Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/11/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]By definition, "retrofocus" (tm) has a negative group up front with a positive group in the back. However, even the standard double-Gaussian configuration may have a weaker group in front to make it behave somewhat "retrofocus"ish. The rear most element protrude inside the camera, anyway. It just needs to clear the mirror. On Fri, Nov 22, 2013 at 1:49 PM, John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote: > I would say that most (all?) SLR standard lenses are retrofocus. The Nikon > F bayonet has a 46.5mm register distance, so a 50mm lens would need its > optical centre 3.5mm from the bayonet...... > > john > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > The Zeiss people at Zeiss Day here a couple of weeks ago deny its a > retrofocal > > design like a traditional wide angle Zeiss. They seem to have gone > "Kodak" > > with their naming using paper names to name slide projectors and so on. > Any > > name which sells the most gets used on the next product regardless on > what > > that might be. > > > > I also think it would tricky to incorporate a retrofocal design into a > normal > > focal length lens. A retrofocal design is in effect looking through a > telescope > > backwards. How to get a normal outa that? > > > > Mark William Rabiner > > Photographer > > http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/lugalrabs/ > > > > On 11/22/13 12:04 PM, "Paul Roark" <roark.paul at gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote: > > > > > > Their optics seem quite good (bar the zoom), but look to be standard > > > SLR > > >> style design ... > > > > > > > > > Notice that the new Zeiss super "Otus" 55mm is a "Distagon" > > > (retrofocus design). What an irony. I switched from SLR to > > > rangefinder largely to get away from the inferior retrofocus wide > > > angles, and now I may be forced back to them by the digital sensor's > > > needs. (I have no plans to buy that Otun > > > lens.) > > > > > > Paul > > > www.PaulRoark.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > -- Ken Iisaka first name at last name dot org or com