Photo taken with a British Beck symmetrical. Patent of 1860.

[Petzval 1840]

Hi:

I show them a photo taken with a British lens of the XIXth century in precarious conditions: I had to support the lens with the hand in the bellows. The lens is one Beck symmetrically. The diaphragm of the photo was f:8.

The photo is only a test and it does not try to be an artistic photo.

The patent of this lens is of 1860.

It is fascinating to take photos with lenses designed 150 years ago.

Bests Regards. David.

[luisalegria]

Interesting lens and maker.

I believe this is another Aplanat, also commonly called Rapid Rectilinear in the US and Britain.

Many Beck Symmetrical were used in the 1890's-1910's on British cameras.

This type of Aplanat was probably the most common lens for quality cameras in that time.

One thing you may want to try is just the front or just the rear elements alone, you will get a doublet with a long focal length.

The result is as usual with what I have seen of these, low contrast and not sharp at f/8. They can get very sharp though, and even contrast gets better when stopped down. My Bausch&Lomb Rapid Rectilinears are very sharp even for digital at f/16. Very hard to focus !

[estudleon]

Well done !!!!

Any PP ? It seems that not.

Thanks for sharing.

Rino.

[rbelyell]

so interesting. with what camera?

[greg]

I appreciate seeing old lenses getting some use.

Good posting, thanks.

[Petzval 1840]

Hello:

This morning I have taken this photo to f: 16 with Beck Symmetrical Lens. F = 150 mm (6 ") approximately.

My camera is a Pentax K 200 D.

Bests Regards: David

[fourmix]

Any pics of the lens ?

[fish4570]

well done, indeed.

[Petzval 1840]

Hello friends:

I show them the photos of Beck Symmetrical lens (f: 8 to 45) given by the seller: I start getting fond of these old lenses and to forgetting the modern ones. The problem is that all these lenses turn into very long telephoto lenses into my Pentax K 200 D.

Bests Regards: David.

[rbelyell]

lovely looking lenses and pictures. sounds like its time for a full frame camera!

[Petzval 1840]

Hello all the people

The lenses more strangers in Spain (Europe) and in other European countries are the Britishs, USA and French: I could have bought several Wollensak and an Ektar, for Speed Graphic and four old brass British lenses, like two Beck.

It hurts that the digital support pair my old Hasselblad 500 C has a price that I cannot pay, since these old lenses would give a good yield with a sensor of 6 X 6 cm.

Bests Regards: David

[MrCynical]

Nice shot. Really puts our 'old' Takumars and CZJ into perspective!

[luisalegria]

Hola David,

You can look for one of these -

http://www.camerapedia.org/wiki/Graflex_Speed_Graphic

They can take 6x6, 6x7 and 6x9 holders for 120 film

The lensboard is just a square piece of wood, easy to make. You can mount any lens, just cut the right size hole.

Kodak Ektar, Graflex/Wollensak and Bausch&Lomb US lenses are almost all ordinary Tessars, there are very few special kinds.

European lenses are much more varied.

[fourmix]

Beautiful lens. I understand the pleasure to use it