Caltar Lens - Who makes it?
Gregory W. Blank
Anonymous <anon...@nomailhere.net> wrote:
> I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
> German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
> lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
>
> Thanks!!
Rodenstock.
--
Louie Powell
news:lor3ov8v28v2esfti...@4ax.com:
> I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
> German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
> lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
>
> Thanks!!
>
I'm not a genius, but I think they are made by Rodenstock. The main clue
is that my new Caltar came in a Rodenstock box/
Dean Van Praotl
> The main clue
>is that my new Caltar came in a Rodenstock box/
Heh...
jjs
<no....@my.email.adr> wrote:
Rodenstock - the people who make very good and rather poor lenses. So,
what you have is still a big question.
Largformat
German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
A few issues ago View Camera magazine did articles on these lenses and
indicated who made what lenses when.
steve simmons
David Nebenzahl
So you're suggesting what, that he go out and buy a whole bunch of your back
issues to try to find it? or spend hours researching it to try to find the
exact issue? Why didn't you just give the guy an answer?
Oh, I forgot: with you the answer is always "View Camera Magazine", no matter
what the question. Just like the old saying that to a hammer, every problem
looks like a nail.
You know, Richard K.'s gonna come along, answer the guy's question in great
detail and put you to shame.
--
Call the American Teleservices Association at (317) 816-9336
and let them know just how much you appreciate their "services".
Telephone # courtesy of Dave Barry (yes, that Dave Barry).
(Read all about it on Slashdot:
http://slashdot.org/articles/03/10/05/1350243.shtml?tid=103&tid=133&tid=158&tid=186&tid=99)
Gregory W. Blank
NoSpam...@nowhere.com (jjs) wrote:
> Rodenstock - the people who make very good and rather poor lenses. So,
> what you have is still a big question.
The 90MC Caltar f/6.8 NII, I have its not a bad lens maybe not the sharpest
but its not a bad piece of glass.
--
Le Grande Raoul
<nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> On 10/6/2003 5:20 PM Largformat spake thus:
>
> > I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
> > German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
> > lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >
> > A few issues ago View Camera magazine did articles on these lenses and
> > indicated who made what lenses when.
>
> So you're suggesting what, that he go out and buy a whole bunch of your back
> issues to try to find it? or spend hours researching it to try to find the
> exact issue? Why didn't you just give the guy an answer?
You like picking fights, Bubba?
After all the attacks in the last month (year) you find it necessary to
make this comment- one which has been made over and over,
Give it a rest, huh?
Jeff
CamArtsMag
German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N
MC.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
page 41 of the May/June issue of View Camera. Rodenstock. This issue has a
history of the Caltar lenses and who made them over the years.
steve simmons
David Nebenzahl
Oh, poow widdle Stevie Simmons, who never did nothing to deserve all these
bad, bad things evwybody says about him.
Gregory W. Blank
David Nebenzahl <nob...@but.us.chickens> wrote:
> Oh, poow widdle Stevie Simmons, who never did nothing to deserve all these
> bad, bad things evwybody says about him.
David;
Why not try to stop being a jerk and actually contribute something.
--
Donn Cave
...
| Oh, poow widdle Stevie Simmons, who never did nothing to deserve all these
| bad, bad things evwybody says about him.
It is the dozen or so people left who can still stomach this newsgroup
who don't deserve this. Like one of those little dogs that bark all day,
no one wants to know what's wrong, what you're barking at now, because
it's pretty clear you just like doing this stuff. This has never been
the best group on all USENET, but at its best, there's a pleasant sense
of community and some truly outstanding participants. Fighting always
takes away from that, and there's really no good fight, no injustice
here that needs to be righted by fighting with anyone. It's just about
taking pictures with big cameras, and you have to appreciate anyone who
shares this absurdly nerdy preoccupation. Don't be a shit.
Donn
Kirk Fry
> On 10/6/2003 5:20 PM Largformat spake thus:
>
> > I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
> > German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
> > lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >
> > A few issues ago View Camera magazine did articles on these lenses and
> > indicated who made what lenses when.
