For Sale Antique 4X5 Achromatic Meniscus Lens in modern Copal Shutter!

[jimgalli]

Here is a little Achromatic Meniscus doublet set in a Polaroid Copal 0 size shutter.

This is the same formula as the oldest known lenses although this one is only about 90 years old. The Achromatic Meniscus was the basis for the oldest "landscape" type lenses. But typically they would be choked down to f12 for focus and f32 - f64 in practical sharp use.

What few have known or cared less about (the Japanese excluded as far back as 1917) is that when you open them up, they are among the best of the soft focus lenses.

Gundlach and Spencer Portland were among the best of these type lenses, and later Eastman Kodak in their Portrait series. You can control sharpness by simply stopping down until the image on the ground glass is what you seek.

This is set in a Copal shutter. The focal length is 4 inch f5.5. The aperture is accurate and the shutter speeds are perfect. Makin' it easy for you to get creative! It illuminates 4X5. There are images made with THIS lens here. $155 + shipping

 

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[willrea]

I wish I could afford one of these...

 

[tony lockerbie]

Wow, love the barrel distortion! I am interested, but will you ship to OZ?

 

[jimgalli]

Wow, love the barrel distortion! I am interested, but will you ship to OZ?

Hi Tony. Yes, and it's not even too bad, because it goes in one of the little flat rate Intl. boxes for about $14 bucks.

Jim

 

[Adrian Twiss]

I have purchased one of these from Jim and can confirm that they are, indeed, excellent lenses. At full aperture the image is soft without without being simply unsharp if you get my meaning. Stopped down they are sharp but, obviously, not as contrasty as modern glass but still no slouch. Jim is a first rate vendor.

 

[jimgalli]

16MAR11 Update

I have one of these ready to ship! Lots of creative fun with the ease of a modern shutter!

 

[jimgalli]

15 July 2011 Update

I have one of these ready to ship! Lots of creative fun with the ease of a modern shutter!

 

[jimgalli]

Maybe I should start this over. Anyways, we'll see.

11-09-2012 I have one ready!

Holding the price steady at $155 even though gas, groceries, taxes and healthcare, have all tripled and my wages have NOT!

$155 + $6.00 in USA and $14.00 most other lands shipping

Hurry, these never seem to hang around long. Superb Soft Focus, for a pittance!

 

[mackinto2000]

PM sent

 

[jimgalli]

Maybe I should start this over. Anyways, we'll see.

02-27-2014 I have one ready!

Holding the price steady at $155 even though gas, groceries, taxes and healthcare, have all tripled and my wages have NOT!

$155 + $6.00 in USA and $14.00 most other lands shipping

Hurry, these never seem to hang around long. Superb Soft Focus, for a pittance!

Ready to GO! 2-27-2014

 

[jimgalli]

March 17, 2014

Have one of these ready to mail!

Look through all the images in this thread.

These little lenses are a great way to get your creative feet wet for little cost!!

 

[nosmok]

PM sent

 

[jimgalli]

June 28, 2014

Have one of these ready to mail!

Look through all the images in this thread.

These little lenses are a great way to get your creative feet wet for little cost!!

The current one I have is in a slightly more expensive shutter. It's in a Copal 0 Press but not the industrial polaroid one. This particular shutter is missing the flash sync plug if that's important to you.

Same price as always. $155 + mailman. This is the first one I've had in 3 months!

Grab it!​

 

[jimgalli]

July 12th 2014

July 12, 2014

Have one of these ready to mail!

Look through all the images in this thread.

These little lenses are a great way to get your creative feet wet for little cost!!

The current one I have is in a slightly more expensive shutter. It's in a Copal 0 Press but not the industrial polaroid one. This particular shutter is NOT missing the flash sync plug if that's important to you.

Same price as always. $155 + mailman. This shutter is a bit dirtier than the one in the pics, but certainly not bad.

Grab it!​

 

[jimgalli]

Nov. 7th 2014

Have one of these ready for some creative person to have some fun with. $155 as always.

 

[jimgalli]

3-10-2015

I have another one of these little jewel lenses ready to sell

Price unchanged!

$155​

 

[jimgalli]

It's been almost a year since I've had one of these little jems to offer.

Normally I put them in the little Copal industrial shutters. But I lucked into a beautiful older Compur that is working perfectly, so made this one up in a vintage shutter.

I put the glass up front. Less distressing to look at, and the rear threads were 27mm in this shutter, so no go there. It'll work the same.

The aperture scale is usable. Obviously there's no f3.5 on this lens but you'll see the "choke" begin right about where 5.5 would fall on the scale that's there. Shoot wide open for nicest softness, or stop down using the available scale on the shutter. Super convenient.

Finally, I'll pass the small savings on not having to go find a Copal Industrial shutter on to you. Normally I get $155 for these. This one time lets go $125 + something for the mailman of course.

 

[jimgalli]

SOLD!

Thanks all.

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