Testing used large format lenses

euswdwj · Apr 27, 2012

Having purchased a used lens over the internet it would be useful to test the lens for resolution and f-stop at different apertures and the shutter at different shutter speed settings.

Is there a step-by-step procedure or maybe a description of the best way to perform such tests? My thought at this point is to use a digital 35mm camera mounted in place of the film holder on a view camera to perform the tests. Would this yield decent results for all tests?

Larry H-L · Apr 27, 2012

A digi cam could verify shutter speeds, but wouldn't do much for checking overall image quality.

Paper negatives could be done quickly and easily.

Dan Fromm · Apr 27, 2012

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en...=any&safe=images&tbs=&as_filetype=&as_rights=

John Austin · Apr 27, 2012

The only "kitchen table" test that makes sense, and I have just referred to this on my Rollei 35 thread, is to see if it does what you want in practice at your largest planned print size - That is all we really need to know

PS - Use film, paper negs are a waste of time and materials, use film in the camera and paper under the enlarger

John

vpwphoto · Apr 27, 2012

Photograph something at the distance you plan to use the lens most and evaluate what you get. I find evenly lit brick walls to do the trick... you can see distortion/fall off/ sharpness/field flatness this way.
Otherwise until a lens stops doing or doesn't perform what I ask of it, I don't mess with testing much.

Testing used large format lenses

euswdwj

Larry H-L

Dan Fromm

John Austin

vpwphoto

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