New LF user. 1963 Crown Graphic.

subtlelikeatrex · Jun 29, 2025

Don_ih said:
It may be a lensboard from a different camera. It may be original but never said "special". It may be a duplicate of the lens that came with the camera. It's possible that camera came with the 127mm Ektar (which would've been an upgrade) or the Optar. But that lens is probably what's always been on it.

Where do I find the serial number on this lens? There’s one clearly visible on the side of the shutter housing but I don’t know if that correlates to the Schneider Kreuznach serial number dates.

Don_ih · Jun 29, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
the serial number on this lens

Here's a picture of a Xenar from an ebay listing. The serial is on the name-ring of the lens.

subtlelikeatrex · Jun 30, 2025

Don_ih said:
It may be a lensboard from a different camera. It may be original but never said "special". It may be a duplicate of the lens that came with the camera. It's possible that camera came with the 127mm Ektar (which would've been an upgrade) or the Optar. But that lens is probably what's always been on it.

The manufacture code on the camera indicates January 1963 according to graflex.org
The serial no on the lens indicates ~1956/1957

Don_ih · Jun 30, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
The manufacture code on the camera indicates January 1963 according to graflex.org
The serial no on the lens indicates ~1956/1957

So, the lens is possibly from a different camera. But it's also possible Graflex purchased that lens in 1957 and it was on a shelf for 6 years. Their business was drying up through that period - even using the Xenar lens was an attempt to lower the cost of the camera to sell more of them.

In the meantime, I've never heard anyone say a Xenar is a bad lens.

Donald Qualls · Jun 30, 2025

Don_ih said:
I've never heard anyone say a Xenar is a bad lens.

They'd be a double Gauss chauvinist if they did. A Xenar/Tessar was every bit as good in the 1960s as in the 1890s. Likely better, since a number of recalculations incorporated newer glass formulae.

subtlelikeatrex · Jun 30, 2025

Don_ih said:
In the meantime, I've never heard anyone say a Xenar is a bad lens.

Well I’m glad about that. I really got lucky finding this camera when I did. I was close to spending $400 at the local camera shop for the same model. Granted that one did have the rangefinder on it but the one I got for $100 included a focusing loupe, filters, six film holders and three boxes of film.

Donald Qualls · Jul 1, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
the one I got for $100 included a focusing loupe, filters, six film holders and three boxes of film.

Jackpot!

New LF user. 1963 Crown Graphic.

subtlelikeatrex

Don_ih

subtlelikeatrex

Don_ih

Donald Qualls

subtlelikeatrex

Donald Qualls

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