Any idea on this lens

Chris from Oz · Jul 29, 2017

Stumbled across this lens the other day at an antique store. Any ideas on what it is or potential image circle?
I love the idea of doing ulf one day. Is this my way in?

Ian Grant · Jul 29, 2017

It looks like a process lens, image circle will depend on the FL and design, which we don't know. You'd have to test it yourself.

Ian

E. von Hoegh · Jul 29, 2017

Chris from Oz said:
Stumbled across this lens the other day at an antique store. Any ideas on what it is or potential image circle?
I love the idea of doing ulf one day. Is this my way in?
View attachment 183435

Nope. Would need to know what type, and focal length. It appears incomplete.

Dan Fromm · Jul 29, 2017

Hmm. Two of them.

They smells of an aerial camera. Note the three pins inside the front of the barrel with springs below them. These are probably to hold a filter in place, the arrangement will keep the filter holder from vibrating off the lens. Buzzy things, aircraft.

Probably not a process lens, smallest marked f/stop of the rear lens is f/18, largest marked aperture on the front lens is f/4.5. Both are large for a process lens.

Bill, its hard to be sure without seeing the backs but I think they're complete.

Theo Sulphate · Jul 29, 2017

Isn't it just one f/18 lens and its reflection?

Chris from Oz · Jul 30, 2017

It is just one lens in a mirror in a bookshelf.

I haven't tested it myself for the image circle size. Is there a way to do this in a antique store?

Tia

bdial · Jul 30, 2017

Take a sheet of paper, A4 or similar size, with the paper and lens in a shaded area, point the lens to a bright area, preferably out a window. Focus an image on the paper and see what sort of image circle you get.
If ULF is your goal, the image would need to be visible on the whole sheet, and then some, perhaps. The distance between the lens and the paper will give you an idea of the focal length, if it's not marked.

revdoc · Jul 31, 2017

It also has a worm wheel, presumably for focusing.

AgX · Jul 31, 2017

Ian Grant said:
It looks like a process lens.

A process lens typically has no helicoid. And if that worm gear was for shutter cocking, it would not be made all around.
Also the many holes in that worm gear all are threaded! What I consider the most strangest feature.

Also as that worm gear obviously is intended for some remote control (for whatever) why then is the aperture not remote controlled?

EdSawyer · Jul 31, 2017

definitely looks aerial, so should have fairly large coverage. Most aerial cameras were large format rollfilm, 5x5 and 9x9 or 9x18 (inches) being common image sizes.

AgX · Jul 31, 2017

Here is an aerial camera with a gearing that seems to be similar to that worm gear and with a not remote-controlled aperture ring:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/RICHARD-LABR...7-mit-ZEISS-TESSAR-4-5-135-1950-/181180697564

Dan Fromm · Jul 31, 2017

Oh, and by the way, nearly all lenses for aerial cameras are fixed focus.

Chris, have you looked at the lens closely? Are any markings engraved on it?

Years ago I bought a 1.75"/2.8 Elcan (not the lens we're discussing) in a Vinten F.95 Auto Exposure Unit. I just looked at the AEU. It has a motor that drives a worm that engages something like the driven ring on the lens we're discussing. The driven ring sets the aperture. This isn't to suggest seriously that the lens we're discussing is for an F.95. As far as I know there were no standard issue f/4.5 lenses for that camera and the driven ring in my little Elcan's AEU isn't like the one on the lens we're discussing.

AgX · Jul 31, 2017

Aerial cameras made for mapping/reconnaisance have fix-focus lenses. However some of the handheld cameras used for oblique aerial photography have a focusing helicoid.

AgX · Jul 31, 2017

To me those threaded holes only make sense to have multiple choices to locate an arrest.

Dan Fromm · Jul 31, 2017

AgX said:
Aerial cameras made for mapping/reconnaisance have fix-focus lenses. However some of the handheld cameras used for oblique aerial photography have a focusing helicoid.

Interesting. Please name some, and not the Peckham-Wray camera 'cos it is really a press camera.

AgX · Aug 1, 2017

Maybe the one from that ad above and at least one model out of the Linhof range of aerial cameras.

Any idea on this lens

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