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Re: My Petzval Lens Story
here are some sample pictures.
the one with the mother and child is the first (wrong) configuration of the rearmost crown glass.
after turning around the crown glass the defects were much better but sharpness and contrast was only acceptable after photoshop (Picture of Josef´s grave)
the two portraits are shot in the dallmeyer configuration and speak for themself :-)
thanks for all your help!
best
fred
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Re: My Petzval Lens Story
Look on the edge of the lens elements. The big guys usually added their signature and date or city there. Here's a "Darlot Paris":
Attachment 75101
Sometimes there is also microengraving on the rear element next to the barrel.
Re: My Petzval Lens Story
Fred, as you probably know ( and proud of too!), Vienna was more than just Voigtländer. There were many quality small makers during the first decades of the Petzvals.
Obviously their style was influenced by the "big brother", but the transition turning from barrel to lens hood looks more like the French/English system. Early engravings are often very shallow but even just a few swiggles may be recognised here if you post a photo.
4 Attachment(s)
Re: My Petzval Lens Story
Thank you for your replies!
Joe:I examined the lens carefully but there is nothing to be found on any of the elements, mounts or inside the barrel. I´ve attached some detailed shots and a picture of all the pieces.
Steven: The Petzval lens is the most exciting and succesfull design, photographicaly speaking, that was invented in vienna AFAIK :-) I know that there were many manufacturers of Petzval lenses and that I possibly got a lens made by a small work shop instead of the big names. Still its puzzling me why ths thing seems to work best in dallmeyer configuration. Did they do it to have no problems with the Austrian Petzval Patent? or did the previous Owner get the lens by any other means from France or England (WWII possibly?) so many questions that probably never get answered..
I found a small engraving of the number 4 (lower left in the photo of the barrel), this first let me to believe that there was some markings on the lens originaly.
Sorry for the bad quality of the digital pictures, I´m a Film addict and have no other means of digital capture than my camera phone ;)
Re: My Petzval Lens Story
The Dallmeyer patent was not just a switching of the position of the plate and crown lenses in the rear cell!
CCHarrison has a good section of the evolution of the Petzvals which shows typical profiles of the lenses. You might find the type which is nearest yours - thus find the original configuration.r
Patent laws were not transferable/controled across national boundaries and the protection given was for a short period only in the 19th century.
No name Petzvals are not as common as no name Rapid Rectilinear/Aplanat lenses. But the lacquer here looks like the original finish - which suggests there never was an engraving.