Aero Hexar?

Hi All,

I recently acquired this lens as part of a darkroom package deal.
It is a 200 mm f/3.5 Rokuoh-sha Hexar Ser IIa.
Made by the company that was to become known as Konica it was apparently made during WWII for Japanese aerial cameras.
I couldn't find much on the net about it.
Does anyone have one of these or used one on a 4x5 camera?
It seems like a good candidate for use on a Speed Graphic if it could be attached to a lens board.
It would be a tight fit as it would require a 70 mm opening.
Any enlightenment would be much appreciated.
I am attaching a photo of the front of the lens.

Mike

BainDarret said:

It seems like a good candidate for use on a Speed Graphic if it could be attached to a lens board.
It would be a tight fit as it would require a 70 mm opening.

Click to expand...

Can't help you with the lens itself, but it wouldn't be a problem to mount in on the Speed Graphic: I make lens boards for Aero Ektar lenses, and the diameter of the back of the Aero Ektar 178/2.5 lens is about 75 mm, so yours is narrower - no problems there (room to spare...)
In order to mount the AE lens on the Speed Graphic, the "throat" of the front panel of the camera often has to be widened a bit (just 1mm or so...) - which means that the Speed Graphic opening on the front panel can take lenses with diameters of up to 73-74mm without any modification.

Sure looks like an interesting lens to try on the Speed Graphic

Thanks Denis P. for that very useful information.

Mike

By the reflections, it looks like it might be a Tessar type and uncoated. You may like the effect it gives wide open for portraits, and stopped down to f:8-11 it should give nice sharp negatives. If it is a Tessar, that is. 200mm is a nice length for portraits on 4x5.

E. von Hoegh said:

By the reflections, it looks like it might be a Tessar type and uncoated. You may like the effect it gives wide open for portraits, and stopped down to f:8-11 it should give nice sharp negatives. If it is a Tessar, that is. 200mm is a nice length for portraits on 4x5.

Click to expand...

Yes, it is uncoated.
It was used to make images 11.5 cm x 16 cm.
Great for 4x5 with movements and probably would cover 5x7 without movements.

Mike