|
Topic: |
Computar dL Enlarging Lenses |
|
Author/Copyright: |
John Jovic |
Introduction
To date very little definitive information about Computar dL lenses has
been readily available. The scarcity of original material such as
advertising or sales brochures and published technical data makes the
information hard to find. Copyright restrictions have made the few
articles and reviews published in magazines of the period difficult to
access, if not actually scarce. Computar dL enlarging lenses hay day was
in the late 1970's, about 35 years ago. The individuals involved in
their design, manufacture and distribution are sadly themselves becoming
scarce, so sourcing first hand accounts is quickly becoming impossible.
The purpose of this article is to document as much as possible about
these unusual and almost mythical lenses and in doing so to make this
information readily available. This is an ongoing project and this page
will be updated as required.
Computar dL Enlarging Lenses
Computar dL enlarger or enlarging lenses were available in eight fixed
focal length and two variable focal length lenses. The variable focal
length lenses were available as early as 1979[1] from Burleigh Brooks
Optics, Inc. and the full range was available in 1981[4]. The lenses
were sold in both Computar and Kowa branding in various parts of the
world. The following lenses were available.
2.8/30
2.8/50
1.9/55
3.5/65
4.5/80
4.5/90
4.5/105
5.6/135
4.5/50-5.6/80
4.5/105-5.6/150
Although primarily intended as enlarging lenses Computar dL lenses were
also designed to be used for close up and macro photography. All but two
of the Computar dL lenses have a common 43x0.75mm front filter thread
making them easy to reverse mount if needed. Sixteen Computar accessory
adapter rings were available to reverse mount the lenses[3].
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
The above image shows
a collection of Kowa and Computar dL lenses and is reproduced with
permission from Ebay seller leica-post. |
|
Computar dL Timeline
This timeline shows various documented events relating to Computar dL
enlarging lenses. The dates or 'Year' shown below are the published
dates of the relevant source material. These dates establish a timeline
of events to help understand the evolution of the Computar dL line of
lenses, their manufacture and marketing. This timeline is not complete
and will be amended as information comes to hand.
|
Year |
Event |
|
1977 |
Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc. instigated the design and
marketing of the lenses. A comprehensive brochure detailing Computar
dL
lenses was published by Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc. in 1977. |
|
? |
KYVYX Corp.,
P.O. Box 1873, South Hackensack, N.J. 07606, President Jack
Callahan[8].
Kyvyx Corp. appears to have purchased the Computar
Trademark from Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc. when they folded.
Although not from a credible source a letter[9] from Jack Callahan,
President of KYVYX Corp, claims to have sold the 'Computar'
Trademark to Chugai International
Corporation. This suggests that Chugai only became involved in the
manufacture of Computar lenses after this transaction and that the
earlier Kowa and Computar dL lenses were probably made by Kowa.
Optical manufacturers have moved and retooled in other countries (eg
Zeiss/Contax moved from Germany to Japan) so it's quite possible
that manufacturing changed relatively seamlessly from Kowa to
Chugai. It is also possible that Chugai always made the Kowa/Computar
lenses and only bought the Computar Trademark at a later date. The
original manufacturer of the Computar dL lenses is presently not
confirmed. |
|
1980 |
CBC (Chugai Boyeki (AMERICA) Corp.) introduced a line
of high-end professional enlarging lenses under the newly acquired
brand name "Computar" [6]. |
|
1981 |
Computar dL lenses were marketed in Australia as Kowa lenses[4].
Based on extensive searches of Australian photographic magazines
published during the period from 1981 to 1987 no evidence has been
found of Computar dL lenses being marketed under
the Computar brand name in Australia. |
|
1984 |
Computar dL range of lenses was
marketed in the U.S.A. by Photronix Marketing Group, Inc., 133 Stockton
Lane, Rochester, NY, 14625[2]. |
|
1986 |
Computar dL range of lenses was
marketed in the U.S.A. by Goldrich Photo Marketing, Inc., 133 Stockton
Lane, Rochester, NY, 14625[5]. |
|
1986 |
Computar dL range of lenses are manufactured in Japan
by Chugai International, Inc.[5]. |
|
1987/88 |
Kowa branded lenses still being sold in the
Australian market[11] |
|
1989 |
Computar dL range of lenses was
marketed in the U.S.A. by Goldrich Photo Marketing, Inc., 133 Stockton
Lane, Rochester, NY, 14625[7] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Computar dL brochures from Burleigh
Brooks Optics Inc.
The Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc. brochure for the Computar dL line of
enlarging lenses is partially reproduced below. This brochure details
the fixed focal length lenses. The Computar dL 2.8/25 which never went
into production is listed instead of the Computar dL 2.8/30. The
varifocal lenses are not included in the brochure. The scans of the
brochure were kindly supplied by Daniel Goodspeed.
Computar dL marketing material from
KYVYX Corp.
The scans of the KYVYX Corp. marketing pamphlet shown below were kindly
supplied by Chuckp from
the Analog Photography
Users Group forum (APUG). According to the source of the material;
"These are from 2 loose double sided pages I got from KYVYX. No
formally printed brochure. They may just be double sided Xerox copies.
Received probably in response to a magazine request for information card
I sent in. The envelope is postmarked 1981."
KYVYX Corp. took over the marketing and distribution of the Computar dL
when BBOI (Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc.) folded in approx 1980. The
pamphlet has KYVYX printed on the first two pages and BBOI (Burleigh
Brooks Optics Inc.) on the last two.
This pamphlet also explains the demise of the Computar dL 2.8/25
(described in the original 24 page BBOI brochure) and lists the
technical details of the Computar dL 2.8/30 instead.
High resolution versions of each page can be downloaded from the link
below each image.
References
|
|
|
|
[1] |
Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc., (1979) |
|
[2] |
Popular Photography Volume 91, Number 12 (December 1984): 174 |
|
[3] |
Ron Jegerings,
“Low-Cost Macro”, Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques Vol. 6, No. 4
(Jul/Aug 1985): 23 |
|
[4] |
"Survey-Enlarger
Lenses", Lenses No.3 A Buyers Guide From Photographic World, (1981):
40 |
|
[5] |
Bob Mitchell, "Computar Enlarging Lenses", Darkroom & Creative
Camera Techniques Vol. 7, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 1986): 42 |
|
[6] |
"CBC Group Global Gateway",
http://www.cbcamerica.com,
accessed February 22, 2015
http://www.cbcamerica.com/o.cfm?o=401 |
|
[7] |
Ctein, “Enlarging
Lens Buying Guide 1989”, Darkroom Photography, (January 1989): 47 |
|
[8] |
“PMA ’81- address
list of manufacturers and distributors”, Popular Photography, (July
1981): 64 |
|
[9] |
"kowa graphic 210/F9",
http://photo.net, accessed February 22, 2015
http://photo.net/large-format-photography-forum/0052gR |
|
[10] |
Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc., Computar, (New Jersey,
Burleigh Brooks Optics Inc., 1977) |
|
[11] |
"Survey-Enlarger Lenses", Australian Photoworld Buyers Guide Directory
1987-88, (1987): 119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
