Rapid Rectilinear Lens on Folding Camera , Any manufactured with Brass quality

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I visited f295 and someone had had built a large format camera with a 10 inch rapid rectilinear brass lens. Results were more than impressive. I want to learn is there any folding camera manufactured with a rapid rectilinear lens with exactly same quality of brass ones.

If there is any , I would not be needed to invent a camera.

Thank you for reading,

Umut

 

[Kawaiithulhu]

These were also called Aplanat, which may help you when searching. I don't find many references beyond 1900, so maybe anastigmat designs took over by then?

 

[Dan Fromm]

EKCo fitted RRs to many models/sizes/vintages of Folding Pocket Kodaks. These cameras turn up in fairly large numbers on ebay.com, most with meniscus lenses.

To learn what to look for and how to recognize an FPK with an RR lens, study the catalogs posted here: http://mgroleau.com/catalogues_kodak/ Start reading and taking notes. Be aware that only #1 FPKs can use 120 film. Also be aware that in EKCo parlance a "cartridge" is a roll of film.

M. Groleau's site has US and Canadian catalogs. Kodak sold FPKs in at least the UK and France with British and French lenses, respectively. I'm not aware of a good source for what was offered, don't even know whether FPKs were offered in European countries with RR. You'll have to do some research.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Thank you Dan,

I looked in to 1908 catalog and there was Kodak 1A with meniscus achromat. I guess that is symmetric and 2 lens groups are achromat , aplanat s. These are different from real rapid rectilinear. Rapid Rectilinear is not symmetric , front lens group is larger and the groups were not achromat if I am not wrong. Is there any camera uses that lens technology ?

 

[Dan Fromm]

Thank you Dan,

I looked in to 1908 catalog and there was Kodak 1A with meniscus achromat. I guess that is symmetric and 2 lens groups are achromat , aplanat s. These are different from real rapid rectilinear. Rapid Rectilinear is not symmetric , front lens group is larger and the groups were not achromat if I am not wrong. Is there any camera uses that lens technology ?

Mustafa, you lack persistence. Look deeper in the 1908 catalog. The #1A Folding Kodak Special's base lens is a B&L R.R. and so are larger sizes' base lenses.

If you'd read the full description of the 1A you'd know that #1A FPKs shoot 2.5" x 4.5". There is no modern roll film 2.5" wide. The only FPK that can be used without modification with 120 film is the #1. If you search -- you seem to incapable of finding anything out for yourself -- you can find descriptions of ways to adapt larger FPKs to accept 120 film.

If you knew more you'd realize that it is possible to extract a lens in shutter from an FPK, mount it on a press camera lens board and use it on the press camera. You'd also know that there are roll holders for press cameras. There's no need to design and make a camera and roll holder to shoot 6x6, 6x7 or 6x9 with nearly any old lens. I'm partial to 2x3 Graphics. Relatively inexpensive, robust, fairly well-supported.

Oh, yes. Look at all of the catalogs M. Groleau has so kindly put up. EKCo's product slate changed from year to year, looking at just one catalog will leave you unaware of all that you might be able to use.

 

[ntenny]

Dan, I'm not sure Graflex cameras are very thick on the ground in Turkey; the regional equivalent might be MPP, I suppose, or the older Linhof models.

Umut, the RR is symmetrical and synonymous with the Aplanat. The differences between manufacturers are down to accuracy of grinding and alignment, not to design differences. I think Dan's suggestion, to take an RR lens in shutter from an old folder and remount it on a lensboard for something that takes rollfilm, is spot on.

-NT

 

[itsdoable]

The initial Rapid Rectilinear was asymetric, but sybsequent ones were symetric, as they were optically superior. Also developed as the Aplanat, but that one was symetrical.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Dan, I'm not sure Graflex cameras are very thick on the ground in Turkey; the regional equivalent might be MPP, I suppose, or the older Linhof models.
-NT

Nathan, most of the gear Mustafa has asked about is thin on the ground in Turkey. Whether a 2x3 Graphic imported from the US will cost him less than a 6x9 Technika imported from Germany is an empirical question that I can't answer. I expect, with no data to support the expectation, that a Graphic would cost him less but I could very well be wrong.

The larger problem with Mustafa's buying, say, an FPK to extract a lens from, a small press camera to use it on, and a roll holder is that he has a talent for buying duds. He often complains about equipment that doesn't function as expected and pieces that aren't compatible. With his luck he'll end up with a 2x3 Miniature Speed Graphic with a spring back and a Horseman roll holder that won't attach to any back made by Graflex Inc, predecessors and successors.

I'm not sure that there's any inexpensive and relatively risk-free way for him to accomplish what he says he'd like to do.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I am changing gear on the road , I bought - hopefully from ebay - an Trinovid Leica Binocular and an painting mirror. I will be able to see everything with Leica optics without investing on films , prints etc. I always loved tele view of the world. I will paint after all , no more photography for me. Its for richer than me folks who can travel or live in the crowded friends groups or have a lovely child and wife as a model or living close to parks. I stucked in home with an old mother and photography gives me only headache.

 

[Whiteymorange]

The Aplanat and the Rapid Rectilinear were developed independently, and a court case determined that the appearance of the two virtually identical designs, only a few weeks apart, in two different countries (Germany and England, respectively) was happenstance, not industrial espionage. Believe that if you will. Some swear that the Aplanat was a better lens, the Rapid Rectilinear became more common in America for obvious reasons. It was the go-to lens for most consumer cameras in the last years of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, even after anastigmats became widely available. Most models available on the used market are symmetrical, and over here it is a very common lens. It appears on most drop-front, self-casing cameras I see and lots of folders. The older models are in shutters that are marked in the US numbers of 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 (fstops 8, 11, 16, 22, 32). They can be very nice lenses if in good condition, and the Unicum shutters where you often find them mounted are quite often functional, if not anywhere near accurate to time.

I can send you one, Umut, if your painting doesn't work out. The enlarging mirror (convex), by the way is a very good way to project an image onto a white surface, providing you are in a darkened area and your subject is in very strong light. It's been used since the 15th century.

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

Hello Whiteymorange,

I am drowning in debt and every film been processed and paid is a big headache to me , if they could process the film and scan it as they did 4,5 years ago , everything would be great but prices tripled and quality turned exactly the reverse. I cant take pictures alone , I am a social may be was a social man at university and I was taking excellent pictures , really great photography. Now there are trash cans around my home to photograph and an old mother. I have no reason to continue. Mirror is a drawing aid device , it shows scene on paper when you are seeing what you were drawing.

I watched a television program , presenter was traveling the Turkey and he found a strange person who was his old photographer friend.
He asked was he continueing to the photography ? Strange person said he is living in a photograph and everywhere is a photograph , why he would take photographs ? Wonderful , isnt it , if you live in an ugly place , it works , but if the place is a heaven , why photograph it ? Can you put stormy sea on to table , may be painting answers it. I will master painting after all , Leica , its my lover and I will see everywhere live with binocular.

Umut

Thank you Whitey , give it who could and want to use , buy film in to it