Lens Nimenclature and lens Designe: Raptar vs Paragon

[Drew Bedo]

Simply put: Is there a difference in lens design between lenses labeled "Raptar" and "Paragon"?

[Louis Pacilla]

They are two different companies. Both the name Raptar (Wollensak) & Paragon (Ilex) are trade names for various optical formula lenses.

[Two23]

Simply put: Is there a difference in lens design between lenses labeled "Raptar" and "Paragon"?

They are trade names more than lens types. A Raptar was a Wollensak Velostigmat which was coated. Both are Tessar type four element. They simply changed the name. A Paragon was usually a four element Tessar type as well, but apparently the Pagagon process lenses were Plasmat design.


Kent in SD

[Whir-Click]

Here are the optical designs of many commonly encountered Raptar lenses, from the 1954 Wollensak catalog.

[Drew Bedo]

Thanks everyone. I always wondered.