Another lens question – E Krauss 50cm

[ScottPhotoCo]

Today I had the fortune (I think) of this falling in my lap:

99174
99175
It's labeled: E Krauss. Paris. No. 112550. Tessar. 1:6.3 F=50cm.

I grabbed it hoping that it might be a good, versatile lens. I have no idea of coverage but hoping that I can use it for 8x10 (at least) wet plate. Can anyone shed some light?

Thanks!

Tim

[jp]

A 500mm tessar will cover real big.

I have a 400/4.5 zeiss xv3 tessar that covers 14x17"

[goamules]

Hey, nothing wrong with that! It will cover, probably two 8x10s side by side.

[SergeiR]

Today I had the fortune (I think) of this falling in my lap:
It's labeled: E Krauss. Paris. No. 112550. Tessar. 1:6.3 F=50cm.
Tim

Any particular location from where such things are falling into laps? I mean i would kinda like to stick bucket in there.. :)

[Jim Graves]

Yup ... a MONSTER tessar ... it will cover 14 x 17 wide open ... and at f-6.3 that's a beautiful thing.

I have #109938 ... the flange, by itself, is at least a pound and is 6" in diameter. The lens with flange weighs in at over 7 pounds.

The last one I saw go on ebay was above $500 a couple of months ago.

I love tessars but I have never had it on a camera ... it is too heavy for everything I have ... even the Empire State 11 x 14.

I keep thinking I'll get it to Tonopah and shoot it on Galli's studio 11x14 with his expert guidance ... but, alas, my plans over the last two years have gone for naught ... and it looks like I'll not make it this October either. Of course, I haven't told Galli of my plan ... but he's pretty easy if you show up with some unusual old brass to shoot and offer a dinner at El Marques or the Mizpah Hotel in exchange for studio privileges ... throw in some vintage photography literature and he'll probably even let you sleep under his '39 Ford.

I'm not averse to letting this one go ... so if someone needs it ... PM me.

[Steven Tribe]

Krauss appears to have specialised in this particular lens - I have 110894. I think the 50cm must have been standard on some process cameras.
Mine has been in Scotland and Spain, mounted on a 18x24cm reisekamera - but one with adjustable stability rods between the front standard and rear. No problem at all - heavy, but center of gravity is close to the flange/lens board.

[ScottPhotoCo]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the info. It will be really interesting to make some images with this lens in the upcoming weeks. Does anyone have any example of images created with this lens? Curious if it may have any identifiable tendencies.

[E. von Hoegh]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the info. It will be really interesting to make some images with this lens in the upcoming weeks. Does anyone have any example of images created with this lens? Curious if it may have any identifiable tendencies.

Krauss made the Tessars under license from Zeiss. I've never used a Krauss, but I have used license built Tessars by B&L and Kodak (maybe B&L? It was on an RB Graflex 2 1/4 x 3 1/4) - both f6.3 and f4.5, coated and uncoated, and all excellent.
As a general thing, the f6.3 Tessars are the best. But any good Tessar is a very nice lens. I'm willing to bet you'll be very happy with it.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I have a 14x17 Tessar that I use on my 14x17 and I love it!!

[Jim Galli]

As a general thing, the f6.3 Tessars are the best.

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Love it when folks come to Tonopah. Forces me to get off my lazy butt and go shoot some pictures! No sleeping under the '39 pickup. Alas, it went to Oklahoma to live. You could sleep under the Model A, but it drips.

[ScottPhotoCo]

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Love it when folks come to Tonopah. Forces me to get off my lazy butt and go shoot some pictures! No sleeping under the '39 pickup. Alas, it went to Oklahoma to live. You could sleep under the Model A, but it drips.

Jim,

If your old vehicles are anything like mine I only worry when they STOP leaking. It means that the fluids are empty. :)

[ScottPhotoCo]

I have a 14x17 Tessar that I use on my 14x17 and I love it!!

Jim,

I'm looking forward to trying this one out soon. I hope that the Deardorff can handle it. :eek:

[collodion.de]

I got one of those too: #112486, anyone knows when this was build?
The rear lens looks almost like a jacuzzi, lots of tiny air bubbles, but fantastic resolution though.
A Tessar will almost cover a square in the dimensions of the focal length.
I've used a 5x7 B+L Tessar (about 180mm) on a 8x8in DIY wet plate camera.
The 50cm Tessar will go into a 16x20in camera but I'll have to build the back first.

Michael

[Dan Fromm]

Per P-H Pont's Krauss chronology, 1914-5.