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Old Lenses with surprising close focus

Something rings the bell for me
I was stupidly metering focus distance from lens front, while it as you mentioned, from this mark many cameras have on the body.
Stupid me

Easy mistake. You are thinking logically, but not the same logic/standards used by those that mark lens barrels!

What Ian Grant just posted shows the same logic! I am sure the lens is not marked this way, but this ad brags that their lens focuses down to 41/2 inches from the front element.

https://www.photrio.com/forum/attachments/screen-shot-2021-06-08-at-7-54-16-pm-jpg.276835/
 
Late 50/2.8 Canon FD macro focuses 1:1 without extension tubes.
 
Perhaps what's often missed is how Steinheil had some superb lenses after WWII and struggled to sell them,

Ian
I have said before (and been made fun of) that my favorite m42 normal is my Steinheil Cassar-S 50mm 2.8. It has some soap bubbles, let me tell you.

I've never had a Steinheil I didn't like,