Period-correct lens for my Eastman No. 2

2F/2F · Jul 15, 2008

I just got a new camera. It's an Eastman View No. 2 5x7. It's just what I want/need for some projects I have in mind. I am not tied to the idea of shooting as people shot back then...that is silly, and defeats one of the great advantages of large format. But I am curious what would have been a likely lens and shutter on my camera back when it was new. I wouldn't mind picking one up, as it would probably be fairly cheap. It would be fun to use every now and then...kind of like when I used to put bias plies on my car just for the shows, then swap them out for steel-belted radials for daily driving.

A matching tripod would be cool too...

Barry S · Jul 15, 2008

Well, the No 2 predated the 2D, so something between 1914-1920, although I'm sure a lot of them had late twentieth century lenses. Maybe a Kodak (or Goerz) Anastigmat or a Rapid Rectilinear/Aplanat type lens. There were still a lot of Petzval portrait lenses around and it could have been an early Tessar. I just got a very cute B&L Rapid Rectilinear in an old pneumatic Unicum shutter. It was cheap and like most RR lenses--you can use it as a convertible (two focal lengths). The one I have (~ 5") won't cover 5x7, but maybe you can find something similar. It definitely looks cool with the pneumatic shutter. We'll see what the lens scholars have to say.

Whiteymorange · Jul 15, 2008

Barry S said:
Well, the No 2 predated the 2D, so something between 1914-1920, although I'm sure a lot of them had late twentieth century lenses. Maybe a Kodak (or Goerz) Anastigmat or a Rapid Rectilinear/Aplanat type lens. There were still a lot of Petzval portrait lenses around and it could have been an early Tessar. I just got a very cute B&L Rapid Rectilinear in an old pneumatic Unicum shutter. It was cheap and like most RR lenses--you can use it as a convertible (two focal lengths). The one I have (~ 5") won't cover 5x7, but maybe you can find something similar. It definitely looks cool with the pneumatic shutter. We'll see what the lens scholars have to say.

You actually get three focal lengths with the Rapid Rectilinear: two cells, one with the back cell only and one with the front cell mounted on the back of the shutter. I have a 5x7 planatograph and a simple RR- both fit the 5x7 Folmer and Schwing quite nicely, though that's a 1903 camera. Check the catalogues on Seth's site. You surely will come up with something.

Deckled Edge · Jul 16, 2008

I recently began to shoot 5X7 with a 12" Wollensak Velostigmat Ser. II in Betax. This large lens may be more than you are willing to tote (or spend), but the results are spectacular, it will look righteous on your camera, and coverage is infinite (I also plug this lens onto my F&S 7X17). Put one on your e-Bay wish list.

phfitz · Jul 21, 2008

2F / 2F,

almost any lens you can name would have been available by 1914 - 20, petzvals and RR would have been 'old hat' by then. Dagors, Heliars, Tessars, Radars and Dogmars were all new then. Convertibles from Cooke, Turner-Reich and Wollensak were popular also.

Good luck with the hunt.

jimgalli · Mar 14, 2010

oops. Just saw the date at the top :embarrased:

2F/2F · Mar 14, 2010

Answer away anyhow, Jim! I still have not picked one up.

jimgalli · Mar 15, 2010

Goerz Doppel Anastigmat Serie III 8 1/4" in Gold Volute shutter. Downright gawdy

2F/2F · Mar 15, 2010

Lemme guess....you have one for sale?

I found another in the shop window of a local photo studio, beat to piss from sitting in the sun for decades, and with a 4x5 back. It is a 2D 5x7, not a No. 2. However, it does have a lens in a double pumper shutter on it, and I know the lady who works there. I hope to be able to eventually pick the camera/lens up. Has a wooden tripod too. Haven't been able to climb into the window display to see exactly what lens it is or if it works.

jimgalli · Mar 15, 2010

ha ha ha ha ha ya think ya know me pretty well eh? Not sure I could ever part with it

2F/2F · Mar 15, 2010

I am sure I would not appreciate it as much as you, Jim. I am not a collector of older lenses (yet ), and I have much to learn about them...so everything you posted about that lens sounded like gibberish to me! Not entirely...I understood that Goerz is the maker, that doppel is German for double, anastigmat is probably some new-fangled thing they incorporated to correct aberrations, serie III, who knows what it means, and gold volute shutter, who knows? What do the pix look like?

The crown jewel of my collection so far is a c. 1850 Voigtländer Petzval that I came across at an estate sale. Folks here seem to think it is about 240mm and will just cover 4x5. Still working on rigging up a lens board for it.

It won't fit on the No. 2, however. I am going to have to rig it to my Sinar somehow.

mhcfires · Apr 5, 2010

jimgalli said:
ha ha ha ha ha ya think ya know me pretty well eh? Not sure I could ever part with it

Jeez Jim,

You sound like someone I know (me). Packrat at heart. My GF grumbles at my collection of stuff, I somehow keep accumulating more and more. It is HARD to get rid of good stuff. I must admit that all my cameras are usable, you have only to put film in them and they will work. I don't have any of what my late wife called "dustables".

2F, I know you will find your lens and tripod, probably before I am able to find a 35mm lux for my M2.

hspluta · Apr 5, 2010

Well in the spirit of saving relationships I will be happy to offer a good home to any of those old lenses that will work with the 5x7 No.2 that I am restoring.

Just saying.............Harry

aluncrockford · Apr 5, 2010

not one to be a tad negative but were you intending to use colour film, as 7x5 film appears to be almost impossible to get hold of .

hspluta · Apr 5, 2010

Not sure about the OP, but as for me, I'm strictly a B/W kinda guy with the large format.

-Harry

Period-correct lens for my Eastman No. 2

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