Topcor Super 105mm f4.5: P.S. variant?

removedacct2 · Mar 27, 2021

for my Horseman 985 I will buy a Topcor Super 105mm f4.5, ie. the one with 4x5 image circle coverage. I know there are two kind of Super lenses: the ones on old hammer finish board, the newer on black board. Then there's the ER lenses on black board with a solenoid trigger.
But searching online I have seen Super 105 marked P.S.

side to side the older and newer Super 105. The newer on black board has the description around, not on the front:

but I have seen these for sale also. I assume image circle covers 4x5, since this is a "Super", not a "Pro" but it is not mentioned on the lens like on the others ( 158Ø)

What is the P.S. for ? i can't find docs online.
Only thing I think of is that they may be older versions, because the focal is mentioned in cm: 10,5cm instead of millimeters ....

ic-racer · Mar 27, 2021

I'd pass on the P.S. lens as it is not on the correct lensboard. In terms of 4x5 coverage, the 120mm is actually better.

removedacct2 · Mar 27, 2021

yes I guess it will be safe to discard these P.S. that are maybe for other cameras than the MF series of Horseman. I recently learnt that sellers don't always know what they are selling and can't help much even if well intentioned...
I thought of the 120mm but have to find a cam or make my own and anyway I rather have the 105mm and later the 150mm. I already have the Super 65mm (the recessed one, very nice, not 4x5 though)

removedacct2 · Mar 27, 2021

well these P.S. seem to have been the former line of Topcor lenses for the Horseman 960:
https://www.wesellyourcollection.com/topcon/product/01-topcon-horseman-press-960-camera-sn-403371-with-topcor-lensset-65mm-105mm-180mm-and-superand-filmrolholder-in-horseman-leather-bag/

ic-racer · Mar 28, 2021

Nice find.

ic-racer · Mar 28, 2021

I thought you were doing 4x5. But for 6x9cm, yes that 105 Super is very nice. You can learn a lot about view camera movements with that one. I actually have both of the 105 lenses. The 105/f3.5 Professional is nice to use with the rangefinder because of its speed.

ic-racer · Mar 28, 2021

One more note, the 65mm and 75mm share the same infinity stops. So make sure if you get those, they are both on the same style of lens board.

removedacct2 · Mar 28, 2021

ic-racer said:
I thought you were doing 4x5.

I am interested mainly in 6x9 but with some 4x5 here and there. I have the 4x5 extender and even found the compensator for the rangefinder.

ic-racer · Mar 28, 2021

Just realize only the longer lenses work with the 4x5 back.

removedacct2 · Mar 28, 2021

ic-racer said:
Nice find.

actually when searching online listings for "Horseman Press" there are some results with in fact the Horseman 960 and these older black boards with P.S. lenses, no color coding matching cams in the engraving of the name on the board.
For instance:

but I can't find docs online... Try to search google.co.jp and yahoo.co.jp in japanese withトプコンホースマン 960 (i use online translator checked with a grammatical engine and dictionary, to avoid pitfalls of google translate and such) but nothing and the wikipedia page with a chronology does link to paperbook only literature. Not better on the Topcon Club site : http://www.topgabacho.jp/Topconclub/others.htm

Dan Fromm · Mar 28, 2021

The first post in this https://www.largeformatphotography....to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses discussion has a link to a list of links to sources of information that may interest LF photographers. It has links to sources of information on Horseman gear that I'm not sure you're aware of.

ic-racer · Mar 29, 2021

That is really amazing that the links are up to date, a fantastic resource. I recall finding my extensive 1998 Netscape bookmarks for Rolleiflex sites and almost all of the links were faulty.

removedacct2 · Mar 30, 2021

Dan Fromm said:
The first post in this https://www.largeformatphotography....to-look-for-information-on-LF-(mainly)-lenses discussion has a link to a list of links to sources of information that may interest LF photographers. It has links to sources of information on Horseman gear that I'm not sure you're aware of.

thanks. As for the Horseman/Topcor links there, I knew them. Was part of my homework before starting buying the gear. And they contain no data about the older lenses marked P.S. manufactured for the "Horseman Press" ie, Horseman 960, before the Horseman 970.
The older seem to come on a black board and after, still in older centimers designation, the P.S initials, but 970/980 style of hammered board and the cam color (red is for 90mm and 105mm):

it may be just cosmetic changes, or there may be differences in coating

here, on the left a Super Topcor 105mm "centimetric" (10,5cm), it is silver finish and bears P.S., on the right the most seen one, "millimetric" , black finish, no P.S. marking (and the board is wrong btw. green marking instead of red, but thatś not the point here...).

I was looking for the japanese catalogs. This one for instance is from 1979 and list schematics and specs for the common "millimetric" lenses. I try to find a similar source, that would be from early 1960's, with details of the "centimetric" lenses:

Dan Fromm · Mar 30, 2021

ic-racer said:
That is really amazing that the links are up to date, a fantastic resource. I recall finding my extensive 1998 Netscape bookmarks for Rolleiflex sites and almost all of the links were faulty.

Well, on the one hand I maintain it. On the other, whenever I add a link I archive it if it can be archived. I b'lieve I mention this at the top of the list.

Topcor Super 105mm f4.5: P.S. variant?

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