Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/12/01
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 05:57 PM 12/1/2007, Jim Nichols wrote: >Phil, > >If I recall correctly, the Xenon 50mm f/2 was used on one of the Retina >models available in the early 50s, and was considered to be a fine lens at >the time. I almost bought one, but, instead, found a Leica IIIa with an >Elmar 50mm f/3.5 and went that way. Jim I own a JSK-lensed Retina IIIc set and a Rodenstock-lensed IIIa set. The Xenon is a superlative lens. It was produced in LTM by JSK, incidentally, though these are now rather scarce on the ground and hard to find. The Retina is a grand camera and quite user-friendly. JSK, of course, worked closely with Leitz fron the 1930's to the 1960's, primarily through the efforts of Taylor, Taylor, Hobson in the UK. Tronnier and Berek and Harold Dennis Taylor co?perated on a number of lens designs during this time. Taylor's papers surfaced about five years ago but neither myself or other researchers seem to have gone through them in detail: if one of you kind folks wants to gift me a six-month trip to the UK, I will cheerfully do so. Marc Marc msmall@aya.yale.edu Cha robh b?s fir gun ghr?s fir!