18 - Bauer-Vario F1.5 15-25mm from 1966
This curious lens is from a 1966 Silma 120SL Super 8 projector that was left on the street.
The lens itself doesn’t have any branding, but online research suggests it’s a Bauer-Vario 1:1,5 15-25mm and I could only find it from THIS vendor (screenshot in case it gets taken down after sale).
I was planning to use it as a wide angle because of the stated 15-25mm, but didn’t immediately take into account that that’s the throw angle of the projector and it wouldn’t work the other way around unless I have an additional element to spread the image on an APSC sensor, as the image area of a Super 8 film reel is approx. 15 time smaller than the M50’s sensor.
So, I’ve decided to use it as a macro. For now, manually held up against the sensor until I design a mount for this.
Sigma 30mm
Inverted Bauer-Vario 15-25mm
On the macro image, I’m approximately half a centimeter from the subject - not ideal because it blocks light - and each layer from this print is 0.3mm. I paid nothing for this lens. Very impressive.
Sidenote, I’ve optimized my printer since. This was a great use of this lens to troubleshoot my prints, by the way.
Adapter in the making…
