Lens Question

JeffGreene · Feb 15, 2010

My uncle was a PJ for the old Brooklyn Eagle in the 20s and 30s. He used a B&J Press as his working tool. The camera needs a new bellows and to be recovered, but I do have a question about the lens. It is a Voightlander 135mm 4.5 Anastigmat Skopar in a Compur Shutter. I really know nothing about these cameras, and was wondering about the lens quality. Thanks in advance.

Anscojohn · Feb 15, 2010

IIRC, the Skopar is a Tessar-formula. If clean and without significant marks it shall still give professional quality results, stopped down to f/11 or so. I hope you plan to refurb the camera and use it.

Ian Grant · Feb 15, 2010

It's Tessar type design, so it's OK, but gives it's best performance stopped down to f16/f22. As it's a 135 so coverage at the edges & corners isn't sharp until f16.

If it's coated then it's quite usable, but even uncoated it's OK with care, just more prone to flare and slightly lower in contrast.

Ian.

JeffGreene · Feb 15, 2010

Anscojohn said:
IIRC, the Skopar is a Tessar-formula. If clean and without significant marks it shall still give professional quality results, stopped down to f/11 or so. I hope you plan to refurb the camera and use it.

Thank you for information. I do plan on refurbing it, but not in the immediate future.

JeffGreene · Feb 15, 2010

Ian Grant said:
It's Tessar type design, so it's OK, but gives it's best performance stopped down to f16/f22. As it's a 135 so coverage at the edges & corners isn't sharp until f16.

If it's coated then it's quite usable, but even uncoated it's OK with care, just more prone to flare and slightly lower in contrast.

Ian.

Thank you, Ian! It's good information. I've primarily been a medium format guy, but do plan on refurbing and using the camera. Thanks again!

Lens Question

JeffGreene

Anscojohn

Ian Grant

JeffGreene

JeffGreene

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