A friend of mine just gave me a 4x5 of Folmer vintage. The lens is a huge dial compur with a Kodak 5 1/2 inch #1 Anastigmat lens. Would this lens be a good one to set on the shelf, but it looks kind of neat on this old camera. Russ

A KA is a tessar made by Bausch & Lomb for Kodak or made by Kodak under 3rd liscense from B&L who had the franchise from Zeiss. B&L could make the same lens nd cal it a tessar, but since Kodak wasn't liscenced by Zeiss they had to use the original name Anastigmat.

It's a decent lens, don't expect the sharpness of a super coated apo something, these have a look all their own!

If I were you I would use the camera as is for a while, and if I liked the results I wouldnt replace the lens though I may be tempted to buy more lenses for the camers.