8mm Forum: Rectimascope Lens

This is topic Rectimascope Lens in forum 8mm Forum at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Brian Hendel (Member # 61) on February 02, 2008, 08:13 AM:

I just bought a Rectimascope Lens from Steve Osborne and I wanted to report how amazing it is. I have never been happy with my scope projection and I realize now it was because of the lesser quality lenses I have used over the years. The picture with the Rectimascope is so sharp and bright even at the four corners. I just ordered two scope films (Pearl Harbor & Gladiator) from Derann because I got so excited. I want to particularly thank Alan Rik for alerting me to the existence of this lens. I highly recommend it!

Posted by Winbert Hutahaean (Member # 58) on February 03, 2008, 11:04 PM:

What is Rectimascope lense. Brian, could you clarify for me please.

Thanks,

Posted by Joerg Niggemann (Member # 611) on February 04, 2008, 03:02 AM:

Rectimascope is a CS lens manufactured in former East Germany (GDR) by "Optische Werke Rathenow". There are different versions for 8/16 and 35mm projection. For me the Rectimascope is first choice for CS. Sharp picture to all edges. My Kowa 8Z gives a slightly brighter picture, but there are always some problems with focusing.

Rectimascope CS lenses often appear on ebay Germany (about 70 Euros). Wittner Cinetec bought the last new ones from Rathenow after they closed, you can get one in mint condition for 198 Euros:

Wittner Rectimascope

Here is a pic from ffr-film:

FFR Rectimascope

Joerg

Posted by Mike Peckham (Member # 16) on February 04, 2008, 04:52 AM:

Sorry, this is terribly off topic, but when ever I see the word Rectimascope it reminds me of that old “two old ladies over heard on a bus” gag:

Ethel: How did your Bert get on at the hospital with his eye appointment?

Flo: Alright, they gave him all sorts of tests and then told him he’s got a “Misplaced Rectum”.

Mike [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on February 04, 2008, 05:48 AM:

Ya know...

I resisted the tempation to say something like that!

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on February 04, 2008, 06:18 AM:

Hi,

there are some lenses that are labelled "Rathenower Optische Werke" while others are labelled "VEB Rathenower Optische Werke" (VEB = VolksEigener Betrieb = people-owned enterprise).
According to these pages
http://www.optikrathenow.de/optik/de/ge_a02.html
http://www.rathenow.de/fileadmin/dateien/PDF/Allgemein/Geschichte_der_Optik.pdf
there have been several optical companies in Rathenow. Two of them have been "Emil Busch AG" and "Nitsche & Günther". Both companies' factories got destroyed in the second world war. And so they re-started production as a single company ("Rathenower Optische Werke m.b.H." on March 8, 1946). The company got turned into the "VEB Rathenower Optische Werke" in 1948. In 1966 the VEB lost its independence and became a daughter of "Carl Zeiss Jena".
In the meantime the other optical companies in Rathenow turned into the "PGH „J.H.A. Duncker“" (to be renamed into "VEB Augenoptik Hermann Duncker" later).
In 1980 the "VEB Augenoptik Hermann Duncker" and the "VEB Rathenower Optische Werke" turned into a single company called "VEB Rathenower Optische Werke „Hermann Duncker“" (still a daughter of "Carl Zeiss Jena").
In 1989 the "VEB Rathenower Optische Werke „Hermann Duncker“" became a company of its own. In 1990 the "VEB" turned into a "GmbH" ("limited"). In 1991 it got splitted into three sub-divisions. In 1992 the Rathenower Optische Werke GmbH got dissolved and splitted into several smaller companies that got sold to different companies.

As for the anamorphots: There are at least 5 different models:
http://super8wiki.com/index.php/Anamorphic_Lenses#2x_Anamorphic_attachments
The quality of my Rectimascop 48/2x is great (even compared to Kowa and Isco). Unfortunately it looks like they're only suited for projection. (I haven't tried it myself, both some friends of me did and ended up having a lot of problems (reflections, no sharp images, ...) . )

Jörg

Posted by Alan Rik (Member # 73) on February 05, 2008, 11:40 AM:

I knew that you would like it! I feel its MUCH better than the Kowa 8Z. When I had both I A/B'd it and there was no comparison. The Rectimacscope was sharp from corner to corner. The Kowa was always slightly off..and I have to tip off my hat to Doug Mr. Moderator who introduced me to the wonderful lens. He demoed it with "Master and Commander" and I was stunned at how great Scope looked. Then I went home and boxed up the little Kowa..... [Smile]

Posted by Joerg Niggemann (Member # 611) on February 05, 2008, 02:58 PM:

I agree with you Alan. My 8Z will also appear on ebay next time.

Posted by Antonis Galanakis (Member # 1455) on November 14, 2009, 03:55 AM:

I have just bought a RECTIMASCOP 48/2x scope lens. I beleive it was a great buy. I have a Super 8mm Bell & Howell DCT Filmosonic projector. How can I make of buy a proper and safe stand for the lens ?
Thank you in advance
Antonis

Posted by Joerg Polzfusz (Member # 602) on November 16, 2009, 04:57 AM:

http://www.ffr-film.de/index.php?page=anamorphotenhalter&language=eng
http://wittner-cinetec.com/katalog/07_vorfu/e_halter.php
http://wittner-cinetec.com/aktuell/s8mm_zub.php?type=s8_objek
http://www.srb-griturn.com/anamorphic-lens-adaptors-754-p.asp

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on November 16, 2009, 08:18 AM:

I had a similar situation with the Rectimascope. I bought one from Steve Osborne of the Reel Image....and 1....that thing is one huge , heavy monster...and comes in a huge , heavy monster wooden box. I have since deemed it the Raptor lens...or the Brontomascope....2. it is the clearest , easiest to focus scope lens I've ever seen.
It was so good, I saved up and bought another for my other main Elmo..so I could have changeovers. Just a great, but expensive lens. I am now trying to figure some way to be able to use it with my 16mm machines....which are still stuck with the Kowa 16D....

