what lenses for 20x24" ?

Falkenberg said:

I wish there was an easy way to find out wich lenses will cover what format. I can be a lot of money to spend on something that might not work.

The Goerz Apochromat "red dot" Artar 14/42 Inch, looks to be be the 42" f14 version from what I can see on the picture.

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This lens will definitely cover 20x24. And if it is indeed a Red Dot Artar it will be coated. This lens, in fact, is the father of the current, and much more expensive, 1100mm Schneider Super Symmar XXL Fine Art lens. I'm sure the 1100mm Fine Art lens is a wonderful optic, but the 42" Red Dot Artar will give you almost identical performance for a small fraction of the cost.

I have a fairly late sample of the 42" Red Dot Artar. Mine has the lens cells mounted in brass, but the barrel is aluminum. This helps keep the weight down to a respectable (for a lens this long) 5 lbs. I use mine as a long lens on 14x17. It would be a wonderful lens for your 20x24.

Kerry Thalmann
Really Big Cameras

keithwms said:

I reckon that my 600m f/9 apo-rodagon process lens should cover 20x24 with some movement. The thing just weighs so much, I think you can forget putting it on a wooden camera. I did take it past 1:1 with a ridiculous piece of aluminum extrusion as a rail, but you know what my problem was? Couldn't reach all the way from the darkslide to the lens to hand shutter it. :rolleyes: Now that is a problem, when you need an assistant just to pull a darkslide.

Besides all these glorious oldies, what about pinhole Should be quite special at that size.

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Or Zone Plate? A 550mm f/90 Zone Plate lens will weigh a lot less than the 550mm Schneider XXL.

Sandy King

That's true Sandy, a lot less.

Robert, I was joking about needing an assistant, and I solved my issue by machining a lenscap out of delrin. I was having trouble before because I had no lenscap to fit that behemoth of a lens, and also, there is the very real problem of not being able to reach the front standard while looking at the GG... yes it's not the end of the world and you can work from the rear but it's not something I like to do.

I did eventually shutter the lens (acme #5) but man, those speeds are all over the place no matter what I do. Not worth the bother just to get 1/125 which I can time pretty well in my head.

smieglitz said:

Robert,

Can you post a few pics taken with the Versar?

Also, is the van fully converted? If so, how is it working out?

Thanks,

Joe

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Joe I know it has been some time since you asked for an example of the 17x20 Versar. Unfortunately at the time this shot was taken I was trying to use some film holders that weren't seating correctly. This is an 8x20 pt/pd print, taken with a Wollensak 17x20" Versar @ F8. I've found that I like F6 much better with this lens. This was my first shots taken with this lens. It is much softer, naturally, @ F6 but not quite like a Verito.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

I should add that a 17x20" Versar is a 22 1/2" F6 lens.

hi falkenberg !
are you still working on your 20x24" project??
i have sent PM to you.
would really like to talk, i am also working on one.

klaus
nibe