178mm Aero Ektar on M42 Mount

[Close Contax]

Hello friends,

I'm thinking about joining the frenzy on this Aero Ektar auction with the intent of mounting it on a DSLR. I had to message the seller to get specifics on the mount, but from the info he gave me, it seems to be an M42 mount complete with focusing capability. I already use an AE on 4x5 with excellent results, and the mount on this one seems to be extremely uncommon from what I've seen. It would make the task of mounting this on a DSLR much easier and probably cheaper than getting SK Grimes to make me a mount. My question is, is it worth it? Will this 1940's lens produce worthwhile results on a small-format camera? As attractive as this mount is to me, I'm also thinking that this lens, being a LF lens, won't be sharp compared to modern 35mm lenses, and, being of extemely high quality, it won't provide good soft "lomo" effects on 35mm either. Thoughts?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kodak-AERO-...91892168?pt=Camera_Lenses&hash=item1e85af87c8

Best,
Summer

 

[illumiquest]

I've never owned one of these so I can't speak to any magical properties they may have but It would seem that there are literally hundreds of 180mm f/2.8 lenses which you could buy for a song and would cover 35mm. I love the AE images on 4x5 but think a lot of that is the combination of huge neg and huge aperture.

Try cropping a 35mm sized chunk out of one of your current AE negs and see if you like the look of it?

 

[cjbecker]

The main reason that lens is popular is because its a fast lens that actually covers 4x5. On a 35mm the lens has no advantages, just disadvantages, as in being big and cumbersome, not as sharp as its designed to be on a 4x5 where the lenses dont have to be critically sharp as a lens designated for 35mm. Also the focusing is going to be a hassle because your going to have the move that whole lens forward and back.

That being said. I normally go a weird route also. I've always wanted to rip all the guts out of a hasselblad and use a sports finder and guess the focus. Do as you will.

 

[Close Contax]

Thanks for the replies. I may just not worry about this one, as interesting as it is. I've gotten into 4x5 recently, and I just spent more than I can afford on a 4x5 rail system in addition to a Speed Graphic setup with this same lens. If I need the equivalent of this lens on 35mm, I'll just crop!

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I have a fluro ektar 111mm f:1.5 and saw its images on dslr and it was more than excellent. If you are an bokeh hunter , ektars are the only way to go. And it is 6 or more kilograms and if someone uses it at dslr , you can do with aero also.

 

[shutterfinger]

1 inch=25.4 millimeters
178/25.4=7.0078740157480314960629921259843 inches.
178mm/7 inches is the distance the lens has to be from the image plane to focus infinity.

The lens is radioactive, what effect is that going to have on the camera electronics?