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Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.

Explore the world of vintage lenses through repair notes, real test shots, and detailed archive threads packed with images.
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Distagon 25/1,4 and a Distagon 18/2,8
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:37 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:37 am
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Hi to all users; I'm new here, although I've been keeping a cordial relatioship with various members for a long time; I also thank Rob for sharing with us these exceptional lenses designed by his grandfather; officially there exist two prototypes of each, with serial numbers 2.595.321 - 2.595.322 for the Distagon 1,4/25 aspherical and 2.595.224 - 2.595.225 for the Distagon 2,8/18 aspherical (realized for the 1976 Photokina); the exemplar of 2,8/18mm shown here bears the number 2.595.022, which lets us guess that some more specimens could have been produced.

Several years ago I wrote a brief article (unfortunately in Italian only) about these lenses, showing also the cross lens sections: here the link; as you can see, the official barrel outline planned for production doesn't match the actual 1,4/25mm exemplar, fitted with two front light shades in place of a wider, round filter mount.


http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/zeiss_prototipi/00_pag.htm


From what I could understand reading the Glatzel patents, the optical formula of the 25mm f/1,4 has much in common with some Zeiss f/1,2 cine lenses, equipped as well with a front member and a rear, relay lens.

I would be glad to use the pictures you shared here to update my article, as in the meanwhile I realized more exact and pleasant optical sketches of both lenses...

By the way, for Zeiss lovers, here you are another link to a comprehensive article upon strange and interesting Zeiss lenses (both DFR and DDR) I wrote last month, with English text:


http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Zeiss_cute_DFR_DDR_lenses/00_pag_English.htm



Thanks again.

Marco


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:31 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:31 am
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Marco cavina wrote:
Hi to all users; I'm new here, although I've been keeping a cordial relatioship with various members for a long time; I also thank Rob for sharing with us these exceptional lenses designed by his grandfather; officially there exist two prototypes of each, with serial numbers 2.595.321 - 2.595.322 for the Distagon 1,4/25 aspherical and 2.595.224 - 2.595.225 for the Distagon 2,8/18 aspherical (realized for the 1976 Photokina); the exemplar of 2,8/18mm shown here bears the number 2.595.022, which lets us guess that some more specimens could have been produced.

Several years ago I wrote a brief article (unfortunately in Italian only) about these lenses, showing also the cross lens sections: here the link; as you can see, the official barrel outline planned for production doesn't match the actual 1,4/25mm exemplar, fitted with two front light shades in place of a wider, round filter mount.

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/zeiss_prototipi/00_pag.htm

From what I could understand reading the Glatzel patents, the optical formula of the 25mm f/1,4 has much in common with some Zeiss f/1,2 cine lenses, equipped as well with a front member and a rear, relay lens.

I would be glad to use the pictures you shared here to update my article, as in the meanwhile I realized more exact and pleasant optical sketches of both lenses...

By the way, for Zeiss lovers, here you are another link to a comprehensive article upon strange and interesting Zeiss lenses (both DFR and DDR) I wrote last month, with English text:

http://www.marcocavina.com/articoli_fotografici/Zeiss_cute_DFR_DDR_lenses/00_pag_English.htm

Thanks again.

Marco


Welcome, Marco! I quote your message so the links will appear. On first post, all links and photos are hidden as antispam measure.
From second message on, all links and pictures will appear no problem.
Guys, please welcome my friend Marco Cavina in this group. It is a great honour to have him here!! Marco is a true and recognized authority in the field.
He's been writing lens and camera related articles and books since more than a decade.


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:43 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:43 am
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raspberryrob wrote:

I'll try to get the pictures soon!


Looking forward to them with great anticipation! Smile


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:48 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:48 am
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Welcome Rob, as others have said, Herr Glatzel, your grandfather is a legend in our world, nice to see his gems are still in the family and being looked after.

Welcome Marco, I am very pleased you have joined us. I've read most of your site using Google Translate and learn a great deal from it, so many thanks for all your hard work.


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:49 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:49 am
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Whow, what a thread Smile
Extremely rare lenses and an expert on those together Smile

I would be happy to see images made with these prototypes as well raspberryrob, but take the time it needs. Not to out in this ugly cold weather.

Welcome Marco!


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:57 am
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:57 am
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Welcome Marco !

Your site is one of my favorites !!! My no1 reference source for Zeiss,Nikon and Leica Cool

Welcome to Mflenses !!!


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:05 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 12:05 pm
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welcome Marco, It is a great honor to have you here!!


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:51 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 1:51 pm
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Welcome Rob. How great is to see those GEMS and stories and findings from your grandfather. Hopefully we will finaly see image samples from those lens. Thanks for sharing being among us.

Welcome Marco. Also thanks to participate in Mflenses forum


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:07 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 4:07 pm
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Everyone should read Marco's new article he linked to in his post, I found it absolutely fascinating, nothing but rare and exotic Zeiss and so well explained in detail, a meisterwerk! Wink


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:24 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 5:24 pm
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Thank you for the warm welcome! Several years ago I had some interesting conversations about the Distagon 1,4/25 with a friend of mine wo had been employed at the Oberkochen Plant and was in touch with Woeltche and Schuster; he said that Herr Glatzel, may his soul be in God's glory, in the project parameters which had been granted, had obtained to manage a maximum of 10 lenses with the use of two aspherical surfaces, and that he was able to negoziate the lenses number, increased to 13 elements, in excange for giving up one of the two aspherical elements, at time already difficult to realize at Zeiss, and so he did; I never shared this detail before.

