Protar Series IV

[mitica100]

Can anyone tell me the (circle of) coverage of the Protar (Zeiss) Series IV? Or direct me to a link for self-edification? Thanks.

Dimitri

 

[jonw]

I have no direct knowledge of this lens. But, here is link I came across:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=10820&highlight=Protar

 

[Ole]

There are two very different "Protar IV"s!

Zeiss Jena "recycled" the name used on an earlier f:12.5 (semi) wide angle Protar when they made a Dagor-like Convertible, where each cell is f:12.5 when used alone. These lenses were sold in Germany, while at the same time the f:12.5 WA Protar was being produced by B&L and other licencees.

So which one do you have?

Oh BTW: I believe (but may be wrong) that Zeiss Jena stopped making the WA 12.5 Serie IV before the "protar" name was introduced, so that those will all be marked as Anastigmat and not Protar. So a Zeiss Jena Protar Serie IV will be a convertible, each cell marked with "Protarlinse Ser. IV f:12,5". The B&L WA Protar would be marked "Protar Ser. IV f:12.5"

 

[jimgalli]

According to my 1913 catalog the Series IV (I have several and they are excellent in use, very crisp) is a non symmetrical 4 element 2 groups lens that is non-convertible and covers a little over 100 degrees. They don't give a focal length on the lens. Instead it will have the plate size it's designed to cover, and at small apertures will always cover a next bigger plate easily. For instance a Series IV 5X8 is a 155mm f12.5 lens that will cover up to full plate easily. Series IV is the medium wide angle and Series V is the Extreme wide angle with 11o degrees coverage. Seth Broder has some catalog pages at CameraEccentric.com that have the same info.

 

[Ole]

Exactly, Jim.

By 1910 Zeiss Jena had introduced the Serie IV Convertible (3+3), while the rest of the world still made Serie IV f:12.5 wide angle. It's confusing, and makes it important to know the "nationality" of the lens. I have a Serie IV convertible myself - two cells of different age: Rear is 26,5cm f:12.5 Zeiss Anastigmat Ser. IV, front is a Carl Zeiss Jena 265mm f:12.5 Protarlinse Serie IV. The cells are identical except for the inscription, and the whole thing is then called a Doppel-Protar 150mm f:6,3 Serie IVa. It covers about 70 degrees.

 

[ongarine]

Yes there is a little bit confusion about Zeiss serie IV
In Europe they were made as Anastigmat serie IV as wide angle for around 95/100 degrees of coverage until 1908/09. They are NOT convertible.
Then they did not made this serie anymore and they introduce on the market the Protarlinse serie IV in various focals thta was a Dagor type convertible lens.
Here you will find a simple table of the Satzlinses they have in production:

Protar series IV convertible

Zeiss Protar Lens Sets

Cell(s) Length f/# Deg

Protar set A0 for 9x12 plates

II, III 118 7 65
I, III 123 7 63
I, III 136 7 58
III 190 12.5 42
II 230 12.5 36
I 250 12.5 32

Protar set A for 13x18 plates

II, III 157 7 71
I, III 167 7 66
I, III 186 7 63
III 250 12.5 47
II 300 12.5 40
I 350 12.5 34

Protar set B for 18x24 plates

III, IV 187 7 79
II, IV 204 7 74
II, III 223 7 69
I, III 237 7 65
I, II 267 7 80
IV 300 12.5 53
III 350 12.5 46
II 400 12.5 38
I 500 12.5 32
________________________________________

Hope this will clear the situation
PS Serie IV as wideangle was for many years in the B&L catalogue.
This is the point of confusion

 

[ongarine]

For Ole
I have a Serie IV convertible myself - two cells of different focal lenghts rear is 250 mm f:12.5 Zeiss Protarlinse Ser. IV, front is a Protarlinse Serie IV 300mm f:12.5 combined they are 157 mm. and the coverage at f25 is more than 80 degrees.
Probably part of set that lost in the years the cell of 350 mm.

 

[mitica100]

There are two very different "Protar IV"s!

Zeiss Jena "recycled" the name used on an earlier f:12.5 (semi) wide angle Protar when they made a Dagor-like Convertible, where each cell is f:12.5 when used alone. These lenses were sold in Germany, while at the same time the f:12.5 WA Protar was being produced by B&L and other licencees.

So which one do you have?

Oh BTW: I believe (but may be wrong) that Zeiss Jena stopped making the WA 12.5 Serie IV before the "protar" name was introduced, so that those will all be marked as Anastigmat and not Protar. So a Zeiss Jena Protar Serie IV will be a convertible, each cell marked with "Protarlinse Ser. IV f:12,5". The B&L WA Protar would be marked "Protar Ser. IV f:12.5"

It is after all a B&L, I looked more cartefully and this is what appears on the lens:

5x8 Bausch & Lomb-Zeiss Protar Series IV Pat. Jan. 13 1891 788779

On the original brass barrel there is again the name Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. and the apertures, from 12.5 to 64.

Dimitri

 

[mitica100]

Oh, BTW... Many thanks to all for your input! I have something to work with, now.