Lens Data Summary
Joseph Schneider lenses for the Exakta 66
Joseph Schneider of Bad Kreuznach in western Germany is another of the
great manufacturers of superb lenses, and many of their medium format lenses
are made for a range of prestigious cameras, including Rolleis and Hasselblads.
They announced the following lenses for the Exakta 66, and all of them
are reported as having been seen at some point, although I believe that
the 40mm Curtagon lens may have never entered serial production.
| Lens name | Max aperture
& focal length |
Angle
of view degrees |
Closest
focus m |
Filter
thread |
Dimensions
(Diameter × length) mm |
Weight
g |
Comment |
| Curtagon MF | f/4 / 40 | 89 | 0.5 | 104mm dia
outer bayonet |
104 × 109 | 700 | . |
| Super-Angulon MF | f/4.5 / 55 | 71 | 0.5 | 104mm dia
outer bayonet |
104 × 157 | 1650 | PCS Perspective
control & shift/swing |
| Curtagon MF | f/3.5 / 60 | 66.5 | 0.6 | M 67 × 0.75 | 81 × 84 | 570 | . |
| Xenotar MF (1) | f/2.8 / 80 | 52 | 0.6 | M 67 × 0.75 | 84 × 72 | 500 | . |
| Biometar (1) | f/2.8 / 80 | 54 | 1.0 | M 67 × 0.75 | 82 × 68 | 440 | . |
| Xenotar E (1) | f/2.8 / 80 | 54 | 1.0 | M 67 × 0.75 | 82 × 68 | 440 | . |
| Exakta (1) | f/2.8 / 80 | 52 (?) | 0.95 | M 67 × 0.75 | 83 × 74 | 450 | . |
| Tele-Xenar MF | f/4 / 150 | 29.5 | 1.5 | M 67 × 0.75 | 84 × 101 | 760 | . |
| Tele-Xenar MF | f/5.6 / 250 | 18 | 3.0 | M 67 × 0.75 | 84 × 168 | 900 | . |
| Variogon MF | f/4.5 / 75-150 | 56.3-30 | 1.8 | M 95 × 1 | 98 × 171 | 1770 | Zoom |
| Variogon MF | f/5.6 / 140-280 | 31.3-16 | 2.5 | M 86 × 1 | 95 × 240 | 2070 | Zoom |
Notes
(1) 80mm lenses for the Exakta 66
There is much debate about the origin of these four 80mm lenses for
the Exakta 66. The amount of information involved merits consideration
on a separate page, which can be found here.
Schneider-Kreuznach also made a 2× converter for the Exakta 66. Details can be found here and here.
Bellows (macro) lenses
As well as the above lenses, which can (of course!) be fitted directly
to the Exakta 66 (or to the bellows unit), Schneider made versions of some
of their famous lenses exclusively for use on the bellows unit. Here
are the details:
| Lens name | Max aperture
& focal length mm |
Angle
of view degrees |
Magnifi-
cation range |
Filter
thread |
Dimensions
(Diameter x Length) mm |
Weight
g |
Comment |
| Symmar-SF | f/5.6 / 135 | 32 | . | M 49 × 0.75 | 59 × 50.5 | 250 | . |
| Symmar-S | f/5.6 / 180 | 24.5 | . | M 62 × 0.75 | 61 × 64 | 350 | . |
| M-Componon | f/4 / 28 | . | 2.7-5.54 | . | 39 × 25 | 65 | Macro lens |
| M-Componon | f/4 / 50 | . | 1.04-2.54 | . | 39 × 28 | 75 | Macro lens |
| The two Symmar lenses already have a world-wide reputation, and Exakta
GmbH claimed that when they were attached to the Exakta 66 bellows it would
be possible to focus them from infinity to ultra close up, although this
turns out not to be the case! Componon is the name on Schneider’s
top range of enlarging lenses, and the macro versions of these lenses are
designed to give the greatest possible magnification of the tiniest objects.
I understand that in the macro versions of these lenses the elements are
mounted in reverse, as compared to the enlarger versions.
To see a review of the bellows – or “macro” – lenses click here. |
 |
The data in the tables above are based on published sources. I do not have examples of all of these lenses (!), and I have not measured or weighed all of those that I do have.
I note that Pentacon GmbH Foto- und Feinwerktechnik in Dresden has two much newer products that use Joseph Schneider lenses in the Pentacon Six / Exakta 66 mount: their scan 3000 and scan 5000 professional scanners. The 3000 brochure that they were distributing at Photokina 2002 showed the 60mm Curtagon MF on a scanner. It’s great seeing these lenses living on into new technology, and an indication of the high quality images that they produce.
For further details of the lenses – number of elements and grouping of elements, variations of the lenses, etc, I refer you to Nathan Dayton’s excellent website, www.commiecameras.com
Most of these lenses are illustrated and tested in the Lens Test section of this website. To go to the lens test section, click here.
To go on to the next section, click below.
Next section (80mm Lenses for the Exakta 66)
To go back to the beginning of the Lens Data section, click below and
then choose the range of lenses that you want to read about.
Back to beginning of the Lens Data section
© TRA May 2002, August 2009