Date my Dagor?

[Chester McCheeserton]

Not sure if this was mentioned but why not have an adapter made for front mounting your 8 1/2" Dagor to a Copal 3 or a Alphax #4? this way you do not lose much if any image circle (larger shutter then if in the traditional mount probably being a Copal 1 or Alphax #3. The cost will be at a minimum as there is no need to make aperture scale for shutter or the expense of having your dagor mounted w/ a in between shutter.

Thanks for the suggestion Louis, I had not considered that and am not at all knowledgeable about the exact details involved in plunking one of these paperweights in a shutter. I guess I'm a minimalist when it comes to volume and weight, I wish the lens could somehow be squeezed in a copal 0! But I realize I probably can't have my cake and eat it too...

[Dan Fromm]

Chester, a #0 is impossible, a #1 is unlikely, probably impossible. FWIW, Boyer's equivalent, the 240/6.8 Beryl went in a #3. Beryls are remarkably similar to Dagors.

As has already been suggested, hanging it in front of an Alphax #3 (front threads 1.795" x 40 tpi, maximum opening 34.9 mm) or an Ilex #3 (1.775" x 50 tpi, 1.375") is probably the most economical way to go. FWIW, I hang my 250/6.8 Beryl in front of a #1. The adapter is a cup-shaped threaded bushing, SKGrimes has made a few of them for me.

[Michael Roberts]

Is a Packard shutter an option for you—given the speeds you normally shoot?

[Mark Sawyer]

The dates from the LF Home Page, https://www.largeformatphotography.i...c-experts.html

Goerz Amer. Optical Co. Serial #'s from Eddie Bolsetzian (former Goerz Tech.)

Lens #

70001-140935 1902-1903
150000-190170 1903-1905
200941-224267 1906-1908
223775-226630 1908-1909
310001-315734 1911-1914
315735-320000 1914-1918
751240-756909 1927-1937
755300 1934
756910-765730 1937-1945
765730-771199 1945-1948
771200-780169 1948-1954
791500 ~1955

[Dan Fromm]

I had that same model lens once. It came mounted in an Ilex 3 shutter. There is currently one listed on eBay in a Copal 1. It still has an aperture of f/6.8.

Right you are, I found it. So the front cell has to magnify the diaphragm's image by around 20%.

[MAubrey]

Dagors have been 'cult' lenses since long before I began shooting LF in 1981. There are many threads here about their image qualities... a controversial subject. I have not used one enough to have an opinion about that. But the design was in production from the 1890s until at least 1982, by many manufacturers, which suggests a quality design. A look at the front page of this site suggests that Goerz lens #791500 dates from 1955, so yours may be from the late '50s. I'd try the lens out as-is; it may very well be worth putting into a shutter.

Even more recent than 82'!

The Schneider 550mm XXL Fine Art lens is a Dagor design.

[Bernice Loui]

This IS a surprise, they fitted a 9-1/2" Dagor into a Copal# 1 shutter.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/C-P-Goerz-A...IAAOSwq~JbloFf

All of the later 9-1/2" Dagors I've been around are in Ilex# 3.

From f16 to f45, covers 8x10. Focus shift possible, be aware of this. This design has withstood the test of time for many good reasons. Still have three of them in barrel used with Sinar Shutter. 8-1/2", 10-3/4", 12". All three are keepers as with the Kodak Ektars, APO Artar, and ...


Bernice

I had that same model lens once. It came mounted in an Ilex 3 shutter. There is currently one listed on eBay in a Copal 1. It still has an aperture of f/6.8.

[Chester McCheeserton]

Is a Packard shutter an option for you—given the speeds you normally shoot?

technically yeah, I don't use strobes or anything but I like having options, sometimes it's bright out here in California and I like to be able to stop action.

[neil poulsen]

The main thing is that it's factory coated. Use and enjoy. Although production quality could vary, one of my sharpest and neatest images was made with a 7" Dagor of similar vintage. (Mine was mounted in a Rapax shutter, which Dagor had purchased during the war. They cound't get Compurs.)

Bear in mind, that Dagors can be subject to a bit of focus shift. So, double-check the focus if you can with the lens stopped down.

[Chester McCheeserton]

. Focus shift possible, be aware of this.

Bernice

Bernice just curious, I've read of this too - did you experience this for yourself with this specific lens or also just read of others mentioning it?