14" Goerz Hypergon coverage

I just scored a Goerz Hypergon 14" in a #5 Universal shutter at an estate sale. Any idea what it covers? I'm guessing at least 14x17 but I don't currently have a flange for it to put it on my camera to try it out.

TheFlyingCamera said:

I just scored a Goerz Hypergon 14" in a #5 Universal shutter at an estate sale. Any idea what it covers? I'm guessing at least 14x17 but I don't currently have a flange for it to put it on my camera to try it out.

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First off, good for you. Great snag.

That said, why do you think it is a Hypergon? This https://www.cameraquest.com/hyper.htm page says that the longest is 8".

Dan Fromm said:

First off, good for you. Great snag.

That said, why do you think it is a Hypergon? This https://www.cameraquest.com/hyper.htm page says that the longest is 8".

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Because it says "Goerz Hypergon" on the beauty ring on the front of the lens, for starters. And it is a nearly spherical lens when viewed sideways - both front and rear cells are near perfect hemispheres.

TheFlyingCamera said:

Because it says "Goerz Hypergon" on the beauty ring on the front of the lens, for starters. And it is a nearly spherical lens when viewed sideways - both front and rear cells are near perfect hemispheres.

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Thanks for the reply. The s/n puts it in the late 1950s. The shutter's aperture doesn't seem to be scaled for a Hypergon. These seem to be f/22 lenses, as originally delivered could be stopped down to f/32. Ain't no Hypergons in cameraeccentric's 1951 Goerz catalog. Has to be a U.S.-made lens 'cos the focal length is in inches. A reasonably complete and competent Google search found nothing like it. None of this is conclusive, but none of it dispels my doubts.

However, if it is a real Hypergon without fan it should cover more than a meter. Please hang it in front of a camera or rig up a camera obscura and tell us how well it works.

Good luck, have fun,

Dan

That is a nice lens. Let us know what it covers. I recently got a 75mm Hypergon replica and it covers 8x10.

I have 1959 and 1960 C.P. Goerz American Optical Company price lists that show the Hypergon, Described as "Goerz Hypergon F:22 or F:32 Fixed Stop." "A special lens for mapping, plotting and rectifying equipment, for military and industrial applications." Available in focal lengths of 127, 135, and 168 mm. Focal lengths given only in millimeters; other lenses on this list have focal lengths in both inches and millimeters. And there's a note following: "Coverage 90º. Special sizes to order." No mention of being shutter mounted.

This is, of course, less coverage than is historically ascribed to the Hypergon. In my collection of C.P. Goerz American Optical Co./ Goerz Optical Co, Inc. literature, this is the only mention of the Hypergon. It's not in my copy of a 1938 Goerz catalog, nor in a circa mid 1950's Goerz brochure nor any of my later Goerz literature running up to 1970.

David

The '51 Goerz catalog mentions a 14" Hypergon but not much else:

Thank you for this! And it shows the 14" focal length.

David

The lens is now getting mounted to a board and having front and rear lens caps made for it. I hope to report back soon with test results.

ic-racer said:

That is a nice lens. Let us know what it covers. I recently got a 75mm Hypergon replica and it covers 8x10.

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Sick! Finally seeing a wide camera with a dropped bed looks so awesome. looking forward to showing my set up when I finally get it all dialed in. !