Lator 60mm Lens for the Ducati Sogno

DUCATI - OD 6403.1 - LATOR 60mm / 2.8

The Lator lens was referred to in the Ducati documentation as a "Long-focal bright lens for remote photographs, for sports, for portraits, and photographs of children" and was already present in the early 1946 documentation.

It was of the non-retractable type with an optical scheme consisting of 4 coated elements, a field angle of 29 °, a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 meters, and it had an 8-blade iris diaphragm adjustable to between 7 possible openings (2.8-4-5,6-8-11-16-22).

For focusing, it was directly coupled with the Sogno rangefinder, but the field of view field did not correspond to the view visible in the viewfinder. In the first documents an additional finder mask was already available that reduced the field of view in the viewfinder, or a blocked viewfinder view. A sports/view finder was available (OR 2401.1).

In the 1948 catalog the Lator lens was shown at a price of 45,000 lire, and there were also some accessories (hood and filters) and the sports/view finder of the first type (OR 2401.1) suitable for use with both the Lator and Teletor lenses.

From 1949 the Lator lens had a greater number of accessories including a different lens hood and a newly designed sports/view finder (OR 2401.2) that was also suitable for the Eltor and Luxtor lenses, in addition to the Teletor.

A first series (Heavy version), with serial numbers starting with the numbers 00xxx or 01xxx.

A second series (Heavy or Light version), with serial numbers starting with the numbers 05xxx.

A third series (Medium Light) were slightly heavier than the normal "Light" version with the serial numbers from 054xx to 055xx. (More Data Needed!)

The three different series of the Lator had different weights: 375 grams (Brass) the first series (matr. 00838) and 205 grams (Aluminum) for the second series (matr. 05414) and 240~245 grams for the small third series (matr. 05484 & 05529). Note also that many of the second series were also brass (with the heavier weight) at least up to SN-05233, which we own, and thought to be so throughout the 052xx number sequence. (Note: All weights are without caps and rounded to 0 or 5)

Observing the serial numbers of a number of these lenses from those that we have been able to find please refer to the table below for our estimate of the number which may have been produced.

Availability: This lens is seen for sale more than one time per year.

The Lator lens was also produced in a different mount for use in the Ducati OE 6403 Slide Projector.

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The Ducati Sogno 60mm Lator Lens is the rough equivalent of a 70mm lens on a 'normal' full sized camera. This makes it a great choice for close-ups of your kids, portraits, or any situation when you need to be a little 'closer' without actually being intrusive.

*The Gelatin Filters were only mentioned in the earliest documentation, and no pricing was mentioned. They are in various “Bright” colors, more intense than the normal glass filters, and much rarer.

The following table is a list of known Lator Lenses with the Serial Number and possible number produced in our estimate. Please help us in our efforts to expand this list by sending us any lens serial number/s not in our list so that it will be as accurate as possible, thank you! Latest UPDATE: Oct-24.

Please contact us with your lens list so that we can expand the information available for these lenses.
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