Even Tessars seem to differ. I have used Tessars on Super Ikonta cameras, Rollei 35, a Welta and a Rollei T tlr. I have always found Tessars good performers but still a little bit too soft. But, the Tessar on both of my Rollei T tlr cameras are truly sharp and contrasty, indeed they are my favorite lenses. Just today i went through a ritual i go through about twice a year. I put film through my Rollei 3.5E(2) Xenotar to prove to myself that it does not perform as well as the Tesars on the Rollei T. I keep imagining that perghaps next time it will test better but it never does, not at the center and there is no noticed differences even in the corners. Very soon I will decide, finally, to sell the Xenotar. Resolution is excellent on all the lenses but the Tessar just has more bite. Part of this is, no doubt, a question of assembly. Perhaps the Rollei lenses were more carfully centered. You know how Welta centered their lens assembly? With a flashlight. Same with Franka. Both of these companies used Xenars on their best cameras but for a long time Xenars were available for far less money, esp. before the war. This is why one finds so many secondary brand cameras with Xenars. But, how good were they if they were assembled and centered with a flashlight beam? On the other hand, while i do not seem to like the Schneider lenses I have used, I did have a Franka Rolfix with 105mm f/3.5 Radionar that performed really exceptionally. So well in fact, that I bought other Rolfixs in hope of finding another one that good. But this was the only one that was so exceptional. Better centering? So, of course, i sold it only to continually regret this. But, before I find myself ensnared in a battle about Xenotars, let me also say that i have never particularly liked Planars either though resolution is indeed exceptional. Indeed, i sold a GX simply because it was too expensive to lug around with me when i was not too thrilled with its performance. Yes, no doubt I am a troglodite with too many thumbs, but we find favorites where we find them. Do any of you know about Robot's experience with Zeiss and Schneider lenses? Their post war surveillance cameras used Schneider lenses and Israeli intelligence, who have designed the most recent Robot gifts, also prefer Schneider lenses. Beats me. Jerry Friedman --- Richard Sintchak <rich815@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Although subject to debate (like what is not in > photography?) most > consider the Xenar and Tessar similar if not pretty much > identical. > > On 9/26/07, eroustom@xxxxxxxxxxx <eroustom@xxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote: > > The S-Xenar is a Tessar with another name? > > > > E. > > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > > From: "Richard Sintchak" <rich815@xxxxxxxxx> > > > Yes, quirky they are. I have a 35T which I find gives > beautiful > > > images, especially for B&W. Just got a 35S with the > Sonnar lens. > > > Only a few rolls thru so far so I'm reserving > judgement vs. my Contax > > > T2 and it's Sonnar lens but my sense is they are > certainly not > > > identical, or do not seem so. More later on my 35S. > > > > > > In the meantime here are some images with my 35T and > Tessar lens: > > > > > > > http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=Rollei35T&w=38698047%40N00 > > > > > > Richard S. > > > San Francisco > > > > > > My Commute Photo Blog > > > http://shootingonthefly.blogspot.com/ > > > > > > My Flickr Page > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/rich8155/ > > > > > > > > > On 9/26/07, Roger Wiser <rwiser@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > > > > Jerry, interesting comments. After owning SE, T, > 2-S's, > > > > I wished I would have kept the German made model. > They > > > > were well made nice picture takers but had their > quirks. > > > > > > > > And ..... I compleltely agree with your analysis > of the ergonomics > > > > and propensity to dent corners, not to mention the > use of flash. > > > > I had two repaired by Harry Fleenor. In spite of > the cost of the > > > > cameras and repairs, my cost and expenses were > adequately > > > > recovered when I sold the cameras on eBay. Foreign > buyers > > > > were seeking then at the time. > > > > > > > > I might add that these little cameras held their > value, especially > > > > when I indicated that repairs were by Harry. They > are still > > > > in demand. > > > > > > > > Roger > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: "Jerry Friedman" <tinycameraco@xxxxxxxxx> > > > > To: <rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> > > > > Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:49 AM > > > > Subject: [rollei_list] Re: Rollei 35S, SE > > > > > > > > > > > > > The problem you will find using a separate range > finder is > > > > >> - Online, searchable archives are available at > > > > > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list > > > > > > > > > --- > > > > Rollei List > > > > > > > > - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > > > - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with 'subscribe' > > > > in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > > > > > > > - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with > > > > 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging > into www.freelists.org > > > > > > > > - Online, searchable archives are available at > > > > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list > > > > > > > > > > > --- > > > Rollei List > > > > > > - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > > > - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > 'subscribe' > > > in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > > > > > - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > with > > > 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > > > > > - Online, searchable archives are available at > > > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list > > > > > > > --- > > Rollei List > > > > - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > > > - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > 'subscribe' > > in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > > > - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > > 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > > > - Online, searchable archives are available at > > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list > > > > > --- > Rollei List > > - Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > > - Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > 'subscribe' > in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org > > - Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with > 'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into > www.freelists.org > > - Online, searchable archives are available at > //www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Need a vacation? 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