Leitz Hektor 100mm f/2.5
If you just want to see some photos, jump to the sample photos!
This is a rather puzzling lens! It's physically identical to the Leitz Colorplan 90mm f/2.5 with an identical lens barrel and the same aperture. The only obvious difference is the slightly longer focal length of 100mm rather than 90mm. Generally Leitz Hektor projection lenses were cheaper alternatives to the Colorplan series of lenses, and their build and specification reflects this: a plastic rather than metal lens barrel and an aperture of f2.8 rather than f2.5. But that doesn't seem to be the case with this lens, which, as I say, is identical to it's Colorplan counterpart in every way other than focal length.
With my curiosity suitably piqued, and because it was listed on eBay with a low price of £30, I had to get it and give it a try! Given that the lens barrel is identical on both lenses, you won't be surprised to hear that precisely the same adaptation technique works equally well with both lenses… but what about image quality?
I can certainly confirm the field of view is, and the 100mm focal would suggest, slightly tighter than the 90mm Colorplan. But in terms of image quality I was unable to reliably detect any real difference between these two lenses. Given that the Hektor lens is somewhat less well known and celebrated then the Colorplan, you will may be able to find it a bit cheaper (though when it comes to these older silver versions of both lenses, neither should be that expensive). So unless the 10mm difference in focal length is important to you, I would say you can you can buy either lens with equal confidence.
With that said, maybe we should look at some sample images so you can judge for yourself!
Example photographs
As is usually the case, the colour ones were processed in Adobe Lightroom and the b&w ones were processed in Silver Efex Pro 2.
