240 G-Claron in barrel with NO IRIS MECHANISM

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

Sometimes I think I'd have no luck at all if it weren't for bad luck.

I bought a "very good to excellent" 240 G-Claron on roll-the-dice-bay and there is no iris mechanism in the barrel. WTF? This is the first lens I've bought "in barrel" and I cannot believe this is normal or standard. Even though my expectations have occasionally been too high in the past (I expected my first marriage would last), am I wrong to expect the iris mechanism to be included? Please enlighten me.

Dan Fromm · Jan 27, 2012

Not standard. If the seller didn't state that there was no iris, you were had.

If you don't want to keep the cells (they'll screw right into a normal ordinary #1 shutter), raise hell immediately with the seller. If you don't get satisfaction quickly, raise hell with eBay and (if you paid by PayPal and/or with a credit card) with PayPal and/or your credit card company.

BainDarret · Jan 27, 2012

Last year I won an *Bay auction for a 203 Ektar lens. The description quite clearly stated that the lens was an Ektar. I received a 203 Kodak Anastigmat instead. Uncoated and no doubt a different catalogue number it was not an Ektar. I raised a stink with *Bay and put up a bad review of the vendor. He panicked and refunded a 1/3 of the price to get the review dropped. I ended up with a good lens at a fair price but not what I had expected.

ic-racer · Jan 27, 2012

So when you move the aperture ring, nothing happens?

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

ic-racer said:
So when you move the aperture ring, nothing happens?

Correct. Well, I can feel some clicks, but that is all.

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

Dan Fromm said:
Not standard. If the seller didn't state that there was no iris, you were had.

If you don't want to keep the cells (they'll screw right into a normal ordinary #1 shutter), raise hell immediately with the seller. If you don't get satisfaction quickly, raise hell with eBay and (if you paid by PayPal and/or with a credit card) with PayPal and/or your credit card company.

I knew that, but I just wanted confirmation. Thanks.

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

BainDarret said:
Last year I won an *Bay auction for a 203 Ektar lens. The description quite clearly stated that the lens was an Ektar. I received a 203 Kodak Anastigmat instead. Uncoated and no doubt a different catalogue number it was not an Ektar. I raised a stink with *Bay and put up a bad review of the vendor. He panicked and refunded a 1/3 of the price to get the review dropped. I ended up with a good lens at a fair price but not what I had expected.

Yep, I'll get on this in short order.

ic-racer · Jan 27, 2012

Looks like a Schneider B-I enlarging lens barrel which should have an aperture mechanism. These are actually called "Iris Mounts" in the Schneider literature. Looks like someone pilfered the mechanism, which is a little curious as it looks perfectly mint condition otherwise. That is too bad because the barrel has the correct aperture ring for that lens.

This is what it should look like on the inside. Even wide open the blades are visible:

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

ic-racer said:
Looks like a Schneider B-I barrel which should have an aperture mechanism. Looks like someone pilfered the mechanism.

I am so upset my head is spinning.

In the last two weeks KEH has lost the spacing ring to my 8 1/4" Gold Rim Dagor and now this. I picked a hell-ova time to quit drinkin.

Dan Quan · Jan 27, 2012

ic-racer said:
Looks like a Schneider B-I enlarging lens barrel which should have an aperture mechanism. These are actually called "Iris Mounts" in the Schneider literature. Looks like someone pilfered the mechanism, which is a little curious as it looks perfectly mint condition otherwise. That is too bad because the barrel has the correct aperture ring for that lens.

This is what it should look like on the inside. Even wide open the blades are visible:

Now that is incredibly useful. Thanks.

Dan Quan · Jan 31, 2012

Well thats solved. I got a barrel from Fred Newman at The View Camera Store for a very fair price.

And still no drinking, woohoo!

240 G-Claron in barrel with NO IRIS MECHANISM

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