Mystery Lens #2 for the Day

OK, I am addicted by these obscure lens and others which catch my attention. Most recently, yet to be received acquisition, it is this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7568901925&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1

Does anyone one have any clue what it is and what may be capable of in performance, including coverage?

Thanks for all of your assistance! Jon

HiJon. Congrats on the 9 1/2" Wooly diffused you got the other nite. I was after that one too but my bid was outbid before it ever got there. Have no idea what this one is though. Keep havin' fun. Jim

Hi Jim: I was surprised the 9.5 diffused wolly went at cheap as it did. I hope the studio shutter works. If not, Carol Flutot just fixed one of mind so hopefully she will be able to hone those skills on other studio shutters too, or it think it might be small enough to fit in an alphax shutter. What do you think?
yep, I figured this mystery lens #2 might have some nice portrait possibilities for the price. Got the studio set up and now Jay and I need some "volunteers" for those cold winter days so we can try our collections.

Let's see...

The "14c" is most likely the focal length, 14cm or 140mm. "Estigraphic" I know nothing about, but "Extra-Rapide" tends to indicate a fast Aplanat/Rapid Rectilinear. A one inch front lens and 14cm focal length gives about f:5.6, which is about right for an Extra Rapid Aplanat (if it were German). Coverage - it says 9x12 on the lens, so a little tight for 4x5". "Coverage" is also a relative term, don't expect more than about 10 to 20° in the center to be sharp at full opening. The aperture seems to be marked in relative illumination, where 1 is fully open and doubling the number means you need to double the time.

I remember looking at that lens and deciding against it since I'm really after longer lenses. But if the seller had taken paypal there might well have been another bidder

Ole, thanks for your insights. I am hoping it might be a nice 6x9 portrait type lens and with gradual softness from the sharp center. The experiments continue! Jon

jimgalli said:

HiJon. Congrats on the 9 1/2" Wooly diffused you got the other nite. I was after that one too but my bid was outbid before it ever got there. Have no idea what this one is though. Keep havin' fun. Jim

Click to expand...

I was watching that one too. I once got a series II where I thought it would have the variable diffusion, only to find it didn't. Without more information, I decided to skip this one. According to Cameraeccentric, it should have it, though.

Anyone who kept the lenscap that long probably liked this lens.

Matt