Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/04

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Subject: Re: [Leica]focotars
From: apbc <apbc@public1.sta.net.cn>
Date: Mon, 4 Oct 99 20:27:09 +0800

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