105mm Xenar vs 101mm Ektar

[Fotoguy20d]

I just received a 105mm Xenar in Prontor Press shutter from that auction site (I was buying a 4x5 Graflok back attached to a mugshot camera and the lens came along for the ride).

The seller mentioned the ding in the filter thread but didn't mention that there was only one screw loosely holding the back of the lens to the front - needless to say, they came apart and all the shutter blades fell out. Not a big deal, I reassembled the blades, and with the one screw holding the back on tightly socked down, it's not in imminent danger of self destructiing.

How does this lens compare to an EKtar 101mm f4.5? This is a coated lens, serial number 11 002 185. WIll the cells fit into another shutter? The shutter has a big recess, about 1/16" deep in the front that the front element fits into

Does anyone know of CLA instructions somewhere on-line for a Prontor Press shutter? This one works on T & B, sounds pretty good from 1/15 to 1/125, and stays open between 1 sec and 1/8.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Ole]

A 105mm f:4.5 Xenar should fit in any #0 shutter. The serial number indicates it was made in late 1968.

It should be good; at least all my Xenars have been good sharp lenses.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Dan, without having tried 'em all, IMO the 101/4.5 Ektar is the best of the ~ 4" f/4.5 tessar types. This is not to take anything away from the Xenar. I'm sure that it is also better than good enough. I doubt that either is enough better than the other to justify replacing one with the other.