24 inch apo red dot Artar, f11

[frank]

I recently acquired this 24 inch lens (along with 3 other Goerz lenses, 2 shorter Artars and a 7 inch Dagor) and don't have a big enough camera to mount this one on. (4by5 Speed Graphic, 5by7 Bourke and James monorail, and 5by7 Iston wood field camera) It's "in barrel" ie. no shutter, and in great shape, being black laquared brass. To get ready to sell this lens I am trying to gather more information on it. Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge about this lens? From what I know so far, it is a process lens that works well from infinity to 1:1, and it covers quite a large format. What would a reasonable selling/buying price be? I don't want to go the e-bay route. Any help would be appreciated.

Frank

 

[sanking]

I recently acquired this 24 inch lens (along with 3 other Goerz lenses, 2 shorter Artars and a 7 inch Dagor) and don't have a big enough camera to mount this one on. (4by5 Speed Graphic, 5by7 Bourke and James monorail, and 5by7 Iston wood field camera) It's "in barrel" ie. no shutter, and in great shape, being black laquared brass. To get ready to sell this lens I am trying to gather more information on it. Does anyone have any experience with or knowledge about this lens? From what I know so far, it is a process lens that works well from infinity to 1:1, and it covers quite a large format. What would a reasonable selling/buying price be? I don't want to go the e-bay route. Any help would be appreciated.

Frank

Red Dot Artar's are process lenses that work nicely at infinity provided that the aperture is closed down two or three stops from maximum. Angular field of the Artar design is around 50 degrees (for projectin printing) when stopped down to f/32 or f/45. A 24" Red Dot Artar will cover 12X20" at infinity focus (assuming contact printing), but performance will be quite a bit softer on the corners than in the center. The terminology red dot indicates that the lens is coated.

Going price on ebay appears to currently be in the $250 to $350 range.

Sandy King

 

[Deckled Edge]

I have owned two 24in. Artars, both Red Dot by Goertz. They are a very nice lens, but not the sharpest in my inventory. I use them on both 8x10 and 11x14, with #5 Ilex shutters. You should feel confident in recommending this lens and should have ready buyers when you put it up for sale.
Or ditch that puny 4x5 set up and <insert Austrian accent> "girly film", and go to 11x14 and use your lens. The contact prints will be awesome.