Graflex.org

aoresteen · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Newnan, GA, USA

Does any one know the year the 135mm f/4.7 Optar was introduced and the year it was discontinued? I know it's a common lens and must have been in production for a long long time.

Thanks!

45PSS · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject:

A Graphic Optar is a Wollensak Raptar rebadged. A Graphex shutter is a Rapax rebadged.
The catalogs at http://www.cameraeccentric.com/info.html suggest the Raptar was introduced in the 1940's.
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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

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

45PSS · Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2013 7:58 pm Post subject:

aoresteen · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Newnan, GA, USA

Thanks!

I knew that the Raptars were introduced in the 40's but was wondering when the Optar branded 135mm lenses came out.

Also, is there anyway to identify a Rodenstock Optar from a Wollensak Optar?

When were the last 135mm Optars made?

45PSS · Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:29 pm Post subject:

The Rodenstock made lens say Rodenstock Optar on the lens rim.
From what I seen repairing Anniversary's I would say the Optar name started in 1947 with the introduction of the Pacemaker series of cameras.
All Anniversarys I've serviced have Zeiss or Schnider in Compur shutters.
http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/graflex_9.html lists many of the common lens used on Graflex Corp. cameras.
The Optar name is not present prior to the Pacemaker and the Optar name is applied to many focal lengths made for Graflex starting with the Pacemaker.
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

aoresteen · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Newnan, GA, USA

45PSS,

Thanks so much for the info! It's what I was looking for.

78ltd · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Texas

I don't know about the 135mm Optar, but I have a uncoated Optar 6 3/8" F/4.5 with a serial number of 289450 that pre-dates the Pacemaker camera's. So the Optar name starts at least in the early 40's. It is in a No. 3 non sync Graphex shutter.

aoresteen · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Newnan, GA, USA

78ltd · Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 62 Location: Texas

According to the filing Folmer Graflex made on Monday June 22nd, 1942, the name "Optar" was first used on May 8th, 1942. They had the trademark granted on October 27th, 1942. So at least we know it's no earlier than that.

aoresteen · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Newnan, GA, USA