It’s been three years since we announced our ’50mm f/2 Bertele’ project. We hoped to start accepting pre-orders as early as 2021, but life (and business) doesn’t always follow a straight path. The original design has been revised multiple times after consulting Sonnar experts and enthusiasts to arrive at the best final product we could deliver. The manufacturing process took much longer than we expected.

Today, we finally have a set of fully completed pre-production Bertele lenses. It feels like a big moment because Bertele is no longer just a concept on a piece of paper but a physical, real, fully working, and gorgeous piece of photography equipment (if we say so ourselves). The next step is sending the prototypes to various lens experts for testing, reviews, and feedback.

Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics now offers the ability to convert non-rangefinder lenses to M bayonet with full RF coupling from 0.67m to Infinity using the Omnar.

The Omnar is capable of converting optical blocks from 8mm to 52.4mm in focal length. Lenses like the 42mm Summar, 50mm Sonnar, 28mm Tessar, 35mm Biometar, 40mm Rollei, 21mm Biogon and countless others can be now be converted to have:

Hamish at 35mmc.com has done a write up about one of our rehoused Zeiss Jena 50mm f/2 Sonnar lenses. The article can be found here:
https://www.35mmc.com/04/05/2020/skyllaney-rehoused-1930s-zeiss-jena-50mm-f-2/

Recently, Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics spoke with Hamish of 35mmc.com about our upcomming 5cm F/2 Bertele lens. The full interview can be found here:

https://www.35mmc.com/27/04/2020/bringing-a-new-m-mount-sonnar-lens-to-market-an-interview-with-chris-andreyo-skyllaney-opto-mechanics/

Dr. Ludwing Bertele (1900-1985)
Optical designer of the original Sonnar lenses

Introducing the Skyllaney: 50mm f/2 ‘Bertele’.
Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics is hard at work developing thier new 50mm f/2 Bertele lens. By 2021, we hope to release our first limited edition run of a 50mm f/2 classic Sonnar formula lens in native M bayonet, which optically is based very closely off the1937 pre-war era design by Dr Ludwig Bertele.
Our version contains the same element radii that were established by the good Doctor in 1937, but marries them with modern AR coatings which have increased contrast and reduced flaring. We also are implementing a 9 bladed 1937 sytle rounded aperture for enhanced bokeh, a high precision brass helicoid, 90-100 degree focus swing from 0.7m to infinity, a high-speed focusing body utilising a finger tab, all kept in a compact body no larger than the v4 cron. It will be initially offered in black anodised (6061 Aluminium) or chrome (Brass) finishes, with an initial run of 150 lenses, with possibly another 100 to follow. Each one will have the front filter ring customisable by the customer with up to 18 characters, in addiiton to ‘ Bertele 50mm f/2’ and the lenses limited run serial number.

Here, at Skyllaney Opto-Mechanics, we have an affection towards Sonnar formula lenses, and we see the desire of our clients to experience these wonderful lenses for themselves. Because of that, we work on entirely restoring classic Contax I and Jupiter 8 lenses.