What have I done?

[Amund]

After a few of glasses on some nice red wine yesterday, I got a GAS attack, and threw in a bid on a Kodak 2-D on eBay , and I won the auction... I also did this before I saw he sells to US only, ouch... I have emailed him and offered him to pay all fees and some compensation if he don`t want to ship to Norway...
But if he wants to sell it to me, what should I do with this monster(compared to my 4x5)?
My 90mm Nikkor will work with the 5x7 back and probably my Fujinon-W 150/5.6 too, but what could be a nice not too expensive 8x10 lens around 300mm? How useful is the Packard shutter?

 

[Nick Zentena]

I was going to say great deal then saw he wanted $75 to ship within the US. Still a pretty good deal.

The Nikon 300m F/8 or the Fuji are both not that expensive new and even better deals used. A few weeks back I picked up an older Fuji 300 L. It's cheaper then the modern lenses because it's relatively huge. But it's also faster at F/5.6.

The Pacard shutter is actually pretty usefull. The one on that camera supposedly has a flash sync so it's all you need to use the camera with barrel lenses and flash. I'm not sure the bulb is included and I think you'll need to modify the flash connector but neither is that complicated. Outdoors at the sort of stops you'll likely want with 8x10 it might be good enough to.

 

[Ole]

Amund, maybe we can work something out. I have a few nice barrel lenses for 8x10", not all of them are a century old either

 

[BradS]

The seller lives just up the coast from me. If it would help, I can go pick up the camera in person and ship it to you at actual cost. It would be a nice weekend adventure.

w.r.t. what lens? Would the big Schneider Xenars break the bank? Many also seem to like the APO process Nikkors and the G-Clarons.

Brad.

 

[jd callow]

12 or 14 " kodak com ektars can be had for a fairly low price and they are very sharp and bright.

 

[Ole]

You could pick up a cheap Industar-37 300/4.5 for about $60, postage included. Sibir_sergey often has one on his list - a nice seller for FSU camera gear.

Or you could buy mine, which I got from Sergey. Or I could sell you a Rodenstock Hemi-Anastigmat 300mm f:7.2 (I think), or a Simon 240mm Dobbel-Anastigmat f:7.7, or... I have a few to choose from. The only thing that you're NOT getting is my Busch R.O.I.A. Weitwinkel-Aplanat No.2 - 100 years old and looks mint

 

[Amund]

Wow, thanks for the response guys! I have to see how it works out with the seller, he hasn`t made any contact yet.

 

[John Kasaian]

Welcome to the wonderful world of 8x10! So whats the problem? Have another glass of red wine and savor the situation.

A 2-d is fine camera. For bagain lenses, look at the Commercial Ektars as already mentioned. The 240 G-Claron, 12" wollensaks, convertable Symmars from the 1960s and 375mm Ilex. All these are available in shutters and the 240 G-Claron barrel is an easy fit into a press shutter scavenged off the polaroid copy camera. Heck, you might even come across an affordable 14" APO Artar in a dialset Compur. Good examples of these are wonderful lenses and will give you negs that will knock your 4x5 socks off. For filmholders check with Jim at Midwest as he usually has some graflex woodies in stock at reasonable prices. You will probably need a heavier tripod than what you've used with the 4x5 though. Lots of options here---surveyors tripods, berlebachs, and plenty of used studio behemoths on ebay to consider.

A Packard shutter is a nice thing to have if you want to experiment with barrel lenses, but simply using a lens cap for exposures works too. In fact I've got an old packerd I'll make you a real deal on.

Time to top off that glass of wine!

If your fave film is cut in 8x10 go with it, if not get a box of cheap stuff from Freestyle, J and C or Photo Warehouse to play with. You might even end up preferring it! You've probably already got 8x10 trays, right? No swweat!

Buyer's remorse will vanish the first time you see an 8x10 contact print!

Cheers!

 

[John Bartley]

The seller lives just up the coast from me. If it would help, I can go pick up the camera in person and ship it to you at actual cost. It would be a nice weekend adventure.
Brad.

Ahhh - way to go Brad !! This is a decent offer of assistance to a fellow photog.

cheers

 

[BradS]

Ahhh - way to go Brad !! This is a decent offer of assistance to a fellow photog.

cheers

Thanks! Folks here have been very kind to me. It is contagious I suppose. I talked to my social secretary after volunteering and her first reactions was...
"Excellent! I'll book us a room."

I hope I can help...it'll be fun. And, of course, we can make lots of photos along the way....too bad I don't have an 8x10 film holder, I could sneak in a few exposures prior to shipping...Hmmmm....

 

[Amund]

You guys crack me up I wasn`t really thinking I should get a 8x10 ever, but here I am... The seller just emailed me, and he`s ok with shipping abroad. He also has a couple of lenses to sell, a : "Bausch & Lomb 15 inch E.F. Plastigmat Portrain lens for 8 x 10 view camera, adjustable iris from f5.6 to f 45, with mounting flange, in good condition" and a " Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat lens with universal shutter"
Any of these worth getting?

 

[Amund]

The seller lives just up the coast from me. If it would help, I can go pick up the camera in person and ship it to you at actual cost. It would be a nice weekend adventure.

w.r.t. what lens? Would the big Schneider Xenars break the bank? Many also seem to like the APO process Nikkors and the G-Clarons.

Brad.

Thanks for offering to pick it up! The seller will ship , so you`ll need a new excuse for your weekend trip..

 

[jimgalli]

Both of those lenses are superb for 8X10. No kidding. I would be watching both on Ebay and selling the kids so I could pounce.

Brad, I was getting ready to offer to ship you a lens on Kodak board and 3 holders with film so you could have some fun shooting that old Kodak on your way home.

 

[Amund]

Thanks, what should I offer him for one of these lenses? I don`t have the slightest idea what they usually sell for...

 

[jimgalli]

Not enough info. The portrait lens is something I've never seen pass along on EBAY so I simply don't know. The convertible anastigmat is hard to judge without more info. Does the shutter work? What else does it say? These are antiques and truly not for everyone. I've got the antique gene and a good helping of resourcefulness so I don't mind fiddling with stuff that others would dismiss as un-useable. Have the guy make you some photos and try to get a little more info about what's written on the lens barrels.

 

[rbarker]

. . . I hope I can help...it'll be fun. And, of course, we can make lots of photos along the way....too bad I don't have an 8x10 film holder, I could sneak in a few exposures prior to shipping...Hmmmm....

Yes, Arcata is a cute little "company" town. It would make a nice trip. Should that come about, there's probably someone down the coast from you who would loan you an 8x10 holder or two. (Just so you can test the bellows for him, of course.)

[added] Oops. I see now that point is moot. Arcata is still worth the trip, though.

 

[Ole]

A vintage "Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat" is likely to be a Protar... Take it if you can. They tend to go for more than you bid for the camera.

 

[Amund]

I emailed the seller for more info. On eBay I find a few 8x10 lenses available, 12 inch Kodak Ektar, 14 inch Red Dot Artar(no shutter), all around $300, are these usually this expensive, or is it inflated eBay prices?

 

[Nick Zentena]

Mpex right now shows a 12" f9 Apo-Artar Goerz for $329. I assume in a shutter. I've basically started avoiding Ebay. I've seen too many things sell for more then new. That's a lot more then used from a good reseller.

 

[bobfowler]

You guys crack me up I wasn`t really thinking I should get a 8x10 ever, but here I am... The seller just emailed me, and he`s ok with shipping abroad. He also has a couple of lenses to sell, a : "Bausch & Lomb 15 inch E.F. Plastigmat Portrain lens for 8 x 10 view camera, adjustable iris from f5.6 to f 45, with mounting flange, in good condition" and a " Zeiss Convertible Anastigmat lens with universal shutter"
Any of these worth getting?

From the vade mecum:

Plastigmat Portrait(1925) f5.6 9,12,15,18in This gave softish focus all over, and it was said the visual effect matched the photo effect. The design used 3glasses, as 2 components, ie 1+2. It seems at least two Plastigmat types exist, and possibly more. Here use 18in for 10x8.

As far as the Zeiss... It's impossible to say without more information. Zeiss made a LOT of different types of anastigmat lenses. I'd grab that Plastigmat though...

 

[Ole]

As far as the Zeiss... It's impossible to say without more information. Zeiss made a LOT of different types of anastigmat lenses. I'd grab that Plastigmat though...

- but only two convertibles of appropriate vintage: Protar Serie VII, and Protar Serie IV.

If the price is acceptable, I think you might have a market for the lenses right here!

 

[John Kasaian]

I remember getting my 14" APO Artar for around $450 in a shutter. Since it costs around $300+ for the machine work alone plus the cost of the shutter I wouldn't be inclined to pay much for one in barrel. IMHO a 240 G-Claron would be a better deal.

 

[John Kasaian]

...Of course a RD Artar is a preferrable lens to a regular APO version! (this is in response to the ektar-artar around $300 question)

 

[jimgalli]

If Kerry Thalmann hasn't sold out, consider the 240 Germinar-W. Just got mine today and shazaam is it pretty. Artar's are OK but a 300 is to narrow for good use on 8X10. It's a once in a lifetime chance for the Germinar-W's. Kerry's basically just distributing them for cost. 2nd and 3rd party market years in the future could get brutal. Or not? Who knows. They're under $300 and though in barrel, your packard would suffice for a while until a Copal 1 comes along.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[Jeremy]

I've got a 12" (305mm) f/6.3 Ilex Paragon which is a tack sharp copy of the Kodak Commercial Ektar. It's in an Ilex #4 which is running within specs according to a Calumet Shutter tester which I'll sell you for $100 plus shipping.

edit: he said he would take me up on my offer so consider the lens gone for all of you vultures