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Thread: Quality of Caltar lenses?

  1. #11
    Dave Karp
    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    Los Angeles, CA
    Posts
    2,960

    Re: Quality of Caltar lenses?

    Kerry Thalmann wrote an article for View Camera Magazine years ago that summarized all of the different Caltar Series, gave specs for each lens, and indicated which manufacturer built which series. Very helpful if you can get your hands on it.

    I am happy that there are people out there who think Caltars are seconds. That helps keep the price down in the event I need to purchase one.

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    3,901

    Re: Quality of Caltar lenses?

    Last version of Calument Caltar are top quality Rodenstock with the Caltar label, nothing more-nothing less.
    Caltars typically have lower market value due to perception rather than content.

    Another example of perceived value due to branding-marketing.


    If there is issue with image quality, the issue would be equal with any similar focal length-design Rodenstock view camera lens.



    Bernice

  3. #13

    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Chicago
    Posts
    1,856

    Re: Quality of Caltar lenses?

    I have a particular fondness for Tessars, and the earlier Caltars are Ilex Paragon Tessar-formula lenses, which themselves are excellent, so I have and enjoy a couple of the Calument versions as well as the original Ilex. They don't write like modern lenses, so they probably aren't for everyone, but that doesn't mean they aren't good.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  4. #14

    Join Date
    Dec 2001
    Location
    NJ
    Posts
    8,469

    Re: Quality of Caltar lenses?

    Quote Originally Posted by mdarnton View Post
    I have a particular fondness for Tessars, and the earlier Caltars are Ilex Paragon Tessar-formula lenses, which themselves are excellent, so I have and enjoy a couple of the Calument versions as well as the original Ilex. They don't write like modern lenses, so they probably aren't for everyone, but that doesn't mean they aren't good.
    Michael, early Caltars include rebaged Acutars (= f/6.3 tessar types intended to replace Commercial Ektars), Acutons (6/4 plasmat types) and Acugons (6/4 Super Angulon types). Open your little mind to all of the possibilities, don't concentrate on only one. Oh, and by the way, Acutars aren't at all the earlier f/4.5 tessar type Paragons. Newer computations, ...

    See http://www.galerie-photo.com/ilex-lenses.html

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