Want to Buy WTB: 305 Kodak Portrait Soft Focus

[DStierer]

Looking to buy a 305mm Kodak Soft Focus Portrait lens or similar soft focus lens, or a 12in darlot, not gold ring.

 

[luvcameras]

Here you go...there is a Kodak 305mm on ebay

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5.../ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280510704928

Dan

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Regarding $600 for the Kodak 305mm portrait lens: Rather a ridiculous price for a single element lens - you can get pretty much the same results with a #3 close-up lens.

 

[luvcameras]

I have no connection with the seller......

having said that, its not a ridiculous price from a collecting standpoint.... Soft Focus lenses have skyrocketed in prices over the last 3 years, and the Kodak is a fine example of its type ( and this one looks to be in fine condition )...

You can read my series of articles on Soft Focus lenses here:

Dead Link Removed

having said that, one could come relatively close to replicating the results from this lens with various other methods as the poster above feels....

Dan

 

[donbga]

I have no connection with the seller......

having said that, its not a ridiculous price from a collecting standpoint.... Soft Focus lenses have skyrocketed in prices over the last 3 years, and the Kodak is a fine example of its type ( and this one looks to be in fine condition )...

You can read my series of articles on Soft Focus lenses here:

Dead Link Removed

having said that, one could come relatively close to replicating the results from this lens with various other methods as the poster above feels....

Dan

But without a shutter?

Mark Sawyer (an APG member) had an article in View Camera magazine DIY discussing single element lens. His high school photo students used them to make some beautiful portraits.

BTW, I covet the 305 myself, still looking for a steal.

 

[illumiquest]

600 is a bit high if there's no shutter. I had one about three months ago in a shutter which sold for around 800$, overseas of course. Never had a chance to use the lens but looking at what others have done with it I wouldn't mind getting another sometime.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I've just acquired the 405mm version, which never came in a shutter. I got mine with some minor separation in the rear element, but it included an 8" Packard shutter with all the accessories, mounted on a Deardorff lensboard. Remember that either version was intended to be used in the STUDIO, where a shutter was not necessary - even wide open, under hot lights you'd have exposure times long enough you can use the lens cap as a shutter. And bear in mind, although this is a single element meniscus lens, it's no ordinary element. You're talking about a Kodak-engineered achromat from the time period when Kodak was one of the pre-eminent optical designers and manufacturers in the world. And besides, you lose a half stop and gain about 50% more weight with it in an Ilex #5.

 

[Thingy]

You can buy a Cooke PS945 (which has 4 lenses) which is a 229mm lens and can be used on cameras up to 5x7 format, for £1950 (if you have the misfortune to live in the EU you pay VAT on top of that) which includes a modern Copal 3 shutter. It is an excellent lens. I have recently bought one (secondhand) and been trying it out in my garden. I am having to use high shutter speeds (well 1/125th sec, the maximum speed on a Copal 3 shutter) with a 0.6ND filter (my highest to date) with white flowers (my test target) and have just ordered one of the Lee 3.0 ND filters (x10) to enable me to use the 4.5 aperture and slower shutter speeds.

 

[eddie gunks]

Here you go...there is a Kodak 305mm on ebay

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5.../ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280510704928

Dan

be very careful with that seller and his various other handles.....you better know what you are looking at and be 199% sure......beware.

 

[paul ewins]

To expand on what Eddie said, you will get what you see in the picture, it's just that often the accompanying text seems carefully designed to muddy the waters and allow you to fool yourself. Take nothing for granted and do your own research, especially when he is comparing the lens for sale to a "similar" design that has mystical properties.

I have bought from him on occasion and haven't been disappointed but I am always careful. The good stuff is usually priced closer to shop prices than eBay.

 

[removed account4]

the kodak is a beautiful lens,
often times sellers have no idea it never had a front element
and they sell it as "incomplete" ... so keep an eye out

barrel lenses were often times the norm in a studio setting
often times photographers had a packard shutter, either one
with or without a flash sync.

i worked for a lady who was using a packard, sync'd for flash
in the 80s ( she was in her 70s ), she was using a barrel- lens,
and used a barrel since she began her studio ( in the 30s ) .

have fun finding and using ur lens.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

its not a ridiculous price from a collecting standpoint

You are quite right - the price is what someone will pay, there is no intrinsic worth. Though, being in the throws of disposing of a collection, I could also say all prices for collectibles are ridiculous.

