Kobalux 21/2.8

[drabsinthe]

Just purchased a Kobalux 21/2.8 which arrived today. I think I may have a copy instead of an original Kobalux.
Hopefully some of the seniors here can give some opinion.

 

[drabsinthe]

Damn not sure why cannot insert image.
Heres the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35088532@N06/4295132178/

 

[YOL925]

Just purchased a Kobalux 21/2.8 which arrived today. I think I may have a copy instead of an original Kobalux.
Hopefully some of the seniors here can give some opinion.

No, it is NOT a copy. This lens was available with different badges: kobalux, avedon, adorama, there are all the same lens. Performance not bad for a wide-angle LTM lens, though huge and weird looking.

 

[Hacker]

Just purchased a Kobalux 21/2.8 which arrived today. I think I may have a copy instead of an original Kobalux.

What made you think it was a copy? The adapter says Kobalux.

No, it is NOT a copy. This lens was available with different badges: kobalux, avedon, adorama, there are all the same lens. Performance not bad for a wide-angle LTM lens, though huge and weird looking.

Avenon, not Avedon.

 

[gommy]

M-series, I think this like my Millenium Edition of the Avenon28f3.5 focus down to 0.75m instead of the older ones which focus to 1m (thus M-series unlike LTM?:dunno

 

[Leika]

Just purchased a Kobalux 21/2.8 which arrived today. I think I may have a copy instead of an original Kobalux.
Hopefully some of the seniors here can give some opinion.

I've had mine for years and it gives good pictures although not very contrasty. Kobalux and Avenon are one and the same - check out Dante Stella's site:

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/kobalux.html

 

[YOL925]

April 1996 issue of Popular Photography (p.80) has a full test report of these two (21 & 28mm) "no-name Japanese wideangle RF lenses" (PP's words). Quote:

"SQF data for the 21mm indicate excellent imaging performance at all apertures, but with high field curvature, which is unusual for this type of (non-retrofocus) superwide angle lens. There was also a noticeable amount of barrel distortion - fairly common with 21mm lenses..."

The test shows that the lens is able to produce excellent print up to size 5x7 wide-open, and up to 16x20 from f5.6 to f11.

 

[drabsinthe]

The lens doesn't have a serial number on the front. That made me think it might be a copy.

 

[davela]

Since the Kobalux lenses were imported and rebadged by various resellers, there are many cosmetic variations, but they are the same lenses nderneath. The only serious tangible variation I know of is that the 28mm was also made in native M mount -- I owned one, and it was not just a stuck-on adapter. One does not so simply go around making knockoffs of 21mm LTM lenses so your lens is real - no doubt.