150mm? What are my options?

[sparq]

Another vote for the Caltar II-N. I won an almost mint copy with a pouch, set of filters and a cable release for $250 on fleabay.

[Brian Ellis]

For small size, tack sharp, and low price the Schneider G Claron would probably be my choice - I owned one for years and it was a great little lens. I don't recall the coverage but like all G Clarons the specs will be way low because the usable image circle continues to increase as you stop down. They're f9 but that isn't a problem (for me at least) with a lens as long as 150mm. No G Clarons were multi-coated, they're usually single coated. That too wasn't a problem, the difference between double and single coating is non-existant most of the time.

[Ash]

Not to put down the Razzle or other Polaroid conversions, if it were me, I would consider a Crown Graphic or Super Graphic press camera. Not quite as small, but offers all the same features of the Razzle (hand-holdable, rangefinder focusing, etc), and has additional positive features such as front movements and interchangeable lensboards so you can have multiple focal lengths on it.

Oh, and a good used Crown Graphic or Super Graphic are a fraction the cost of a Razzle conversion.

Gene, I already have a Speed Graphic. I purchased it the other week.


I guess that I forgot the main issue is how compact the setup can be, considering the lens needs to fold INTO the Polaroid camera. I really should have factored that in too!!

S/H lens choices in the UK are quite limited (like my budget!!), and the Optar appears to be more expensive than that Symmar! I'm watching a couple of auctions but I doubt I will get what I'm after any time soon. I'm REALLY tempted to find a way of putting my rough Dogmar 150mm lens (it has scratches on rear element) into a shutter - the shutter/adapting may cost more than the Symmar, however.

[Matus Kalisky]

Wel, I would just add that small, cheap and lighweight are also:

- Fujinon W 150/6.3 (tiny, but singlecoated in Seiko shutter)
- Geronar 150/6.8 (Caltar II-E) in copal#0 - both MC and single coated versions exist.

I use MC Caltar II-E 210/6.8 and it performs nicely

matus

[Ash]

Thanks for the HU on Geronars Matus. The nuisance being that it will cost as much as that Symmar after postage and customs

[Ole Tjugen]

Cheap 150mm lenses in the UK?

150/4.5 Zeiss Jena Tessar
6"/4.5 Dallmeyer Serrac
150/5.6 Schneider Symmar
150/4.5 Schneider Xenar

Or maybe a 135mm f:4.7 Optar?

All of these show up every once in a while at reasonable prices. I'm down to my last Serrac now - I bought five of them in one lot for £35 a few years ago...

[Ash]

Sshhhh! Ole don't show that auction off! I been watching that item!

[Ole Tjugen]

I've noticed that prices on German ebay tend to be better than UK, and USA is all over the place. You can find real bargains in US and UK, but for a good BIN I'd go to DE.

There are a few little goodies on ebay.de at the moment...

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Ash,

look for an Ilex Accu-Tessar f/6.3 also badged Ilex-Calumet Caltar, size #0 shutter, very sharp and usually cheap as dirt. Might be multi-coated, all the reflections are different colors. Damn nice lens, seriously under-rated.

Computar Symmetrigon f/6.3 are also fine but too large for a Polaroid.

Have fun with the hunt.