Welcome to Delta

In 2021 the Digital Enlarger Lens Test Archive (D.E.L.T.A) outgrew its original home at 16-9.net – and its remit. It continues to expand, and is now the most wide-ranging resource for film-makers and photographers seeking and using enlarger, projector, macro, repro, process and cine lenses to create digital work. Spanning more than 170 years, Delta collates information on almost 4,000 universally-adaptable lenses, and contains hundreds of unique reviews and articles.

The quick-browse catalogue below orders every lens by manufacturer and can be filtered by category or keyword.

The primary archive tracks generations of lenses with more in-depth information, and ranks hundreds for sharpness and rendition. Please use the main menu and search function to access further articles, pictures and videos.

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Kowa 55/1.9
AKA Computar DL 55/1.9 enlarger lens.

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Kowa 61.2/0.8
Industrial lens. Smooth barrel. Image circle c.50mm but infinity focus impossible.

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Kowa 80/4.5
AKA Computar DL 80/4.5 enlarger lens.

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Kowa 90/4.5
AKA Computar DL 90/4.5 enlarger lens.

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Kowa Fax-Kowa 137/4.5
Repro lens. Barrel diameter: 56mm

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Kowa-E 65/3.5
AKA Apo-Computar 65/3.5 / Computar DL 65/3.5 enlarger lens

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Kuwata (KKS) Magnon Special 75/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens.

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Kyoei E-Acall Anastigmat 105/4.5
Japanese enlarger lens.

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Laack Definon 105/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Definon 105/6.3
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Definon 55/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, marked ‘Anastigmat’. Entry-level triplet. Post-1948 examples of this lens were made by, and marked ROW.

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Laack Definon 55/6.3
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rothenow marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Definon 60/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Definon 75/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, marked ‘Anastigmat’. Example images by pdccameras.

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Laack Definon 75/6.3
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Definon 90/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow marked ‘Anastigmat’.

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Laack Konkretar 80/4.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow.

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Laack Repro-Polyxentar 135/9
All black German enlarger/process lens.

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Laack Repro-Polyxentar 210/9
All black German enlarger/process lens.

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Laack Repro-Polyxentar 260/9
All black German enlarger/process lens.

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Laack Repro-Polyxentar 310/9
All black German enlarger/process lens.

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Laack Super Definon 55/3.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow.

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Laack Super Definon 75/3.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow.

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Laack Super Definon 90/3.5
All black German enlarger lens made by Julius Laack of Rathenow.

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Laack Texon 115/3.5
Brass-bodied enlarger lens marked 11.5cm, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

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Laack Texon 150/4.5
Brass-bodied enlarger lens marked ‘f=15cm’, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

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Laack Texon 210/4.5
Enlarger lens marked ‘f=21cm’, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

laack_texon-25mm-f4.5

Laack Texon 25/4.5
Black enlarger lens marked ‘f=2.5cm’, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

laack_texon-55mm-f3.5

Laack Texon 55/3.5
Brass-bodied enlarger lens marked 5.5cm, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

laack_texon-75mm-f4.5

Laack Texon 75/4.5 [V1]
Black enlarger lens marked 7.5cm, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

laack_texon-75mm-f4.5-v2

Laack Texon 75/4.5 [V2]
Brass-bodied enlarger lens marked 7.5cm, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

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Laack Texon 90/4.5
Black enlarger lens marked 9cm, made by Julius Laack of Rathenow, Germany. Superior to the company’s Definon range.

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Laack Vergrösserungs Anastigmat 105/4.5
All black German enlarger lens.

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Laack Vergrösserungs Anastigmat 135/4.5
All black German enlarger lens marked “Laack Vergr. Anastigmat”. Images by KSMT.

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Laack Vergrösserungs Anastigmat 90/4.5
All black German enlarger lens marked “f-9cm. Laack. Vergrosserungs Objektiv”. Manufactured for Muller & Wetzig by Julius Laack before Filmosto takeover in 1951.

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Leech Medstar 82.5/4.5
Enlarger lens.

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Leech Series II 75/3.5
Chrome barrel and black nose marked 3″. Fitted to Ellis & Newton sl8de/film projector. Aperture estimated (unmarked).

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Leica Colorplan-P 90/2.5
Multicoated 35mm slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. [Cat 37 005]. Optically identical to Colorplan [V2] variants.

colorplan-p-cf

Leica Colorplan-P CF 90/2.5
Multicoated 35mm slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. [Cat 37 005]. Optically identical to Colorplan [V2] variants. Interchangeably made in Portugal and Germany. ‘CF’ is the Curved Field version preferred by Leica as the standard lens for Pradovit projectors. The field curvature can give stronger background blur when used as a taking lens for centrally framed subjects. See review for details.

Leica Colorplan P2

Leica Colorplan-P2 90/2.5
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for late-model Pradovit P150-600 series. Upgraded version of Leitz-branded ‘ColorPlan P 90/2.5. [Cat 37512]. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

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Leica Colorplan-P2 90/2.5 CF
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for late-model Pradovit P150-600 series. Curved field version. Upgraded Leica-branded Colorplan-P 90/2.5. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat 37 513].