>
> So you're suggesting what, that he go out and buy a whole bunch of your back
> issues to try to find it? or spend hours researching it to try to find the
> exact issue? Why didn't you just give the guy an answer?
>
> Oh, I forgot: with you the answer is always "View Camera Magazine", no matter
> what the question. Just like the old saying that to a hammer, every problem
> looks like a nail.
>
> You know, Richard K.'s gonna come along, answer the guy's question in great
> detail and put you to shame.
Dude, Get a life.
May/June page 41, manufactured by Rodenstock sometime between 1977 and now.
6 elements in 4 groups, 102 degrees, 221 Image circle, copal 0, 67mm filter.
Richard Knoppow
>
> > I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
> > German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
> > lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >
> > A few issues ago View Camera magazine did articles on these lenses and
> > indicated who made what lenses when.
>
> So you're suggesting what, that he go out and buy a whole bunch of your back
> issues to try to find it? or spend hours researching it to try to find the
> exact issue? Why didn't you just give the guy an answer?
>
> Oh, I forgot: with you the answer is always "View Camera Magazine", no matter
> what the question. Just like the old saying that to a hammer, every problem
> looks like a nail.
>
> You know, Richard K.'s gonna come along, answer the guy's question in great
> detail and put you to shame.
Well, not quite. Over the years Calumet has sold Ilex, Schneider,
and Rodenstock (at least) under the Caltar name. The Schneider and
Rodenstock lenses are the same as thier brand name lenses. The Ilex
lenses were custom made for Calumet. The Ilex lenses are of quite good
quality. AFAIK, the others are identical with the brand named ones.
The difference is that Calumet rather than the regular distributor is
responsible for marketing and warrantee support.
Jim Rice
-j
On Mon, 06 Oct 2003 22:40:56 GMT, Anonymous <anon...@nomailhere.net>
wrote:
>I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
>German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
>lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
>
>Thanks!!
Jim Rice
-j
Le Grande Raoul
Knoppow <dick...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Well, not quite. Over the years Calumet has sold Ilex, Schneider,
> and Rodenstock (at least) under the Caltar name. The Schneider and
> Rodenstock lenses are the same as thier brand name lenses. The Ilex
> lenses were custom made for Calumet. The Ilex lenses are of quite good
> quality.
I have to agree with Richard on this one. I have one of the 375/6.3
Ilex Caltars in a #5 shutter and it is a very good lens. It covers
8x10 with plenty of movement and is a decent performer. It is a single
coated lense so flare making situations should be avoided or aided with
a lens shave but it is a great value. I've seen them as low as $400
and never more than $600. Always taking into account that a CLA may be
necessary because these are mid-60's lenses, it would take a lot more
money to get a lens that is just a little bit better.
Jeff
Phil Tobias
page 41 of the May/June issue of View Camera. Rodenstock. This issue has a
history of the Caltar lenses and who made them over the years.
If someone wanted to order a copy of this, or other past issues, how would
they go about it?
Thanks. ...pt
-------------------------------
Business/Communications start at http://www.PhilipTobias.com.
Grow your business using my technical and marketing communications -
Effective writing, graphic design, multimedia, photos, and Web sites.
CamArtsMag
From: philt...@aol.com (Phil Tobias)
Date: 10/7/2003 8:36 AM Mountain Daylight Time
Message-id: <20031007103641...@mb-m20.aol.com>
camartsmag says:
page 41 of the May/June issue of View Camera. Rodenstock. This issue has a
history of the Caltar lenses and who made them over the years.
If someone wanted to order a copy of this, or other past issues, how would
they go about it?
Thanks. ...pt
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
call us at 505-899-8054 m-f 8-5 mountain time
Kerry L. Thalmann
1984 - present have been made by Rodenstock. Specifications and performance
are identical to current comparable Rodenstock products (which is to say,
quite excellent), and Caltars have always offered a good value in terms of
cost vs. performance. Current and recent Caltar wide angles are identical
to the Grandagon-N series, the standard f5.6 plasmats are the same as the
APO-Sironar-N series, and the lower-priced f6.8 Caltar II Compact models
are 3/3 designs that were formerly sold by Rodenstock under the Geronar
name.
