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My collection of folding camera lenses
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PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:17 pm    Post subject: My collection of folding camera lenses Reply with quote
2013 was a year in which I started to collect older lenses from cameras other than SLRs. It started when I picked up an old Bausch and Lomb RR lens for a pittance. By the end of the year I amassed quite a collection, buying on the 'if it's cheap enough I will try it' principle. Well, this collecting game was never very rational.

The nice thing about folder lenses is that they are very easy to remove from the camera; just a simple reading ring. They can thus be put back easily, so no camera has to be killed to try them (though my 'bargain basement' approach to buying means that some of the cameras were so awful they went in the bin).

Also, with a mirrorless camera like the OM-D, any folder lens with FL of 75mm or more can be put on a bellows easily and still give infinity focus, so trying them is very easy, The 50mm lens need to be put on a helicoid if you want infinity focus.

Below is the first box of my collection. Notes are after the picture.




BOX 1 - Columns from left hand side

Column 1
Kodak Anastigmat 170mm f7.7
Dialyte, 4E,4G; Uncoated;
Very nice lens
Came without camera

Kodak Anastigmat 170mm f7.7
Dialyte, 4E,4G; Uncoated;
Untested (same as above)
Came without camera

Kodak Anastigmat 130mm f7.7
Dialyte, 4E,4G; Uncoated;
Very nice lens
Came without camera

http://forum.mflenses.com/kodak-dialyte-lenses-170mm-and-130mm-t61619.html

Column 2
Aldis Uno Anastigmat 5.5-inch f7.7
Uno, 3E,2G; uncoated
Untested
From Houghton-Butcher Carbine

Aldis Uno Anastigmat 4.75-inch f7.7
Uno, 3E,2G; uncoated;
Very nice lens
From Houghton-Butcher Carbine

http://forum.mflenses.com/aldis-uno-anastigmat-4-75-inch-f7-7-wollensak-t63136.html

Kodak Meniscus, ~125mm; ~f11
2E,1G; uncoated
Not Tested properly, but shows a lot of SA WO as you would expect
From Kodak 2A Autographic Brownie

Column 3
Beck Symmetrical, ~145mm, f8
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Not tested properly, but lots of SA WO.
Came without camera

Ensign Rectimat Symmetrical, ~150mm, f8
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Not tested properly, but lots of SA WO.
Came without camera

Kodak Meniscus, ~95mm; ~f14
2E,1G;; uncoated;
Not tested. Surprisingly short FL for a meniscus lens I thought
Came without camera

Column 4
Bausch & Lomb RR, ~135mm, US4 ( f8 )
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
This performs poorly because one of the meniscus achromats has a lot of astigmatism
Came without camera

Bausch & Lomb RR,, ~135mm, US4 ( f8 )
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Same as above, but this sample works quite nicely (though WO there is significant SA)
From Kodak Pocket No.3 Model G

Bausch & Lomb RR, ~100mm, US4 ( f8 )
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Not tested
From Kodak No.2 Autographic Brownie

Column 5
Bausch & Lomb RR, ~165mm, US4 ( f8 )
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Like one of my other B&L RR's, this performs poorly due to severe astigmatism in one of the meniscus achromats.
Came without camera

Bausch & Lomb RR, ~210mm, US8 (f11)
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Not especially sharp WO, but performs quite well
Came without camera

Bausch & Lomb RR, ~150mm, US4 ( f8 )
Rapid Rectilinear, 4E,2G; uncoated;
Not tested, but shows the usual SA WO.
From Kodak No.2-C Autographic Brownie

Note that none of these Rapid Rectilinear lenses are symmetrical in construction i.e. the front and rear menisci have different optical powers. Even the two with symmetrical in their name are not symmetrical!


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
BOX 2




Columns from left hand side

Column 1
Ross Xpres 105mm f3.8
Tessar, 4E,3G; coated; front element focusing
A very nice lens. A little soft WO, but lovely at f5.6.
Best performance is with front element set to infinity and unit focused with a bellows
From Ensign Selfix 820

Voigtländer Braunschwieg Voigtar 10.5cm f3.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Good at f3.5. Excellent at f5.6
Best performance is with front element set to infinity and unit focused with a bellows
From a Bessa

Voigtländer Anastigmat 'Skopar' 10.5cm f4.5
Tessar, 4E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing,
Significant SA until f8, but still good sharpness wide open. Focus shift as stopped down from WO. Disappointing in use, even with unit focusing on bellows
Camera model unknown

Column 2
Kodak Anaston 105mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated; front element focusing
Not tested thoroughly but slightly soft WO. Front element focusing has less negative impact than on other lenses I've tried.
From Kodak Sterling II

Steiner-Bayreuth 105mm f3.8
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Not properly tested but WO performance is weak. Disappointing.
From Braun Norca

Aldis-Butcher Anastigmat 4.5-inch f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing,
Not good until f11 due to CA and SA. Very disappointing
From Houghton-Butcher Carbine Watch Pocket No.12

Column 3
Rodenstock-Trinar Anastigmat 135mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing
The shutter is just a shell, the mechanism and aperture were corroded beyond repair. WO performance is not good, but this could be due to the poor state of the lens.
Came in a 'pot luck' box of tatty lenses

Kodak Anastigmat 130mm f 5.6
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing
Rear element very badly damaged - pitted. Not tested.
From No.1A Kodak Pocket Special

Ensign Ensar Anastigmat 105mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; weakly coated;
This lens does not have a shutter. Not properly tested but weak performance WO
Came without a camera and since it has no shutter I'm not sure what it is off.

