Two Caltar 90mm lenses

[otzi]

Is there a huge difference between these two lenses?

Caltar II-N Rodenstock Grandagon-N 90mm f4.5
Caltar HR Topcon 90mm f5.6 4x5

Where in the order of things does the Topcon fit in?

[IanG]

The Topcon was probably made by Komura, I think they were also sold as Horseman lenses, they should be good performers.

The Rodenstock's are superb lenses, great sharpness and tonality, the multi-coating is excellent.

Ian

[Gene McCluney]

The Rodenstock should be much newer and a better performer, but more expensive.

[Dan Fromm]

Um, Ian, are you sure that Komura and Tokyo Optical are the same?

[Mark Sampson]

Kerry Thalmann wrote a history of the many different Caltar-branded lenses for VC magazine a few years back- perhaps that information is on VC's website, or his own.

[IanG]

Um, Ian, are you sure that Komura and Tokyo Optical are the same?

No they aren't the same but sometimes it's difficult as manufacturers sub-contract. Komura own Horseman, Horseman marketed a series of LF "Topcon" lenses.

So a Komura lens can be a Topcon.

Ian

[Louie Powell]

According to Kerry's article in VC, the Komura-made Caltar-Pro 90mm f5.6 was manufactured between 1980 and 1984, while the Topcon-made Caltar-HR 90mm f5.6was after 1984.

The partnership between Calumet and Rodenstock also started up in 1984, so it is possible that the age of these two lenses could be the same. However, the Topcon-made lenses, like the Schneider- and Komura-made Caltar-Pro lenses were intended to be "budget" lenses, while the Rodenstock was designed as a "premium" offering. So it is quite possible that there are functional differences between those lenses. Kerry's information does indicate that the Rodenstock lens requires a larger filter than the Topcon. There was also a difference in shutter size.

[Jim Galli]

Was the Topcon even sold for 4X5? I think it might be a 2X3 lens like the Horseman series that Calumet used to sell. The Grandagon is a no-brainer if you can afford it. Truely a great lens.

[Dan Fromm]

No they aren't the same but sometimes it's difficult as manufacturers sub-contract. Komura own Horseman, Horseman marketed a series of LF "Topcon" lenses.

So a Komura lens can be a Topcon.

Ian

Komamura, not Komura. Learn to spell. Failing that, learn to check before posting.

[Dan Fromm]

Was the Topcon even sold for 4X5? I think it might be a 2X3 lens like the Horseman series that Calumet used to sell. The Grandagon is a no-brainer if you can afford it. Truely a great lens.

Jim, having just bought a Horseman lens I looked around to see what's known about them. Turns out that Seth Broder recently posted a Horseman catalog in his site's information section that sheds a lot of light. See http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/...orseman_2.html