Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 51

Thread: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    10

    Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    Hi. I'm searching for buy lenses for my first 4x5 camera. I recently discover that schneider and rodenstock made lenses for other brands like Calumet or Sinar. Because I have low budget I'm trying to look for deals on ebay. This lenses are probably less know, so more posibilities to get them with cheaper price. So my question is which other brands have lenses made by schneider and rodenstock? Thanks

  2. #2
    loujon
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Western, PA.
    Posts
    1,645

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    All "Caltar II N" are Rodenstock manufactured and about identical to the Rodenstocks lenses up to recent vintage.

    Schneider made "Caltar II S" lenses for Calumet and they are comparable to Schneiders lenses of the same vintage, Something like 1975-1980's.

    Ilex made Caltar lenses and most all can be identified by the Ilex shutter and may be named "Caltar S".

  3. #3
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,736

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    If you have a limited budget I'd suggest the Japanese and USA lenses. Fuji, Nikkor, Topcor and Ektar. All top quality and they frequently trade hands at prices lower than the comparable German lenses. For example, I'm on a budget and I have 20 large format lenses. Only one is German, the rest are Japanese. The Kodak Ektars are very sharp and this is nice because the 'blurry lens' crowd has not driven the prices up

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Aurora, Colorado
    Posts
    526

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    Also the Caltar II-E lenses are Rodenstock Geronars. I have a 210mm f/6.8 Caltar II-E lens, I love it.
    Never is always wrong; always is never right.

    www.LostManPhoto.com
    www.MarkStahlkePhotography.com

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    9,487
    Recent Sinar Sinarons are Rodenstocks, older ones may be Schneiders.

    You may pay more for Sinar- and Linhof-selected lenses because they are tested and chosen to be superior, better than average, in the same way that Caltars are cheaper because they are on the left side of the bell curve and are worse than average.

  6. #6
    ic-racer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    6,736

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank Petronio View Post
    Recent Sinar Sinarons are Rodenstocks, older ones may be Schneiders.

    You may pay more for Sinar- and Linhof-selected lenses because they are tested and chosen to be superior, better than average, in the same way that Caltars are cheaper because they are on the left side of the bell curve and are worse than average.
    40 years later that post-production testing is of questionable value.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Aurora, Colorado
    Posts
    526

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank Petronio View Post
    ...Caltars are cheaper because they are on the left side of the bell curve and are worse than average.
    I have to disagree with this statement. My 75mm f/4.5 Caltar II-N (re-branded Grandagon-N) is one of my sharpest lenses. There is nothing "worse than average" about it. The 210/6.8 Caltar lens I mentioned earlier is also a little gem.
    Never is always wrong; always is never right.

    www.LostManPhoto.com
    www.MarkStahlkePhotography.com

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jun 2002
    Posts
    9,487

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    How would you know if you haven't run blind tests against other lenses of the same model/era?

  9. #9

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    I'm actually interested in a more generic answer, Frank... not just if Mark (or even you) have done a blind test. "Where is the test data... any test data... regarding the quality of Caltar vs their name-brand equivalents"?

    In the general I respect the generic experience of those who have worked with both lenses, BTW.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    3,142

    Re: Looking for lenses made by rodenstock and schneider for other brands

    The Caltars are lenses purchased in blocks, and engraved with the Calumet info. They are no better or worse than the general run of Schneider or Rodenstock lenses. The Linhof inspected lenses will be consistently on the high side of factory QC.

    Edit - the above applies only to the lenses when new.
    One man's Mede is another man's Persian.

Similar Threads

  1. Why modern LF lenses all so similar between brands?
    By Gene McCluney in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 18-Apr-2007, 19:19
  2. schneider symmer S lenses made for linhof
    By ahmed moustafa zedan in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 17-Apr-2002, 17:52
  3. 65mm SW lenses - comments on the different brands?
    By TAN K H in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 23-Jan-2000, 17:35
  4. Replies: 6
    Last Post: 22-Nov-1999, 14:01

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •