Turner Reich 300mm triple convertible question

loman · Oct 4, 2007

Hey Everybody
I have a Turner Reich 300mm triple convertible II lens. The lens has markings for many different combinations of 14", 18" 24" and 28" lenses, but no markings for using them seperately. I have the 18'' and 28" and I was wondering what the f stops are when I use them by them selves.
The max opening used combined are f6.8.
Thanks
Mads

Jim Noel · Oct 4, 2007

The two lenses together with the front element in front is 14". The 18 and 28 elements used alone in the rear of the shutter are the focal length indicated on them.

loman · Oct 4, 2007

Well I wasn't asking for focal length, but the maximum aperture opening when the lenses are used alone. Anyway on my lens the 28"/18" combination is indicated as being 11 1/2".
What's the difference in using them alone in the front or in the rear. Used in the front the 18" seems to be at it's right focal length, and I cannot focus the 28" since I only have 520mm of bellows draw at present.
Anyway, thanks for the answer.
Best Regards
Mads

removed account4 · Oct 4, 2007

hi mads

i am sort of confused by your question ..
if the lens is a triple convertible, there should
be 3 different markings with fstop markings
right on the lens. if it isn't marked, you could divide
the max fstop opening into the focal length and that will give you
the fstops you are wondering about ...

i hope i got that right

good luck!
john

Ole · Oct 4, 2007

So you have a triple convertible in an unoriginal shutter?

The combined lens is a bit less than half the focal length of the 28" element, so using that alone would give a bit less than two stops darker than the whole lens - f:8 on the scale would be f:18 or so (well within the tolerance of the shutter speeds).

The 18" is about 1 2/3 stop slower than the whole thing, so if I were you I would simply measure the opening of the aperture and use that to make a new table - thirds are too difficult to remember in the field.

Placing the single cell behind the shutter gives better correction fo rdistortion and some other aberrations. If you want soft, use it in front.

Jim Fitzgerald · Oct 4, 2007

loman said:
Hey Everybody
I have a Turner Reich 300mm triple convertible II lens. The lens has markings for many different combinations of 14", 18" 24" and 28" lenses, but no markings for using them seperately. I have the 18'' and 28" and I was wondering what the f stops are when I use them by them selves.
The max opening used combined are f6.8.
Thanks
Mads

Mads, I don't know if this will answer your question but here goes! I have a TRT 12", 21" 28" and the max f- stops are 6.8, 12.5, 16. I hope this is the info you need. Mine is in a Betax #4.

Jim

jonw · Oct 4, 2007

If it helps, I have 2 TRT lens, both are 12", 19.7" & 25"; the maximum f-stops are f7, f12.5, and f16. One of the lens is in an Ilex No. 4 Acme and the other in a Betax #4.

I found my old Gundlach Catalog and it states that your lens is a double anastigmat. The 18" and 28" which combine to make an 11 1/2" had a maximum aperture of f7.5. It came in a No. 4 Betax, #4 Optimo, #4 Ilex Universal, #4 Ilex Acme, and a #5 Compound shutter.

Hope this helps. Jon

Vaughn · Oct 4, 2007

Jim, that is the same as my 12"-21"-28". (Series II, No.5)

It is interesting the variety of TRs Triples there are. I have never heard of one which was marked in four focal lengths, though, such as Mads mentioned.

Vaughn

Jim Fitzgerald · Oct 5, 2007

Vaughn said:
Jim, that is the same as my 12"-21"-28". (Series II, No.5)

It is interesting the variety of TRs Triples there are. I have never heard of one which was marked in four focal lengths, though, such as Mads mentioned.

Vaughn

Vaughn, I got one of the good ones I think. Very little edge separation and the shutter is spot on. Seems to give me nice contrast and a good look even with a filter on when I use it at 21". It is a little heavy but it is great to have these lengths for the 8x10. Unfortunately I only have about 25" extension on the Seneca. I may use the 28" component on the 8x20. The longest lens I have for the 8x20 is a Kodak 21 1/4" lens.