From the mid-1960s until 1984, five different manufacturers built lenses for
Calumet sold under the Caltar name. These included Ilex, Rodenstock,
Topcon, Komura and Schneider. Complete details are in the May/June 2003
issue of View Camera. The most recent (since about 1993) wide angle Caltar
II-N models have a green ring around the front element group. You can
determine the approximate date of manufacture (from 1910 - 1998) based on
the serial number from a table in the View Camera article, or at:
http://www.thalmann.com/largeformat/agevs.htm
I recently acquired the same lens (90mm f6.8 Caltar II-N MC). Mine is a
recent sample (1996) with the green trim ring. Performance is outstanding
and coverage generous for 4x5. I also have two other recent Rodenstock wide
angles, a 55mm f4.5 APO Grandagon and a 75mm f6.8 Grandagon-N. If you plan
to carry your lens in a backpack (as I do), I recommend you replace the
flimsy factory-supplied lens caps with something more substantial. The
factory caps are made from a very thin, flexible plastic. If they are
carried in a pack, the caps can come into contact with the lens element and
cause coating damage or abrasions. It's worth spending a few dollars on
replacement lens caps to avoid any possibility of damage to the lens.
Kerry
"Anonymous" <anon...@nomailhere.net> wrote in message
news:lor3ov8v28v2esfti...@4ax.com...
Thor Lancelot Simon
Kerry L. Thalmann <large...@thalmann.com> wrote:
>As others have mentioned, your lens is made by Rodenstock. All Caltars from
>1984 - present have been made by Rodenstock. Specifications and performance
That's not actually correct. At least last time I checked, there was at
least one lens in the Caltar product line that was still made by Schneider,
purportedly because there was no Rodenstock product that met quite the
specifications and wholesale price point that Calumet was after. ISTR
it was a 90/8 wide angle.
My standard lens for 8x10 is a Calumet-branded Symmar-S-MC. I am pretty
sure it dates to later than 1984 (though perhaps just barely).
The great majority of lenses sold as Caltars since the end of the Ilex
relationship, though, are certainly just rebranded Rodenstock product, much
as Sinaron lenses are. Personally, I think Rodenstock makes some great
stuff, but I have my issues with Bob and with HP Marketing (largely because
of Bob's behaviour in the rec.photo newsgroups and elsewhere on the net,
though I must say that over the past few years there has been a dramatic
improvement and I feel nowhere near so strongly about this as I once did),
where possible, _prefer_ to buy it from Calumet. I trust Calumet just as
much to carry out their warranty obligations as I trust HP Marketing and
Rodenstock to; your mileage may vary. And you should be aware that Calumet
is selling the slightly lower-end "N" series of APO Sironars, not the
high-ens "S" lenses. So if you need the "S" lenses, and you're in the U.S.,
Bob/HP are pretty much your only option.
--
Thor Lancelot Simon t...@rek.tjls.com
But as he knew no bad language, he had called him all the names of common
objects that he could think of, and had screamed: "You lamp! You towel! You
plate!" and so on. --Sigmund Freud
Kerry L. Thalmann
"Thor Lancelot Simon" <t...@panix.com> wrote in message
news:bluogh$h5d$1...@panix5.panix.com...
> In article <a5Bgb.1214$av5...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
> Kerry L. Thalmann <large...@thalmann.com> wrote:
> >As others have mentioned, your lens is made by Rodenstock. All Caltars
from
> >1984 - present have been made by Rodenstock. Specifications and
performance
>
> That's not actually correct. At least last time I checked, there was at
> least one lens in the Caltar product line that was still made by
Schneider,
> purportedly because there was no Rodenstock product that met quite the
> specifications and wholesale price point that Calumet was after. ISTR
> it was a 90/8 wide angle.
Thor,
I have every Calumet catalog published since the early 1980s, as well as
most of them from 1965 - 1980. In the entire time Calumet has been selling
lenses under the Caltar name, I don't have any gaps larger than three years
in my Calumet catalog collection. From the 1980s, I have Calumet catalogs
dated 1980, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, and 1989.
