Rodenstock Ysaron 75mm 1:4.5: what's it designed for?

Nathan Smith · May 13, 2006

I picked one of these up on eBay in a Polaroid Prontor shutter hoping either:
a.) it would work as a wide-angle for a Busch Pressman C, or
b.) I could use the shutter for a 105mm Leitmeyer lens (currently in a bad Prontor II)

Now that I've got it and looked around on the 'net, it doesn't seem as though it'll work all that well as a wide-angle for my purposes. This made me wonder what exactly it's good for - I know it's originally from a Polaroid MP-4 system, does that mean it's a 6x6 process lens?

Thanks,
Nathan

MattKing · May 14, 2006

My Rodenstock Ysaron 75mm f/4.5 is an enlarging lens. I think it is a 4 element lens, and I have been happy with it as such, but for a camera???.

One qualification - some products when distributed in Canada have different names than elsewhere in the world.

Matt

Dan Fromm · May 14, 2006

nsmith01tx said:
I picked one of these up on eBay in a Polaroid Prontor shutter hoping either:
a.) it would work as a wide-angle for a Busch Pressman C, or
b.) I could use the shutter for a 105mm Leitmeyer lens (currently in a bad Prontor II)

Now that I've got it and looked around on the 'net, it doesn't seem as though it'll work all that well as a wide-angle for my purposes. This made me wonder what exactly it's good for - I know it's originally from a Polaroid MP-4 system, does that mean it's a 6x6 process lens?

Thanks,
Nathan

It was made for a Polaroid copy camera, either the MP-3 or one of the 'scope/gel cams. Macro lens intended for use on 4x5 at magnifications above 1:1. MP-3 lenses have been put on MP-4 boards, but the MP-4's native lenses were all made to be mounted in front of a #1. One MP-4, many lenses, one shutter with no diaphragm. One MP-3, many lenses, one shutter with diaphragm/lens (except for the 35/4 Eurygon, which is front-mounted). The economic advantages of the MP-4 way should be obvious.

Tessar type, absolutely positively not a w/a lens for 2x3. FWIW, I've had a couple of ex-MP-4 75/4.5 Tominons (replacements for the MP-3's 75 Ysaron) and tried one at distance on a 2x3 Graphic to see what it could do. It illuminated 2x3 at distance but in the center image quality was poor, worse at the edges.

Against this, Bob Fowler, who sometimes posts here, has reported that his 75/4.5 Tominon in shutter (a gel cam lens for sure) covers 2x3 very well at distance. Could be that he and I don't agree about what covers means. Could be that his lens isn't the same design as mine. So if you can, try yours out and report back.

The shutter may not do for y'r Leitmeyr. Great stress may. Check that its diaphragm opens wide enough.

A propos of 105 Leitmeyr's, mine seems to be a 4/4 double Gauss type. What is yours? I ask because Ole Tjugen reports that some Leitmeyr wide angles are in the same design family as the Angulon.

Nathan Smith · May 14, 2006

Dan Fromm said:
It was made for a Polaroid copy camera, either the MP-3 or one of the 'scope/gel cams. Macro lens intended for use on 4x5 at magnifications above 1:1. MP-3 lenses have been put on MP-4 boards, but the MP-4's native lenses were all made to be mounted in front of a #1. One MP-4, many lenses, one shutter with no diaphragm. One MP-3, many lenses, one shutter with diaphragm/lens (except for the 35/4 Eurygon, which is front-mounted). The economic advantages of the MP-4 way should be obvious.

Tessar type, absolutely positively not a w/a lens for 2x3. FWIW, I've had a couple of ex-MP-4 75/4.5 Tominons (replacements for the MP-3's 75 Ysaron) and tried one at distance on a 2x3 Graphic to see what it could do. It illuminated 2x3 at distance but in the center image quality was poor, worse at the edges.

Against this, Bob Fowler, who sometimes posts here, has reported that his 75/4.5 Tominon in shutter (a gel cam lens for sure) covers 2x3 very well at distance. Could be that he and I don't agree about what covers means. Could be that his lens isn't the same design as mine. So if you can, try yours out and report back.

The shutter may not do for y'r Leitmeyr. Great stress may. Check that its diaphragm opens wide enough.

A propos of 105 Leitmeyr's, mine seems to be a 4/4 double Gauss type. What is yours? I ask because Ole Tjugen reports that some Leitmeyr wide angles are in the same design family as the Angulon.

Thanks Dan, sounds like this Ysaron/Prontor isn't going to work for me on any account, but I'll check it out and let you know if anything unexpected is found.

The main problem with the old Prontor II that the Leitmeyr is in is that it's missing one of the 2 screws that hold the face on, other than that it probably just needs a good cleaning.

I'm not sure of the design, I need to look at it closer - I guess you're supposed to use a bright light and count the reflective surfaces?

Nathan

darinwc · May 14, 2006

My guess is that your 105mm Leitmeyer lens fits in a #0 shutter. The 75mm ysarons and tominons were made for a #1 shutter.

Bad thing about the shutter these came in is that the aperture was made smaller than a standard lens. On some shutters there is a plate with a hole cut out that can be removed. On others the actual shutter blades are made to be much smaller.

Dan Fromm · May 15, 2006

Nathan, yup, count reflections.

As Darin suggested, my 105 Leitmeyr is in a #0. The Copal shutters Polaroid used are all #1s, don't know about the Prontors they had lenses put in (the Eurygon I mentioned front mounts in a #1, was on a Prontor when I bought it) so your Ysaron could well be in a #1.

renes · Oct 27, 2009

G. Leitmeyr Sytar Anastigmat 1:3,5 f=75mm

Hi,

Just got an offer to buy this lens in IBSOR shutter (G. Leitmeyr Sytar Anastigmat 1:3,5 f=75mm).

Wonder if it could cover 6x9....???

Rodenstock Ysaron 75mm 1:4.5: what's it designed for?

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