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For Sale FS: Burke & James Ajax #2 Portrait Petzval...

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  • Feb 3, 2026
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bliorg

Member
Allowing Ads
Joined
Sep 20, 2006
Messages
683
Location
NW Philly, PA
Format
Large Format
This pains me to have to do, but I'm offering now one of my go-to, most beloved lenses: the Burke & James Ajax #2 Portrait.


Burke and James Ajax #2 Portrait Petzval by Scott --, on Flickr

This is a wonderful Petzval lens. 10-1/2" focal length, f/5. Don't know if it swirls - I don't really care, either. I love Petzvals for their wonderful rendering of the sharp-to-soft bokeh. Swirliness can be passe. Smooth rendering never is. The lens covered 10x12 at portrait distances, and would be great for 8x10 portraits. I'd intended to use this lens on 4x5 now that the 10x12 is heading north, but priorities have shifted overnight. My loss, your gain.

Physically, the lens is no beauty queen. Three of the four screws which hold down the rack-and-pinion are missing. But who actually uses them, anyway? There's no flange, but that's nothing new. It's cut for Waterhouse stops, but I don't have any (very easy to make, though). The glass is in very nice shape.

But the strength of this lens lies in the photos it produces. I've taken, to my eye, the best pictures I've ever taken (yep - all of my son) with this lens.

Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed by Scott --, on Flickr

Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed by Scott --, on Flickr

Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed by Scott --, on Flickr

More images of the lens and sample images can be seen here.

This is a lens I swore I'd never sell. They're not very common in the 10-1/2", larger coverage #2 size. I'm offering this at $375 plus insured shipping and PayPal fees.

Thanks for looking. PM me with any questions.
Scott
 
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