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Kamerastore Digital Database

Ross London 3 1/2" f3.5 Definex - Lens

Ross London 3 1/2" f3.5 Definex - Lens

The Ross London Definex 3 1/2" f3.5 (91mm) is a rangefinder coupled telephoto lens with Contax/Kiev mount. An ideal focal length for portraits.This lens has a maximum aperture of f3.5 and a minimum of f22. The focussing range is infinity down to 1.5 meters.

For many years ROSS of London were famous for their lenses which were fitted to mounts for Leica & Contax rangefinder cameras, as well as being fitted into British cameras. In 1947 a firm in Scotland called Stewartry manufactured a rangefinder lenses and used a Ross optic as the lens.

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Contax/Kiev

After Leica’s success with their 35mm rangefinder cameras, optical manufacturer Carl Zeiss wanted a piece of the pie. They introduced their Contax rangefinder in 1932, immediately making themselves the leaders in photographic technology in Germany.

The Contax rangefinders featured a combined rangefinder/viewfinder decades before Leica competitors, and also featured a vertical metal focal plane shutter decades before this would become standard. Contax rangefinders also feature a dual bayonet lens system with an internal and external bayonet for different focal lengths.

After World War II, the Soviet Union seized the Zeiss Ikon plants in Dresden as well as Leica factories. They began to produce their own versions of the popular Leica and Contax rangefinders with looser machining tolerances. The Contax rangefinders were replicated in Kiev, Ukraine.

Because of this, there are many Soviet lenses available for the system on top of offerings from German companies like Carl Zeiss, Hugo Meyer, Schneider-Kreuznach, and Voigtländer.


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Ross London 3 1/2" f3.5 Definex - Lens Availability & Price History
Date Sold SKU Quality Control Price Image
08 Apr 2024 A68462 € 188.30 Ross London 3 1/2