Is the 360 mm Caltar IIs a bargin, a dog, or something else?

[chris_hawkins]

After researching various 360mm LF lenses, a used Caltar IIs seems to be quite a bargin at $800. The only reference I've seen to Caltar IIs lenses is http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000j2X and this thread doesn't speak to the quality. What will I be giving up relative to a more expensive lens?

[richard_rankin]

I can't speak to that exact lens, but have 2 other Caltars. Various

models of Caltar lenses are made by Rodenstock and/or Schneider for

Calumet. The odds are that you will be giving up little with these

relabelled lenses. Any individual example of a lens model, of course,

can be a dog, just as any individual specimen of a car or appliance

can be. You still have to fully check THAT lens you would be holding

in your hand.

 

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There has never been any suggestion that the Calumet brand lenses are

inferior, seconds, or even different from the 'real' named lenses. I

certainly couldn't look at a photo and tell a Caltar from a

Rodenstock or Schneider, and doubt anyone else could either - and I

saved a heap of money by getting the Caltars. I've had mine for a

couple of months and have been very satisfied (although I will try

never to get another Copal 3 shuttered lens... ).

 

<p>

 

If you are looking on Ebay for this lens, be aware of the current

Calumet prices. I've seen a few of these lenses go for more than a

new one from Calumet which comes, I believe, with a lifetime

guarantee and pretty good customer service.

 

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Calumet will also answer questions about the older lenses if they

know the answer, so don't be afraid to phone/email them and ask what

you need to know. They seem (and I think, justifiably so) proud of

these lenses at the prices they supply them for. They have the image

circle, angle of coverage info, etc, available on their website for

the current crop of lenses.

 

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I've already decided that my next modern lens will be a third Caltar.

 

<p>

 

After all that, I might also point out that you can pick up a 360mm

lens in barrel for way less than $800 if that would suffice. I

picked up a 14 inch Wollensak on Ebay that I've had great fun with,

for around $50...

 

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Cheers,

Richard

[neil_poulsen1]

Based on a conversation with Calumet and references I've seen on

other sites, Caltar II-S lenses are the same as Schneider Symmar-S

lenses. I own a Caltar II-S 360mm lens. Checking older product

literature, the Schneider Symmar-S 360mm lens has the largest filter

size of any of the Schneider and Rodenstock plasmats. (It's huge --

120mm.) The diameter of my lens matches this dimension.

 

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Given the excellent quality of Symmar-S lenses, and depending on

condition, I'd say that $800 is a decent price. The same lens with

the Schneider name would sell in the neighborhood of $1100 to $1400.

[neil_poulsen1]

continued . . .

 

<p>

 

To better answer your question, I think these are excellent lenses.

Published image diameter is 491-500mm at F22, which will cover 11x14

and generously cover 8x10. This is a single coated lense, but you

don't give up much. Primary advantage of Schneider multi-coating is

infra-red and ultra-violet filtering. Schneider has told me that one

would need to examine photos with a loop to tell the difference

between the single and multi-coated lenses, if one could tell a

difference at all. My images taken with this lens are very sharp.

Primary disadvantage is weight and size. (1700 grams.) For example,

this lens won't fit on a front designed for a Technica 4" lens board.

Possibly, one could tell a difference from a print between this lens

and an Apo-Symmar. Hard for me to tell the difference, since I don't

own an Apo-Symmar 360mm. (Talk about going into debt.) Effective

focal length is 350.5mm; rear mount diameter is 92mm; flange focal

length is 335.8 w/Copal 3; length is 112mm; etc. Check Schneider's

WWW.SCHNEIDEROPTICS.COM for additional information.

[craig_maxwell]

Hi Chris,

 

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I have used a Caltar ll-S 360mm f6.8 lens for several years, I

beleive that the one I have was made by Rodenstock. As I understand

the situation, Caltar lenses were made for Calumet by EITHER

Schnieder or Rodenstock depending upon which company was awarded the

contract to supply lenses to Calumet. Either way, they are fabulous

lenses and I'm certain that you will be getting a fine lens. As you

know, I'm using 8x10 less now, but just yesterday I shot a job using

my 360 on 4x5. The resulting color transparencies were spectacular as

would be expected. The $800.00 price sounds very good indeed, just

make sure that you test the shutter speeds on the shutter and get a

no questions asked return option with full refund if you decide not

to keep the lens after you run some tests with it. My 2 cents anyway.

[john_hicks]

The Caltar-S is a Symmar-S, while later ones are Rodenstocks. These are _the same_ as the Schneider or Rodenstock lenses.

[neil_poulsen1]

Looking at my lens again, I have a Caltar-S II, which I know is the

Symmar-S. I'm wondering if there's both a Caltar-S II and a Caltar II

S.