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Fontenelle archives 25 : Prismor fo close-ups (1950)


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Developed and offered in France in 1950, the "Prismor" system offered the possibility of close-up shots for Leica IIIc and IIc equiped with the 5 cm Elmar (36 mm front ring diameter). It consisted of two clip-on additional front lenses and bars with correction "windows" for viewer and telemeter., one set each for 1,5 and 3,5 x enlarging factor.

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Pecole! You cannot imagine how thrilled I was to see your post about the Prismor.

 

Amongst the pieces I have inherited there was this strange case with these even stranger things inside with neat figures.

 

My photos of them are below. Can you tell me how to use them? Or direct me to an instruction manual?

 

Are they only useful on a II or III? If so, that may just cause me to get one as I have been contemplating a Barnack for a while.

 

And can you tell me what all the calculations written inside the lid of the case mean? I think I get the idea now that you have explained what the thing is, but it would be nice to have someone explain it

 

 

thank you

 

[ATTACH]224638[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]224639[/ATTACH]

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Pecole! You cannot imagine how thrilled I was to see your post about the Prismor.

 

Amongst the pieces I have inherited there was this strange case with these even stranger things inside with neat figures.

 

My photos of them are below. Can you tell me how to use them? Or direct me to an instruction manual?

 

Are they only useful on a II or III? If so, that may just cause me to get one as I have been contemplating a Barnack for a while.

 

And can you tell me what all the calculations written inside the lid of the case mean? I think I get the idea now that you have explained what the thing is, but it would be nice to have someone explain it

 

 

thank you

 

[ATTACH]224638[/ATTACH]

 

[ATTACH]224639[/ATTACH]

 

Happy to have helped you solve an enigma!

I was most interested in your pixes, because I had assumed to date that the PRISMOR accessory had only been sold in France. As the (useful) "English" measures printed in the box evidence, it has been in wider use.

Now to answer your questions : unfortunately, I never came across an "instructions manual", but I tested mine and it is quite simple. First of all, and except if otherwise quoted on the case, it is intended primarily for the Leica IIIc/Elmar 5 cm (probably the easiest to find and cheapest "Barnack" on the market), but coud probably fit on a IIIf as well.

The use is for close-ups : you just clip one of the the "bars" (ensuring vision and parallax adjustments) on the front windows of the camera, and the corresponding front lens on the front of the Elmar, and take the picture. The measures on your box are extremely useful, since they detail the relation "size of the subject-distance setting of the lens-distance between front lens and subject" for each "3.5" and "1.5" set.

The Leitz NOOKY accessory was much easier to use, but allowed only close-ups to about 50 cm against the 20 to 43 cm range of the PRISMOR.

Enjoy it !

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