at Zeiss Contax 1.4/35 Distagon and could make out major variants : Iris ring up front or behind the focusing .
Clearly my lens had the iris control ring to the rear, next to the mount.
I would love to  use original Technovision parts and put it back in PL service.
But I have absolutely no idea where or who to start to ask.
If Technovision were a cine related industry then, locating parts or knowledgeable techs will not be easy.
Any idea where I can begin asking ?
Best,

Vincent 

 

[Daniel J. Fox]

Hi Vincent 

The optics in your lens were made in Germany and appear to date from 1976 - the first year of production for the Zeiss Contax lenses.

Technovision were a lens rehouser - who reworked a variety of lenses for cinema production. I know of not only Zeiss Contax lenses, but also Lecia R lenses being rehoused, I believe exclusively to BNCR mount (although you can find some later lenses on Arri PL).

They famously reworked various Cooke lenses with anamorphic elements (see Apocalypse Now).

They also created some new focal lengths, using existing cinema primes and adding a built-in aspheron. I used to own a Cooke Speed Panchro 14mm on BNCR mount and I've seen several Zeiss standard speeds 12mm come up for sale recently.

My guess would be this lens originally had a Mitchell BNCR mount. Finding parts to make the lens usable would certainly be challenging.

[Vincent Borg]

 

Hi Daniel, useful information there thanks.
If Technovision are not around anymore, I might as well forget about getting replacement parts.
If the lens as it stands costs under a grand at best, the most economically feasible course would be to manufacture an aluminium rear housing with iris ring and PL mount. Possibly if this were done it could be rehoused in a printed housing. ( I will check out if the focal distance  will accomodate PL ffl.) 
Just how good is this lens?
I dont think it warrants the considerable money and effort for a professional re-house.

 

Edited July 16, 2024 by Vincent Borg

[Daniel J. Fox]

Hi Vincent

Without a full rehousing, Zeiss Contax lenses can't be remounted to Arri PL due to the position of the aperture mechanism - the exceptions being some of the telephoto lenses, which you can find modded to PL as additional focal lengths for standard speed sets.

The Zeiss Contax lenses are excellent vintage lenses, with the classic Zeiss look. The "superspeed" lenses in the range (the 35mm, 50mm and 85mm) are also usable wide open, but far better stopped down to T2.5

If you want these optics on Arri PL just picked up a Zeiss 35mm f1.4 HFT lens off ebay. They come up modded to PL quite regularly and the optics are almost identical to the Contax Zeiss.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156303378663 

The main difference is the Zeiss 35mm f1.4 HFT lens has a 9 bladed aperture which forms a reuleaux triangle as you stop down, similar to the Mk1 Zeiss HS cine primes (B-speeds in the US).