Thoughts on Omnar Lenses and The CN26-6 Lens
- Adhika Pranawahadi
- May 24, 2023
- 4 min read
I’ve expressed my frustration in some of my previous articles about how I missed out on the best time to shoot film, which I think is before 2017. It was when more film rolls were available at an affordable price, camera prices were low, and MS Optics still offered point-and-shoot lens conversion service. That last one there agitated me when I found out about the discontinued service in 2018. I’m a big lover of point-and-shoot cameras, except for the fact that they break so easily. The idea that I can send the camera for the lens to be converted to M-mount means that, though the camera itself bricks, the soul carries on in the form of a lens that I can use with a different camera body. That’s why I was beyond thrilled when I heard about the Omnar Lenses project from the 35mmc blog's Instagram account. Omnar lenses aim to produce a limited batch of M-mount lenses by utilising the lenses of compact cameras, repurposing the optics, and still retaining a compact form factor. How exciting is that!? Not to mention that they’re also planning to produce converted Yashica T and Contax T lenses in the near future. The recently announced Omnar CX 38-28 is going to be a limited batch of converted Contax T lenses.
Knowing that starting such a project, essentially producing new lenses, let alone providing conversion services, is no easy task, I just have to support them. So, when they announced the Omnar CN26-6, I was determined to pre-order the lens. Not that I was particularly interested in the lens to begin with, but to invest in Omnar to perhaps one day see later iterations of the lens they’re going to produce.
The Omnar CN26-6 Lens
The lens is a 26mm f/6 with repurposed optics from the Canon AF10 point-and-shoot. You can read about the lens in detail on the official Omnar website. If I get the idea correctly, the Omnar system is meant to be a platform or module in which different types of existing lenses can be re-housed to work with M-mount cameras... retaining the character and soul of the old lens while evolving it into something altogether new.
My favourite part about ordering the lens is the level of customization they bring to the process. Buyers are offered options of different paint finishes, additional custom engraving, optional close focus capability, and their preferred focus feel. I ordered my copy in October 2021, in black gloss paint, with close focus up to 30cm, and a light focus feel. The lens arrived in March 2022 in very beautiful packaging. I swear, this is the first time I bought a lens with packaging that made me feel like opening a jewellery or high-end watch box, something I appreciate as a designer. The lens is even more beautiful, the black gloss paint is just what I hoped for, and the brass gives off that premium feel when held.
In practice, the lens adds a unique simplicity to my shooting process as the aperture is always stuck at f/6. It can be set to focus from 2m to infinity, and I can just leave it on that setting for the rest of the day. When the need arises to take portraits or any object at close range, the lens is rangefinder-coupled, and I can be more precise. The 0.3m close focus is a bonus, and I’m glad I paid extra for the feature, although it's only really usable when using a camera with a live view.
I’m not super technical about optics and cameras in general, so I won’t say anything about lens performance except that it’s fun to shoot with. The fact that I don't need to think about aperture at all and just change the shutter speed to suit certain lighting is liberating. When the shutter speed gets too low in some situations, I just don't take the shot, simple. Perhaps my only regret is choosing the light focus feel when ordering the lens. Knowing that I will set the lens to focus at a certain distance, I should have opted for the heavy focus feel so that it’s not easily changed as it slides in and out of the pocket. Yes. The lens is super compact, if you haven’t noticed from the photos. It is comparable in size to the MS Optics Apoqualia 28mm f/2.
What is it to me?
Technically speaking, as far as lenses that are officially produced and sold on the market are concerned, there is no other copy like mine. I checked the spreadsheet that was posted on their Instagram page, and there is only one other lens that is exactly the same as mine: the TS001, which is a test sample lens. This touch of personalization is not something other brands are offering. Ultimately, the CN26-6 is not just a unique lens that is fun to shoot with; it is also a lens that I feel is mine.
Most importantly, what Omnar Lenses brings to the table is a sense of longevity to the camera I purchased. The Omnar system and conversion service they offered put a new perspective and point of consideration into buying compacts such as the incredibly expensive Contax T series. When the camera decides to retire one day, you can still salvage the lens, get it converted into an M-mount lens, and pair it with, say…a Minolta CLE, and you pretty much get another Contax T camera, though in a different form.
I don’t know what this means to all of you, but for me, more than the lens itself, this project adds to the fun of shooting film or just photography in general. Knowing that there are and will be more options to try in the future. To have some degree of certainty that when one day film photography and all the film compact cameras I own become obsolete, there is still hope that not all is lost.
Follow Omnar Lenses on Instagram and check their website if you haven’t already. A lot more interesting projects (lens and conversion service) are on the boil!
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