For Sale Price check: Ernst Leitz Wetzlar enlarger lens Focotar f=5cm

[Laroche]

I hope this is the right place to post this question, and if not, please let me know. I’m selling per se HERE, but looking for input on a debate.

I’m currently auctioning off a Ernst Leitz Wetzlar enlarger lens Focotar f=5cm lens. There’s debate on whether it’s the highly-sought after Focotar 2, or the less so Focotar 1. Some have suggested that my starting bid is too high (and sure enough, I haven’t gotten any bids on it).

Can anyone ID it definitively, and/or give a rough estimate of it’s value?

Thanks!

 

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[Focomatter]

It is an early Focotar 1. There is also a later model 1 made by Schneider prior to the Focotar 2. Price depends on its condition. Shine an LED light through your lens -- what do you see?

 

[Laroche]

It is an early Focotar 1. There is also a later model 1 made by Schneider prior to the Focotar 2. Price depends on its condition. Shine an LED light through your lens -- what do you see?

Thanks so much for replying. I held it up to an LED light and it looks pretty clean to me -though I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I’m attaching photos here. What do you see?

 

[cowanw]

In any case change your ebay listing to Focotar

 

[NB23]

That’s the cheap version. Not among the sought after focotars

 

[Ron789]

Bad luck.... this is the first generation Focotar, known for its soft glass and relatively poor performance. Sorry.

 

[Focomatter]

Thanks so much for replying. I held it up to an LED light and it looks pretty clean to me -though I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I’m attaching photos here. What do you see?

I see overexposure. I did not want to cause confirmation bias so did not say. But... Anything other than glass clarity is the short answer. You are highly likely to see some dust specks. But the bad stuff includes haze, fungus and lens separation. Lens separation can take on several appearances - all make the lens look abnormal.

 

[Laroche]

Bad luck.... this is the first generation Focotar, known for its soft glass and relatively poor performance. Sorry.

Fair enough! Thanks for the honest answer. I took down the ebay post and will try listing it again with a more accurate price.