Hi. New Here. Have a lens problem

[Dan Fromm]

I think I read somewhere that Kodak used modified Ilex shutters on some of their lenses. Is it possible the shutter was replaced and the aperture scale transferred?

Why do you suspect that happened? I ask because AFAIK the difference between the Ilex shutters Kodak used and those sold to other customers was the tubes IDs and thread pitch. Kodak's Ilex shutters don't accept cells from normal Ilexes and normal Ilexes don't accept Kodak cells. I bought an Ilex #3 a while ago with an f/4.5 Kodak Anastigmat bodged to it. The rear cell was glued (!) to the rear of the shutter and the front cell was forced into the front threads. I can't get it out, don't need the shutter badly enough to pay someone, e.g., skgrimes, to do it for me without breaking anything. If I forced it I'd break something.

A shop like skgrimes should be able to dismantle the OP's lens, clean up the threads, and reassemble properly.

[Bernice Loui]

There appears to be a problem between the front lens cell threads and the threaded tube between the shutter to lens cell. This should be repairable. The problem with threads can be resolved by a LF lens specialist or GOOD local machinist. The problem does not appear to be that serious in any way.

That much of a gap will affect optical performance of this Kodak Commercial Ektar.

This appears to be a typical Ilex# 5 flash sync with the bi-post flash sync connector. This requires a special bi-post to common flash sync cable to connect this shutter to modern flash gear. There is a lever in the area near the bi-post flash connector labeled, Off - M - X. Off disables the flash, M is for flash bulbs (flash trigger is delayed relative to shutter opening to allow flash bulb burn up time, X is for electronic flash (triggers the flash when the shutter is fully opened).

As for vintage lenses like this compared to modern, there are more than a few LF folks who are very fond of lenses like this due to their personality. Think of vintage lenses like great musical instruments ( Stradivarius, Guarneri, Cremona) from long ago that has not been equaled for their personality and quality of sound. Having spent decades of LF image making with many, many LF lensed vintage and modern, the Kodak Ektar remains one of my all time favorites. Some of the great vintage lenses are tweaked for visual quality beyond being designed to an idealized optical metric of performance in much the same way a great musical instrument is voiced to deliver a special-unique sonic personality.

Choices in LF optics is also dependent on the goals of the image maker. Vintage lenses is not for all as with modern lenses are not for all. Only way to really know what works for your image making needs is to try them, but know they must be proper examples of what any given LF optics could be as there are often variations in LF optics due to when they were made, changes to or damage over their life time and similar.


Bernice

[Gordon Lucas]

Yes indeed the lens gap is not normal but it might be perfectly fine for your purposes. We don't really know if X-sync is dysfunctional until you can test it with a proper cable.

If you find the lens is sharp, then I would concentrate on the shutter issue then get back to us. You can get a brand new Paramount PB-PF flash extension for under $20. (The cord has a female PC connection - thus it is an extension so you will need a standard PC cord as well.)

#5 X-synch is usually easy to fix. Funny, but I've never had X go bad.

Best of luck and please keep us informed.

Thanks. I'll track down an extension as you suggested, and repost when I've gotten some results. Can you suggest a source?
Thanks again.

[Gordon Lucas]

Thanks to you all . . . I'll do some legwork and repost when I have some results.

[Bernice Loui]

Sync cord adapter would be a Paramount# 17BPPF
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...2C_D_BwE&smp=y

The threaded tube between front of the shutter to lens cell is made to fit this set of lens cells. If a replacement is truly needed, it will need to be re-made based on the tube on lens. Think individually hand crafted item.


Bernice

[dsphotog]

If I remember correctly, Richard Avedon used a 14 in. Commercial Ektar for his 8x10 portraits.
He seemed to do rather well.
I recommend you shoot with it (even as is) before selling it.
It just might become your trademark.

[Bernice Loui]

"As smaller format cameras and films improved, large format became an increasingly rare tool in photography. Still, it was (and remains) the pinnacle for uncompromised photographic quality for those willing to absorb the extra cost and work necessary. While the generic sharp look makes any large format lens of appropriate focal length (for the format) and speed a good portrait lens, the Kodak Commercial Ektar for 8×10 stands out as a classic lens of our time. Yousuf Karsh used a 14-inch Commercial Ektar for his iconic portraits of Winston Churchill, Ernest Hemmingway, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and others, and for decades, 12- and 14-inch Commercial Ektars made all the Playboy Centerfolds."

https://www.wphsociety.org/forums/to...portrait-lens/


-Add Phillip Chairs, Kodak Ektar lens, 5x7 camera and there are a long list of others..


Bernice

If I remember correctly, Richard Avedon used a 14 in. Commercial Ektar for his 8x10 portraits.
He seemed to do rather well.
I recommend you shoot with it (even as is) before selling it.
It just might become your trademark.

[morecfm]

I had an Ilex 12" in a #4 shutter that had jammed threads. It appeared that I had galling between the lens cell threads and the shutter threads. I'm not sure of the material of the two components, but galling can occur with aluminum to aluminum threaded joints. To resolve the issue, I applied a little penetrating oil into the threads (careful, not too much, just wet the threads), allowed the penetrating oil to soak in and used a strap wrench to remove the offending lens cell. I brushed out the both threads to remove debris and used an anti-seize compound (just a little bit) into the joint and repeatedly screwed the cell in and out and the threading became smooth. YMMV

[Luis-F-S]

I'd send it to SKG. May not be the cheapest, but it will be done right the first time! L

[DrTang]

is the pointer ON X? it looks a bit off... maybe that's the problem with the flash