Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/08/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Larry My comment was on the Wollensak enlarging lenses of that period. They could not even approach the quality of the Kodak Enlarging Ektars. Especially the 5 element Ektars (the ones with the coarse knurling on the diaphragm ring). Jerry LRZeitlin@aol.com wrote: > <<Leitz, NY lenses, made by Wollensack, were indeed coated and their quality > > equaled or surpassed that of other manufacturer's lenses of the same era.>> > > As long as we are on the subject of Wollensak lenses for Leica cameras, > Leitz, NY supplied three different Wollensak lenses for Leica cameras sold in the > USA during WW2 and shortly after. The rarest seems to be a 50mm f3.5 Wollensak > Velostigmat fitted to Leica E and Leica IIIc cameras in place of the Elmar. > More common was the 90mm f4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat short telephoto. The > longest lived seems to be the 127mm f4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat, used from 1944 > through 1951. Leica supplied the focusing mounts while Wollensak made the lens > heads. Many of the Leica cameras sold by Leica, NY during that period were > assembled out of the spare parts stock. Because of the comparative rarity of the > Leica/Wollensak lenses, they bring higher prices in the collector's auctions that > do the comparable Leica lenses of the same period. > > I have only seen pictures of the 50mm f3.5 but I own and regularly use the > 90mm f4.5. I have never used the 127mm F4.5 on a Leica but it seems to be the > same lens head that was fitted to 4x5" Speed Graphics. > > Wollensak Optical Co. of Rochester, NY was a well respected lens maker in the > 40s and 50s. They were among the first US lens manufacturers to use coatings > and made high quality press and enlarging lenses. I believe the company was > acquired by Eastman Kodak. A good trivia question among Leicaholics would be to > ask if Leica ever supplied a 127mm lens. The Wollensak lens seems to be the > one and only 35 mm camera lens of that focal length. > > Larry Z > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html