Stereotar C and Kindar

[P3D Elliott Swanson <elliott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

In response to Sam and George, the Stereotar C and Kindar Hyponar are 
both macro lenses for 35mm cameras. the Stereotar C is for a range finder 
35mm, and the Kindar Hyponar is for the Exakta SLR. I've never seen the 
Stereotar setup, but I use the Exakta/Kindar for macro work. Both devices 
split a 35mm frame, but this is done with dual lenses, not mirrors or prisms.

The Kindar has two 35mm lenses set 5/8 inches apart, and mounts in the 
standard Exakta VX 2a lens opening.

The Stereotar C is an attachment for the Contax, and is described in
detail in an articla by Dr. Otto Vierling, "Stereo-Photography with the 
Contax, the Contaflex and the Contina" published November 1957. The 
photocopy I have is an English translation of an atricle published in 
Photographie und Forschung, p 193-224.

The Stereotar and the Kindar appear very similar in design, but the 
attachments shown in the article indicate a wider range of accessories 
for the Stereotar, including a reverse beam splitter to adapt the narrow 
stereo base for the usual range (5 feet to infinity)

The Kindar has some interesting features. Once you set the fstop, 
composition can be done with the lens wide open, and the device 
automatically stops down to correct aperture when an exposure is triggered.

The late model Kindar made in 1969 has Series VII threading but the 
earlier version is oddball. Focus is fixed at 9", but by using a -4 
diopter lens and a good variable close-up attachment. like the Vivitar, 
you can take perfectly synchronized photos of very small things like bugs.

The Kindar loses a small amount of image width compared to the Realist
Custom (the Kindar device gives you a 4p image vs the Custom's 5p), but I
wouldn't trade the Kindar for a Custom because I *really* like the ability
to see exactly what I'm photographing thru the lens. 


--Elliott


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