Aero Hexar?

[BainDarret]

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

 

[Denis P.]

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.

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

 

[BainDarret]

Thanks Denis P. for that very useful information.

Mike

 

[E. von Hoegh]

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.

 

[BainDarret]

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.

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