Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site inmet.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!ucbvax!decvax!cca!inmet!schooler
From: schooler@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <19000004@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 21-Sep-85 18:11:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.19000004
Posted: Sat Sep 21 18:11:00 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Sep-85 03:34:26 EDT
References: <704@utastro.UUCP>
Lines: 48
Nf-ID: #R:utastro:-70400:inmet:19000004:177600:2481
Nf-From: inmet!schooler    Sep 21 18:11:00 1985


I too am interested in older cameras, in fact I collect them!

(The following is a somewhat random discussion of some of my
stranger equipment, so people not interested should take note.)

I collect only 35mm equipment, thus ensuring that my film-size
will not become obselete soon, a fate that befalls many collectors.
I'm currently interested in 35mm range-finders, mainly Canon, but
also Nikon and Leica.

Apparently the period around 1960 was the heyday of "super-speed"
lenses.  It was felt that having the fastest lenses around
increased sales of a firm's cameras, somewhat regardless of image
quality.  The fastest 35mm lens ever made was the Canon 50mm f/0.95.
This is a monster of a lens, as you can imagine.  It came out in
1961 and only fits the Canon 7 and 7s models.  (Even though these
used the standard Leica screwmount, the 0.95 lens mounted on an
external bayonet.)  The Canon 7 models were not particularly petite
either, so the combination is quite eye-catching.

Using the lens is quite an experience.  The lens is so large that it
cuts off a whole corner of the viewfinder.  The depth-of-field wide
open is miniscule, of course, and the optical quality isn't great,
particularly in the corners.  The lens improves considerably when
stopped down :-).  Canon also made an f/1.2 lens, which was also not
exceptionally good optically, and an f/1.4 which was very good indeed.

Meanwhile, the other manufacturers also had their monsters:  Nikon had
a 50mm f/1.1, and Leica still has an f/1.0, though only in M-mount (for
the rangefinder models).  The Canon and Nikon lenses are currently
quite expensive and sought-after collector's items.  (I only have the
Canon, alas!)  Some of Canon's other fast lenses: 35mm f/1.5 (1958),
85mm f/1.5 (1952!), and a 135mm f/2.5 (1959) which mounted on a reflex
housing, which turned your rangefinder camera into a single-lens reflex
in a somewhat inconvenient manner.

Why don't we have as wide or wider lenses on our SLR's today?  The fastest
lens is a 50mm f/1.2, offered by practically everybody.  I believe that
the answer is "back-focus", or the distance from the film plane to the
lens mount.  This distance is shorter in rangefinder cameras than
single-lens reflexes, because of the mirror clearance necessary in the
latter design.  The shorter back-focus apparently increases a designer's
flexibility considerably, especially with shorter lenses.

		-- Richard Schooler
		Intermetrics, Inc.
		{ihnp4,ima}!inmet!schooler


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com