Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:15 AM 5/18/2001 -0500, Mose, J P wrote: >Some of the feedback referenced >Leica lenses: Focotar and Focotar-2. I have looked through old catalogs and >data without much reference to either. Could someone tell me when they were >manufactured? DIfferences between the Focotar and Focotar-2? What focal >lengths were available? For color, would I be better off with an APO if my >enlargements typically don't exceed 10X? This IS a bit confusing, but here's a brief chart: for miniature-format (35mm) work: DOOHF/17581 Focotar 4.5/50 1953-75 DOOCQ/16781 Focotar same, adapted for the Reprovit II 17582 Focotar-2 4/50 1975-82 (no part number?) WA-Focotar 2.8/40 1978 - 1996(?) for medium-format work: (no part number?) Focotar 4.5/95 1953-1960 (no part number?) Focotar-2 5.6/100 1977-1983 Among the above, the WA-Focotar and 4/50 Focotar-2 are especially well thought of, and the 5.6/100 Focotar-2 for MF work has achieved almost a mythic reputation. However, at least one of the new JSK enlarging lenses (whose precise definition escapes me) is held to be significantly better than even the WA-Focotar. I use the WA-Focotar on my V35 and am pleased with it, but will probably move up to one of the JSK lenses in the future. (I also have a Beseler 23CX-II and use "Beseler-HD" (Rodenstock) glass on this.) Marc msmall@roanoke.infi.net FAX: +540/343-7315 Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!