Cine Lens catalogue

16:9 · Joined: 04 Apr 2014 Posts: 311 Location: UK

I'm looking for assistance - person or persons - in compiling the cine projector lens section of Delta Lenses. It's a labour of love for two us currently compiling it, but we're concentrating on slide projector and enlarger lenses at the moment, and the cine section is looking a bit unloved.

Input is welcome at any level - even if you only have a picture of a lens, or a serial number of a lens, or even just notification that a lens exists we're not currently listing - it all helps. The resource will always be free for all to use.

At the moment, we're not listing cine camera and large format taking lenses, but if anyone fancied sub-editing those sections, I wouldn't object. Delta exists to archive as much information as possible about lenses not primarily intended for taking purposes, but which can be used for that application.

dickb · Joined: 04 Apr 2008 Posts: 821

Just a quick hint, your link in the previous post doesn't work as it includes the final full stop: www.deltalenses.com.

This way it does function:

www.deltalenses.com

16:9 · Joined: 04 Apr 2014 Posts: 311 Location: UK

I told you we needed help! Thanks for the tip-off.

MarshallFoster · Joined: 28 Jun 2022 Posts: 1

I am glad I found your post. I was searching for it for my best friend.

kathala · Joined: 13 May 2022 Posts: 142

Hi,
thank you sincerely for your work! I really enjoyed exploring your site!!

I'd like to leave a few little pointers:
first, my own list of fastest lenses, including many rare ones, which might be of help (feel free to use any information):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1WKzZoHmyEaVV18iuB7oP-CcAxf_QLwAYhyL-vjYFIBE/edit#gid=0

the Wollensak Oscillo-Raptar series were oscillography lenses (i.e. for taking pictures off of oscillograph screens), not projection lenses

5o o.95 Sopelem Som Berthiot 'Cinor' = Rank Taylor Hobson 'Sopelem Monital': pre-1964 (via company history), nearly covers FF; extremely prone to SA, but can clear up with good post production skills, and reveal sharpness above the f/1 Noctilux - but the SA haze will not clear up; slightly prone to CA; ugly, mushroom-shaped highlight bokeh and busy bokeh; two-dimensional look, no pop; 1.1 kg. Made in France by Sopelem and in the UK sold through Rank Taylor Hobson. See also jerrybei.com/reviews/2019/1/20/som-berthiot-50mm-f095; offered on ebay in 2o2o for 8kâ‚¬.

as a very minor detail, A. Schacht was active in Munich (=MÃ¼nchen) and Ulm (not Ãœlm). (The latter being also the city of the invention of gingerbread:) )

https://deltalenses.com/index.php/product/fluro-ektar-52-1-5/ is a Kodak, as are all Ektars. It was made in several FLs.

5o 1.3 Kowa Super Prominar very nearly covers FF (slight black corners);
the 1.2 only covers APS;
the usual series of 5o, 76, 89 etc. mm FL

Meopta Meostigmat 50/1.3 very nearly covers FF (slight black corners)

https://deltalenses.com/index.php/product/taylor-hobson-varotal-16-160-2-2/ is a recording lens for an old tube video camcorder (vidicon are a tube type, typically 2/3"), not a projection lens

the following are not slide projection lenses, nor macro repro lenses
https://deltalenses.com/index.php/product/sigma-art-dg-105-1-4/
https://deltalenses.com/index.php/product/sigma-art-dg-50-1-4/
https://deltalenses.com/index.php/product/panasonic-20-60mm-f4-5-5-6-at-50mm/ (this is in every category and fits none: it's a FF evil lens)

and imho, a search function by feature would be a great addition (such as all lenses faster than f/2.8 etc.)

All the best

16:9 · Joined: 04 Apr 2014 Posts: 311 Location: UK

Great input - many thanks - particularly happy with the gingerbread umlaut correction!
I will add your confirmed intel (and reviews) on the next update.

The Sigma and Panasonic lenses are present as modern benchmark taking lenses and therefore need to be present in each category, although as you rightly note (and as we should make clearer), they fit none.

We have an interim goal of cataloguing 3,000 unique lenses, which we will shortly reach. However, we've barely begun to list industrial and cine camera lenses, which will bring the likely endpoint to c.5,000 entries, although it's not a project we will ever call 'complete'.

We will shortly bring online improved search and filter functions: it's important, even navigating the archive ourselves, to be able to select for maximum aperture + type, or (for instance) group lenses that have scored more than 80% in the resolution test. The Compare function also needs refining. There's also a large update to the Hall of Fame entries coming soon. And we're working on a number of articles similar to the Agfa and AICO examples documenting manufacturers and lenses that aren't commonly written about.

We also want to provide in one easily accessible place serial number and dating guides for all lenses in the archive: if you spot, or know of, anything we're missing, please shout.

All suggestions welcome - and if anyone would like to collab on a YouTube video on any of these topics, please let me know.