Schneider made lenses for Calumet from 1976 - 1983. There are no Schneider
made Caltars listed in the 1984 (or there after) Calumet catalog. Schneider
made Caltars include the Caltar-S II (same as Symmar-S), the Caltar-W II
(65mm f8 and 90mm f8 same as f8 Super Angulon) and the Caltar Pro (in 150mm,
210mm and 300mm focal lengths, same as the Schneider Xenar, only offered
briefly in the early 1980s). The last Caltar 90mm f8 model made by
Schneider was the 90mm f8 Caltar-W II made up to 1983 (or perhaps early
1984).
Also, in 1984, Calumet offered the Caltar HR series, a lower-priced line
that included models made by both Rodenstock and Topcon. This included a
90mm f8 model that was of 4/4 construction with 85 degrees of coverage
(170mm IC). This model was, in fact, made by Rodenstock and is identical to
the 90mm f8 Geronar WA. It is a short, squat model with 58mm filter size in
a special version of the Copal No. 1 shutter (requires a larger mounting
hole than a standard Copal No. 1 shutter). This was their budget-priced
wide angle and it doesn't appear in any of my Calumet catalogs after 1984.
The last Caltars made by anyone other than Rodenstock, were actually made by
Topcon, not Schneider. The Topcon made Caltar HR models co-existed briefly
with the Rodenstock made Caltar II-N series in 1984 (and perhaps 1985, as I
have no catalog from that year).
> My standard lens for 8x10 is a Calumet-branded Symmar-S-MC. I am pretty
> sure it dates to later than 1984 (though perhaps just barely).
You can check the date of manufacturer at:
http://www.schneideroptics.com/info/age_of_lenses/
Serial number 14,100,000 is listed as January 1985. So, if I am correct,
any Schneider made Caltars should have serial numbers prior to 14,100,000.
What is the serial number of your lens?
Kerry
Thor Lancelot Simon
Kerry L. Thalmann <large...@thalmann.com> wrote:
>See inline comments below...
>
>"Thor Lancelot Simon" <t...@panix.com> wrote in message
>news:bluogh$h5d$1...@panix5.panix.com...
>> In article <a5Bgb.1214$av5...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net>,
>> Kerry L. Thalmann <large...@thalmann.com> wrote:
>> >As others have mentioned, your lens is made by Rodenstock. All Caltars
>from
>> >1984 - present have been made by Rodenstock. Specifications and
>performance
>>
>> That's not actually correct. At least last time I checked, there was at
>> least one lens in the Caltar product line that was still made by
>Schneider,
>> purportedly because there was no Rodenstock product that met quite the
>> specifications and wholesale price point that Calumet was after. ISTR
>> it was a 90/8 wide angle.
>
>Thor,
>
>made Caltars listed in the 1984 (or there after) Calumet catalog. Schneider
>made Caltars include the Caltar-S II (same as Symmar-S), the Caltar-W II
>(65mm f8 and 90mm f8 same as f8 Super Angulon) and the Caltar Pro (in 150mm,
>210mm and 300mm focal lengths, same as the Schneider Xenar, only offered
>briefly in the early 1980s). The last Caltar 90mm f8 model made by
>Schneider was the 90mm f8 Caltar-W II made up to 1983 (or perhaps early
>1984).
I probably am misremembering the focal length in question. There was a
single, Scheider-made Caltar in the catalog as recently as 2000; in fact,
there used to be a nice comparative table of lens specs that made it
quite clear which Caltar corresponded to which Rodenstock lens and made
the one Schneider one stand out like a sore thumb. I also confirmed
with Calumet that the lens in question was Schneider-made (they're pretty
open about this sort of thing if you ask them).
You're right, my 360mm Symmar-S-MC is marked "Caltar-S II" and, across
the rim from that marking, "Multicoating". There's no serial number on
it anywhere to check, though!
I also have a 215mm Caltar-S which appears to be Ilex-made, though I
know that there are similar 200-240mm "Caltar-S" plasmats that are
said to have been sourced from Schneider.
