Wollensak 16" f3.8 Vitax Portrait Lens

MikeK · Jun 7, 2005

Oh My! I am now the proud owner of one humongous 16" f3.8 Vitax Portait Lens. I knew this was going to be a big beast, but not that big

I have a couple of questions which I hope someone can help with.

The mounting flange is 6" in diameter, which is about the same size as the lens board for my 8x10 Tachihara. Anyone made an adaptor that allows a lens like this size to be mounted on a smaller board?

I think this lens will cover formats up to 11x14, can anyone confirm, and lastly is anyone familiar with this lens?

TIA

Mike

removed account4 · Jun 7, 2005

hi mike

i have a 13 1/2 " vitax that steve grimes mounted on a tiny little flange/lens board for me. the board is something like 3 1/2 "square ( sorry i don't remember completely the dimensions, but it is the same size as a graphic view II board - a little bigger than a speed graphic board ) ...

-john

jimgalli · Jun 7, 2005

Great lens. It is a Petzval type. At some point you'll need to concede defeat and just buy an old 10A Century Studio camera which is designed for the beast. Even if you could put it on the Tachi it would die of overload with 8 pounds of brass cannon cantilevered out in front. Some of the older Ansco 810's with the 7 inch lens board and NO front tilt might get the job done. Your Tachi was made for Schneider XL's.

removed account4 · Jun 7, 2005

jnanian said:
hi mike

i have a 13 1/2 " vitax that steve grimes mounted on a tiny little flange/lens board for me. the board is something like 3 1/2 "square ( sorry i don't remember completely the dimensions, but it is the same size as a graphic view II board - a little bigger than a speed graphic board ) ...

-john

i forgot to add, the flange/board i had custom made is small, but it mounts onto another that is about 3 times as large and is the same size as the front standard of my 5x7 camera.

the 13.5 is as big as a bazooka, i can only imagine the size of yours

jjstafford · Jun 7, 2005

At the urging of another member, yesterday I mounted a 14.5" Verito w/studio shutter to a Sinar board and it's fine, but that lens is a lightweight. The big old iron-footed studio camera setups take 9" square boards and can handle your monster well. You need one very stout front standard.

JG Motamedi · Jun 7, 2005

Lots of good comments above. The lens will not cover 11x14, except at 1:1 or closer. For what ever its worth, rather than have the lens cantilevered putting tons of stress on the front standard, I opened up the studio shutter, drilled a few holes, and attached the lens to a 9x9 lensboard with a few screws. Not exactly "kosher", but much easier on the camera and better balanced. Of course, you still need a big camera with oversized lensboards. Perhaps consider using a slightly smaller f/5 or f/6 Petzval (Vesta) on your Tachihara. Do you have the triple extension Tachi? Bellows extension is always a problem with the beasts.

Kerik · Jun 7, 2005

JG Motamedi said:
I opened up the studio shutter, drilled a few holes, and attached the lens to a 9x9 lensboard with a few screws. Not exactly "kosher", but much easier on the camera and better balanced.

Jason,

Thanks for this tip! That's a great idea.

Kerik

smieglitz · Jun 7, 2005

Kerik said:
Jason,

Thanks for this tip! That's a great idea.

Kerik

If you guys are trashing your studio shutters by doing this, please send me the cable release fitting.

I could also use some blades for some smaller studio shutters if anyone else has a trashed shutter.

Thanks,

Joe

Kerik · Jun 7, 2005

smieglitz said:
If you guys are trashing your studio shutters by doing this, please send me the cable release fitting.

Joe,

I haven't done this yet, but I doubt Jason is trashing the shutter. But, in case you're interested, I had SK Grimes make a cable release fitting and the lever to open/close the shutter for the Studio shutter on my Pinkham/Smith several years ago (Steve did the work himself). It did cost some $$, though...

Kerik

jjstafford · Jun 7, 2005

smieglitz said:
If you guys are trashing your studio shutters by doing this, please send me the cable release fitting.
Joe

Joe, on mine all one does is unscrew the air piston, and screw a cable release into the remainder. I tried a few different style releases and most worked.

smieglitz · Jun 7, 2005

jjstafford said:
Joe, on mine all one does is unscrew the air piston, and screw a cable release into the remainder. I tried a few different style releases and most worked.

Air piston? Mine no have pistons.

They are mechanical release sockets and I'm missing one on a Wollensak #5 Studio (housing my #5 16" Vitax) and also a smaller Studio Shutter model B that an 11 1/2 Verito is in. I also have a couple Studios for 8 3/4" Veritos and a Seroco/Wolly lens that have some messed up or missing blades.

Any parts welcome.

Joe

JG Motamedi · Jun 7, 2005

smieglitz said:
If you guys are trashing your studio shutters by doing this, please send me the cable release fitting...

Not quite trashing. It only involves drilling a few holes, and after all it is a Wolly, not exactly a rare or expensive lens. I had to open the shutter up to clean 75 years of accumulated dirt and grease. Its really easy to open the shutters, remove the leafs (leaves?), and then drill six small holes around the sides of the studio shutter. Just make sure that you check the movement of the springs et al to make sure they don't bump against the screw heads.

It would be really nice to be able to get some parts for the Studio shutters. I would love to replace air pistons with cable release fittings. Any body have any ideas about where to get some replacement leafs made? Seems like it could be done easily enough, and I am sure many of us would love to have a few sets on hand.

jimgalli · Jun 8, 2005

JG Motamedi said:
It would be really nice to be able to get some parts for the Studio shutters. I would love to replace air pistons with cable release fittings. Any body have any ideas about where to get some replacement leafs made? Seems like it could be done easily enough, and I am sure many of us would love to have a few sets on hand.

Just an idea for the engine...the folks that do the camera leather kits would be the logical choice for this as they already have the computer engine to cut out intricate patterns. The material itself could likely be improved on with modern materials. www.cameraleather.com

jjstafford · Jun 8, 2005

jimgalli said:
Just an idea for the engine...the folks that do the camera leather kits would be the logical choice for this as they already have the computer engine to cut out intricate patterns. The material itself could likely be improved on with modern materials. www.cameraleather.com

Me thinks the original shutter/aperture material is just fine for certain very large lenses - stiff paper. If the originals lasted 50 years, replacements of the same will suffice.

Wollensak 16" f3.8 Vitax Portrait Lens

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