Caltar II-N f5.6 MC

[Marvin]

I have just won a bid for one of these and was wondering what others think of it. What is the hole size for Copal 1. I now have a 150mm and 210mm so guess this would be a good kit for 4x5.
Marvin

 

[ic-racer]

http://www.skgrimes.com/lens-mounting/to-lensboard

 

[tony lockerbie]

The Caltar is a Rodenstock Sironar, top quality lens even at wide apertures. Those two are a great start, maybe a good 90 would round it out, a Grandagon or Super Angulon are very nice.

 

[Dr Croubie]

You didn't outbid me on that fleabay auction including the Sinar F2 did you?

 

[Robert Ley]

I have a 150 Caltar II-N and it is an excellent lens. The whole Caltar lens line are real sleepers, great value for the money.


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[elekm]

View Camera magazine did a piece a few years back on the entire Caltar line.

The Caltar II-N lenses were rated very highly.

 

[Marvin]

You didn't outbid me on that fleabay auction including the Sinar F2 did you?

No this was a lens by its self. Thanks for all the info if I am going to use it on the 45CX may have to look for a lensboard. I have a 45CX and 45G TOYO but I think the lensboard for the 45CX is Copal 0. It would be nice to have an adapter so you could use the small lensboard on the large camera. I think Toyo has one but it is very expensive.
Marvin

 

[Klainmeister]

I have one. No complaints. Just as good as my Schneider glass. I think it's probably one of the better deals to be had in LF.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

The Caltar lenses have been made by Kodak, Schneider and Rodenstock, depending on the lens and the vintage (well, at least the 14" f6.3 was a copy of the 14" f6.3 Commercial Ektar, if not made by Kodak). You save yourself hundreds of dollars by buying the Caltar label but get the exact same performance you'd get from the brand name lens. What's not to like?

 

[Klainmeister]

Actually, I looked my serial. Mine is a Schneider... so oddly my 90, 150, 210 setup is all Symnar-s.

I find that really all the major brands are excellent, the only difference in lens price usually reflects max aperture (for viewing) and image circle.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The Caltar lenses have been made by Kodak, Schneider and Rodenstock, depending on the lens and the vintage (well, at least the 14" f6.3 was a copy of the 14" f6.3 Commercial Ektar, if not made by Kodak). You save yourself hundreds of dollars by buying the Caltar label but get the exact same performance you'd get from the brand name lens. What's not to like?

Ilex, not Kodak. IIRC there were several rebranded Ilexes, from 90mm up. See here - http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/calumet_1.html

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I didn't know Ilex made lenses - I thought they only made shutters.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I didn't know Ilex made lenses - I thought they only made shutters.

The 90mm Wide-Field Ilex was superb, easily the equal of a Super Angulon. They also made a 215mm/8 1/4' convertible Plasmat that is still highly regarded. The 12" and 14" f:6.3 lenses were very good Tessars (as were the Commercial Ektars). Any Ilex lens I've ever used was a very good lens, I think they're still undervalued.

 

[Alan Gales]

The 90mm Wide-Field Ilex was superb, easily the equal of a Super Angulon. They also made a 215mm/8 1/4' convertible Plasmat that is still highly regarded. The 12" and 14" f:6.3 lenses were very good Tessars (as were the Commercial Ektars). Any Ilex lens I've ever used was a very good lens, I think they're still undervalued.

I sold a 90mm f/8 Wide-Field Ilex with an accurate shutter on Ebay a while back. It sold cheap and the buyer was thrilled to get it.

 

[Alan Gales]

I'm no lens expert but I have learned that there is a lot of quality glass out there for the cheap if you just know what to look for.