Posted by Antonis Galanakis (Member # 1455) on November 16, 2009, 10:48 AM:

Joerg and Gary
Thank you you for the info and the links you provided. They were very helpful.
Antonis

Posted by Rob Koeling (Member # 35) on January 15, 2010, 07:58 AM:

Does anyone know if these Rectimascop lenses have a reasonable minimum focusing distance? I saw one advertised on the German Ebay where a minimum of 6 meters was mentioned. That is too much for me...

- Rob

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on March 05, 2010, 04:22 PM:

Just bought one me too.
Thanks Antonis.

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on March 27, 2010, 06:17 PM:

WAHT A GREAT SCOPE LENS!
Used it tonight for the very first time.
So happy about this.

Posted by Antonis Galanakis (Member # 1455) on March 27, 2010, 06:45 PM:

I told you! It is f**king great lens!

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on March 27, 2010, 06:50 PM:

[Eek!]

It's even more! It's FANTASTIC!

Posted by Michael Beyer (Member # 1143) on March 31, 2010, 04:52 AM:

Hi Gian,

Congratulations to this wonderful scope lens.
I have two of them, too [Big Grin]

and told everyone how sharp it is.
And the re-justage is easy, too.

Regards,
Michael

Posted by Antonis Galanakis (Member # 1455) on March 31, 2010, 04:58 AM:

That's why the forum is great! [Smile]

Michael told me about this great lens, I told Gian about this great lens ... ... ... and go on , go on!
Thank you Michael!

Posted by Gian Luca Mario Loncrini (Member # 1417) on March 31, 2010, 05:03 AM:

... And I've told Hans, who is having one (and I'm probably having a second one me too eh eh eh).
Great job, Antonis and Michael.

Micha, where have you been? I was quite worried.
How are you?
Hope all is fine.
FOOTLOOSE is no longer a dream eh eh eh... [Wink]

Posted by Christian Schmeer (Member # 2363) on December 22, 2010, 10:16 AM:

Hi,
A few months ago, I bought the RECTIMASCOP 48/2x lens on eBay thinking that I would be able to use it as an anamorphic adapter (like my Ishico Proskar lens) on my DSLR lenses (I have a Canon 5D Mark II). I ended up not bothering to get a stepping ring or anything because the rectimascop seems to be very blurry/distorted. Does the lens need adjustment or is the rectimascop just not suitable for filming on a DSLR?
(is anyone successfully using it for that?)

Posted by Rob Koeling (Member # 35) on December 22, 2010, 03:45 PM:

I'll try again... Does anyone know if these Rectimascop lenses have a reasonable minimum focusing distance? I saw one advertised on the German Ebay where a minimum of 6 meters was mentioned. That is too much for me.

- Rob

Posted by Hauke Lippert (Member # 2365) on December 23, 2010, 02:51 AM:

Hi Rob,
I recently bought a Rectimascope 48/2x scope lens from Wittner, Germany an use it for a projection distance about 4 meters (with Beaulieu 708EL) - no problems in terms of focussing, sharpness! Although the scale begins with "6 meters" you can turn the ring far below that point to get a sharp image. Wittner sells cleaned and adjusted rectimascope lenses and they are not much more expensive than getting it from Ebay. Mine is in perfect condition.
BTW: this is my first post in this forum and I just started with collecting super 8 scope prints.
Regards
Hauke

Posted by Rob Koeling (Member # 35) on December 23, 2010, 04:41 AM:

Thanks Hauke! I'll look around for a 48/2.
Scope is great. Especially in B&W. I recently found a B&W scope print of the film noir 'Girl Hunters' in S8. There is very few B&W scope films in S8 that I know of. In fact the only other one I have seen is the David Lynch film 'Elephant Man'. Other titles anyone?

- Rob

Posted by Gary Crawford (Member # 67) on December 23, 2010, 07:44 AM:

I've used my Brontomascope lens as close as four feet...no problem.....and as far as 50 feet. the darned thing is remarkable.

Posted by Michael Beyer (Member # 1143) on December 27, 2010, 10:22 AM:

Hi Rob,

if you buy it from Ebay, you sometimes need to adjust the Rectimascope a little bit, but this is not hard to do.
Only two screws...

Posted by Douglas Meltzer (Member # 28) on December 31, 2010, 10:23 AM:

Christian,

I've never considered shooting with the Rectimascop because of a few factors. The lens is very heavy which would necessitate the use of support rods, The locking focusing ring is fine for projection, but problematic for shooting on the fly and I'd prefer a better minimum focus distance. As for distortion, once the lens is seated correctly I find the image to be razor sharp.

However, it has been done. Here's a picture of one mounted on a Canon 7D.

Doug

Posted by Michael Beyer (Member # 1143) on January 05, 2011, 10:41 AM:

Wow - that's really heavy. I don't want to shoot with this "machine"... [Big Grin]

Posted by Christian Schmeer (Member # 2363) on April 03, 2011, 12:53 PM:

Thanks for the reply about shooting with this anamorphic lens.
A 75mm lens on a 7D is around 120mm in terms of 35mm film due to the crop on the 7D, so I am wondering what I am doing wrong.. I can't get my Rectimascop focused on my 5D Mark II.. I am using a Carl Zeiss 135mm 3.5 lens with it. Any suggestions?

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