Re: [KOML] KO History

[Jim Richey <jrichey@highmark.com>]

Clive Warren wrote:
> 
> At 8:18 pm -0800 9/1/98, pjcaplow@sprynet.com wrote:
> 
> Thanks for the corrections.
> 
> So that gives the folowing 4 models:
> 
> Early Konica/Simmons Bros. models:
> Koni-Omega Rapid  (knob operated darkslide, non changeable back mid-roll)
> Koni-Omega "M"    (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)


Koni-Omega Rapid M - I assume M stands for Magazine.


> 
> Later Mamiya models:
> Rapid-Omega 100  (separate darkslide, non changeable back mid-roll)
> Rapid-Omega 200  (separate darkslide, changeable back mid-roll)
> 
> Regarding the lenses, I have seen two outfits which support the notion that
> the earlier lenses are the Super Omegons.


As far as I know the Hexanon lenses are the earlier lenses which were on
the Koni-Omega's and the Omegon lenses were on the later Rapid-Omega's.


> 
> All of the following markings were used on lenses:
> 
> (Super, Wide, Tele) Omegon
> Koni-Omega Hexanon
> Hexanon
> 
> It doesn't make a lot of difference as the lenses are essentially the same
> apart from the writing on the lens rings. However it may useful to know the
> age of the lenses.....


The design of the lenses use the exact same specifications/formulas. The
90mm lens is a Tessar formula lens with four elements in three groups.
The big difference is in the coatings. The coating on the Omegon lenses
are more blue than the purplelish coating on the Hexanon lenses. This
makes sense since most spherical lens formulas are well known, but lens
coating specifications are a lens company's highest guarded secret. From
my experiments with the 90mm lens, the Hexanon appears to have slightly
fewer internal reflections. This is most likely due to the coating.


> 
> My guess is that the age of the lenses follows the order of the list above
> with the Omegons being the oldest.
> 


The Omegons were on the later Mamiya produced Rapid-Omega's, so they
must be newer. Hexanon is Konica's lens line, so they were on the
earlier Koni-Omega's.


> All the best,
> 
>               Clive   http://clive.bel-epa.com

-- 

Jim Richey
jrichey@highmark.com
Highmark, Inc.
http://www.highmark.com