Carl Meyer vs B&l vs Dagor

[Mike Cockerham]

I have a F&L 12x20. I have a Dagor 12 in F6.8, Carl Meyer 12 in F9 process lens, and a B&L protar series IV. Which is the best choice for this camera.

Thanks Mike

[sanking]

Mike,

Some 12" F/6.8 Dagors (mostly very old ones) will cover 12X20". Most 12" Dagors will not.

A 12" f/9 Carl Meyer process lens will not cover 12X2-20 at infinity.

What is the focal length of your B&L Protar Series IV? This lens will probably cover 12X20" if the focal length is over about 270 mm.

[Mike Cockerham]

There is not a focal length on the lens. It does say 12x15.

Thanks Mike

[Mike Cockerham]

Also can I tell the age of the Dagor by the serial number? 765500 In a #4 Acme shutter.

Thanks Mike

[sanking]

Mike,

Your lens marked 12X15 (Is this the Series IV Protar?) will probably not cover 12X20 but it would most likely cover 11X14 and 7X17 so it is a very desirable lens.

The serial number of your Dagor suggests that it was manufactured in the 40s. The only way to be sure if it will cover 12X20 is to put it on the camera and observe the image on the ground glass.

[Tracy Storer]

Mike, the 12x15 Protar should be 15 3/16" focal length, and according to an old coverage table I have, should cover 16x20 stopped down. If I remember correctly, "Carl Meyer" was a construct of Burke and James, a marketing tool to sell off stuff they mostly made up out of spare parts bought as surplus and salvage from other manufacturers. Pop them all on temporary lensboards and see what works, 12" is pretty wide, if that Protar is 15 3/16" that should be a nice focal length. It's a lens I'd like to have.

[Jim Galli]

Mike, You're lucky to have that Protar. A very nice angle for 12X20. I just used my 12" Dagor in Acme 3 for the first time on 8X20 a couple of weeks ago. It barely covered the 8X20, ie. I couldn't see the aperture from the corner cut outs in the ground glass but the corners were illuminated in the neg. A little weak, but I would use it again. I doubt you'd get away with it on the 12X20. 355mm G-Claron and 450mm Nikkor M are the 2 standards that get used for 12X20 quite a bit.

[Mike Cockerham]

Thanks for all of the answers, I have used the Protar alnog time ago and it seemed to work. I got it out yesterday and notice that there is what appears to be a little seperation in the front cell. Is there any way to have this repaired.

Thanks Mike

[Tracy Storer]

A little edge separation is not a big deal and is very common among B+L lenses. The wide angle Protars perform best stopped down where minor edge separation has little or no effect. If it's really bad, there are people who can recement it. I had a lens recemented by Focal Point Lens in Colorado.(http://www.focalpointlens.com) Chances are pretty good, the lens will work fine as it is.

[Mike Cockerham]

I have rigged up all three lens onto the camera . They all cover the format. I can see the lens aperture thru the corner cutouts . The B&L lens did measure out to be 15 1/2 in lens.

Thanks

Mike