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Leica Colorplan-Pro 90/2.5
Black metal-barrel 35mm slide projector lens for Pradovit RT series. Multicoated. [Cat. 37 354].

leica elmarit-p 150

Leica Elmarit-P 150/2.8
Leica slide projector lens (black polycarbonate barrel). [Cat. 37 017].

leica elmarit-p2 120b

Leica Elmarit-P2 120/2.8
Black polycarbonate-barrel slide projector lens. Multicoated. Probably same optical formula as Elmarit-P: reflections and bokeh suggest triplet, but certainly three-group.

leica elmarit-p2 150

Leica Elmarit-P2 150/2.8
Projector lens (black barrel). [Cat. 37 516].

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Leica Elmarit-P2 60/2.8
Projector lens.

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Leica Elmarit-Pro 120/2.8
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for Leica Pro-Mount Pradovit RT series (also fits Kodak EktaPro). Made in Portugal. Multicoated. New and improved design compared to P2 120/2.8. [Cat. 37 356]. Product images by Leica Classic.

Leica Elmarit-Pro 150mm f2.8

Leica Elmarit-Pro 150/2.8
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for Pradovit RT series. Pro mount. Uses anomalous partial disperson elements from Apo Summicron 180/2. [Cat. 37 357].

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Leica Elmarit-Pro 200/3.4
Reference black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37358].

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Leica Elmarit-Pro 35/2.8
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector wide angle lens for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37352].

Leica-45mm-Elmarit-Pro

Leica Elmarit-Pro 45/2.8
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector wide angle lens for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37 353]. Product image by KX Camera.

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Leica Hektor-P2 150/2
Projector lens (black barrel). Entry-level lens for Pradovit series (commonly P150)

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Leica Hektor-P2 85/2.8
Entry-level black polycarbonate-barrel lens for Pradovit series (commonly P150). Awarded 3/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat 37 511].

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Leica PC-Elmarit-Pro 60/2.8
Reference 35mm slide projector lens with perspective correction for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37361]

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Leica PC-Elmarit-Pro 90/2.8
Reference 35mm slide projector lens with perspective correction for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37362]]

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Leica Super-Colorplan-P 90/2.5
Black nose and silver metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for late-model Pradovit P150-600 series. High-end version of Leica ColorPlan. Made in Portugal. FFD measured from rear barrel (rear element is recessed). Awarded 5+/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat 37 085].

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Leica Super-Colorplan-P2 90/2.5
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for late-model Pradovit P150-600 series. FFD measured from rear end of barrel. Awarded 5+/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat. 37 514].

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Leica Super-Colorplan-Pro 90/2.5
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector lens for late-model Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37 355].

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Leica Vario-Elmarit-P2 70-120/2.8
Black metal barrel 35mm slide projector zoom lens for late-model Pradovit P150-600 series. [Cat.37518].

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Leica Vario-Elmarit-Pro 70-120/2.8
Reference black metal barrel 35mm slide projector zoom lens for Pradovit RT series. [Cat. 37363].

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Leica Vario-Elmaron Pro 100-300/3.5
Leica’s most expensive slide projector lens (fits Kodak Ektapro). [Cat. 37 360].

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Leica Vario-Elmaron-P2 110-200/3.5
Premium black plastic barrel 35mm zoom slide projector lens for Pradovit P2 series. [Cat. 37524].

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Leica Vario-Elmaron-Pro 100-300/3.5
Reference black metal barrel slide projector zoom lens for Pradovit RT series and Ektapro. [Cat 37360]

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Leiket 75/4.5
Enlarger lens.

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Leitz [Portugal] Colorplan 90/2.5
Version 2 slide projector lens for original Leica Pradovit. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. ‘Made in Portugal’ models less desirable. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

leitz_portugal_colorplan-cf

Leitz [Portugal] Colorplan CF 90/2.5
Version 2 slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit et al. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. Curved field version. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

leitz-focotar-40mm-f2.8-4

Leitz [WA] Focotar 40/2.8
Standard (wide angle) enlarger lens fitted to autofocus Leitz V35. Polycarbonate barrel. Marked LEITZ WETZLAR pre-1986. ‘WA’ used in catalogue reference, but not printed on lens. Scalloped aperture at f4. Test sample loaned by West Yorkshire Cameras.

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Leitz 60/4.5
Prototype Leitz/Leica enlarger lens with serial numbers in the format 0000xxxx.

