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prakticavlc2 · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 9:55 pm Post subject:

Hi,
Today I did a rare find.
I bought on a 'bric a brac' auction a big box with books and some kitchen stuff for 12 Euro. To my surprise the box turned out to be very heavy and when I got home I found on the bottom a part from a horizontal Linhof reproduction camera mounted with three Apo Ronar L lenses. They where covert with a lot of dust and dirt but after a bit of cleaning the glass looks unscratched. The lenses are F9-128/240mm, F9-280/360mm and F9-180/480mm and don’t have a shutter. Don’t know if they are coated. Does anybody know if I can use these lenses on a 4x5 camera or bigger, what type of shutter these lenses will fit or any other information on these lenses?

Lucas

[ This Message was edited by: prakticavlc2 on 2004-03-07 13:56 ]

Dave · Joined: 05 Dec 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Canada

Congratulations on a very lucky purchase! I have the Rodenstock data sheets for the 1982 versions of the Apo-Ronars, and if you want I can scan it and send it to you, but it might take me a few days. Let me know.

The Apo-Ronars are process lenses, optimized for 1:1. Having said that, Rodenstock says they'll work fine for considerable enlargements and reductions. You can certainly use them at infinity, and some landscape photographers like process lenses because they're fairly small and backpackable.

They have four elements in four groups and the design limits them to a maximum aperture of f/9. Rodenstock recommends a working aperture of f/22.

Your 240 takes a #1 shutter, and will cover 4 x 5, with an image circle of 212mm at f/22 focused on infinity. The 360 takes a #3 shutter and will cover 5 x 7. The 480 also takes a #3 shutter and will cover 8 x 10. There should be no practical difficulty getting them mounted in shutters, but it may get expensive.

Of course, the big limitation is that you'll run out of bellows before you can use the 360 or 480, unless you have a view camera with lots of extension.

[ This Message was edited by: Dave on 2004-03-07 15:24 ]

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

t.r.sanford · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 4:30 am Post subject:

You can purchase new Packard-Ideal shutters, including flash synchronized ones and models actuated by a solenoid rather than a bulb, from:

http://www.hubphoto.com/photography-products.htm

They're not cheap, and may be of limited use for outdoor photography, especially with fast film.

prakticavlc2 · Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 11:55 pm Post subject:

Hello Dave, Dan and T.R. Sandford,

Dave, thanks for the offer but I did last night a search on the Rodenstock website and found the data on the Apo Ronars.

I also found examples of these lenses put in a shutter on the website of S.K. Grimes. I guess if I let them put the three lenses in a shutter it will cost around $1000. And a 8x10 camera $1200? That would be a expensive new hobby and my wife would kill me!

But I love the big format and the Apo Ronar seems to be a decent lens for it.

I know where I can get a shutter from a old repro camera for free that looks like a sort of Packard shutter with a solenoid. Perhaps that will work. I also saw a few websites with homemade 8x10 camera’s that looks like fun to build. So I think that’s the way I will go, the large format bug has bitten me! I have access to the scanner for it and I have a Epson A2 printer at home so I can go beyond contact printing.

PS
I was educated in the graphical arts, worked as a typesetter by hand, printer, repro photographer, studio photographer and for the last twenty-seven years as a graphical designer and found a picture of me, thirteen years old in 1965, working at school on the same horizontal Linhof camera these lenses where used on. Strange how things work out!

Lucas de Boer

Dan Fromm · Joined: 14 May 2001 Posts: 2144 Location: New Jersey

Dave · Joined: 05 Dec 2003 Posts: 78 Location: Canada

worldphoto · Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2004 5:13 pm Post subject:

Hi
I agree with what Dan First suggested:
Sell them on eBay and let someone else have the problem. Further, Buy a good modern 8x10 lens/shutter and get enjoying LF photography sooner.
I had the same wife conditions you have spoken about and all I had to do was sell off all my odd ball photographic equipment to buy a Nikon F5 and a Schneider- Kreluznach 360mm lens and Compur #3 shutter (Both made in Germany). I have never looked back!
Harry
P.S. The 360mm works great on my 4x5 view as well. I only have to screw the rear element in from the back after the lens board is mounted.
[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-03-09 09:15 ]

[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-03-09 09:50 ]

[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-03-09 14:27 ]

[ This Message was edited by: worldphoto on 2004-03-09 14:28 ]

worldphoto · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2004 5:32 am Post subject:

http://www.worldphoto.bravepages.com/
Lucas
You've indicated an interest in building view cameras. I have built two 4x5 views and one 8x10 view. One of the 4x5s is mounted with 30" bellows and the other has bag bellows. Take a look at my view camera photos and notes about building them on my web site.
Harry