Graflex.org Forum Index Graflex.org
Get help with your Graflex questions here
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

tessar 135mm 4.5

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Graflex.org Forum Index -> Lenses Help
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
geobedell



Joined: 20 Nov 2001
Posts: 5
Location: tallahassee fl

PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2001 8:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i recently purchased an old tessar to use on my super graphic - it was clean enough, and only 70 bucks because it was uncoated. i'm wondering about this whole coating thing though, as the lens is quite sharp, and has good contrast. the lens is marked carl zeiss jenna #2370372, 13,5cm, f4.5, and is mounted in a compur shutter. any thoughts?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Les



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

PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2001 9:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The more air to glass surfaces you have, the more light and image is lost. Coating helps reduce interal reflections and this light loss. Ans since this light loss isn't bouncing around, the image is sharper.

Consequently a multi element like a Planar or a double gauss lens like a WF ektar will benefit more from coating than say a Dagor or Tessar.

Depending onthe lens design you may or may not find some color fringing when you shoot chromes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
geobedell



Joined: 20 Nov 2001
Posts: 5
Location: tallahassee fl

PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2001 9:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

les,
thanks for your reply. actually, what i was wondering more about is if it might in fact be coated. i'm sort of trying to figure out what the vintage of the lens might be, and if the serial # etc, might give someone enough clues.
thanks,
gb
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Les



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

PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2001 3:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

http://www.craigcamera.com/zeisslen.htm

These numbers were derived from prototype lenses with both numbers and a production year. It sounds a lot like Graflex numbers-there's a certain amount of latitude.

Also early coating were soft, and it's common to see leicas that WERE coated now with only a hint of coating around the edges. Also true is that glass naturally oxides and creates what is called bloom--a natural coating.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
geobedell



Joined: 20 Nov 2001
Posts: 5
Location: tallahassee fl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 21, 2001 3:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

les,
thanks again for the info, it was very helpful. the serial #'s and dates were exactly the type of thing i was looking for. this whole sight has been very informative.
gb
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
danimal



Joined: 22 Jun 2001
Posts: 48
Location: Upper Sonoran Desert

PostPosted: Tue Nov 27, 2001 11:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi geobedell,
I have the same lens and I like it a lot. If I remember things correctly, a CZJ lens is prewar and therefore not coated. Well, Zeiss did hard coat a few lenses before the war, but I think that they were small format lenses.
The Tessar is a great design. It's simple and doesn't need coating as much as the new mulit-element zooms and superwides. As Les mentioned, a simple lens like a Tessar with few air-to-glass interfaces is Ok without coating. Tessar formula lenses are still being manufactured after 100 years, so there must be something good about the design.
My personal opinion is that uncoated lenses represent great values. You get a lot of lens for dirt cheap. You wrote that you like the results that the Tessar gives you. Since you're happy, it's a good lens, right?
Dan




_________________
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. You are free to disagree as long as you don't mind being wrong.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
geobedell



Joined: 20 Nov 2001
Posts: 5
Location: tallahassee fl

PostPosted: Wed Nov 28, 2001 12:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dan,
it's hard to argue with good results isn't it? i may have to pick up an old goerz dagor next. part of the beauty of shooting vintage equipment (speed graphics, etc.) is realizing that life existed before super-multi-coating and matrix metering. i was just looking through the jim stone textbook for large format, and saw a great image - alfred steiglitz making one of his cloud images with a giant old Graflex slr. it looks like he's playing the tuba!
thanks for your input,
gb
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Graflex.org Forum Index -> Lenses Help All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group