What is your favorite Kodak glass?

[John Kasaian]

I've got two---
10" 250mm Wide Field Ektar
14" Commercial Ektar.
I've got a few others (127 & 203mm,) but these two do of most of work (thank you, Mr. Kingslake!)

Do you have any favorite Kodaks?

[Bernice Loui]

Kodak Commercial Ektar f6.3: 8 1/2", 10", 12", 14"

Kodak Ektar f4.5: 7 1/2", 12"

Kodak Portrait Ektar f4.8 12"



Bernice

[BrianShaw]

In addition to the Commercial Ektars, I quite like the old Anastigmats.

[Mark Sawyer]

I'd be caught between the 12" Kodak Portrait lens and the 12" f/4.5 Ektar. The f/4.5 (pre-Commercial) Ektars don't get the same respect as the slower Commercial Ektar's, but they're lovely lenses.

Now if I just had a 12" Eastman Portrait Lens (Petzval)...

[IanG]

203mm f7.7 (Mount 370) Ektar in a Prontor SVS - a nice small but very sharp lens, well coated to, I have a much earlier 170 f6.3 Kodak Anastigmat in a Velosto (Optimo) shutter hich Dan Fromm correctly pointed out could be a Dialyte, and it is so similar tho the Ektar. Hopefully it'll be as sharp.

I'm contemplating buying a Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd, Cooke, Kodak Anastigmat.

Ian

[Doremus Scudder]

I love the Wide-field Ektars. I have three, two 135mms and 100mm. The 135mm has greater coverage and not much more size/weight than a plasmat and is great for times when you need a bit more movement. Mine are razor sharp.

The 100mm covers 4x5 with some movements and is really lightweight compared to, say a 90mm f/8 Super Angulon even.

I also shoot a 203mm f/7.7 Ektar (my first LF lens ever) and love it for its sharpness, smooth tonality and, most of all, lightweight.

Best,

Doremus

[Kevin Crisp]

The standard fixed lens on the Kodak medalist is amazingly good.

[Sal Santamaura]

That would have to be the only item of Kodak glass I own, an 8 oz. EASTKO TUMBLER GRADUATE inherited from my late father. :)

It was accompanied by his 1946 edition of Kodak's "How to Make Good Pictures."

[Alan Gales]

I only have one, my 14" Kodak Commercial Ektar.

[thomasfallon]

My rear view mirror.

[Carl J]

12" CE mainly for 8x10 is only one I have. As everyone says, sharp with smooth transitions to out-of-focus areas. Rich tonality. Not too harsh for portraits. Would love to try a 10" WF or 14". [ hint, hint ] ;)

[Bill_1856]

f:3.7/105mm, and f:7.7/203mm. Incredible B&W prints from these, although when the negatives are examined under magnification they don't seem anything special.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I LOVE MY walnut Barreled 14" commercial Ektar! It is the only one in the world and even stops to F-64! I love the glow with the 305 Kodak Portrait lens and my 21 1/4" Anastigmat on my 8x20 is a match made in heaven.

[Serge S]

I'd be caught between the 12" Kodak Portrait lens and the 12" f/4.5 Ektar. The f/4.5 (pre-Commercial) Ektars don't get the same respect as the slower Commercial Ektar's, but they're lovely lenses.

Now if I just had a 12" Eastman Portrait Lens (Petzval)...

Could you post a sample image (portrait) of the 12 4.5 ektar shot wide open?
:)

[Paul Coy]

I have the following:
101 Ektar
127 Ektar
203 Ektar
80 Wide Field
100 Wide Field

I gravitate towards the 203 mostly for landscapes so I guess that is my favorite thus far.

[petetsai]

I have both of your Favorites too John, I picked them both up for $80 in rather poor condition, but the 14" is working nicely as a portrait lens for me. I have not tried the 250mm out yet, hopefully when I get back from my trip to China.

[imagedowser]

101 Ektar, 100 WF Ektar, 135 WF Ektar & 7 1/2 f4.5 Ektar. 21 1/4 for my 8x20.

[Jim Jones]

A 203mm Ektar has been my favorite for almost 40 years. It's compact, sharp, and good for macro photography.

[Simon Benton]

203mm f7.7 Ektar and 135mm wide field Ektar.

[EdSawyer]

178/2.5 aero ektar is my current favorite. Looking forward to trying out the commercial ektars or portrait 305 lens someday.

[Kirk Fry]

The 14 in Commercial Ektar I have paid a lot of bills in its working days. Lovely images. The 127 put more images in papers than any other ektar lens.

[ImSoNegative]

I like the 14 inch ektar as well, for 4x5 I really liked the 203 and the 152. for 2x3 I loved the 105.

