Found an old 16mm lens, is it any good?

Bryan

Bryan

Well-known member
A couple years ago I worked as a student assistant in my video production department in college. The chair of the department asked me to clean out the office of an old professor who had retired. Turns out this professor used to teach 16mm film back in the 70s and he had random bits of equipment in his desk drawers and cabinets. I told the chair and he said I could keep what I wanted and toss the rest.

So I found what looked to be a pretty cool 16mm lens (among other things). Made by Kern in Switzerland. It's a Macro-Switar 1:1.1 f= 26mm. It looks to be in near perfect condition, like it was never used.

I threw it in a box and never thought about it, but I recently came across it again and decided to search for it on eBay. Seems like these things may be rather valuable! Anyone know anything about this lens?

I'm guessing I'd never have much use for it (unless I was shooting 16mm, not likely), so I was thinking of selling it.
 
Bryan said:
A couple years ago I worked as a student assistant in my video production department in college. The chair of the department asked me to clean out the office of an old professor who had retired. Turns out this professor used to teach 16mm film back in the 70s and he had random bits of equipment in his desk drawers and cabinets. I told the chair and he said I could keep what I wanted and toss the rest.

So I found what looked to be a pretty cool 16mm lens (among other things). Made by Kern in Switzerland. It's a Macro-Switar 1:1.1 f= 26mm. It looks to be in near perfect condition, like it was never used.

I threw it in a box and never thought about it, but I recently came across it again and decided to search for it on eBay. Seems like these things may be rather valuable! Anyone know anything about this lens?

I'm guessing I'd never have much use for it (unless I was shooting 16mm, not likely), so I was thinking of selling it.
Click to expand...

The 26mm size is probably going to preclude you from using it on any camera rig I know of. I have two similar lenses and have used them to project widespread light for effects in shots by mounting the light emitting diode set from a cheapo chinese flashlight behind them. If you look carefully in the movie PUSH Directed by Matt Sconce when it hits the fest you will see one of these contraptions as part of the props in a scene. It really does a good job of spreading the light for an effect that is vital to the shot.

But if you can get significant $$ for it, sell it. :D
 
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