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[hwbookout]

Over the years I have accumulated a number of uncoated lenses, I think, mostly from the 1930's. I offered these ******* to Keh Camera back in the 1980's but none were of any interest to them. I am retired now and would like to settle down and try some pictures with them on my 4x5 Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic. Are any of them more or less worthy as picture takers? I would welcome any comments since I know nothing about any of them:

On boards
(1) CZJ Tessar f4.5/13.5cm #849951 in Z. Ikon COMPUR #258646

(2) Cooke Anastigmat 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 f6.5/5" Ser. IIIA TT Hobson Nr 393704 in COMPOUND #371939

(3) Jos. Schneider & Co Kreuznach Weitwinkel Anastigmat Dasykar f12.5/9cm

(4) Kodak Anastigmat f4.5/6 3/8” No. 32-404 in COMPUR
711807

(5) Goerz Dagor 6.8/8 1/4" Series III No. 3 #225448 in Bausch & Lomb Volute #1073794

In barrels
(6) CZJ Tessar f4.5/180cm BVI2

(7) Rodenstock Extra Rapid Aplanat f7.7/32cm No. 506587

( ? Doppel-Anastigmat. DRP Ser III/o f6.8/120mm No 145554
(focusing mount in yards)

Thanks!
Henry

[Les]

(1) CZJ Tessar f4.5/13.5cm #849951 in Z. Ikon COMPUR #258646
Pre cursor to the 135 Etkar, Optar, Raptar. Easily cleaned. Not a bad lens by any stretch.

(2) Cooke Anastigmat 4 1/4 x 3 1/4 f6.5/5" Ser. IIIA TT Hobson Nr 393704 in COMPOUND #371939
A standard anastigmat Cooke triplet in design. Considerably sharper than a Rapid Rectilinear and capable of some sharp images. Though not considered one of their portrait line, I believe it will have the classic Cooke look. One trick I've gotten from a die hard Cooke shooter for softer portraits is to unscrew the front element 1/2 to 1 turn.

(3) Jos. Schneider & Co Kreuznach Weitwinkel Anastigmat Dasykar f12.5/9cm
90mm wide angle lens. Probably a similar design to the Protar IV wide angle. Nice lens, but a 90 Angulon will do more and do it faster. Don't expect to do anything more than a 4x enlargement.

(4) Kodak Anastigmat f4.5/6 3/8” No. 32-404 in COMPUR
Same as a Tessar. Zeiss patented the Tessar and and licensed the name to B&L. When B&L made lenses under the Kodak name, they had to use the name Anastigmat. Adequate. Possible as good as the Carl Zeiss


(5) Goerz Dagor 6.8/8 1/4" Series III No. 3 #225448 in Bausch & Lomb Volute #1073794
The dagor will have the least amount of flare of all of these lenses as it only as 4 air to glass surfaces. It's damn sharp, but does suffer from focus shift , so focus with a loupe stopped down to the taking aperture when critically sharp focus is needed. Can also be used as a convertable lens. Remove the front cell and you have a 14" lens, but you lose two stops. This lens will cover 8x10. If the Volute is working then it's one of a handfull that still do. if not, consider it a barrel lens. Not sure the glass is worth the cost of labor to put it into a new shutter.

In barrels
(6) CZJ Tessar f4.5/180cm BVI2
Excellent all around sharp lens. Can be used as a nice portrait lens if you don't like all that mushy stuff. You might want to experiment with unscrewing the front element up to two turns. Also focus on the nose and shoot wide open.

(7) Rodenstock Extra Rapid Aplanat f7.7/32cm Another name for Rapid Rectilinear. Will be sharp in the center. Weakest lens of the bunch but could be fun to play with for that 19th century look.

( ? Doppel-Anastigmat. DRP Ser III/o f6.8/120mm No 145554
(focusing mount in yards)
Doppel-Anstigmat is the same basic idea behind the Dagor (which stands for Doppel-Anastigmat by GOerz) Series is the same too. Nice and sharp. Will cover 4x5 with movements. Might those be meters instead of yards? Even so, it's a bit strange!




[ This Message was edited by: Les on 2003-02-05 20:55 ]

[hwbookout]

Les, I can't thank you enough for this precious information. The Volute works fine at all speeds!
Henry