Geolux Posted March 10, 2015 Share #1 Posted March 10, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) 3-10-2015 I have an odd type of Visoflex, with a removable clear focusing screen. It would seem to be used for focusing on an aerial image. It looks like some variation of a Visoflex III. It has a vertical viewer. It was attached to a Leitz Macro-photographic device known as the Aristophot. However, I doubt if it was original with the Aristophot. All the Aristophot devices with which I am familiar have either a Leitz or Linhof mirror housing for 4x5 negatives. I have never before seen an Aristophot with this kind of an adapter. The Visoflex unit was attached to the long bellows in place of the 4x5 mirror housing and was apparently a custom made adapter to permit use of an M camera instead of the 4x5 sheet film holder. Now the question: What was the original purpose of this strange Visoflex? Any idea how many Leitz made? Geolux Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 10, 2015 Posted March 10, 2015 Hi Geolux, Take a look here Strange Visoflex Variation. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jaapv Posted March 10, 2015 Share #2 Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) It is the medical Visoflex HOOTA (Viso II) or 16403 (Viso III) for use with an MDa and endoscope. The matte screen could be replaced by a clear one. Leitz sold complete sets in a wooden box. Edited March 10, 2015 by jaapv 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted March 20, 2015 Share #3 Posted March 20, 2015 Clear screen with cross hair is the best focus if the subject does not move and you have a little time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted March 21, 2015 Share #4 Posted March 21, 2015 The clear screen creates what is called an "aerial image", quite bright, but needs to be focussed in a special way unlike how one typically focusses on a screen. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 21, 2015 Share #5 Posted March 21, 2015 (edited) To add, focusing on a matte screen using a microscope, endoscope or telescope is near impossible because the grain of the screen gets enhanced. Reason that in the past these clear screens were offered for SLRs with an interchangeable screen, like the OM 1&2, the R series, the top-end Nikons, etc. And Leica built an interchangeable screen Visoflex . Nowadays for instance Canon offers an extremely fine-grain matte screen for the purpose. To focus adjust the viewfinder that you can see the double lines clearly, if needed add an diopter. Move your head slightly from side to side. If the crossed lines do not move relative to the subject, then you know that your focus is spot-on. If the crossed lines move, then your focus is not correct. In a fixed setup you can use a focusing rail, but an endoscope is normally used hand-held, so you won't find it in the box of these sets. Useful for Macro photography too. Edited March 21, 2015 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susie Posted March 21, 2015 Share #6 Posted March 21, 2015 The screen on the Focoslide OOZAB had a ground outer region but a clear spot, together with focusing aid black triangles, in the centre so one could focus on the aerial image in poor/dim light when using a 5cm Elmar. Susie Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 21, 2015 Share #7 Posted March 21, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) What kind of III ? Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242134-strange-visoflex-variation/?do=findComment&comment=2784604'>More sharing options...
DDM Posted March 24, 2015 Share #8 Posted March 24, 2015 Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242134-strange-visoflex-variation/?do=findComment&comment=2786072'>More sharing options...
MAX Posted March 24, 2015 Share #9 Posted March 24, 2015 What kind of III ? The most interesting of these collections can also be found here: Leica Visoflex III Polaroid outfit The others are more or less standard in the medical (endoscopy) resp. scientific application Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAX Posted March 24, 2015 Share #10 Posted March 24, 2015 The most interesting of these collections can also be found here: ...here another one: http://p2.la-img.com/364/28708/11036836_1_l.jpg Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 24, 2015 Share #11 Posted March 24, 2015 (edited) And a very interesting one too. High-mount prism , separate (Compur?) shutter unit, a coupling lens (Photar???) and presumably fixed to the Polaroid back. A pity the one for sale lacks the handgrip and lens. Edited March 24, 2015 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted March 24, 2015 Share #12 Posted March 24, 2015 Nice devices... and the style with a Polaroid back makes to think of something similar that could be achieved with a FF digital back and a Viso mounted in front .. something like a Ricoh GXRM but more "rugged" Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc_rufctr Posted March 25, 2015 Share #13 Posted March 25, 2015 [ATTACH]490291[/ATTACH] This is interesting. Tell us more. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 25, 2015 Share #14 Posted March 25, 2015 And a very interesting one too. High-mount prism , separate (Compur?) shutter unit, a coupling lens (Photar???) and presumably fixed to the Polaroid back.A pity the one for sale lacks the handgrip and lens. The most interesting of these collections can also be found here:Leica Visoflex III Polaroid outfit The others are more or less standard in the medical (endoscopy) resp. scientific application That kind is on my picture Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jc_braconi Posted March 25, 2015 Share #15 Posted March 25, 2015 ... Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242134-strange-visoflex-variation/?do=findComment&comment=2786760'>More sharing options...
DDM Posted March 25, 2015 Share #16 Posted March 25, 2015 @ Peter Automatic Visoflex Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242134-strange-visoflex-variation/?do=findComment&comment=2786829'>More sharing options...
DDM Posted April 6, 2015 Share #17 Posted April 6, 2015 In one of the coming Leica-Historica „VIDOM“ editions, we will show this version of Visoflex… Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/242134-strange-visoflex-variation/?do=findComment&comment=2793491'>More sharing options...
gyoung Posted April 6, 2015 Share #18 Posted April 6, 2015 I remember selling one or two of those in the 60s. From memory the turret replaced OUAGO so you needed viso 1 mount lenses? One of those 'good ideas' that was pretty clumsy in practice! Gerry Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 6, 2015 Share #19 Posted April 6, 2015 In one of the coming Leica-Historica „VIDOM“ editions,we will show this version of Visoflex… [ATTACH]492507[/ATTACH] Fine !!! The 3 lens turret for direct attachment lenses is well known (though rare) but I didn't know that also a Viso version was made. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luigi bertolotti Posted April 7, 2015 Share #20 Posted April 7, 2015 Fine !!! The 3 lens turret for direct attachment lenses is well known (though rare) but I didn't know that also a Viso version was made. Now that Pecole has just posted some pictures of the 3 lens turret (OROLF)... I do wonder if the item in the above picture is indeed a "standard" OROLF, not a special Visoflex version as I thought.... the attachment (to the Viso instead to the Leica body) can be about the same... and the lenses shown above are all of the "short mount" version which means that the thickness of the front part of the turret is also the same as in the OROLF... my only doubt is that the OROLF has a M baseplate (to mount onto the M body, deprived of its standard baseplate) that seems "permanently attached" to it... obviously is a separate component, but isn't clear to me (have not an OROLF... ) if and how it can be removed , to mount the Viso body. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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