mikedoran

<p>Thanks for the input guys, Rob.F I am leaning to the view that it is a projection lens of some sort, although the case the lens came in does seem to be slightly military in style and weight, also the Hughes 'C' designation suggests a military origin.<br>

I would be extraordinarily happy if it is an IMAX lens as I've just been finding out how much an Imax projector set-up costs and it appears they start at $400k for a basic installation with $50k being an average price for a custom Leitz Elcan lens - apparently the custom fisheyes can run to $70k!!!!<br>

Just as a curveball does anybody know of a lens type addition (a contact lens - if you will) that I could possibly add to the rear of this lens that would substantially alter the flange focus distance? <br>

The Alteration I was thinking of was to possibly get it to fill an 8x10 viewfinder? (yeah I know it's unlikely)!</p><div></div>

<p>Hi Arthur, it weighs around 20lbs but 38 with its case, I'm sure I'll find a lighter way to safely carry it.<br>

Thanks for the IMax suggestion too - I just googled 'Imax lenses' and came up with the following two links...<br>

<a href="http://www.singaporevr.com/vrs/science_centre/ProjectionRoom.html">http://www.singaporevr.com/vrs/science_centre/ProjectionRoom.html</a><br>

<a href="http://www.stephenlow.com/experience/imax-technology.html">http://www.stephenlow.com/experience/imax-technology.html</a><br>

I've asked on several Leitz/ Leica sites for info on the lens and got nowhere - most frequent suggestion was that it was an xray lens - the serial number of 350 0003 on the lens on the second link is almost identical to mine which means that my lens was/is almost certainly an Imax planetarium type lens?</p>

<p>Hi Dan,<br>

Thanks for the Pacemaker Speed Graphic suggestion - I've just had a look at an example on ebay and that looks like the simplest and cheapest way to get a working setup to try.<br>

I had no idea they had FP shutters built in!<br>

The Hartblei Hcam looks like the best long term solution as it offers both film and digital backs and it looks like a professional setup - nothing worse than trying to shoot a serious subject in public with a camera that looks like it was made by a madman in an asylum - I'll have to save up for the £5k asking price though.<br>

Your link doesn't work for me - it just hangs - but thanks for the SKgrimes link.<br>

Mike</p>

<p>Thanks so much for all the great suggestions, I'll try to reply to them in turn, Arthur thanks for the background information on Leitz Canada, (how do you even know that stuff?)!<br>

it would be nice to think that this lens was designed and made as a technical fun challenge but some indulgent/bored optical geniuses, I'm not much into collectibles and when you look through the lens it really is hilarious, wherever you point it the world does crazy things, I really want to shoot hundreds of places and things with it, if I have to slightly modify it then I'm leaning towards thinking it will be worth it just for the images.<br>

Also - I would have preferred to use it as a movie lens as this lens mounted to a moving vehicle would be such a blast to watch on a big screen - alas the flange distance precludes it...<br>

Raymond, I realise it wont cover a full 6x6 frame but I quite like the colourful circle in a black square look. If you crop the top, bottom and sides you miss an awful lot of the scene and I reckon if you can capture it then you should?<br>

LG, I was half thinking about going 4x5 but I want the convenience of being able to waste lots of film and not breaking the bank, so roll film (or possibly in the future when funds allow an interchangeable digital back). I have a design for a tripod mount incorporating a carrying handle which i'll start machining soon.<br>

Ray, thanks for the info on focal plane cameras, I was looking at an early Zenza Brionica SQ which has a shutter which looks the right distance from the film plane but It would require the near destruction of most of the camera to get the lens right in there, as would most of the others. As to your suggestion of selling it to an Oriental gentleman - I really fancy a unique camera that produces unique images, and If I did sell it for £10k I'd just blow it on a ton of crap.<br>

Mike</p><div></div>

<p>@Michael Axel<br>

I dread to think what it would have originally cost too, the glass is utterly exquisite and flawless and heaven knows how difficult it would have been to find a block of lens grade glass big enough just to make the front element.<br>

The serial number says 0007 so there are at least another 6 out there too.<br>

The flange distance appears to be 20-23mm - I get different measurements every time I try, the trouble is it is very heavy (38lbs including the flight case and 21lbs without) and almost impossible to measure when one hand is needed to hold one end up.<br>

I'll look into the Pentax Mamiya route - I'd forgotten about the Pentax 6x7 body etc, I'll avoid the Hasselblads as just typing the word makes me sweat.<br>

As you've guessed there is no fall off in the light, If you place a light meter behind the lens you actually get a 2 stop higher reading than from in front of the lens, it's almost like a torch.<br>

The 75mm tube actually houses various lens elements so it's more than just a spacer - Im half tempted to disassemble it to play around with the flange distance but I probably wont as I've ruined quite a few lenses by 'experimenting' and I think I'd be shot if I ruined this one.<br>

Thanks for your suggestions!<br>

Mike</p>

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<p>Hi Ray,<br>

thanks very much for the response, I hadn't heard of either of your suggestions so I'll look into both. My budget might not stretch to the Hartblei if it's as expensive as I think it will be.<br>

My original thinking was to fit a Sinar/Copal fp shutter behind the lens and look for a large process lens to scavenge a diaphragm from - but I would much rather end up with something that looks elegant rather than a frankenstein - so the Hartblei route might be the way to go.<br>

The lens was an absolute find - I paid £70 on ebay, the seller's description was 'big lens!'</p><div></div>

<p><img src="../photo/15760792" alt="" /><img src="../photo/15760792" alt="" /><img src="../photo/15760792" alt="" /><img src="../photo/15760753" alt="" /><img src="../photo/15760752" alt="" />I have acquired the lens pictured above and would like to build a 6x6 camera system around it and I'm looking for ideas.<br>

The lens is believed to be a 1997 Leitz made Military spec. T* coated lens which is fixed focus, has a focal length of 17mm, f0.6, it has an field of view of 163 degrees, (which supposedly exactly matches the human eye).<br>

As far as I can tell everything from the surface of the lens to infinity is in focus.<br>

The lens produces a focussed Image circle of 59mm when focussed on ground glass and focus falls approximately 22mm behind the rear flange surface and 25mm behind the rear element.<br>

There is no shutter or diaphragm with the lens.<br>

My problem is I need to find a shutter system (preferably with a diaphragm built in) that will fit between the back of the lens and the focal plane, also the shutter will probably have to incorporate a removable roll film back.<br>

The alternative would be to open the lens case and machine a facility to drop in a large diaphragm/shutter from another lens. <br>

I don't know if you can see from the pictures but the rearmost tube is 75mm, and the preceeding one is 100mm. Whatever shutter/diaphragm arrangement that could be dropped in would have to be fairly huge with an opening of at least 60mm.<br>

So my question is if you were building a camera for this lens where would you start?<br>

Also in case you are wondering why anybody would go to all of that trouble just for a lens - I can't really begin to tell you how giddy i get looking through it, the images the lens produces really are jaw droppingly fantastically sharp and beautiful.<br>

Many thanks <br>

Mike</p><div></div>