Column 4
Meyer-Görlitz Trioplan 7.5cm f2.9
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Not tested properly but not good WO
This lens is not in very good condition with light put extensive scratches.
Came in a 'pot luck' box of tatty lenses

Jhagee Anastigmat 10.5cm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing
A very nice lens. Very nice even WO.
No markings on the camera, might be an Ultrix

Kodak Anaston 100mm f6.3
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Not tested
From Kodak Six-20 Folding Brownie


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
BOX 3



Columns from left hand side

Column 1
Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 5cm f3.5
Tessar, 4E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing
Very nice lens, see link below
From a Welta Welti

http://forum.mflenses.com/schneider-kreuznach-xenar-5cm-f3-5-welta-folding-cam-lens-t61680.html

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 5cm f2.8
Tessar, 4E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing,
This lens shows a huge focus shift from WO to f5.6. Optimally focused WO it is quite sharp. But if the focus is set at f5.6 and then the lens opened to f2.8 there is a lot of spherical aberration.
From a Balda Baldinette

Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar 5cm f2.8
Tessar, 4E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing,
The S-K Xenar above performs better than this lens
From a Welta Welti

Steinheil München Cassar 5cm f2.9
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; unit focusing;
Seems to be slightly soft an glowing WO, but not too bad. Nice stopped down.
From a Welta Weltix

Column 2
Dacora Subita Anastigmat 75mm f5.6
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated on front surface only; front element focusing;
A really crap lens; soft even at f11. Has put me off buying other Dacora lenses
From Dacora 120

Voigtländer Voigtar 7.5cm f3.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Not tested properly but looks to be good lens WO, excellent at f4.5
From Bessa 66

Agilfold Agilux Anastigmat 9cm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated on inner surfaces; front element focusing
Not tested properly but looks to be very good lens WO and excellent at f5.6
From Agifold, but no model markings on camera

Column 3
Kodak Anaston 75mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated; front element focusing
Not tested thoroughly but this is a rare example of a front element focusing lens in which the performance isn't degraded.
From Kodak 66 III

Kodak Anastigmat 100mm f6.3
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
From Kodak Six-20 Folding Brownie

Wester Anastigmat 75mm f3.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; uncoated; front element focusing
Not tested throughly but WO performance looks weak.
From Showa Kogaku Semi Leotax. I think this is my only Japanese folder lens.

Column 4
Agfa Agnar 85mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; some coated surfaces; front element focusing
Really bad performance even well stopped down. Possible defective.
From Isolette V

Agfa Apotar 85mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated; front element focusing
A lovely lens. Couldn't be more different to the Agnar
From Isolette II

http://forum.mflenses.com/agfa-apotar-85mm-f4-5-from-isolette-ii-t61171.html

Ross Xpres 75mm f3.5
Tessar, 4E,3G; coated; front element focusing
I have not tested this properly, but it seems good though rather soft WO. However, the camera was in a truly dreadful state and the lens not good either so it may not be representative.
From Ensign 16-20

Column 5
Zeiss Novar Anastigmat 75mm f6.3
Triplet, 3E,3G; some surfaces coated; front element focusing
Not tested
From Ikon Nettar 515/16

Zeiss Novar Anastigmat 75mm f4.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; coated; front element focusing
Not tested
From Ikon Nettar 515/18

C. Friedrich München Corygon Anastigmat 7.5cm f3.5
Triplet, 3E,3G; some surfaces coated; front element focusing
Not tested
Came without camera


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
these are so very beautiful just to look at. Great collection. Cool


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Even better with cameras, a bit always sad to see them alone.


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Very nice. A very unique collection as I have not seen a person collecting these lenses Smile


PostPosted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Nice, really nice sets of lenses. Please post photos taken with these lenses in the current year,

Congrats,

Renato


PostPosted: Sun Jan 19, 2014 10:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
@ !Karen & Drack
Thanks. Almost all of these lenses required significant restoration work

@ Attila
I think you would cry if you saw some of the cameras these lenses came on. I only buy the very cheapest. The means: dirt, rust, peeling leatherette, more dirt, ripped bellows, broken shutters, missing parts, yet more dirt. Fortunately, uncoated lenses are much easier to clean than coated ones so something looking horrible can be restored well.
However, I have three Ensigns which still look in nice condition and I haven't the heart to remove the lenses from them. I will clean them up and post pictures just for you. Smile


@RSalles
Yes, I will try different ones this year (if it ever stops raining..) I find it easier to buy lenses than to use them. Smile

Mark


PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
edited

Last edited by bernhardas on Thu Apr 07, 2016 1:48 pm; edited 1 time in total


PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 2:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Good news, thank you Mark!


PostPosted: Tue Jan 21, 2014 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Well done!!

Thks for sharing your collection.
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