Graflex.org

xyzphoto · Joined: 03 Jan 2002 Posts: 47 Location: Oklahoma

I am considering a Graflex RB Series D camera with a lens described as follows: Goerz Double-anistigmat, Series 111 no. 0, FOC 4 3/4 in, no. 160391. Could someone tell me about this lens: Focal length, relative quality, any other features I might need to know about. Thanks

RichS · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2003 7:43 pm Post subject:

I know someone will tell you more, but I'll give you what little I've got. Don't know about the quality?
The book says simply, 4 3/4" (120mm) f/6.8. Covers 3 1/4 x 4 1/4. Oddly, this lens doesn't give any angle of coverage but all the others in this series are 60 degrees. 6 elements in 3 groups.
It's not a Dagor, but it shouldn't be 'bad'?

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

RichS · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2003 2:45 am Post subject:

You're not disagreeing with me, but with the "LF Optical Ref Manual"

I relooked up the lens. There's a "Double anastigmat" and a "Doppel anastigmat", two different lenses according to the book. The 'Doppel' is classed as a Dagor. The "Double" is not and "introduced in 1893". The Doppel/Dagor is good for 5x7 at 90 degrees, the Double for 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 at 60 degrees. So it may depend on what the lens really is or who did the writing of the references?

And oddly, the "no 0" doesn't appear for any lens in the book by Goerz?

And... I will finally be able to see the VM myself as I figured out what the problem was and ordered it on the MW web site last week. Still no e-mail from them, but I'm hoping...

[ This Message was edited by: RichS on 2003-03-12 18:51 ]

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

RichS · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2003 5:42 pm Post subject:

xyzphoto · Joined: 03 Jan 2002 Posts: 47 Location: Oklahoma

You guys don't give up easy do you? I admire your knowledge and tenasity and enjoy reading your deliberations. You satisfied my needs some time ago when I concluded the lens was of sufficient quality for my needs. Thanks. But if you keep posting, I will continue to read. For whatever interest it might be to you, US Pat. no. 528155 is stamped on this lens. It is on a camera on Ebay, #2916623499.

[ This Message was edited by: xyzphoto on 2003-03-13 18:01 ]

RichS · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2003 2:44 am Post subject:

Neat camera and looks like it would be a lot of fun to use.
Can't speak for Dan, but I find it very interesting that there's such a difference between the two 'references' and this helps us all know about such things.
By the way, I consider Dan as one of the experts around here and he's helped out more people than I could count with this kind of info. Me, I just read this stuff out of a book and still don't know a tessar from a Dagor...

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2120 Location: New Jersey

RichS · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 3:08 am Post subject:

Arrr, geeesss... Now you went and ruined one of those internet assumptions we make about people. And here I thought you were one of those old photo guys who knew all about the old lenses. Next I'll hear that Les looks this stuff up in books too.

Well, that actually makes me feel a whole lot less dumb! Now all we have to do is get all these references together and straighten them out!

And if lenses could only talk, literally... What you say is true all around except in the case of possibly wanting a lens that's beyond talking distance. That's where conversations like this one spring up and show the usefullness of this group. I'm looking for one of a half dozen extreme WA lenses for 8x10 right now and if I don't let my impulses get ahead of me, I'll be asking about them when/if I find them. I just wish we had old-time camera stores to walk into, browse and try things out... And I live a spit away from Rochester! You'd think there would be a decent store there of all places...

Thanks for letting me know we're both in the same boat, sort of. And I think we're all fools in our wives eyes in some way or other

The classic phrase "Don't you already have one of those" rings in my ears...

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

I'LL NEVER ADMIT TO IT!!! NEVER NEVER NEVER!!!!!

_________________
"In order to invent, you need a good imagination and a lot of junk" Thomas Edison

clnfrd · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:52 pm Post subject:

What IS an old photo guy? Is it an old guy with old photos? Is it just a guy with old photos? Is it an old guy with photos? is it...uh....ZZZZZzzzzz.

RichS · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2003 4:58 am Post subject:

clnfrd · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2003 12:43 pm Post subject:

I'll answer my own question. An OLD photo guy is what I see when I look in a mirror. Been meaning to throw the blamed mirrors out. And I figured out how to replace the "bulb" (xenon flash tube) in my electronic flash about 50 years ago. Fred.