Leitz 90mm f2.5 Colorplan

[scsambrook]

The Leitz 90mm f2.5 Colorplan is a projector lens which appears to have been made in several versions, none of which were ever intended to use on a camera. I have a "Version 2" example which can be used on my BPM bellows and I've finally tried it. The results can fairly be called interesting.

Picture 1 - distance about 12 inches / 30cms


Picture 2 - distance about 4ft 6inches / 1.5 metres


The lens has no diaphragm and the inside of the plastic tube which houses the optics is a high-gloss black - not a good combination if the sun's shining. It will focus from infinity down to a matter of inches on the bellows and with the point of focus fairly close the background simply dissolves as in the first picture above. But, when you fcus on something several feet away, the effect is quite different, almost disturbing in some ways. Depth of field is minimal at close range, and both these were shot hand held. There are surely some interesting pictorial possibilities here, as well as a few challenges.

Has anyone else experimented with projector lenses I wonder?

[Orio]

Yes, I did use the Leica Colorplan also
I don't have pictures at hand to share though.

[patrickh]

I just acquired two BPM bellows and am waiting for a wide selection of mounts for them (I only have Petriflex and M42 right now). I shall mainly be using them with macro and enlarging lenses. These are very very interesting pictures, but I suspect that enlarging lenses were built with much more quality in the glass


patrickh