[Leica] Visoflex in Detail

[Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>]

Here is the breakdown, guys:

Lenses which fit directly onto a Visoflex  (not all can be used on all
Visoflex types and still allow infinity focus):   

3.5/65 Elmar, 2.5/125 Hektor, 4.5 or 4/200 Telyt, 4.8/280 Telyt-V, 5, 5.6,
or 6.8/400 Telyt-V, 5.6 or 6.8/560 Telyt-V, and 6.3/800 Telyt-V.

Lens with detachable lens HEADS which can be mounted to a Visoflex and
still allow infinity focusing (again, not all of these could be fitted to
all Visoflex units):

2/50 Summicron (rigid and DR only), 4/90 (rigid only), 2.8/90 (original
Elmarit only), 2/90 (first type only), 4.5/135 Hektor, 4/135 (both Elmar
and Tele-Elmar), 2.8/135 (both types).

Types of Visoflex:

"Mirror Reflex Housing" (aka, the "PLOOT") (1935 to 1951, two types)
Visoflex I (1951 to 1962)
Visoflex II (1959 to 1963)
Visoflex IIa (1962)
Visoflex III (1963 to 1984)

All could be used hand-held, though the PLOOT/Visoflex I were a bit
cumbersome for such a use.

Lenses shorter than 50mm could be mounted for macro work, but would not
allow infinity focus.  Also, the Leitz Micro-Summar, Milar, and Photar
macro lenses (and their Zeiss and Rodenstock equivalents) could also be so
mounted:  I have a couple of Micro-Summars and a Luminar which are a blast
to use, even with their 1/10 of a jillionth of a micron DOF!

I'm attempting to develop a comprehensive list of ALL Visoflex adapters,
and new ones keep surfacing, as many were only catalogued in the
microscopy, scientific, or industrial literature and didn't appear in the
photographic catalogues and price-lists.

Marc




msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!