My Stradivarius has arrived.

[jimgalli]

Most of you aren't subject to this disease of overvaluing old lenses that are baptised in legend. Sorry, I am. My Series XV Cooke arrived today and it's more lovely than I could have imagined. Triple convertible with 26 1/2" up front, 19" at the back, and 12 1/4" combined. It is in an all black early '50's (?) #5 Betax, and is single coated.

Will it bring me instant fame on a level with Saint Ansel who always praised his to the highest? Of course not. I may be crazy, but I'm not stupid. Will it give me pleasure seeing it proudly at the front of my Deardorff? Oh, you bet. It's like a '40 Ford coupe. Looks like a million $$ just sitting there doing nothing. And it may make a good picture or 2 to boot.

OK, that's out of my system. It'll be a while before I get excited enough about a new piece of kit to report here again.

 

[Ole]

Congratulations, Jim!

I know that feeling, or as close to it as possible since I have no Cooke convertible. I do have a few other fine lenses, though!

 

[Jim Moore]

Sweet! Congratulations Jim.

I too would love to have one some day.

Have fun with it.

Jim

 

[garryl]

OK, that's out of my system. It'll be a while before I get excited enough about a new piece of kit to report here again.

Oh Ye of little faith. What about a Turner-Reich or a vintage Gold/Red dot Dagor?

 

[kwmullet]

Most of you aren't subject to this disease of overvaluing old lenses that are baptised in legend. Sorry, I am. My Series XV Cooke arrived today and it's more lovely than I could have imagined. Triple convertible with 26 1/2" up front, 19" at the back, and 12 1/4" combined. It is in an all black early '50's (?) #5 Betax, and is single coated.[...]

Picture of the new baby, please.​

 

[Dave Parker]

Yup, just rub it in, rub it in....... LOL

Dave

 

[jimgalli]

Picture of the new baby, please.​

OK. You really forced my hand on this.....he he.

 

[roteague]

OK. You really forced my hand on this.....he he.

Nothing wrong with wanting to own a fine piece of equipment; I'm glad you were able to get it. Now, if I can find a way to get my Schneider SuperSymmar XL lens I'll be in the same boat.....

 

[kwmullet]

OK. You really forced my hand on this.....he he.

wwwoooowww. Boy, if I ever get such a fine piece, I'd probably spend the first day just holding it and looking at it from every angle before even putting it on a camera. I'll bet it even SMELLS good!
​

 

[veriwide]

I have been fortunate enough to assemble a set of classics for my 'dorff: 8x10 Zeiss Series V Protar, 12 inch Red Dot Artar, and a 13 inch Wolly Raptar triple convertible. If I haven't shot 8x10 in a while, I have to admit I'll pull out the lenses to play with, I mean clean and exercise. Looking forward to seeing the shots in the Gallery, and don't you think someone in the Print Exchange might like to see a shot too? Enjoy the new toy.

Patrick

 

[BradS]

I love this place.

 

[bobfowler]

OK. You really forced my hand on this.....he he.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

 

[rbarker]

OK. You really forced my hand on this.....he he.

Very nice, Jim. Congratulations.

Now, get away from the keyboard, mount that puppy and go out and make some photographs! Then, hurry back in, develop, print, and scan them so we can see.

 

[jimgalli]

The Eastman Improved #2 7X11 is loaded. The lens is mounted. I'm leaving for a weekend trip to see the Grandbabies and hoping to fit some shooting in. Thanks for all the nice wishes. jg

 

[SteveGangi]

Good show, Jim. I felt the same way when I corraled a Commercial Ektar. By the way, that Schneider Convertible Symmar you sold me many moons ago has been working beautifully.

 

[claytume]

My Series XV Cooke arrived today and it's more lovely than I could have imagined. Triple convertible with 26 1/2" up front, 19" at the back, and 12 1/4" combined. It is in an all black early '50's (?) #5 Betax, and is single coated.

Jim........I was tempted to slam down a bid on it but you would've beat me anyway. My main interest was to test it so I'm glad you got it and can report back if it is indeed the gem we think it is. Any chance you can do some comparisons with some classic and modern glass?

hope all goes well

Clayton

 

[Jeremy]

Oh Ye of little faith. What about a Turner-Reich or a vintage Gold/Red dot Dagor?

I recently came into possession of a turner-reich convertible which I used for my latest photo outing and the results are so nice I'm planning on building an adaptor to let me use the 4" lensboard the Turner is mounted on on my B&J.

--the lens is one of two mounted on 4" lensboards for the korona-gundlach I picked up for my girlfriend

 

[Ole]

As I said, I know the feeling...

Emil Busch Wideangle Aplanat, ca. 1905...

 

[Seele]

A great find indeed; even though I am somewhat jaded I don't mind having something like that, especially when in a shutter.

Feels like I can do with a quick rollcall too:

Protar V No.2 112mm in DS Compur, and No.6 265mm in barrel; Double-Protar VIIa No.5 143mm (285/224) and No.9 (412/285), Tessar IIb No.4 136mm, two of 155mm (one coated by B&L), Tessar 165/4.5, Tele-Tessar 25cm/6.3, WA (Super) Dagor 9cm, Red-Dot Artar 6"/9, Dagor III 143mm and 210mm, and several others weird things like a Ross Concentric 8" (yes I do have one!) and various Aldis and Meyers...

Now what is the next purchase, I wonder...

 

[garryl]

--the lens is one of two mounte don 4" lensboards for the korona-gundlach I picked for my girlfriend

Geez, all I ever got from my girlfriends was rug burn. You sure can pick'em.

 

[John Kasaian]

Congratulaions! If anyone can put that ol' piece of glass to good work, you can!

 

[Bob F.]

For anyone interested in the history of the company, a copy of Barbara Lowry's 2002 VC magazine article is here: http://www.f32.net/Services/Equipment/Lenses/cooke.php

Bob.

 

[jimgalli]

First Photos

Thought I would report back with a couple of photos and some thoughts after my first try. The lens is a delight to use. Brilliant images on the GG, and very easy to go from the 12.25 to 19. The original shade is still present and is designed to replace the front element when using only the rear. A nice touch. The negatives are very lively and my first impression is that this lens has a very nice "roundness" to it. Beautiful tonality throughout the range, and contrast is lovely. I could easily enlarge the image made with the 19" group 4X. So here is a couple of pix. One with the 12.25" and one with just the rear group at 19". Camera was the Eastman Improved #2. Film was Efke 100pl Cirkut film cut down to 810 and developed 9 3/4 minutes in Pyrocat HD.

Geese and snow, Truckee River, Reno. 12"

Geese and snow, Truckee River, Reno. 19"

 

[John Kasaian]

Beautiful!----I can only guess that the texture details in the snow must really pop in the actual print. Thanks for sharing, Jim.

 

[sergio caetano]

Will it bring me instant fame on a level with Saint Ansel who always praised his to the highest? Of course not.

But perhaps he will be with you when you are using it...