Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Don then Eric wrote, >>on the web I read that this lens was actually made by Schneider. Any >>comments? > >I doubt it. I belive Focotars are Leica designs and made. The Focotar 50mm f4.5 was made for at least some of its life by Schneider and there are two ways to confirm this (at least): one is to ask Jim Lager/read his books another is to check the serial number. Schneider used a completely different serial number system to Leica's and you can consult their website to check on the year of manufacture of the lens. In any case they are both fine lenses the focotar and focotar II and may well have benefitted from better quality control thanks to the folks at Wetzlar(though this is pure conjecture). Unlike most or all enlarging lenses for 35mm on the market today these two have a nice precision feel and a metal outer barrel. The current Apo-Componons are probably better optically though... Bests Adrian Adrian Bradshaw Editorial and Corporate Photography Shanghai, China