JML lenses?

Dave Wooten · Aug 29, 2005

Any experience with JML lenses ?

I picked up one that is a thing of beauty, but haven't been able to find info on design or use EFL 209.7 f/9 interesting iris opens up to f/9 and stops there.....a lot of glass real estate left un opened...shape of both elements fron and rear are very biogon like. Might be an enlarging lens or ? Guess I will have to mount it up and try it out....projects at least 8 x 10 at infin on the wall...maybe more

Checked out the website but couldn't find specific use info on this design.

Thanks

Tom Hoskinson · Aug 29, 2005

Your JML is probably a process lens and may be a 4 element Dialyte or a symmetrical 6 element design. Hard to say what it will cover at infinity - maybe 8x10??

Nick Zentena · Aug 30, 2005

I have an F/8 8 1/4". It's marked process lens. Coverage I think is greater then the G-claron.

jimgalli · Aug 30, 2005

Dave, I included a JML like yours in a test of 6 210's. G-Claron, Agfa Eskofot, Konica Hexanon GRII, Graphic Kowa (Computar), one of those giant 213mm East German deals, and a JML. That particular JML was a stunning performer and could equal or better the Kowa. It tied for 1st with it's only drawback being the Kowa will go right into a shutter with no machine work, and the JML, and Konica (which was also a contender) will not. The giant 213mm was just as nice as most but is just too big to bother with (although it had the widest circle and would be useable on 10X12) The G-Claron came in behind the front 3 and the Agfa although still very useable on 8X10 had the weakest corners and also the smallest image circle. I shined all 6 of them on 1114 film, same image. They ranged from roughly 366mm to 380mm in coverage. I couldn't make the Kowa cover 1114 like some folks claim.

Dave Wooten · Aug 30, 2005

Thanks,

It is brand new in the box with inspection paper dated 1991....the rear element protrudes way out beyond the barrel as does the front, what is interesting is the lens is much larger than f/8 or 9 (diameter) for the stated focal length....it is like the iris stops half way when you look through the lens...sort of wondered what that was all about....if it covers 11 x 14 than would be outstanding! Maybe if I put a little balsam on it.

Mongo · Aug 30, 2005

Mine's marked with an EFL of 210.8, and covers 8x10 very easily. It's gorgeous...but it is a huge hunk of glass. I haven't shot with it yet, but the image on the GG looks fine and there's loads of room left over for movements.

Like Dave's, mine's an f/9 that looks like it's only using half of the aviailable real-estate, if that. Fully-opened, the aperture isn't anywhere close to uncovering the entire width of the barrel. Not that it matters for any real purpose, but I found this particular constraint interesting when I received the lens.

I have to get this thing in front of a Packard shutter soon...I really want to take this lens out for a spin.

Be well.
Dave

Paul Sorensen · Aug 30, 2005

Did you get it on eBay? I saw an auction there that I can't seem to find now where they linked to SK Grimes' web site showing it mounted in a Copal 3. Must be a big piece of glass. Like you I went to JML's web site hoping to find something there and I couldn't find a thing. I might look into one of these, they seem to be really inexpensive on eBay and it will give me an excuse to buy an 8X10 or 11X14.

Brook · Aug 30, 2005

There is an f10 300mm JML as well. Big curved glass, covers at least 11x14. I found a post somewhere from someone who had Grimes adapt the aperature to open more fully, they reported a simaler effect to a petzval lens, sharp in the middle with fall off into nice swirlly softness, possibally a curved field wide open, might be fun to try.....

Phillip P. Dimor · Aug 30, 2005

I've an JML Astro-Goodkin process lens. I forget the length. It's an f8 but there is no reason the aperture couldn't be forced to open more with a bit of grinding.

It's very sharp but I have to use it on a speed graphic. Mine is very similar to yours except that the glass on mine, while quite deep, does not exted so far out. I can sit it flat on a table without gouging the glass up.

Dave Wooten · Aug 30, 2005

Paul yes I did get it on e bay paid 49.99.....didn't really need a 210 but the look of the thing so facinated me I was hoping it would cover more than 8 x 10......I seem to always fall for a nice piece of glass...http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...http://www.frontiernet.net/~paulcarr/jml2.jpg

don't know if you can open the above but notice the rear element also I will post some info later I have found....some specs....which will make sense to some of you and maybe you can interpret for the rest of us mortals.

I am going to put it on the big camera today and see what kind of circle it throws....

Dave Wooten · Aug 30, 2005

Magnification: 1.0x......Half angle/21.6....resolution center/10-.49.......MTF edge/10-.27....limiting resolution 25L/mm

JML lenses?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency