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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

WTB: Zeiss Panspheron...

Evin Grant said:
Wide angle converter for Super Speed 18mm/Standard Speed 16mm
PM with offers or suggestions.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

I have one, let me find it and check which lenses it covers..
 
Evin Grant said:
Wide angle converter for Super Speed 18mm/Standard Speed 16mm
PM with offers or suggestions.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

How about my t2.1 12mm which I believe is a 16 with the panspheron. Not super speed though? I bought a 10mm so don't need the 12 anymore.
 
Evin,

The Panspherons are quite rare. I've never seen one in person. I don't think they were made by ARRI or Carl Zeiss. Somehow I think Birns & Sawyer was involved in making those.

The original ARRI marketed wide angle adapter was the Carl Zeiss Mutar f=6mm T*, which fit the Distagon 1,2/9,5mm, and Vario-Sonnar 10-100mm or 11-110mm.

The ARRI Aspheron was made by Kern in Switzerland (Bolex optics manufacturer), and worked with both the Distagon 9,5 and 12mm, but not the Vario-Sonnar.

I had a Zeiss 6mm Mutar, and before I sold it, I decided to test it on a 12mm Distagon (S16mm format). It performed very poorly with the 12mm. The Mutar was indeed only meant to work with the lenses mentioned above.

So I urge caution in matching wide angle adapters with prime lenses. You should definitely do a lens projector test. With a mis-matched adapter you will see marginal focus in the center, very soft distorted results in the corners, and substantial lateral color.

The ARRI 12mm is indeed a Zeiss Distagon 2/16mm, with a permanently attached wide angle adapter (that's why it says ARRI on the name ring and not Carl Zeiss). But I think that the aspherical front element on that one is custom made just for that lens, so the optical performance is quite good. It was noticably better than my Optex/Zeiss 10,5mm that was made the same way.

Cheaper is rarely better (good-fast-cheap... pick any two).
 
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I'm not looking for fantastic performance, I've shot with the 12mm T2.1 and it's a mediocre performer, especially in the corners, so I don't expect the panspheron to be stellar, just good enough. Hopefully any sellers will let me test it first. I may be forced to just get the 12mm though.
 
I have an Aspheron 18 to 14. I had it for sale for awhile for $2500. No one bought it. I finally used it with my Red and was blown away. I took it off the market and will probably have it buried with me when I die.
 
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