Just got a new lens from India-- an 18" Emil Busch Rapid Aplanat f:8 No. 5. Looks like it was imported by a trading company in Bombay--maybe it was used to photograph the Viceroy. Unfortunately, the iris was removed at some point, but I'm going to use it for portraits, so maybe wide open is ok. Plan B is to cut a slit and make some waterhouse stops, but I'd hate to cut into this lens. Any ideas on the performance and coverage of this thing?
Wow, Can't help you with any information about the lens but, it is a beauty and if the glass looks as good as the barrel it is a nice find.
Jan-- Amazingly, the glass looks almost perfect. I sort of half-expected to get a fake brass lens, but it sure looks real. From what I've read, Aplanats are the same as Rapid Rectilinear lenses. I'm going to mount it in front of my Deardoff Packard shutter box and hopefully, it'll be my main portrait lens.
Barry, look forward to see what you can do with this lens.
I have a TTH RR also out of India and i would not be surpriced if it is from the same source.
Aplanats and RR should be identical as far as i know.
There are very slight differences between most RRs and most Aplanats, although the "rapid" or f:7 to f:8 versions are practically identical. The variations in quality between different makers are greater, in this case. And E. Busch was among the very best makers of Aplanats.
Thanks Ole and Jan. Jan--how long is your RR and do you have any pics?
Lauren made the excellent suggestion of checking Rolyn Optical for an iris and it looks like they have one that would fit. Has anyone ever fitted a modern iris to an old barrel lens?
If mounting a new iris proves too difficult or expensive and you don't want to cut the barrel for Waterhouse stops, you might go back even further by using washer stops. Unscrewing a cell every time you want to change aperture would be a nuisance, but from what you say you would rarely be doing it.
Removing the (now useless) aperture ring gives you a nice precut waterhouse slot.
I have a tiny Emil Busch f/6 Detective Aplanat in perfect condition. I mounted it on a 2X3 Speed Graphic. That's as far as I got. Maybe it's time to try it out. So many cameras, so many lenses, so little time................
The estimable, Whitey Morangie, uses black painted wood washers that fit into the front flange. Though not as good as center stops, it is preferable to cutting your lens open. Aplanats are great wide open. Unless the lens is made for a larger format than you use, it may not be all that useful as a landscape lens. It also should be excellent for portraits.
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