I just scored a very nice Darlot Petzval on eBay (Item # 7582415101) last week and it was waiting for me when I arrived home from work this evening. The lens is in really nice shape and is quite substantial and solid compared to other Petzvals I've acquired. I always thought Darlot lenses were supposed to be very common and lower quality than comparable Dallmeyers or Voigtlanders. The machining of this lens makes me think otherwise, but I guess the real test will come when I start shooting with it.
But, I'm also wondering if Darlot may have had several different lines of quality and if so, I'm wondering what I might have here. The only markings are Darlot, Paris", which is inscribed on the brass barrel and written in ink (?) on the edge of the thicker lens of the rear doublet. The lens lacks a serial number or monogram. It is slotted for waterhouse stops (one was included) but it also has a hole cut back from the slot which allows the stops' tab, which is bent perpendicular to the stop face, to reside flush with the outside surface of the inner barrel. This allows the outer collar to move over the waterhouse stop slot when focusing. I've never seen this arrangement on another lens.
My guess is that this lens is a 7" f/4 (although the auction states a 10" focal length-I'm measuring the rear focus here). The lens is about 5" total length to the end of the hood with a barrel about 2.875" diameter. There is a 7" Darlot listed in the vade mecum, but not a whole lot of info on Darlot lenses there. Can anyone add to this?
Thanks,
Joe
But, I'm also wondering if Darlot may have had several different lines of quality and if so, I'm wondering what I might have here. The only markings are Darlot, Paris", which is inscribed on the brass barrel and written in ink (?) on the edge of the thicker lens of the rear doublet. The lens lacks a serial number or monogram. It is slotted for waterhouse stops (one was included) but it also has a hole cut back from the slot which allows the stops' tab, which is bent perpendicular to the stop face, to reside flush with the outside surface of the inner barrel. This allows the outer collar to move over the waterhouse stop slot when focusing. I've never seen this arrangement on another lens.
My guess is that this lens is a 7" f/4 (although the auction states a 10" focal length-I'm measuring the rear focus here). The lens is about 5" total length to the end of the hood with a barrel about 2.875" diameter. There is a 7" Darlot listed in the vade mecum, but not a whole lot of info on Darlot lenses there. Can anyone add to this?
Thanks,
Joe