[IanG]

There's an interesting slant to this thread, probably few of these Kodak (LF) lenses were sold in Europe, up to WWII no Kodak were selling British made lenses for LF in the UK, from Ross, TTH Cooke, & Dallmeyer and Kodak were in fact the distributor for Ross lenses in Australia & New Zealand.

After WWII with severe import restrictions in the UK Kodak Ltd (Harrow, UK) manufactured the f7.7 203mm Ektar (Mount 370 = fully #0 compatible) initially in a Ross Ensign made Kodak Epsilon shutter and as restrictions were lifted a Pontor SVS, and a few in that late (more modern style) Compur.

So in Europe even today many of the very desirable Ektars are quite rare.

Ian

[Armin Seeholzer]

My almost new to me Kodak Portrait 305mm, wonderful lens like it much!
Thanks to Steve Hostettler!

Cheers Armin

[largeformatguy]

Alas, I have but one:( - a 10" WF Ektar. I love it.:D

[dsphotog]

Safelight-filters!

[petetsai]

Anyone have any 250mm Wide Field Ektar image examples by chance? I have shot my 14" commercial but not the 10" and I'm curious about the lens.

[Tracy Storer]

That's DOCTOR Kingslake to you John.


I've got two---
10" 250mm Wide Field Ektar
14" Commercial Ektar.
I've got a few others (127 & 203mm,) but these two do of most of work (thank you, Mr. Kingslake!)
Do you have any favorite Kodaks?

305 and 405 Kodak Portrait lenses for me, love the way they "draw" the image.

[John Kasaian]

that's doctor kingslake to you john.



305 and 405 kodak portrait lenses for me, love the way they "draw" the image.
yessir!

[russyoung]

305 and 405 Kodak Portrait lenses for me, love the way they "draw" the image.

Another vote for the 305 and 405 Portrait lenses. Quick to learn, repeatable in use, low flare, color corrected, lovely rendition, superb bokeh.

[md99]

That would have to be the only item of Kodak glass I own, an 8 oz. EASTKO TUMBLER GRADUATE inherited from my late father. :)

It was accompanied by his 1946 edition of Kodak's "How to Make Good Pictures."
93076

[Bill Burk]

That would have to be the only item of Kodak glass I own, an 8 oz. EASTKO TUMBLER GRADUATE inherited from my late father. :)

It was accompanied by his 1946 edition of Kodak's "How to Make Good Pictures."

I wanted to be first to mention the beaker, but I don't have the 8 oz., mine's the 32 oz. Room at the top for those few extra ounces that will properly fill a Nikor tank. The right size to mix a 5x7 tray of D-76.

[Scott Davis]

Another vote for the 12"/14" Commercial Ektar. Terrific pieces of glass. I have, but have not yet used (don't have the camera set up that I can shoot it on yet) the 16" Portrait Ektar. I wish I could put it on my 14x17, but it is too big for the front standard. I do have a 12x15 W.Watson & Sons that needs restoration (new bellows, modern film back) that it will fit on. I did have one of the 12" f4.5 Ektars. It was a very nice lens too, and at least my copy seemed to have no problem covering 8x10 at portrait range, but I sold it a while ago when I was looking to get something else.

[Jody_S]

I have had a few Kodak classics pass through my hands, the 127mm and 203mm Ektars. For some reason, I never shot with either. Snobbery? I only like to shoot with vintage French, German or English lenses? Didn't like the feel of the Supermatic shutters? I don't know. I've been looking for a longer Tessar type lens, I should look into the Kodak offerings.

[IanG]

I have had a few Kodak classics pass through my hands, the 127mm and 203mm Ektars. For some reason, I never shot with either. Snobbery? I only like to shoot with vintage French, German or English lenses? Didn't like the feel of the Supermatic shutters? I don't know. I've been looking for a longer Tessar type lens, I should look into the Kodak offerings.

The 203mm f7.7 Ektar mount 370 in a #0 shutter is a European lens, made in the UK :D

Ian

[paulMD]

The standard fixed lens on the Kodak medalist is amazingly good.

It should be, it's a Heliar.

A converted Medalist and a 203/7.7 are definitely on my to-own list.

[Ian Greenhalgh]

203mm f7.7 (Mount 370) Ektar in a Prontor SVS - a nice small but very sharp lens, well coated to, I have a much earlier 170 f6.3 Kodak Anastigmat in a Velosto (Optimo) shutter hich Dan Fromm correctly pointed out could be a Dialyte, and it is so similar tho the Ektar. Hopefully it'll be as sharp.

I'm contemplating buying a Taylor, Taylor & Hobson Ltd, Cooke, Kodak Anastigmat.

Ian

Hi Ian

I happen to have one of those 6.3/170 Anastigamts, mine is in an Ilex Universal on a Kodak 3A. I have had it apart to flean and it is indeed a dialyte. Can't tell you how sharp, still not used it since I cleaned it.