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goamules
28-Aug-2013, 15:20
Just unpacked a new lens, which came in a series of boxes as large as a living room TV. But first, one to compare it to that I already had. Some of you may remember this photo with my daughter and a 16" Vitax. The caption I put back then was "A Lens as Big as Your Head!"
2008 Vitax first:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3256/2877206136_f966f107ab_o.jpg

Well, time goes by, and we learn children and lenses grow even larger. So I was greatly anticipating whether this lens would be as big as her, today, five years later. I think it's a pretty good scaling! Actually, I don't think she's grown this much! This new one is more than double the focal length of the old Vitax, long sold.
2013 NEW one:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/9615749697_4f13c2826c_z.jpg

goamules
28-Aug-2013, 15:22
A couple more, so you can start guessing what it is. Those in EU that know, don't answer!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2824/9618992282_58a67e6de4_z.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/9615750377_6542e9c0a9_z.jpg

Vaughn
28-Aug-2013, 15:41
It is part of the BFL Series of lenses.

Jim C.
28-Aug-2013, 16:05
It is part of the BFL Series of lenses.

LOL !

Garret, that is one BFL as Vaughn put it, can a studio camera actually hold something that heavy ( I'm guessing it's at least 25lbs )
without the lens board popping off ?

Mark Sawyer
28-Aug-2013, 16:07
I think you'll need an adapter to put it on that Leica...

If only we could check its memory card and see what images have gone through it. Those big lenses cost a fortune new, so they were workhorses in the studios. Had to earn their keep. What a piece of history...

ridax
28-Aug-2013, 18:51
Come on, the above are just for girls. Now meet a real man-of-war. Younger, bigger, sharper (well into infrared), and with some real not a salony history (WWII included perhaps).

Sorry no heads for comparison as no helmets were at hand :). And the scale is in cm, but there are plenty of them...

goamules
28-Aug-2013, 18:55
Holy Frijoles!

Jim Fitzgerald
28-Aug-2013, 18:59
Garret. I'm guessing a big E. Francis? Lucky you!

goamules
28-Aug-2013, 19:07
Close, you're on the right continent. Getting warm!

Jim Fitzgerald
28-Aug-2013, 19:13
At least I'm guessing! So A Gasc Chaconet?

jumanji
28-Aug-2013, 19:25
This shape looks familiar with me... Is it 13" tall, 4.75" glass dia. and weighs about 11 lbs?

pierre506
28-Aug-2013, 23:30
Hermagis?

Amedeus
29-Aug-2013, 01:02
60cm Hermagis ?

bracan
29-Aug-2013, 04:02
Hermagis for sure.

goamules
29-Aug-2013, 06:19
You all are correct, it'a a Hermagis 1200mm.

Vaughn
29-Aug-2013, 07:51
So I was wrong, it is not a BFL, it is a BFHL!

Jim Fitzgerald
29-Aug-2013, 07:54
Holly shit! Nice!!! So I was right!

William Whitaker
29-Aug-2013, 07:56
Pardon my ignorance, but what would that have been used for in its day? I mean, besides dropping on the enemy.
For that matter, what would it be used for today? 1200mm ain't small change.

jumanji
29-Aug-2013, 08:11
A 30x40 wet plate camera maybe... :D


Pardon my ignorance, but what would that have been used for in its day? I mean, besides dropping on the enemy.
For that matter, what would it be used for today? 1200mm ain't small change.

Vaughn
29-Aug-2013, 08:17
Pardon my ignorance, but what would that have been used for in its day? I mean, besides dropping on the enemy.
For that matter, what would it be used for today? 1200mm ain't small change.

It is used on a BFC...:cool:

William Whitaker
29-Aug-2013, 08:19
I had to ask...

goamules
29-Aug-2013, 09:43
I'm thinking of making a camera obscura out of my bathroom. That way when I go in there, it will be like being outside!

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/in-focus-abelardo-morell/?_r=0

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/themoment/posts/100708CentralPark_01.jpg

Roger Hesketh
30-Aug-2013, 14:40
Come on, the above are just for girls. Now meet a real man-of-war. Younger, bigger, sharper (well into infrared), and with some real not a salony history (WWII included perhaps).

Sorry no heads for comparison as no helmets were at hand :). And the scale is in cm, but there are plenty of them...


I had one of these. A Zeiss Telikon 750mm f 6.3. I had it for years but could not find a use for it due to it's weight so sold it earlier this year. It weighs about 11kg. According to the Lens collectors Vade Mecum their weight was also a problem for the ME109s that carried them.

Mine was T coated and the Serial number dated it to around 1942.

Apparently it is quite common for even high quality lenses to differ from their nominal focal length by sometimes up to 5% of their focal length. The focal length of these Telikon's was correct to within 0.1mm such was the precision of their construction.

I have a 30 inch F5.6 Dallmeyer Mounted in an aluminium focusing mount. Despite being half a stop faster. It is half the weight.

maurits
3-Sep-2013, 02:58
Congrats Garrett. Impressive!

BTW, did I guess right? ;)

eddie
3-Sep-2013, 04:23
are you sure? it does not look big enough for 1200mm.....that is 48 inches right? what is it like f9? are you sure al the glass is present? does it focus?.....nicely? how tall is really? what is the real diameter in inches not head size.

Taija71A
3-Sep-2013, 05:25
A couple more, so you can start guessing what it is...

____


Interesting Thread! But Why Guess??? :)


On 08-22-2013, 09:23 AM... The 'OP' Posted:

>> I have acquired a Hermagis Aplanatique that is 1200mm or 47 inch focal length. Other than turning my living room into a camera obscura, what format would this cover, if they even made film larger than 20x24? I'm roughly guessing it would cover 40x40?


http://www.apug.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-122141.html


:D :D :D

--
Best,

-Tim.
________

goamules
3-Sep-2013, 10:30
Congrats Garrett. Impressive!

BTW, did I guess right? ;)

Yes, you were correct Maurits. Thanks for the help figuring out what it was before I got it. To the rest, yes, it's 47" focal length, and very sharp. Why let you try to guess what it is on this forum when I posted more specific questions on another? For fun of course! You had fun....didn't you?

goamules
3-Sep-2013, 10:32
For the more inquiring minds, I'll give more on the measurements when I get back....sitting in an airport right now (with another lens in my carry on!)

DarkroomDan
3-Sep-2013, 12:10
Lenses as big around as your head!

Stetson makes lens caps for these :rolleyes:

goamules
5-Sep-2013, 08:18
Back to inspecting this lens. Here it is next to a "little" 13" Vitax for scale.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9618993052_0399a6820f_c.jpg

Thanks to my friend Fabrice for sending a page (in french) about them, with a picture of one like mine that translates:

"Some hermagis lenses are simply engraved "Aplanetiques". It seems that it only means "spheric aberation free" without any reference to an optical formula type like rectilinear..."
(JL Pricelle book section on Hermagis)

Note the engraving 120 Centimeters.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3808/9681055914_427be37b00_z.jpg

goamules
21-Sep-2013, 09:10
Yes, I may be selling this soon, for those who've asked! Found something I want more! Stand by for ad on this forum.

goamules
8-Feb-2020, 08:29
Well, it's been in my possession 7 years, and I don't think I'll ever find a camera, trailer, or storage shed big enough to make a camera for the Hermagis mammoth lens. Preparing to move it on, I thought I'd post a few more photographs of it for posterity. I've only seen 2-3 in all these years.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49505570828_7c2e1624c3_b.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49505570968_f1e885cc97_c.jpg

Dugan
9-Feb-2020, 16:48
I would give that lens a name...

HER MAGISTY !

Don't forget to tip your waiter...