Wollensak - enlarger lens?

[Jerevan]

I am a bit curious about this lens I got a few weeks back. It's a Wollensak Velostigmat, 9 1/2 inches, f4.5, no shutter but including a lens cap. At the time I was bidding I was hoping it was a soft focus lens nobody cared about, but hey, at $65, I can cut the loss. I also thought it would cover at least close to 8x10" but I am not so sure about that, either. Makes a fine doorstop at the moment.

Is it an enlarger lens?

 

[fschifano]

I think so. A focal length of 9.5 in. is about 241 mm. Most lenses of around that focal length like that are typically good for at least up to 8 x 10, so my guess is that it will cover with little room for movements. If you have an 8x10 camera, you could mount it and see how it performs out to the corners. I doubt that a 4x5 enlarger will have enough bellows draw to focus it properly, but certainly an 8x10 enlarger will.

 

[Jon Shiu]

I think it is designed as an enlarging lens for 6 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch format.

Jon

 

[phfitz]

Jerevan,

it's a normal taking lens for a camera, the enlarging lenses read "Enlarging Velostigmat", could be a nice portrait lens on 4x5.

have fun with it.