Kerry L. Thalmann
>
> I probably am misremembering the focal length in question. There was a
> single, Scheider-made Caltar in the catalog as recently as 2000; in fact,
> there used to be a nice comparative table of lens specs that made it
> quite clear which Caltar corresponded to which Rodenstock lens and made
> the one Schneider one stand out like a sore thumb. I also confirmed
> with Calumet that the lens in question was Schneider-made (they're pretty
> open about this sort of thing if you ask them).
Thor,
When comparing the specs in the Calumet catalogs, there is no Caltar lens
that matches ANYTHING made by Schneider after 1983. I am 100% positive that
Schneider hasn't made any lenses for Calumet in recent years. In addition
to my stack of Calumet catalogs, I have also spoken with, and exchanged
emails with several current and past Calumet employees. Not once has any of
them mentioned that Schneider made any lenses for Calumet after Rodenstock
once again became their lens supplier in 1984 (Rodenstock also made Caltar
brand lenses for Calumet from 1970 - 1976). If you can provide a specific
model and focal length, let me know and I'll check into it, but looking at
the specs in my recent Calumet catalogs, I don't see anything that could
possibly be made by Schneider.
> You're right, my 360mm Symmar-S-MC is marked "Caltar-S II" and, across
> the rim from that marking, "Multicoating". There's no serial number on
> it anywhere to check, though!
Oops, forgot, Schneider made Caltars lack serial numbers. I have a 210mm
f6.1 Caltar Pro (same as Schneider Xenar) that is also lacking a serial
number. The Rodenstock made Caltars do, however, have serial numbers that
are in sequence with Rodenstock's own products. That makes it easy to date
Caltar lenses made by Rodenstock, and also provides another way to
distinguish them from Schneider made lenses.
> I also have a 215mm Caltar-S which appears to be Ilex-made, though I
> know that there are similar 200-240mm "Caltar-S" plasmats that are
> said to have been sourced from Schneider.
Yes, this lens was made by Ilex. It has a maximum aperture of f4.8, is a
6/4 plasmat with 71 degrees of coverage (307mm IC). It was made between
1967 and 1977, probably single coated and in an Ilex No. 3 shutter. Very
late samples may be in a Copal shutter and possibly even multicoated - I'd
have to check my Ilex literature to be sure. There were several other
Caltar-S plasmats, but they were made by Rodenstock, not Schneider. These
were made during Rodenstock's first partnership with Calumet (from 1970 -
1976) and are identical to the contemporay Rodenstock Sironar line (the
plain Sironar, not the later Sironar-N). These were available in focal
lengths from 135mm - 300mm, all with 70 degree coverage and f5.6 max.
apertures.
Kerry
J. C. O'Connell
wrote:
>I've read that most Caltar lenses are made by one of two well known
>German lens manufacturers. How can you tell which company made which
>lenses? Specifically, a 90mm f/6.8 Caltar II-N MC.
>
>Thanks!!
