S.O.L lens 6inch f4.5 What type of lens is this?

[philslizzy]

I recently won an 'enlarger lens' on the 'bay. Assuming it would have a 39mm screw thread I thought it would be a great macro lens and good for slide duplication.

However it has a strange large screw fitting, bigger than an M42 possibly bigger than a M44 (same thread pitch though) There is a flange supplied with it presumably for mounting on some sort of lens board. The lens is clean and has a single, bluish coating on it.

I think it may be a duplicating lens or something. Can anyone shed any light on this item and possibly point me in the way of an adapter?

Photo of the lens and its flange.



A photo of the lens sat on a Helios showing the different sizes. The left hand sides are matched up




Thanks for any help!

[calvin83]

I guess this is an enlarger made in UK with thread 1.75 inch threads but I am not sure...

[philslizzy]

[luisalegria]

Quarter plate or 4x5
Medium format used 75 - 105mm
Most British and American enlarger lenses had non-standard non-metric threads

[philslizzy]

[luisalegria]

Thats right, the flange is for mounting on a lensboard.
That was the normal mounting system for enlargers in those days.

It is most likely an enlarger lens because of the orientation of the aperture markings.
The lens is meant to be pointed down at the work, hence the user would see the aperture scale right side up.

A camera lens - and such lenses without shutters could have been used on cameras with focal plane shutters, there were many British makes - would have the apertures engraved to be right side up to the user viewing the scale from above and behind the lens.

Also, 6"=150mm, which would be about right for a 4x5 format. The typical 4x5 enlarger was either 135mm or 150mm for 4x5

[danfromm]

Have you counted reflections? It smells like a tessar type. If it is, it will have four strong and no weak reflections from the front cell, two strong and one weak from the rear. The weak reflection from the rear cell may be very hard to see.

[Farside]

S.O.L - I never did find out what it came from or who made it or what its use was. All I know is a paid a fiver for it, stuck it on the front of my Ihagee 9x12 and used it as a lens in barrel.



It's ok... produces reasonable results as a camera lens. I must use it again.
Really glad to see it's not alone in the world


Click for 1600pix version

This is the cam it screws on to; an Ihagee Zweiverschluss (two shutters) - not the original thread, but very close, enough for a good fit. I presume the factory front lens in shutter simply screwed in - I just use the rear shutter and some barrel lenses.

[philslizzy]

[philslizzy]

Here are a couple of shots taken today, rainy outside, it wouldnt normally bother me but a tripod and bellows combo take some covering up.
My Setup Nikon d3200, adapter to Prinzflex M42 bellows, a home made adapter M44 to M42 and the 6inch S.O.S. on front



Conker, at f11 my wife collects them and loves watching them open. perhaps a timelapse project for the (not too distant) future!




Still life 'Jug and Apples' and a 100% crop. Exposure details: ISO 400, 1/5th sec @ f4.5. Unprocessed apart from resizing the top photo for the forum





Overall It's a pretty good lens and performs well at wide aperture. Getting better 'til about f11.

Image wise the pics are fairly low in contrast and cool, it would benefit from a warming filter.

But I'm happy. Going to try some portraits soon. I'll have to invest in some walkie talkies to keep in touch with the model. LOL