Oberkochen folks whisper that the lens didn't reach the production stage mostly due to it's bulk (more or less 1kg, I was told), unsuitable, uncording to the management, for fast reportage actions... Of course several Canon users take advantage of fast lenses of the same weight class (50/1,0 L, 85/1,2 L) without complaining too much about what, but this is it.

For testing the lens(es), I guess that the classic EOS 5D mkII - mkIII + adapter (maybe mounting the lens with the mirror up + live-view already on, to avoid the risk of a mirror collision with the rear elements) should be the easiest way.

Best regards,

Marco


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:24 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 6:24 pm
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I am speechless that in one thread we can welcome two such eminent names. Welcome indeed Marco - I was introduced to your amazing work by Orio some time ago.

Welcome both of you


patrickh


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:01 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 8:01 pm
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Marco, Rob welcome to the club, it's a great pleasure to see you here.

Marco cavina wrote:

Oberkochen folks whisper that the lens didn't reach the production stage mostly due to it's bulk (more or less 1kg, I was told), unsuitable, uncording to the management, for fast reportage actions... Of course several Canon users take advantage of fast lenses of the same weight class (50/1,0 L, 85/1,2 L) without complaining too much about what, but this is it.


That makes a lot of sense. 1kg sounds hugely impractical. For example, Canon FD 24/1.4 L is only 430gr, I'd think that IQ is decent too Wink Rob, is your lens ~ 1kg indeed?


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:32 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 9:32 pm
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Thanks for all the welcomes! And Marco, it's a pleasure to have you here!

So I didn't get my roll shot completely, but I found some previous shots I've taken with the 18 while I was traveling Europe this summer. I didn't take many, and I can't recall the aperture on the shots, but here.
#1

#2

#3


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:24 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:24 pm
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Hari wrote:
kuuan wrote:
Orio wrote:
...
No, there's no logical reason in my mind to have a private sale preferred to a safe museum structure...


agreed in theory
but then is there a Zeiss museum, and if there is one, how safe is it, who is the owner?

I still shudder when I think of Hoya closing down the big Pentax museum outside Tokyo in 2009. Where did all go?
So after all what matters most is a responsible person


And that's why I'd rather keep the lens in this group of people who really are dedicated and deeply reverent

Better a known devil than an unknown god Smile


Could you please just accept that you're never getting these lenses?

I think it's clear; museum or family.


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:26 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:26 pm
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fermy wrote:

That makes a lot of sense. 1kg sounds hugely impractical. For example, Canon FD 24/1.4 L is only 430gr, I'd think that IQ is decent too Wink Rob, is your lens ~ 1kg indeed?


Yes, the 25 is really heavy. When I was first given the lenses, and up until now, I rarely used the 25 because of how heavy and bulky it was.


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:30 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:30 pm
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propellor wrote:
A question on the 25. There are 2 wide rubber rings on the body. Which one do you use for focussing? Does the otherone move as well?


Both move together Smile


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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:00 pm
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:00 pm
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Welcome Marco.

I'd say many people have learned through your website which is full of great analysis and interesting details

this is absolutely fascinating post.

I think this post should be archived as a post of all posts on this forum

tf


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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:01 am
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 12:01 am
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Thank you rob!
The cat image is very nice, whow!


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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:40 am
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2013 7:40 am
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Welcome Marco, you name has been mentioned more than a few times in the past.

Rob, if possible, give us some measurement of the lens - weight, length, filter size etc. when time permit. As you will probably be the only person that we know having this lens, any info you provide here will become a record or some kind. So pardon us if we at time might sound too anxious to find out more on these two lens.


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:38 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:38 pm
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Just to say that I updated the article about "cute Zeiss DFR and DDR lenses" linked to this thread, with some interesting upgrades (pictures and/or text and/or sketches) about:

Zeiss Krauss Anastigmat 110mm f/8 with Protar formula (1896)
Zeiss Apo-Tessar 30cm f/9 wartime (1943)
the optical section and data about the Oberkochen Blasennkammerobjektiv S-Distagon for CERN bubble-camber
the optical section of the microlithography S-Planar 25mm f/1,6 and 50mm f/1,6 + a batch of others.

Thank you.

Marco


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:46 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 5:46 pm
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Many thanks Marco, I shall read it again, I enjoyed it so much the first time, so many lenses I would love to have but can only dream about. Smile


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:25 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:25 pm
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Some fascinating insights here! Huge thanks to the new guys for coming along and sharing your knowledge and experience Smile


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:35 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:35 pm
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Hey everyone. Sorry for my absence from the post. It's been a busy week and I haven't had much time to sit still. I promise I'll get the pictures from the lenses uploaded soon as well. I want some nice shots to show off Razz


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:16 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:16 pm
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It's fortunate that you also likes to take photos. Use it, and if you need the money, you could sell them. Let beat those Leica camera price. Very Happy

Interesting story!


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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:25 pm
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:25 pm
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raspberryrob wrote:
Hey everyone. Sorry for my absence from the post. It's been a busy week and I haven't had much time to sit still. I promise I'll get the pictures from the lenses uploaded soon as well. I want some nice shots to show off Razz

Take your time, we're not going anywhere Wink
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