But as a lens to take pictures with...

I can buy a similar lens from Surplus Shed for $7 to $25. The $7 one is sure to have more 'character'.

What would be the market for a modern copy? What price would people pay? There is no 'magic' to lenses. Given the design information - glass types and radii - a copy can be made that can't be told from the original.

 

[luvcameras]

PS - the lens is actually $ 499 USD ( $ 600 AUS ), which I feel given its condition is actually a good price for the lens. I am actually contemplating buying it myself, but I dont shoot LF!

As reference points, here are some other recent pricing on SF lenses

Prices realized (Spring 2010) on various SOFT FOCUS LENSES:

Pinkham/Smith VQ # 3... $ 4,550 (Ebay)
Pinkham Bi-Quality... $ 4,200 (Ebay)
Pinkham Bi-Quality... $ 2,500 (Private Sale, fair condition)
Dallmeyer-Banfield 22"... $ 1,800 (Ebay BIN)
Eidoscope # 2... $ 1,526 (Ebay)
Cooke Series VI 13"... $ 1,490 (on Ebay BIN/BO, not sold)
Cooke Series VI 16"... $ 1,485 (on Ebay BIN/BO, not sold)
Plasticca Serie B 450/4... $ 992 (Russian Auction Site)
Wollensak Vitax 16"... $ 899 (Ebay,Black)
Goerz Hypar 12"... $ 855 (Ebay, no flange)
Graf Variable 14"-16"... $ 786 (Ebay)
Wollensak Vitax 16"... $ 688 (Ebay, Brass)
Wollensak Verito 8"3/4... $ 621 (Ebay, in barrel)
Dallmeyer 2B... $ 600 (Ebay, black)
Cooke Series II 10.5"... $ 483 (Ebay)



Dan

 

[gandolfi]

To expand on what Eddie said, you will get what you see in the picture, .

hmm - maybe, but I have once bought a "mint condition" Bergheil with a long description of the Heliar that turned out NOT to be on the (Not so mint - rather worn) camera.

his images might show what you get, but he surely needs a short course in taking better images!

beware...

 

[paul ewins]

Taking better images would hurt his sales I think. On the other hand the most recent thing I bought was a couple of lenses in non-functioning shutters (his description). The compur shutter on the late 60's 90/6.8 Angulon was obviously missing parts, so more than just non-functioning. Strangely he didn't bother naming the other lens, an 80/5.6 Symmar in the title, just calling it a Symmar 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 lens. That one really is rare. The pair of them cost me AU$160 so I'm not complaining.

He has been trying to sell that 12" Kodak for a while now.

Dan - as a counter point I have just received a 14 1/2" Verito that I bought on eBay for $250. It's got one loose leaf in the studio shutter, but otherwise is fine and included the flange mounted on a 6" metal board. That was a US based auction with good pictures and a correct title so it's not like it was a hidden gem.

 

[luvcameras]

Dan - as a counter point I have just received a 14 1/2" Verito that I bought on eBay for $250. It's got one loose leaf in the studio shutter, but otherwise is fine and included the flange mounted on a 6" metal board. That was a US based auction with good pictures and a correct title so it's not like it was a hidden gem.

A Verito at $ 250 is the exception these days, not the rule..

Click here to see the last 5 that have sold, which average about $ 500. http://completed.shop.ebay.com/i.ht...ra_Lenses&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283&_rdc=1

Your purchase is also listed in this group and states the lens has scratches and marks - this is likely the reason it sold at such a discount.

Dan

 

[paul ewins]

Dan, it's definitely not pristine but a couple of scratches on a soft-focus lens is hardly the end of the world. I think what I'm getting at is there are collector prices for the nice looking stuff and user prices for the rest. I always assume that something bought from our friend in Sydney is user-grade and pay accordingly.

 

[luvcameras]

a couple of scratches on a soft-focus lens is hardly the end of the world..

Agreed; I was just highlighting why it sold for 1/2 of what the Verito usually sells for...

Cheers,
Dan