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rchouser · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Posts: 16 Location: northern virginia

I am new to LF(see posts on View Help) but this is a lens question. I spent the day with my new old gvII and I love it. Question: The camera has the original lensboad but is mounted with a Prontor-SVS shutter, a ring labeled Poloroid Pathfinder Camera 110A and a Rodenstock - Ysarex 127mm f4.7 lens. Am I in trouble or is this ok. All lens speeds seem ok (including slow speeds). I shot a poloroid and results were better than I deserve (no operater experience). Quick comment. Thanks to View Help responders, I went with the poloroid back and not the RH-20 Roll back. Anyway, I would appreciate any insite to this lens. It has a pc-cord connection and the ablility to select then to select and lock an fstop/lenspeed combination for a specific EV, the maintain the EV relationship thoughout any further speed fstop setting change. Kind of a mechanical apeture priority setting. Well, I've rambled on but it's Sunday morning. Thanks to all who read this.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

they Ysarex was Rodenstock's highly developed and coated version of the Tessar.

In effect it's an Ektar or Optar that's been upgraded and may even have some rare earth glass.

A couple of months ago I saw a very late (70s) Crown with the same lens in the same shutter. The only difference was it said GRAPHIC instead of Polaroid. The camera was near mint and went for over $1000.

While it won't allow as much movements as a Symmar S, in a resolution competition, it will hold its own with any $300-$400 lens.

Now wipe that smile of your face and go take some pictures!!!!

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

I'd guess you've got a lens off a polaroid camera.

I've thought of doing the same thing. You can get a lens with a nice shutter for peanuts. The seller will even throw in the camera it's attached to-)))

http://www.kameramuseum.de/1polaroid/pola-110.html

It's in German but I think all the important stuff is clear.

jdman · Joined: 13 May 2001 Posts: 302 Location: Midwest

Has anyone ever tried to get the front and rear elements out of the ysarex in a SVS prontor shutter? These things are built like no other lens I have ever seen. Russ

Jeffwpc · Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 8 Location: Texas

Since people started converting thesecameras to Polaroid pack film, roll film and 4x5, the selling prices have gone up. If you came across one, it might be worth more by selling the entire camera on ebay and buying another lens.