Zunow 35mm f/1.7

Zunow 35mm f/1.7

Among the fast wide-angle rangefinder lenses of the late 1950s, the Zunow 35mm f/1.7 stands out for both its rarity and the small, ambitious Japanese maker behind it. Zunow built its reputation on speed: in 1953 the firm introduced a 5cm f/1.1 for rangefinder cameras that was the fastest lens then available for any 35mm camera, a record Nippon Kogaku did not match until 1956 [1][2]. The 35mm f/1.7 extended that high-speed philosophy to the wide-angle field, arriving slightly faster than Nippon Kogaku's 35mm f/1.8 Nikkor and, by most accounts, somewhat earlier, since the Nikkor did not appear until September 1956 [1]. Canon and Leitz had no faster 35mm lens until the early 1960s, when Canon offered a 35mm f/1.5 and Leitz its 35mm f/1.4 Summilux [1].

The lens uses a seven-element design in five groups and is built around a Leica thread mount (LTM/M39). It is not rangefinder coupled, so focusing relies on the scale, with a minimum focus distance of one metre, and its eight-bladed diaphragm and 46mm filter thread reflect the compact construction of a relatively light barrel at 182 grams. Zunow's rangefinder lenses were produced in Leica screw mount as well as Contax and Nikon mounts, although the 35mm f/1.7 is most commonly encountered in screw mount [1][2].

Reliable documentation of finish variations is thin. Collector accounts suggest the 35mm f/1.7 was seen in both chrome and black, though it is uncertain whether it was offered in mounts other than the screw type [1]. The lens appears in Zunow's 1957 catalogue listing of rangefinder optics alongside the 50mm f/1.1, 50mm f/1.3, 50mm f/1.9 and 100mm f/2 [2]. Because so few were made, version differences are not well recorded.

Optical qualities

Rendering Detailed, methodical reviews of the Zunow 35mm f/1.7 are scarce because surviving examples are very rare, so its rendering is not extensively documented. As a fast wide-angle from the late 1950s with the coatings of that era, it can be expected to behave in line with other high-speed Japanese rangefinder optics of the period. Contemporary positioning emphasized its speed advantage over the slower 35mm f/1.8 Nikkor rather than any specific rendering trait [1]. Firm, source-backed claims about its sharpness, bokeh, flare resistance, distortion or behaviour on digital sensors are not available, and should not be assumed.

History

Development and Launch The lens was made by the company that began in roughly 1930 as Teikoku Kogaku Kenkyujo (Imperial Optical Research Institute), founded by Suzuki Sakuta, which ground lenses for other firms before building products under its own name [2]. The business was renamed Teikoku Kogaku Kogyo in 1954 and became Zunow Optical Industry Co., Ltd. in 1956 [2]. The 35mm f/1.7 belonged to a family of deliberately fast lenses that defined Zunow in the 1950s, when speed was the headline feature in the competition for the professional market [1]. After the landmark 50mm f/1.1, Zunow continued making lenses, some for other manufacturers, that were not as fast but of good quality, with the 35mm f/1.7 sitting at the wide end of that lineup [2].

Production Evolution The 35mm f/1.7 is listed among Zunow's rangefinder lenses for Leica IIIf, M3, Contax, Canon and Nikon cameras in a 1957 catalogue summary [2]. Beyond the suggestion that the lens existed in chrome and black, no detailed record of optical-formula or barrel revisions has been reliably documented [1].

Special editions No major factory special editions, military or export-specific variants of the 35mm f/1.7 are widely documented. The lens is most often found in Leica screw mount on the Japanese market [1][2].

Collector Notes This is a genuinely rare lens, and surviving examples appear infrequently, mostly within Japan [2]. As a guide to rarity and demand, the 3.5cm f/1.7 rangefinder lens in L39 mount has reportedly sold for around US$3,500 [2]. Buyers should note that Zunow's fast lenses, including the well-known 50mm f/1.1, have a reputation for fragile aperture blades that can break, so the diaphragm should be operated gently and inspected before purchase; it is not uncommon to find Zunow lenses with blades removed [1]. Because the 35mm f/1.7 is not rangefinder coupled, focus accuracy on a camera body depends on the distance scale rather than the rangefinder patch.

Sources

• [1] Pacific Rim Camera. Zunow Lenses for Rangefinder. https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/pp/zunowlensesrf.htm
• [2] Crafting Pixels. Vintage lens makers – Zunow (Japan). https://pixelcraft.photo.blog/2025/03/06/vintage-lens-makers-zunow-japan/