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Leitz Colorplan 50/2.5
Black plastic barrel lens fitted to Leitz Pradovit Color 110-format slide projector. Image circle likely sub-35mm diameter. Made in Germany.

colorplan_p1

Leitz Colorplan 90/2.5 [V1]
Version 1 silver-barrel 35mm slide projector lens for original Leica Pradovit. Marked ‘Leitz Wetzlar  Made in Germany’. Similar to Elmarit-R 90/2.8. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine. [Cat. FEDUU]

colorplan_p1_v2

Leitz Colorplan 90/2.5 [V2a]
Slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. Earliest [V2a] version dates from 1967-c.1969. Around side of the nose is marked ‘LEITZ WETZLAR COLORPLAN 1:2.5 / 90MM . . . LENS MADE IN GERMANY’. [Cat. 37 005].

colorplan_90mm-v2b

Leitz Colorplan 90/2.5 [V2b]
Slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. [V2b] version dates from c.1969-c.1971. Identical markings to [V2a] but printed on the narrow outer fascia. [Cat. 37 005].

leitz_colorplan-cf-90mm

Leitz Colorplan CF 90/2.5
Version 2 slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit et al. Silver metal barrel, black plastic nose. Curved field version made in Germany. Awarded 5/5 for image quality by Chasseur d’Images magazine.

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Leitz Daxoo 50/3.5
Silver nose. Marked Ernst Leitz Wetzlar. Probably same formula as Elmar 50/3.5. Product image by Red Dot Cameras.

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Leitz Dimar 200/4
Slide projector lens.

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Leitz Dimaron 100/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado system.

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Leitz Dimaron 150/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado system

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Leitz ELCAN 20mm
Rare Leitz enlarger lens optimised for 40-75x

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Leitz Elcan 52mm
Rare Leitz enlarger lens optimised for 20-25x.

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Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 [V1]
Chromed brass enlarger lens marked ‘Leitz’. [V1] has f18 aperture.

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Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 [V2]
Chromed brass enlarger lens marked ‘Leitz’. [V2] has f22 aperture.

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Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 [V3]
Black metal enlarger lens marked ‘Ernst Leitz Wetzlar’ and apertures 2-10. [Cat: FOOLY].

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Leitz Elmar 50/3.5 [V4]
Enlarger lens marked Ernst Leitz Wetzlar. Catalogue reference DOOGS.

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Leitz Elmar 90/4.5
Macro lens marked Ernst Leitz.

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Leitz Elmarit 50/2.8
Leica slide projector lens (black barrel). Made in Germany.

leitz wetzlar elmarit-p 120 cf

Leitz Elmarit P-CF 120/2.8
Leica slide projector lens (black barrel). Curved Field.

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Leitz Elmarit P-CF 150/2.8
Leitz-branded slide projector lens (black barrel). Curved Field. Replaced by Leica-branded version in 1986. [Cat. 37 013]

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Leitz Elmaron 100/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Cooke triplet.

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Leitz Elmaron 120/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Cooke triplet.

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Leitz Elmaron 150/2.8
Projector lens. Marked Ernst Leitz.

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Leitz Elmaron 150/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Silver nose.

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Leitz Elmaron 150/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leica Pradovit marked ‘Leitz Wetzlar’. Black nose.

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Leitz Elmaron 150/3.2
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro.

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Leitz Elmaron 200/3.4
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro.

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Leitz Elmaron 200/3.5
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro.

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Leitz Elmaron 200/3.6
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Silver body, black nose. Barrel: 62mm

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Leitz Elmaron 200/3.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Cooke triplet.

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Leitz Elmaron 250/4
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro.

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Leitz Elmaron 35/2.8
Slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Silver body, black nose. Image circle: c35mm.

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Leitz Elmaron 50/2.8
Tessar slide projector lens for Leitz Prado and Kodak Ektapro. Image circle: c.40mm.
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Acknowledgements: The DELTA project wouldn’t have been possible with the naysaying of experienced lens collectors; the death of film; the opposition of my wife; the embezzlement of shady eBay sellers and Japanese auction agents; the re-branders; the same 50/3.5 seen in a thousand guises; the unhelpful attitide of extant manufacturers who jettisoned their history without a backward glance (Schneider, Rodenstock et al); the corporations who swallow the legacies of decades without concern for their preservation; the disregard of librarians and archivists who no longer value photographic publications; the copyright laws prohibiting reproduction of adverts advertising things no longer made, once made by people and companies that no longer exist; the museums failing to digitise their collections and refusing to grant access to material rotting unseen in their basements; the sheer bloody-mindedness of Agfa serial numbers; the arrogance of those who have previously written about alt.lenses and imagine their sayings to be unalterably definitive, despite being patently erroneous;  widespread dementia and death befalling a generation of those with inside knowledge of the industry; widespread withering of the information internet and the rise of regurgitated AI gobbledygook; the majority of used camera dealers who regard these lenses as pointless relics and have no interest in deploying them as taking lenses and regard their slow-moving stock as an irritation; clueless marketing people devoid of specific product knowledge; an overwhelming majority of photographers apathetic about the benefits and possibilities of alt.lenses; the publishers who failed to express an interest in a book deal; the army of DIY botchers who took their lenses apart and didn’t know how to put them back together again; a postal system that loses packages as a normal happenstance;  and all the fungus. Against this tide stand we few. You know who you are. Thank you.