127mm Rodenstock Ysaron Lens Question

MrBrowning · Apr 8, 2014

I bought a polaroid CU-5 (maybe) and am wondering how I determine the lens size. The CU-5 manual makes reference to a 3 lens and a 5 lens but from what I understand a Rodenstock lens is not typical with these cameras.
Its a 127mm Rodenstock Ysaron Lens.
View attachment 85797 View attachment 85798
Lastly what a 3 lens used for v. a 5 lens?

shutterfinger · Apr 8, 2014

1 inch = 25.4 millimeters
127/25.4=5 inch
3*25.4=76.2mm

BrianShaw · Apr 8, 2014

... or in other words: 5 inch is about a "normal" lens and 3 inch is about a "wide angle" lens.

A 12 inch lens is for seeing into the future.

MrBrowning · Apr 8, 2014

Thanks. I appreciate it.

Dan Fromm · Apr 8, 2014

BrianShaw said:
... or in other words: 5 inch is about a "normal" lens and 3 inch is about a "wide angle" lens.

A 12 inch lens is for seeing into the future.

The CU-5 is non-focusing, is intended for photographing electrophoresis gels. It uses 3 1/4 x 4 1/4 type 665 and 667 Polaroid film.

Shorter lenses -- the shortest is probably the 17/4 Tominon -- give higher magnifications than longer ones. Lenses supplied for the CU-5 include 17/4 Tominon, 50/4.5 Tominon, 75/4.5 Tominon and Ysaron, 105/4.5 Tominon and 127/4.5 Tominon and Ysaron. I think, could be mistaken, that the 127s are the longest lenses offered for the CU-5.

I can't speak to the 127 Ysaron, have a couple of 127 Tominons. They're surprisingly good at all distances on 2x3.

About the 3 inchers, they're tessar types. Not wide angles at all.

Rick A · Apr 8, 2014

The 127 Ysarex is a tack sharp, slightly wide lens, that I find ideal for most of my 4x5 work. It has plenty of movement for archetecture. I robbed mine from a 110 Pathfinder that had seen better days, but the lens was imaculate, and the shutter accurate. I even have the Polaroid accessory kit for the lens, polarizer and dark yellow filters, and a lens hood.

Dan Fromm · Apr 8, 2014

Rick A said:
The 127 Ysarex is a tack sharp, slightly wide lens, that I find ideal for most of my 4x5 work. It has plenty of movement for archetecture. I robbed mine from a 110 Pathfinder that had seen better days, but the lens was imaculate, and the shutter accurate. I even have the Polaroid accessory kit for the lens, polarizer and dark yellow filters, and a lens hood.

Rick, in Rodenstock parlance the Ysarex is a tessar type optimized for shooting distant subjects and the Ysaron is a tessar type optimized for enlarging (= shooting near subjects). They really aren't the same thing.

Rick A · Apr 8, 2014

Thank you for clarifying that for me.

MrBrowning · Apr 9, 2014

Thanks guys. I appreciate the info. Now I must go play around with it.

127mm Rodenstock Ysaron Lens Question

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