Is anyone familiar with the image circle and image quality of this lens? Is it sharp at infinity? It's a large lens, to be sure.
Is anyone familiar with the image circle and image quality of this lens? Is it sharp at infinity? It's a large lens, to be sure.
I got one with my Graflex RB Super D and have made some transparencies with it. It seems very sharp, but I'm told there are a couple of versions of this lens and that I had the better type (I don't know exactly how to tell the difference, but mine is all black and does say "Made by Wollensak for Graflex Corp" or something along those lines). As far as image circle, I haven't really tested it because the RB has no movements and I know it covers 4x5. If you would like, I could perhaps hold mine up in front of my 8x10 this weekend and measure the image circle?
We've had one on the shelf at work since long before my time- perhaps since it was new. The few times we've needed to use it, it's done the job. But from that limited experience, I think it's prone to flare. When we need it again, I'll make another home-made lenshood for it. Just a big tube of flat-black paper, taped to the barrel.
It easily covers 5x7, is quite sharp (Better than my Schneider 360 Tele-Xenar), but on my Super D Graflex it only focuses to about 20 feet.
Wilhelm (Sarasota)
the one i have is very sharp as well.
it is in a barrel (black), and the person who sold it to me
used to use it on his graflex d.
i have never checked image circle ...
in the 16x20 you can read room numbers ...
Last edited by jnantz; 11-Aug-2007 at 10:09.
Neil, it is a large lens keep that in mind.
What camera did you want to use it on?
I have one mounted on my graflex rb, and is a great match to that camera. Allthough I may try to make an extention lensboard so i can focus closer.. the way its mounted now i can only focus close to about 10 feet.
Neil: I had a Wolcoat version and used it often. It is as sharp as anything out there and it covered 5X7 with some room for movement. I had no problems with flare and didn't use a lens shade. It is big and heavy but does the job, with less bellows extended than non-telephotos this length.
Neil, I have 2 of these lenses. they just say wollensak telephoto ser# and a yellow dot.
they are 15" f5.6. So perhaps you do have the newer and better one.
you won't get much movement on 4X5 though,butfor portraits their fine.
Joe A
Neil, Let me clearify. (I don't get much moevment with my older lenses) You may get
much more movement with your newer model. Sorry for what may be a misleading
statement.
Joe A
This one says Wollensak Raptar Telephoto. Don't remember the remaining details. I know it's coated. While it's mounted in a shutter, it has a chrome barrel.
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