Protar V 6.5x8.5: worth putting in shutter?

[Daniel Geiger]

I got a freebe Bausch & Lomb Zeiss Protar V f/18 6.5x8.5 inches format. Looks uncoated. I saw one on e-bay for $295 in very scuffy condition. Mine is pristine even in original container and one original lens cap. Supposedly it has a 5 9/16" focal length (141 mm) which may be a nice intermediate for me. I shoot 4x5 color. From previous threads, it seems the lens series V is quite popular with the 8x10 and above crowd. But, is it worth putting it in shutter (SK Grimes) for 4x5 and is chromatic abberation acceptable? Or has it more decorative value?

Thanks for the collective insight!

[Michael Jones]

Here's what R*n W**n*r said about the licensor's version of your lens:

14cm Zeiss Protar V f:18 in original barrel, waterhouse stop disk $400 . This has long been one of my favorite lenses for 8x10. Many of my portfolio images have been taken with one of these lenses. I do not like to mount these in shutters, but rather, use the original barrel and a lens cap. You get the most coverage this way, and they are tiny to carry, weighing only a few ounces.

I've never used Protars for color, but I have in B/W and they have a wonderful image quality. But they may be too "soft" for color and certainly for enlarging. They are uncoated so the contrast is less than modern lenses in many outdoor setting.

The real question is whether you will use the lens. If "yes," ignore the $500 or so (and R*n) to mount it. The downside is that a 120mm Super Angulon will also cover both formats, so I'd be wary of spending more than that. That said, I'd wager you could always sell it. Old pristine glass in a modern shutter grabs a bunch of people.

Enjoy it whatever you do.

[Jim Galli]

I'm not sure you CAN put it in a shutter. The Protar V cell spacing is extremely close. There may not be a modern shutter that can get them close enough together. 141mm on 4X5 isn't worth troubling with IMHO. There are so many other choices.

[Mark Sampson]

Before I spent any money I'd try it in the barrel. Using f/64 ought to mean long enough exposures for the lenscap-as-shutter method. And strangely enough, the last time I tried an uncoated lens (not a Protar), the color images looked better than the b/w ones. Lower contrast of course, but still pleasing, whereas the b/w images were just too flat looking. I'd never have guessed it if I hadn't tried it.

[Oren Grad]

I think I've seen one of these front-mounted in a large shutter. But since first-rate modern 135s and 150s are widely and inexpensively available, I doubt it's worth it for 4x5, unless you've tried it and there's something distinctive about its optical character that appeals to you. Its main claim to fame is as an ultracompact ultrawide for 8x10.

[John D Gerndt]

I use one back mounted to a #5 shutter, you can reach right in and set it with the shutter locked open. I have shot color and b&W with it - color is what you might expect, low saturation, but I can speak well of the sharpness and the tonality is sweet. It is a well corrected lens, it just lacks a coating.

If you do want to mount it you'll need a Volute shutter that uses the iris for the shutter, there is not room enough for two sets of blades between the cells.

The particular MTF for this lens is unique, I love it. I am happy enough with the back mounting scheme; I have applied it to 5 smaller barrel lenses. Cheap thrills, highly recommended.

Cheers,

[David G. Gagnon]

Okay, I've got to ask about what may be a similar lens.

B&L Zeiss Anastigmat Series V 6 ½ x 8½ in a barrell mount, f 18 to 90.5 (waterhouse stops on a rotating wheel).

This is a different lens, right? I've had it for about six years, have tried it on the camera and know it covers 8x10, but have not shot with it, mainly because it's so hard to focus being an f18. Has anyone out there used this lens?

Thanks in advance.

DG

[Daniel Geiger]

Thanks for the various opinions. Now I only have to figure out how to barrel mount the lens. I trust I get an undrilled board and go to the local machine shop. I may try it just for the heck of hit. Should be fun.

David Gagnon: I think we do have different lenses. Mine has an iris diaphragm engraved from f/18 to f/64.

[Dan Fromm]

David, same design. Yours is pre-1917, Daniel's is later.

[Scott Sharp]

It is great to see some information on Protar lenses. I also just got one of these lenses and was wondering how old it is. It is a Bausch & Lomb Zeiss Protar, Series V . This came in a brass barrel with a diaphragm and US stops engraved from 20 to 256. Does anyone have a list of Bausch & Lomb serial numbers?