Zeiss/B&L Protar Series V

**ghostcount** · 23-Nov-2011, 17:49

I recently acquired a Zeiss/B&L 5x7 Protar Series V f/20-f/256 and wanted to know more about it. I googled it and found some information but mostly on the f/18 version. VM says very little about the f/20 other than it's "...an early lens as no focal length seems to be engraved on it." The serial number is 140xxx.

I would like to know more information about it such as when it was made, what focal length it was sold as (I can check actual FL), image circle, etc...

TIA.

**Jim Galli** · 23-Nov-2011, 18:01

Originally Posted by ghostcount

I recently acquired a Zeiss/B&L 5x7 Protar Series V f/20-f/256 and wanted to know more about it. I googled it and found some information but mostly on the f/18 version. VM says very little about the f/20 other than it's "...an early lens as no focal length seems to be engraved on it." The serial number is 140xxx.

I would like to know more information about it such as when it was made, what focal length it was sold as (I can check actual FL), image circle, etc...

TIA.

A really fine lens. About 110mm I think but someone will correct me if I'm far off. f20 and f18 are the same lens but one (yours) is the old US numbering system. So 20 is 18, 32 is 22, 64 is 32, etc. It covers 110 degrees which is more than most modern wide angles. Excellent in use, but hard to use indoors.

**Louis Pacilla** · 23-Nov-2011, 18:18

The lens stops are marked in the US scale so US 20 = f18 which is the maximum f stop. The lens should cover up to 100-110 degrees stopped all the way down.I beleive your should cover 8x10 but you'll have to give her a try.

I have a few Protar V's pretty damn sharp wide angle lens. One of my favorite views is the Protar V 10x12 (8 1/2") lens on 7x17.

****** On the age of your lens. If your serial # is in fact 140.xxx then it was made in 1920. Not possible so I think your serial # is more like 14.xxx which fit's the style of your series V. So your lens was made in 1894 give or take a year.

Here's a link to a B&L catalog 1907. http://piercevaubel.com/cam/catalogs/1907b&llp837.htm

Jim beat me to it. Yes US 20 -f18

**ghostcount** · 23-Nov-2011, 19:25

Awesome!!! Thanks fellas'.

I've yet to see how it looks on the ground glass perhaps after Thanksgiving. Maybe I can take some images when I get back to T-pah (hint, hint... Mister G.

)

Thanks for the link Louis.

**Dan Fromm** · 24-Nov-2011, 02:50

Louis, are you sure about your B&L date codes?

I ask because I have in hand an 85/6.3 Zeiss Kodak Anastigmat s/n 2064387 made by B&L. EKCo last used the ZKA designation in 1915 so this lens has to have been made no later than 1915.

If you're using Klaus' list, don't. It seems to be wildly in error.