Thypoch lenses from China

[jc031699]

Knock-offs are quite popular in China, and this is a copy of the Rolleiflex 3.5 with a 5-element Planar lens. It was designed to replace the older 3-element lens used on the Seagull TLR. While LLL had plans to replicate the Planar lens, smaller mom-and-pop shops had already brought it to market ahead of them.

Where can one find these BOR planar lenses? I’d like to get one.

 

[Duofold RF]

You wonder how some of these projects start. It must be so hard to gauge the market for some of these weird products like the TLR lens. In spite of China’s size it must be a pretty limited market in these days of smartphones.

China operates as blend of a reformed socialist and deformed capitalist system, has highly efficient supply chains. Thanks to initiatives like those championed by Bill and Hillary, which integrated China into the global economic system, they are able to execute small-scale, reasonably priced projects.

 

[Duofold RF]

Where can one find these BOR planar lenses? I’d like to get one.

A photog in China told me these are only sell in domestic market, I have not see it on eBay or AliExpress.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

With modern CNC machines and CAD/CAM hardware/software- it's possible for a small/dedicated/knowledgeable business to produce a design, and have it manufactured by companies that build optics to spec and mechanical fixtures to spec. I had a small group of optical and mechanical engineers working for me in the 90s. Bought my mechanical engineer a "Milltronics VM-17" CNC machine, so he made the fixtures in house. Optics were made to our spec. Some lenses required custom formulations of the metal used for fabrication. I told them if I ever asked for optics that fit a Nikon F they should report me.

 

[rfaspen]

Report you for promotion to head lens honcho!

 

[boojum]

With modern CNC machines and CAD/CAM hardware/software- it's possible for a small/dedicated/knowledgeable business to produce a design, and have it manufactured by companies that build optics to spec and mechanical fixtures to spec. I had a small group of optical and mechanical engineers working for me in the 90s. Bought my mechanical engineer a "Milltronics VM-17" CNC machine, so he made the fixtures in house. Optics were made to our spec. Some lenses required custom formulations of the metal used for fabrication. I told them if I ever asked for optics that fit a Nikon F they should report me.

Did they? ;o)

 

[Sonnar Brian]

Did they? ;o)

The closest I got to this- design a 50/1.0 for F-Mount.

 

[rfaspen]

And..........?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

And..........?

Knowing my Engineer "could do it" sufficed. The project gave me the appreciation for custom design and small scale manufacture. I have respect for the Chinese manufacturers in this business, it is a lot of work for a small market. I tend to buy lenses based on history or unique optical formula. I just bought a Yashica 5cm F1.8 in Leica mount, one of the few 1950s Japanese lenses I do not own. Comes with a Yashica YF that needs shutter repair, maybe I'll try that out. I bought the 7art and TTArt lenses as they were original optical designs.

 

[rfaspen]

I know we certainly appreciate your approach to lens appreciation. I guess I have a similar appreciation but nowhere near as sophisticated! Lens diagrams confuse me🤔

Speaking of unique or interesting designs: Only one example of a Petzval in Leica mount (M or LTM) that I'm aware of. That's a kinda unique design to appreciate....no? It's not offered by a Chinese but rather by a Japanese manufacturer.(MS Optical).

 

[rfaspen]

OK. Thought a bit more of this Eureka lens. I looked at youtube and websites. Maybe I'm just ultra-dense, but I can't see if the front of the lens rotates with focusing (i.e., it is not a parallel mount). The first deciding criteria for me...

 

[boojum]

OK. Thought a bit more of this Eureka lens. I looked at youtube and websites. Maybe I'm just ultra-dense, but I can't see if the front of the lens rotates with focusing (i.e., it is not a parallel mount). The first deciding criteria for me...

The front of the lens does not rotate when the lens is focused. I just tested mine. QED

Thypoch Eureka

Explore this photo album by West Phalia on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[boojum]

Knowing my Engineer "could do it" sufficed. The project gave me the appreciation for custom design and small scale manufacture. I have respect for the Chinese manufacturers in this business, it is a lot of work for a small market. I tend to buy lenses based on history or unique optical formula. I just bought a Yashica 5cm F1.8 in Leica mount, one of the few 1950s Japanese lenses I do not own. Comes with a Yashica YF that needs shutter repair, maybe I'll try that out. I bought the 7art and TTArt lenses as they were original optical designs.

You are building a museum. Will it always be private?

 

[Sonnar Brian]

You are building a museum. Will it always be private?

Too funny- in 1980 I found an original IBM Mark I manual in the library at work. I asked for it to be surplused to me as the computer was in the Smithsonian since 1959. After a few days, they called me and agreed- they were a working library, not a Musuem. Later that year I had CAPT Grace Hopper autograph it. I did loan it to a Museum a few years ago. I'll probably leave it to the Marine Museum at Quantico- tell them to pick out whatever they want at the Smithsonian and Trade the manual for it. I was going to donate it to the Naval Academy in Annapolis after they opened the "Hopper Hall". I got some snide reply wanting to know the size and historical significance of the manual. I replied- "That's okay, the Smithsonian does not have a copy, I might try them."

 

[boojum]

Too funny- in 1980 I found an original IBM Mark I manual in the library at work. I asked for it to be surplused to me as the computer was in the Smithsonian since 1959. After a few days, they called me and agreed- they were a working library, not a Musuem. Later that year I had CAPT Grace Hopper autograph it. I did loan it to a Museum a few years ago. I'll probably leave it to the Marine Museum at Quantico- tell them to pick out whatever they want at the Smithsonian and Trade the manual for it. I was going to donate it to the Naval Academy in Annapolis after they opened the "Hopper Hall". I got some snide reply wanting to know the size and historical significance of the manual. I replied- "That's okay, the Smithsonian does not have a copy, I might try them."

Adm. Grace Murray Hopper, the person who made it possible for thousands of LibArts majors to make a living. I will always be grateful. She was an immense personality and impressed all whom she encountered. She had the wit and intelligence to rule all she observed. I never met anyone who met her who did not brag about it.

Annapolis had to have been reading their PR and believing it. You were obviously in touch with someone not too knowledgeable. Their loss. ;o) And a nice brush with the great.