AGFA BILLY COMPUR

anthonym3 · Feb 27, 2026

The 105mm 4.5 SOLINAR lens has a chip on the extreme outer edge affecting about 2 f stops. Aside from that it is clean no haze fungus or separation. I have blacked it with india ink. I don't anticipate using it at the wider stops. It is in exceptional mechanical condition. Is it usable in this condition?

Donald Qualls · Mar 2, 2026

Absolutely. Blacking out the visible chip won't cost you enough light to notice and should reduce flare to about what the lens would have if it were perfect. You'll make more bad negatives by forgetting to change exposure or focus on the scale (or misjudging distance) than anything attributable to the lens, and a Solinar is a very good lens, too.

Do be careful, though; if the front standard is straight and the focus scale correctly calibrated, and the focus isn't locked by the infamous green glue that used to be grease, that camera will spoil you for any smaller negative.

Saganich · Mar 2, 2026

I will agree with Donald. How the chip occurred may have more affect on the final results...the assumption being that it was dropped so, you know, things may not be aligned.

BrianShaw · Mar 2, 2026

Also, use a lens shade/hood...

anthonym3 · Mar 2, 2026

Donald Qualls said:
Absolutely. Blacking out the visible chip won't cost you enough light to notice and should reduce flare to about what the lens would have if it were perfect. You'll make more bad negatives by forgetting to change exposure or focus on the scale (or misjudging distance) than anything attributable to the lens, and a Solinar is a very good lens, too.

Do be careful, though; if the front standard is straight and the focus scale correctly calibrated, and the focus isn't locked by the infamous green glue that used to be grease, that camera will spoil you for any smaller negative.

Thank you! The focus is fine as it had a CLA and every function works perfectly. I want to compare the 6x9 size as I already have several 2 1/4 cameras. Also to compare lens sharpness and contrast.

MattKing · Mar 2, 2026

The other thing to concentrate on is how working in medium format with a negative with a 3:2 aspect ratio works with respect to your photographic vision.
In my case, I tend to use 6x9 to take different photos then when I'm using 6x6 or 6x4.5.
My Ikonta has a ~85 year old lens on it - I like the contrast and acutance I can achieve with it - but I appreciate more how it renders and how nice it is printing those negatives!

anthonym3 · Mar 2, 2026

MattKing said:
The other thing to concentrate on is how working in medium format with a negative with a 3:2 aspect ratio works with respect to your photographic vision.
In my case, I tend to use 6x9 to take different photos then when I'm using 6x6 or 6x4.5.
My Ikonta has a ~85 year old lens on it - I like the contrast and acutance I can achieve with it - but I appreciate more how it renders and how nice it is printing those negatives!

Thank you.

AGFA BILLY COMPUR

anthonym3

Donald Qualls

Saganich

BrianShaw

anthonym3

MattKing

Moderator

anthonym3

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency