Wollensak Lens

[nuckabean]

I just went to the carson camera show and was lucky enough to make my first large format purchase. I picked out a very nice Burke and James Press 4x5 camera. I wanted a lens to experiment with so I found a Wollensak 4x5 Series IIIA EX.W.A ƒ12.5 3.5" lens. I knew nothing about it but I figured that for 40$ with a board and an Alphax shutter I couldn't go wrong. Was this a good purchase? Does anyone know anything about this lens or have any tips for using it? I've never even heard of this brand before.

Here's a picture, although it's hard to see anything with my crummy computer camera:

 

[bnstein]

From what I can see you have an uncoated lens as it doesnt have the W in circle. See http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensak_8.html for more info about the series (although they dont list your 31/2" lens in the 1928 catalogue it is in the 40's catalogue http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensak_15.html Most wolly lenses were coated by the late 40s so think about WWII in age). IIRC it is a protar design covering about 90 degrees should give good sharp pictures stopped down IF the years have been kind

 

[removed account4]

hi there

i had and used this lens for quite some time.
it is a nice little wide angle lens ( equiv of 90mm )
stopped down it is sharp and renders an image with
nice tonality and contrast ( i used mine to shoot color and b/w ).
stopped down it will cover a 5x7 sheet of film

40$?! great purchase!

have fun

john

 

[ragc]

Enjoy! No matter what lens you use, your first LF shots are going to be so good you will be hooked! A 90mm on 4x5 is great for architecture and landscapes.

 

[jimgalli]

Not to discourage you, it's actually a great old lens and a good bargain, I just know I struggled as a beginner with a 3 inch f6.8 lens. Simply to dark for a beginning focuser. Find a nice forgiving old 210mm f5.6 to start with.

 

[kirkfry]

What Jim said. K

 

[athanasius80]

Congrats on the B&J Press too. I love mine!

 

[Crayguns]

I find this exchange quite interesting as I have a Wollensak 3" f:1.9 Ocillo-Raptar 1:0.9X (coated) in an Alphax non-sync shutter. I've been dormant in LF for some time. I'm getting back into it and my darkroom. I'll have to procure a mount for my old Calumet 4x5. This has been in a drawer for a few years. I'll be glad to get it in service.

This lens wasn't mentioned in the two aforementioned websites. Can someone give some info about this lens/shutter? When I got it I was suprised at the fast lens speed.

 

[jimgalli]

Crayguns, it was made for a Tektronix Oscilloscope camera and is mostly useless for anything else. It won't cover the 4X5 format. Good old shutters though.

 

[freygr]

Crayguns, it was made for a Tektronix Oscilloscope camera and is mostly useless for anything else. It won't cover the 4X5 format. Good old shutters though.

It's usable for Micro Photography. The Tektronix Oscilloscope Camera used 4 by 5 film.

 

[rshepard]

Like Nuckabean, I just purchased a Wolly 3.5"/90mm f/12.5 (coated) lens on eBay for just under twice his price. The tiny maximum aperture gave me pause, but the local, much more experienced LF photographers told me that with a good darkcloth I'd be able to see well enough to focus. (As an aside, I bought a couple of pairs of 6x reading glasses to use for focusing. I like them because of the magnification and being able to use two hands on the camera.)

However, I have a question about my lens that I'll ask here rather then in a separate thread in the hope that it's seen by those who can answer. Where do I find a spanner wrench to unscrew the mounting ring? It's not the more modern type rink with two rectangular notches 180 degrees apart, but a ring with three small holes evenly spaced on the ring's flat surface. The holes are 34mm apart.

My lens came mounted on a 4" square recessed lens board (don't know for what camera), but I'd like to remount it on either a recessed board for my Cambo SC 4x5 monorail camera or, based on John's comment about coverage, on a recessed board I can use with my Plaubel 5x7 monorail camera.

Rich