This list may help. I forgot where I got if off the web:
CALTAR LENS DATA
Rodenstock + Sinar handpicked, Caltar cast-offs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schneider Super Angulon 65 8.0 155 558
1
Calumet Caltar WII 65 8.0 155 300
1
Rodenstock Grandagon 8/4 75 4.5 195 83 1470
2
Sinar Sinaron W 75 4.5 195 1398
4
Rodenstock Grandagon 6/4 75 6.8 187 79 880
2
Sinar Sinaron W 75 6.8 187 914
4
Calumet Caltar-II N MC 75 6.8
Rodenstock Grandagon 8/4 90 4.5 236 100 1359
3
Sinar Sinaron W 90 4.5 236 1603
4
Calumet Caltar-II N 90 4.5 236
Rodenstock Grandagon 6/4 90 6.8 221 94 830
2
Sinar Sinaron W 90 6.8 221 1002
4
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 90 6.8 221 400
2
Rodenstock Geronar WA 4/4 90 8.0 170 87 550
2
Calumet Caltar HR 4/4 90 8.0 170 300
2
Rodenstock Grandagon 6/4 115 6.8 291 1349
3
Sinar Sinaron W 115 6.8 291 1595
4
Rodenstock Sironar 135 5.6 175 377
1
Calumet Caltar S 135 5.6 189 180
1
Calumet Caltar SII 135 5.6 189 199
1
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 135 5.6 200 130 535
2
Sinar Sinaron S 135 5.6 200 593
4
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 135 5.6 200 240
2
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 150 5.6 214 142 550
2
Sinar Sinaron S 150 5.6 214 630
4
Calumet Caltar S 150 5.6 210 180
1
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 150 5.6 214 230
2
Calumet Caltar SII 150 5.6 210 200
1
Rodenstock Apo Sironar 7/5 150 5.6 252 1009
3
Sinar Sinaron WS 150 5.6 252 1203
4
Rodenstock Apo Ronar 4/4 150 9.0 135 640
3
Sinar APO Sinaron 150 9.0 135 763
4
Rodenstock Grandagon 6/4 155 6.8 369 3029
3
Sinar Sinaron W 155 6.8 382 3511
4
Rodenstock Sironar 180 5.6 234 515
1
Calumet Caltar HR 6/4 180 5.6 230 290
2
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 180 5.6 262 174 655
2
Sinar Sinaron S 180 5.6 262 806
4
Rodenstock Apo Sironar 7/5 210 5.6 352 1579
3
Sinar Sinaron WS 210 5.6 352 1852
4
Sinar Macro Sinaron 210 5.6 350 1694
4
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 210 5.6 286 730
3
Sinar Sinaron S 210 5.6 310 889
4
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 210 5.6 301 330
2
Calumet Caltar HR 6/4 210 5.6 295 300
2
Calumet Caltar SII 210 5.6 294 300
1
Rodenstock Geronar 3/3 210 6.8 230 195 425
2
Calumet Caltar HR 3/3 210 6.8 230 200
2
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 240 5.6 350 231 1350
2
Sinar Sinaron S 240 5.6 350 1429
4
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 240 5.6 350 650
2
Rodenstock Sironar 240 5.6 298 923
1
Calumet Caltar S 240 5.6 336 449
1
Calumet Caltar SII 240 5.6 336 500
1
Rodenstock Apo Ronar 4/4 240 9.0 212 235 825
3
Sinar APO Sinaron 240 9.0 212 1003
4
Rodenstock Sironar 300 5.6 384 1251
1
Rodenstock Macro Sironar 6/4 300 5.6 275 2895
3
Sinar Macro Sinaron 300 5.6 360 3342
4
Rodenstock Apo Sironar 7/5 300 5.6 490 3359
3
Sinar Sinaron WS 300 5.6 3956
4
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 300 5.6 407 1639
3
Sinar Sinaron S 300 5.6 425 1925
4
Calumet Caltar S 300 5.6 420 600
1
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 300 5.6 425 900
2
Calumet Caltar SII 300 5.6 420 700
1
Rodenstock Apo Ronar 4/4 300 9.0 264 296 945
2
Sinar APO Sinaron 300 9.0 264 1152
4
Rodenstock Apo Ronar 4/4 360 9.0 318 351 1290
2
Sinar APO Sinaron 360 9.0 318 1581
4
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 360 6.8 435 1849
3
Sinar Sinaron S 360 6.8 435 2168
4
Rodenstock Sironar 360 6.8 415 1450
1
Calumet Caltar II 6/4 360 6.8 435 1000
2
Rodenstock Sironar N 6/4 480 8.4 500 2529
3
Sinar Sinaron S 480 9.0 480 2933
4
Rodenstock Apo Ronar 4/4 480 9.0 396 1629
3
Sinar APO Sinaron 480 9.0 396 1915
4
CALTAR: Ilex made, singlecoated
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ilex Acugon 90 8.0 219 420
1
Ilex-Calumet Caltar Wide-Field 90 8.0 199
Calumet Caltar WII 90 8.0 215 300
1
Ilex Acutar 165 6.3 163 228
1
Ilex-Calumet Caltar 165 6.3 206 125
1
Ilex Acuton 215 6.3 305 360
1
Ilex-Calumet Caltar S 215 5.6 301 220
1
Ilex Acutar 375 6.3 452 522
1
Ilex-Calumet Caltar 375 6.3 468 290
1
Ilex-Calumet Caltar 20" 500 7.0 (#5) 369
CALTAR: Indeterminate origin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calumet Caltar HR 7/4 90 5.6 235 Could be SA
Calumet Caltar HR 6/4 150 5.6 210 Could be
Sironar
Calumet Caltar SII 360 6.8 500 Could be
Sironar
Kerry L. Thalmann
I'm not attacking the messenger here, I just want to point out that this
list is full or errors that can lead to incorrect conclusions about the
Caltar lenses.
