Minor 3.5cm f3.5. A wide-angle lens for Contax cameras made by Old Delft, Netherlands. It features a Tessar-type design with 3 groups and 4 elements. Meter scale. It has a faint light coating applied.
This Delft Minor 35mm lens, famous for its bullet-shaped viewfinder often associated with Leica screw mount versions, also had a limited production in Contax mount. It's quite a rare piece.
The lens boasts a solid brass barrel with chrome plating, exuding a dignified presence. The two-tone black and chrome finish adds elegance.
Upon closer inspection, the chrome part (stainless steel?) at the base of the barrel shows faint polished patterns (the specific finishing technique name escapes me, but it's a method seen in vintage items), revealing its intricate craftsmanship.
While many Minor lenses suffer from numerous cleaning scratches and barrel wear, this particular lens is in relatively good condition. A rare find.
There are minor scratches and abrasions typical of normal use, but no noticeable scratches, dents, or damage to the chrome. It has a very good exterior appearance.
Fully overhauled in 2024. The aperture and focusing operation feel smooth and precise after servicing. Any haze that was present before has been removed, significantly improving the glass condition. Originally, the chrome finish around the lens front element caused significant image distortion due to reflections, but this was rectified by applying a matte lacquer coating to prevent reflections in this area by the repair technician. While it's not exceptionally resistant to backlight, this treatment has dramatically improved its imaging capabilities, showing quite impressive performance.
There are some slight yellowing and cleaning marks on the glass, but they do not affect image quality. Test results have been excellent.
Sample images have been posted in the test gallery. Even at wide apertures, it maintains solid center sharpness. It exhibits a distinctly vintage lens flavor where contrast diminishes slightly when overexposed, adding to its charm.
