Improve sharpness of a magic lantern lens?

[badler]

I have a brass magic lantern lens. I am wondering if I can add an aperture and reduce the softness of the lens?
Thanks

[Tin Can]

Yes and Magic Lanterns had them

[badler]

Yes and Magic Lanterns had them

Thanks I’m guessing I could place one behind the rear cell. There is no slot for a Waterhouse stop.

[Tin Can]

Many old lenses were cut for stops

Not at front or back

Middle

Some of us like soft

[Greg]

For a small donation a High School metal working shop (yes they still exist) would be glad to cut you a slot. Question is just where to place the slot in the brass barrel. I once did this in an old brass projection lens and placed the slot midway between the lens elements. It worked out just find, but probably more because of blind luck.

[cowanw]

I would cut a black matboard to fit in the lens hood and make the apertures in the middle of that to try out various smaller apertures.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I removed the stop in my magic lantern lens. Got black candle soot all over my fingers LOL. Threw the stop away. I wanted swirlier and swirlier. Got it, and Yep it's SWIRLY. Mucho increased lens speed too now F4 or so. Some here say it's out of focus, but not in the center. I kind of like the effect sometimes.

Makiflex JLane 9x12 Glass Plate EI 1 Key Day by Nokton48, on Flickr

[Vaidotas]

https://www.largeformatphotography.i...02#post1597102