So I puled it apart last night- I'm about 90% sure it's a rebadged uncoated Optar. In the meantime I'd still like to find out something. I may take it out and take a few snaps with it and see how it does. Is it worth keeping around? Should I toss it? Use it with my Calumet C2 as a normal lens with movements? Any thoughts on this? Is this just a rebadged Optar Wide Angle 90mm? I can find info on many other focal lengths, but not 90mm. I have seen references to Carl Meyer lenses being rebadged Optars. From what I can tell, it's pretty crappy wide open, but the edges get better once it's down to f/16 or so. It's got some seperation around the edges, and is a bit hazy. I have never heard of Carl Meyer lenses (assuming it's a mash up of Carl Zeiss and Hugo Meyer. With some movements I'm sure I could capture what I want.Īnyways- I had been planning on picking up a Symmar 150mm, and likely a Super Angulon 90mm f/8, or Fuji SW 75mm f/8 (would need a recessed board), but the lens that came on the front of the camera is intriguing me. Same thing with shots from far away, with long lenses, seem flat and uninspired, etc. I cannot stand the thin DOF of climbing closeups that seem to be standard- really distracting foregrounds and loss of the background that would give the viewer some sense of scale. My plan for this one is to take it rock climbing and canyoneering, where movements should help a ton. Really psyched to strip it down and use as a field camera. Recently picked up a Burke & James press camera in rough but serviceable shape.

Hugo meyer anastigmat lens