Ever use a projection lens on a camera?

I have a large old brass lens which I believe dates from the early 1900s. It is in very nice shape and real purty. The focal length appears to be around 36" or so. I think it is a projector lens because it does not have an iris aperture nor slots for waterhouse stops. IIRC it has the company name "Powers" engraved on the barrel.

I'm wondering what sort of result I might obtain if I attempt to use it on a view camera? (I'm building one that will accomodate the extension needed.) Anyone ever tried something similar?

Joe

Joe, I have been spending rediculous amounts on "Petzval's" recently and decided to re-look at an old B&L 15" projection lens. Turns out it is a "petzval" however not as fast at about f6.6. It has no aperture or slot. But mounted on the 10a it has the same superb look as the multi-buck lenses and I plan to make some portraits with it soon. It's small enough to go on the Eastman 5X7 handily. I often pondered selling it and now am glad I hung on.

Another box of "goodies" contained a 400mm Leitz Wetzlar projection lens just as you describe. It's about 16" f4 and looks like it might be useful for portraits also. I also have a giant brass 22" Beseler projection lens that I may have a look through one of these days.

So I didn't really answer your question. So many lenses....so little time!

jimgalli said:

Joe, I have been spending rediculous amounts on "Petzval's" recently ...

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Yes. I'm aware of that fact. Looks like you did well with that one auction for 11 of them.

...and decided to re-look at an old B&L 15" projection lens. Turns out it is a "petzval" however not as fast at about f6.6. It has no aperture or slot. But mounted on the 10a it has the same superb look as the multi-buck lenses and I plan to make some portraits with it soon...

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That's what I'm thinking about mine. Maybe its a Petzval too. I want to get a big Petzval for portraits and I'm thinking I might already have what I need. I'll have to dig it out of storage and check. I think it too was made by Bausch & Lomb and rebranded by that "Powers" company.

When you get around to testing it please post a couple images.

So many lenses....so little time!

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Ain't it the truth!

Joe

The majority of the Darlot Petzval lenses which sell on eBay are projection lenses. If they don't have a serial number and don't have a waterhouse slot, chances are they were made to be magic-lantern projection lenses. They could also be very old, pre-1858 portrait lenses, but this is pretty unlikely. From what I have heard, the projection petzval lenses work just fine as portrait lenses. The smaller ones for magic lanterns have the nice focusing rack, while the longer ones were just in barrels. There is not, as far as I know, any difference in design between the portrait and the projection petzvals, but I would imagine that the projection lenses were made cheaper, and perhaps (?) with less quality control.

I once tried to use a 8" f/1.2 (!) lens from an early projection TV as a portrait lens, but the result looked pretty poor on the GG so I just gave up and scraped the project.

This evening I dug the lens out of storage and took a look at the elements. It isn't a Petzval. This lens has 2 pairs of uncemented elements which have very little apparent curvature or airspace between them. They are just resting against each other in the barrel. Three of them are about the same thickness with the back element of the front pair about half as thick. The focal length turns out to be 28".

Yesterday I won an auction for a copy of Kingslakes' book on "Lenses in Photography" so maybe I'll be able to figure out what sort of design it is in a few days.

Joe