First, Caltars are not, and never have been "cast-offs". No matter who was
making them for Caltar, they were always top quality lenses equal in
performance and quality to the manufacturers' own branded lenses. Calling
them "cast-offs" is more than misleading. It's just plain false
information.
Second, the 215mm Ilex-Calumet Caltar S had a max. aperture of f4.8, not
f5.6.
Third, the image circles for many of the Caltar S and Caltar-S II models do
not match the published specs. Although they are close (they appear to be
approximations based on stated angle of coverage), usually off by only a few
millimeters, they can led to erroneous conclusions about who made which
lens. In most cases, the image circle specs listed in the table are
identical for the Caltar S and S II models. This can lead to the mistaken
coclusion that these lens lines are one and the same, or at least share a
common manufacturer. This is not true. The f5.6 Caltar S models were made
by Rodenstock from 1970 - 1976 and are the same as the corresponding
Rodenstock Sironar models. The Caltar-S II line was made by Schneider from
1976 - 1983 and is the same as Schneider's Symmar-S line. Taking the values
in the table as fact can lead to some very incorrect conclusions about who
made which Caltars and when they were manufacturered.
Fourth, none of the "information" (assumptions really) under "CALTAR:
Indeterminate origin" are correct. The 90mm f5.6 Caltar was made by Topcon,
as was the 150mm f5.6 Caltar HR. And the 360mm f6.8 Caltar S-II is not a
Sironar, it is a Symmar-S.
I didn't check the table line by line, but those are the obvious errors I
found within 30 seconds of skimming this list. While much of the
information in the table may be correct, it is far from complete and, at the
least, contains the errors mentioned above, possibly more.
Kerry
"J. C. O'Connell" <hifi...@gate.net> wrote in message
news:3f836796...@news.east.earthlink.net...
J. C. O'Connell
downloaded it one day via google while researching my Caltar
375mm F6.3 lens purchase which luckily has turned out to
be a wimmer for me. VERY sharp and contrasty when
used @ f16-22. I can vouch for that one. I am
also awaiting a 90mm F8 WF Caltar I just got fairly
cheap. The jury is still out on that one....
Since I already own a MC 90mm F8 Schneider SA,
it will be fun to do a shootout betwen the two...
JCO
Kerry L. Thalmann
That's why I prefaced my comments with the disclaimer "I'm not attacking the
messenger". I knew you were just passing along information that you had
found online. There is a lot of great information on LF equipment online,
but there is also some well intentioned, but occasionally incorrect data as
well. That's why I like to check multiple sources when researching critical
information. I always try to verify my information through other means
(either original documentation, reliable sources, or personal experience)
before putting anything in writing. At the very least, when I'm not 100%
sure of something, I'll say so up front.
As for your 90mm f8 WF Caltar, as you probably know, it was made by Ilex.
Years of production were from 1967 - 1977. Early samples came in Seikosha
shutters, later samples in Copal shutters. According to the last reference
I have (a Calumet price list dated Nov. 1, 1977), this lens was offered with
multicoating at that time. All the ones I've seen have been single coated,
but if you got lucky and bought one of the last ones, it may have
multicoating. Also, you might already know, this lens lacks filter threads.
To use filters on the front of the lens requires some type of slip-on
adapter. Let us know how it compares to your 90mm F8 SA.
Kerry
"J. C. O'Connell" <hifi...@gate.net> wrote in message
news:3f839308...@news.east.earthlink.net...