» DAGOR 355mm MC GOLD DOT Schneider 14" W/ Compur #3

[Don Hutton]

I think Camera West in Monterrey has a single coated Schneider GD 14inch for about $1400 - I actually prefer the single coated iteration of this lens - the MC version is pretty harsh.

[seawolf66]

Here is a list of web site's to go looking for those types of lens
[http://www.lensrepro.com/]]]]][http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/]]]]
[http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/][For sale section]][[[http://photo.net/][for sale forum]]][[http://www.apug.org/forums/home.php][for sale section]]]]
[[http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home....=photography]]

good luck :

[Caracalla]

Check your pulse for magic bullet attackis. Yes, the GDMC is a lovely lovely lens. A lot of pluses in a very small elegant package. But $2600? I wouldn't accuse anyone else, but I know I have to constantly remind myself, "it's the image stupid". IOW some images made with a $26 lens can trump the ones made with the $2600 lens simply because they are wonderful.

OK, OK. If you twist my arm I'll cave in and sell you my lowly single coated GD14 for a mere $2150.00

Jim,

As far as twisting your arm, I can work on that but $2,150.00 is out of my league and that's the problem

[Caracalla]

I've got a 14" Apo-Artar that set me back a whopping $225.00 plus another $45.00 to Carol Flutot for a CLA. I'd bet a thousand bucks that if me and Jim were to shoot the same subject without knowing the other was doing it, and then if you compared the image shot with his Gold Dot and the one shot with my Red Dot, his would be much, much better than mine.

Not because the lens is better. He's just a good photographer and I'm not. However, if he used both lenses to shoot the same image, I'd love to see how many people could see the difference.

Totally Agree!

[Scott Davis]

I've actually seen that test - well, with the GD Dagor, a 14" Commercial Ektar, a 375mm Ilex, and one other that I can't recall at this time. What I do know is that you CAN tell the difference between the lenses. The Dagor is by far the most contrasty, but it also has the harshest out-of-focus areas, and an unpleasant sharpness. The Ilex and Ektar were pretty closely tied for smooth focus transitions, overall contrast and color, and high but not intrusive sharpness. These shots were done on 8x10 transparency, so you couldn't fudge the results in printing.

[Caracalla]

Almost everthing used in the 355-360 range will give better overall performance IMO than a Dagor on small formats (8X10 and smaller) and would be much less expensive. That would inlcude Symmar-S, Rodnestock-Sironar, Fujinon-W, Nikkor-W, etc. That would also include most of the Apo type lenses mounted in shuter: Red Dot Artar, Apo-Nikkor, Apo-Geronar, etc.

Of coure, some love the "Dagor" look, which is quite real. But that look results in large part from lens aberrations that give a nice "bokeh" in the out of focus parts of the image. But for the "Dagor" look older non-coated or single coated Dagors would do just as well, if not better.


Sandy King

I agree and the price difference so far is substantially different.

[Caracalla]

I'd look at a 14" Commercial Ektar as a viable alternative. Not only is it a faster optic (f6.3), but it throws a huge image circle (11x14 with movement), costs 1/5 what that Dagor did, and actually has a more pleasing bokeh (the iris in a Copal 3 is a 5-bladed iris, which yields some pretty harsh OOFAs, whereas the Ilex #5 shutter has a 20+ bladed iris, which gives a much more nearly circular aperture, thus smoother transitions from sharp to out-of-focus). The Commercial Ektars are also coated (not multi, but still) so they give excellent contrast without being too punchy.

OK 14" Commercial Ektar, Yusuf Karshs favourite lens I hear. I know his images but can somebody point me to the link/direction of some real world images.

Finally, where do I get one? any ideas?

[Caracalla]

I think that price was an aberration. Probably closer to $1200-1400. I got mine years ago to use for 8x10. Then it turned out that I never used the 8x10 that often and when I did it was with wider angle lenses. Now I've been using this lens with 5x7. Does have a different look compared to my other "modern" lenses. Never seems to be hard sharp or harsh. As compared to say my 150 G-Claron. I'm still not sure I like the look. Anyhow I'll trade my one owner complete with box lens for your 5x7 wood Canham with 5x7 and 4x5 back. Gotta strike while the iron is hot. Did I mention the small size 60mm filter, and that Compur shutter is nice even without a T setting.

Chuck,

I don't have 5x7 wood Canham with 5x7 and 4x5 back but if you could help me translate that in $$$ i would appreciate it

[Caracalla]

I think Camera West in Monterrey has a single coated Schneider GD 14inch for about $1400 - I actually prefer the single coated iteration of this lens - the MC version is pretty harsh.

Thanks, I will give them a call...

[Caracalla]

Here is a list of web site's to go looking for those types of lens
[http://www.lensrepro.com/]]]]][http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/]]]]
[http://www.equinoxphotographic.com/][For sale section]][[[http://photo.net/][for sale forum]]][[http://www.apug.org/forums/home.php][for sale section]]]]
[[http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home....=photography]]

good luck :

Short-Cut appreciated

!!!Cheers!!!