Trying to find out about a Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat

LimeyKeith · Oct 24, 2017

I have acquired the following lens and as I know zilch about these old lenses I have tried searching online and even perused the Lens Collectors Vade Mecum but I have just ended up even more confused so I wondered if any of you guys could help. If it can be put to good use today then I will offer it for sale rather than it sit in my junk drawer. I hope I haven't gone OTT with the photos. Thanks in advance.

Lens markings:
On brass barrel: Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat Ross London
On front lens Zeiss Patent 14 inch 8300
On rear lens: Carl Zeiss Jena 77295 Protarlinse Fl 350mm

Ian Grant · Oct 24, 2017

The rear cell is not the original as it's a Ross lens. However Ross made the lens under license from Carl Zeiss Jena and the cells are interchangeable.

Each cell is 14" 350mm f12.5 used on its own and covers 10x8, combined they form a 200mm f6.3 lens which probably doesn't cover Whole plate, See the 1907 Zeiss Catalogue Protar VIIa. My data is from a 1898 Ross advert for the VIIa convertible.

Ian

LimeyKeith · Oct 24, 2017

Ian Grant said:
The rear cell is not the original as it's a Ross lens. However Ross made the lens under license from Carl Zeiss Jena and the cells are interchangeable.

Each cell is 14" 350mm f12.5 used on its own and covers 10x8, combined they form a 200mm f6.3 lens which probably doesn't cover Whole plate, See the 1907 Zeiss Catalogue Protar VIIa. My data is from a 1898 Ross advert for the VIIa convertible.

Ian

Thanks Ian. I thought modern lenses/types were confusing but they 'aint got nutthin on these oldies. I have a machinist friend who has measured the barrel locking ring thread and he says he can knock me up a mounting flange out of aluminium for the cost of the material so I think I might give it a go on my 5x4 camera.

E. von Hoegh · Oct 24, 2017

LimeyKeith said:
Thanks Ian. I thought modern lenses/types were confusing but they 'aint got nutthin on these oldies. I have a machinist friend who has measured the barrel locking ring thread and he says he can knock me up a mounting flange out of aluminium for the cost of the material so I think I might give it a go on my 5x4 camera.

Even though that lens is not coated, it will have lovely smooth contrast, sort of like a Dagor. I'm betting you'll like it.

Ian Grant · Oct 24, 2017

E. von Hoegh said:
Even though that lens is not coated, it will have lovely smooth contrast, sort of like a Dagor. I'm betting you'll like it.

Completely agree with that, only two internal air glass surface when both cells are used together, when I tested a mint 1913 120mm Dagor just over a year ago I was rather amazed at the contrast and lack of flare and Protars are the same.

Ian

E. von Hoegh · Oct 25, 2017

Ian Grant said:
Completely agree with that, only two internal air glass surface when both cells are used together, when I tested a mint 1913 120mm Dagor just over a year ago I was rather amazed at the contrast and lack of flare and Protars are the same.

Ian

Good Rapid Rectilinears have some of the same nice contrast, I have one about 6 1/2"fl that came off a big Kodak folder, it's pretty nice on 4x5.

LimeyKeith · Nov 16, 2017

Update: Having given my machinist friend the various measurements for a lens board and retaining flange, together with several photographs of typical retaining rings, my friend decided that he had a better solution and made this combination for me. Unconventional I agree but it works and the extra 'extension' provided by the 'flange' gives me a bit of wiggle room when working at the maximum 300mm extension of my camera bellows when using just the front element of the lens, sadly, I cannot get the extension to focus the rear element until I get a board made to fit my MPP MkVIII. The two test shots are the only ones I have been able to do so far but I'm quite impressed. I haven't had chance to print them yet but I thought a scan would give me some some idea of the results.

LimeyKeith · Nov 16, 2017

LimeyKeith said:
together with several photographs of typical retaining rings

Sorry, this should read 'mounting flanges'

lobitar · Aug 8, 2018

Old thread, I know, but it sort of popped up below. I own one of the exact same lenses, one of my first brass lenses by the way. Stunningly beautiful work, although it might well have been a tad sharper, I think. By the way the cells from my specimen fits into an old Rad-Compur-2. The shutter mounting thread should be 44 mm and the flange-flange distance of the shutter 33 mm. Even if your sample is a bit older, it might well have the same dimensions (the number of my lens is in the late 8-thousands).

jimgalli · Aug 22, 2018

Ian, I have used this combination on 8X10 and it covered. The original barrel indicates an 11 1/2" component which is the one that has gone missing. Wonderful that the German component's threads worked on the english barrel.

Trying to find out about a Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat

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