[Leica] Photar Lenses

[marcsmall at comcast.net (Marc James Small)]

At 05:58 PM 5/7/2007, Jim Cheatham wrote:
 >Has anyone had experience with the Photar lenses? I do
 >a lot of macro work and am tempted. What are the pros
 >and cons, characteristics of each, etc.? I can't find
 >examples of shots with the different lenses? Any
 >ideas? Thanks. - Jim Cheatham

Jim

I have a fairly extensive collection of Leitz 
Micro-Summars, Milars, and Photars, Zeiss 
Mikrotars and Luminars, and B&L Micro-Tessars, 
along with a slew of other such macro lenses such 
as 60mm and 74mm f/4 Carl Zeiss S-Planars.  I 
generally use these with a bellows rig on my 
Hasselblad 2000 FC/M but I have on occasion used 
them with a Visoflex III and Bellows II on my M6, 
and generally shoot chromes.  All of these lenses 
are quite useable but the Leitz Photars and the 
Zeiss Luminars are the best of the bunch in general terms.

They require a LOT of care in use, of course, due 
to a VERY fine depth of field.

For general work, a 25mm or 50mm lens would be a 
good starting place.  I do have a number of 
slides taken with these lenses but these are not 
at hand so I cannot scan and send them.

Marc


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