Jim

loman · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks Everybody for your answers
Mine is in an Ilex universal shutter, and I think the fstop scale has been replaced at some point. It's quite impressive, there are f stops engraved for six different combinations of lenses, but for none of them used seperately.
And there is no more room on the shutter to engrave anything.
I think I have the information I need now, and I'll just have to write it down on a piece of paper and refer to that when I'm "out in field".
By the way Ole thanks for the info on the differences of mounting the cells in front or behind the shutter.
That brings me to another question:
I have a 300mm symmar linhof selected lens, in a compound 4 shutter. When I use the rear 500mm cell by it self I cannot focus it at all even with max bellows draw, but if I mount it in front of the shutter I can! Can somebody explain this to me?
Thanks again
Mads

Ole · Oct 5, 2007

The rear cell of the 300mm Symmar needs 61cm to focus at infinity, since the nodal point is fat out in front of the lens cell.

http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/archiv/pdf/sr_5.6_a.pdf

loman · Oct 5, 2007

Thanks Ole
That answers it!
Best Regards
Mads

Vaughn · Oct 5, 2007

Jim Fitzgerald said:
Vaughn, I got one of the good ones I think...snip
Jim

I think I got one of the not-so-good ones. Lots of separation on the 21" cell (but I have a 19" RD Artar which is close enough). The 28" cell on the back of the shutter is clean and focuses fine in the center, but soft in the corners...and really is too much for my Zone VI 8x10. I crank out both focusing rails to the very end of their gears and I can focus at infinity. I thought about putting the cell on the front of the shutter to give me a little more focus ability, but haven't tried it since folks say that it is a softer image used that way.

But the lens was free, so no complaints!

vaughn

loman · Oct 5, 2007

Just an update as to the origianlity of the f stop scale on my lens:
After reading a Grundlach catalogue on camera eccentric, it seems that they offered at set of four single cells (14, 18, 24 and 28) in a choise of four different shutters, the ilex universal being one of them. The focal lengths optained when combined match exactly with what is written on my ilex universal shutter. So it would seem to be original after all and not, as Ole stated, an unoriginal version. The whole set cost 221 dollars back then. Now I just need
to track down a 14 and a 24 cell, and I'll have all the focal lengths I'll ever need for my 8x10. I think I'm gonna sell my symmar, as I realy like the look the turner reich gives me.
if anybody is interested the link to this information is:
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/gundlachcat/anastigmatf.html

loman · Oct 5, 2007

Just an update as to how expensive these lenses were at the time. You could get a 12x20 Korona view camera for 90 dollars. A Korona commercial view camera 8x10 was 75 dollars. We are talking somewhere between 1910 and 1930. Does anybody know what this corresponds to in todays dollars?
Best Regards
Mads

Vaughn · Oct 6, 2007

Ah, so it is not a triple convertable as you originally stated, but more along the lines of an incomplete casket set.

The concept of the caskets sets is great -- I just know that out in the field, I would probably drop parts in the sand or where ever, if I was taking lenses apart! Not to mention getting confused about which combination to use and remembering which scale to look at!

The other problem would be if the shutter stuffs up, I would have complete set of lenses that I can't use! YMMD

Vaughn

loman · Oct 6, 2007

Yes Vaughn
I guess you're right, I just didn't know that until yesterday. Anyway the cells should still be usable on their own I just don't have an f stop scale to refer to.
Actually I'm looking for the 14" and 24" cell know, especially the 14", so if anybody has one they are willing to part with, please let me know.
Best Regards
Mads

cowanw · Oct 6, 2007

There are two lens on ebay right now. One with a 21 inch and ? lens and one with a 20 inch and 28 inch set

270171828967

130160430357

Regards
Bill

Turner Reich 300mm triple convertible question

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