Pardon me...

[Dan95]

Pardon my ignorance.. But what's with all the fuss concerning Goerz lenses ?

[Dan95]

Thinking of starting with a Red Dot Artar 8 1/4 f9

[Leigh]

They're supposed to be pretty good, although they're a bit old by now.

There are two major types commonly encountered:

The Red Dot Artar is a process lens, optimized for close work on process cameras.
The Gold Dot Dagor is a general-purpose lens.
I saw a Blue Dot Trigor offered for sale. I know nothing about that series.

There is also a "Gold Rim" Dagor, sometimes called a "Golden" Dagor, which was
just a marketing gimmick on their standard lens line as far as I can tell.

- Leigh

[Dan95]

Golden Dagor ? Looks like polished brass to me...

[Drew Bedo]

It is polished brass.

[Drew Bedo]

It is polished brass. There was an article on these lenses in View Camera Magazine in the early 2Ks , but I can't find it . . .anyone?

[Louis Pacilla]

My couple of Gold rim lenses in the 78.xxx run are gold anodized aluminum not polished brass.

Not to be confused with the gold dot that was also factory correct and may have overlapped( Gold Dot/Gold rim).

I would stay away from a Dagor with a lacquered Brass rim If it's being presented as "Gold Rim" and priced higher than a normal nice Dagor.

I'm not 100% sure but don't think the lacquered brass rim was Goerz America factory practice.

[Mark Sawyer]

You'll find the same fuss over Voigtlander lenses, Cooke lenses, Dallmeyer lenses... And even more fuss over Pinkham and Smith lenses, Karl Struss lenses...

[Frank Petronio]

If you're just starting then treat yourself to a 150-180-210 (for 4x5) Rodenstock or Schneider or Fuji or Nikkor symetrical (Symmar, Sironar, Calumet Caltar, etc.) made since 1980 and mounted in a standard Copal shutter. As long as they are in reasonable condition they will be fine performers and they are plentiful, easily found for less than $300 in excellent condition. Even if you get other fancier lenses, you can use these the rest of your photo career.

[Drew Bedo]

Hello Dan,


I have a 210mm/5.6 Schneider Symar available at $200. Its the convertable mode: lremoving the rear cell makes it a 300mm f12. It was last CLA'd in 2010. If you need this lens, contact me via my website.