Agfa M3525 lens (ca. 50 mm f/2.8, prototype?)

[simple.joy]

As I've already mentioned here and also in our article on Agfa enlarging/projection/industrial lenses (https://deltalenses.com/index.php/2022/03/21/agfa-enlarger-lenses/) I have a couple of tiny Agfa lenses without any real body or a proper inscription. I still think that they might be prototypes or custom made lenses for a particular application or customer.

One of those is labeled "M3525 6/3" and while it appears to be a simple triplet, it's one of my favorite lenses by Agfa and quite capable as a macro lens:

Got handed a lemon. Tried to make the best of it! by simple.joy, on Flickr

Rad color! by simple.joy, on Flickr

Pearly gates by simple.joy, on Flickr

Dan Delight by simple.joy, on Flickr

Wide open its rendering reminds me a bit of the Trioplan (creating some bubbles), stopped down it gets incredible smooth... perhaps a bit like the Primoplan, but sharper in its preferred magnification range. The focal length is probably close to 50 mm and the maximum aperture something like f/2.8. The lens doesn't look like much - it's just a threaded barrel with an unmarked metal aperture ring. It's really tiny, similar to a microscope objective but of course with way bigger glass elements.

A lens? Basically just a cylinder by simple.joy, on Flickr

Even though Agfa had a patent for a three-element enlarging lens (DE000001026986A) I'm not aware of any lens like that, they ever mass-produced.

So the origin and purpose of that lens still remains a mystery. If you happen to know anything about it, or know someone who might, please let me know - I'm very curious to find out more about it.

[calvin83]

Looks like it is a very capable little lens.

[simple.joy]