Rodenstock Rotelar coverage anyone ?

[Rock Poper]

Rodenstock Rotelar 75mm 1.4

anyone have any idea of the coverage of this lens ?

I can find reference to rotelar's at other focal lengths but not 75mm

... is it a wide suited for 4x5 ? or is it more for 6x9 or enlarging ?

any links or experience with this lens would be great,

cheers,
nick

 

[Dan Fromm]

1: Are you sure it is f/1.4? The Vade Mecum lists no Rotelars anywhere near that fast, does mention a 75/4 for the Paxette Electronic. Is it possible you misread 1:4 as 1.4? Paxettes are 35 mm cameras. That should tell you something.

2: There are very, very few short fast lenses with high coverage. That should tell you something.

3: There are very few f/1.4 enlarging lenses. That should tell you something.

4: Rodenstock engraved the name Rotelar on telephoto lenses. By telephoto lens, I don't mean a long focus lens, I mean a lens with back focus considerably shorter than focal length. Telephoto lenses are all narrow angle lenses. That should tell you something.

On general principles, the lens you have or are contemplating buying isn't for 4x5. It isn't for 6x9 either. And it isn't an enlarging lens.

Buy it, try it, and report how it works for you.

 

[Rock Poper]

I'll have another look at it today - I'm pretty sure it 1:4 and I've just done a typo somehwere in the process - thanks for the info, those are good points and I'll try and retain some of that logic for further lens scouting missions - I'm on the lookout ofr a cheap wide angle 4x5 lens *with* good coverage - I think I'll be looking for the rest of my life

 

[Dan Fromm]

<snip> I'm on the lookout ofr a cheap wide angle 4x5 lens *with* good coverage - I think I'll be looking for the rest of my life

On the one hand, you're doomed to a lifetime of frustration. There's a law of nature to the effect that there are no inexpensive wide angle lenses for formats larger than 6x6.

On the other, markets are imperfect and you may succeed. From time to time poorly-described 65/8 Ilex lenses turn up on eBay. These things sometimes go for very little, and will just cover 4x5. Mine, which came in an obscure electric shutter, cost $40 from a seller on eBay. If I'd been willing to use it on my Speed Graphic with the Speed's focal plane shutter, the outflow of cash would have stopped there. But of course I had to buy a #00 Compur for it, and from there expenditures grew nearly without limit. You're not the only rash fool around.

Also on the other, 88/6.8 B&Ls, 90/6.8 Wollensaks, and 90/6.8 Angulons are all functionally equivalent and not that expensive. Yeah, yeah, not a lot of coverage but if you want that too you'll go on with no w/a lens at all.

 

[Ole]

Also on the other, 88/6.8 B&Ls, 90/6.8 Wollensaks, and 90/6.8 Angulons are all functionally equivalent and not that expensive. Yeah, yeah, not a lot of coverage but if you want that too you'll go on with no w/a lens at all.

Pre-WWII Angulons are uncoated, but have greater coverage. I didn't really believe this until I got hold of a 210mm, and found it to cover 12x16" with movements!

The problem is that the lens elements in the 90mm are only held together by the cement. So when separation starts, they drop. They may also "sag" and loose alignment...