Mystery portrait lens

[Andrew L]

So I've just taken delivery of a 5x4 lens that I bought on eBay. The vendor doesn't know too much about it and he's definitely legit. It was given to him by the family of a friend of his who had died.

This is all that it says on the lens which is in a Compur 1 shutter:

Portrait Anastigmat 1:6,3 f=270 1243381

The glass is absolutely pristine and the lens is quite light which suggests to me that it doesn't have many elements. I'm guessing that it's from the '60s or '70s.

I don't think it's a Schneider as the filter size dos not match with any of my regular Schneider lenses. Schneider also told the vendor that they always put their name on their products. Maybe it's a Rodenstock?

Anyway help in identifying this would be much appreciated.

Andrew

[Ole Tjugen]

If it were a Schneider lens, it would have to have been made in 1938. Sinc you're guessing 1960's or 70's, I assume that it is coated? Or could it be a "bloom" on an uncoated lens? One of my 1930's Schneider lenses looks like it's coated, and the "bloom" works as a coating too...

Does it say "Portrait" or "Porträt"? If the latter, at least that narrows it down to Germany (or Switzerland, or Austria).

I'll guess wildly here - I think it might be a triplet. That's the most common undercorrected Anastigmat type, which is exactly what's needed for a portrait lens. The Heliars (and other Dynar-type lenses) are not "quite light".

Incidentally a 270mm f:6.3 lens shouldn't fit in a #1 shutter, but might be in a #2. If the threads on both cells are the same, it's definitely not a #1 and might be a #2. If it's a Compur shutter of that age, it's not a #3 either, as those weren't made until the Compounds were phased out in the 1970's.

[Andrew L]

Ole

It definitely says Portrait.

Interesting what you say about the shutter, which is a subject I am profoundly ignorant about. It simply says Compur 1 on it. It says around the barrel of the shutter Lens Made In West Germany. There is also the number 4 079 356.

The lens is almost certainly single coated and the glass does seem to be particularly bright and clear.

By the way, it's mounted on a Linhof Technika (West Germany written on the back of it) panel which helped persuade me to buy it.

i'm really puzzled by it all.

[Andrew L]

Here's a link to the lens as it appeared in the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...8250&rd=1&rd=1

[Jim Galli]

Mystery is a good word for it. Did Prinz make up "house brand generic's" similar to some of the stuff Burke and James sold here in the States? My "guess" fwiw is that it is a tele-photo similar to the Scheider Tele-Arton or Rodenstock "Rotelar" of the period around 1972 which is where I'd guess the shutter. Most of those were kind of "underwhelming" as sharp picture takers but might satisfy someone for portraiture.

[Bob Salomon - HP Marketing]

No mystery it is a Rodenstock 270 tele that was discontinued by Rodenstock and Linhof purchased all that were left and labeled them "Portrait" We sold the last ones in 1981 or 82.

[Jim Galli]

I just love it when the man who knows the answer steps up! Thanks Bob.

[Ole Tjugen]

Just as I had turned off the PC, the thought struck me that it must be a telephoto lens. Light weight, shutter too small for a symmetric lens, and "Portrait"... Shat should have been clues enough.

I believe you got a good deal there.

[Andrew L]

Many thanks, Bob. As I said in my first post, I guessed/hoped it was a Rodenstock. Curiously, Paula, at Linhof & Studio in the UK, failed to identify it. Was the deal done solely for you guys in the States? Cannot emphasise how good the glass looks!

[Jay DeFehr]

I have one of those. Mine came with a large Graflex XL kit I traded some work for. For what it's worth, I don't think it's much of a portrait lens; too slow and too sharp. It will cover 4x5 (barely), but movements are not practical. It will fit on a Graphic lensboard, and will work with a 4x5 Graphic camera. Good luck.

Jay