Omnitar Brother Found

Birns & Sawyer Omnitar 200mm f3.2 (left), 150mm f3 (right) Movie Lenses

While waiting for the wife, I strolled around the pawnshop strip on Queen & Church.  I saw a Canon EF 50mm f1.8 Mark I (metal mount) on the window of one of the shops for $60, and thought that's a pretty good price.  Went inside and took a look, but didn't bring my Canon body to test, but bought it anyway.  While paying, I noticed this black, odd looking lens strikingly similar to my Birns & Sawyer Omnitar 150mm f3, which I write about it here, and asked to have a look. Sure enough, it's an Omnitar 200mm f3.2, in gorgeous condition.  Ended up buying the pair for a $100, which I think is a pretty good deal.  Not sure what mount the Omnitar 200mm f3.2 is, but it doesn't matter.  I will have to modify it anyway, somehow, like I did with the 150mm f3 (Nikon mount).

After I got home and put the 50mm f1.8 on my 1D III, and it didn't auto focus.  Turned out the contacts were a bit dirty.  Cleaned it up and it now works beautifully.  This lens is also in excellent shape.  I will give this lens to Dillon, who has been using my Sigma 50mm f1.4 and he didn't feel comfortable using an expensive lens.  Now he can take the lens/camera anywhere without worrying about it.

If the Omnitar 200mm f3.2 turns out to be as good as the 150mm f3, I will be extremely happy, especially if the edges are better, which I think it will be since the focal length is longer.  These lenses were designed for 16mm movies and have some unique looks to the pictures.  Wonder who actually made them, though.

[Updated]: It turns out the lenses were made by Tewe, a German company that made long lenses for motion picture.  On the lens barrel of the 200mm f3.2, it has the Tewe logo.