large,old 1974 schneider lens,can anyone identify?

[mccarl.k]

i bought a lens and dont really know what it is intended for.
i thought someone here might be able to help identify it.
i wrote schnieder and no response.

it is about 95 mm aperture
minimum f ratio of f/5.6114478
maximum of f/11
numbers stamped on it are 12 553 200 = made in 1974
the Styrofoam case it is in has sn330/33 on it and stickers/tape that
say Schneider objecktive and schneider optik kreuznach.
114479
Thanks
Kevin

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

hello from old Europe

Could be a long focal length apo artar but the exact size of 95 mm does not really match the data for the long & big apo artars listed here, the 890 mm (outside diameter of the filter ring = 90mm) and 1065 mm (outide filter ring diameter 110 mm). And the barrel itself looks different.
See here
http://web.archive.org/web/20100922053809/http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/archiv/pdf/ar_apo_14_890.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20100922053809/http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/archiv/pdf/ar_apo_14_1065.pdf

the whole Schneider-Kreuznach lens archive is accessible here
http://web.archive.org/web/20100922053809/http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/archiv/archiv.htm

If you can estimate the focal length, this could be helpful.
Assuming that this is an apo artar or a process lens, the focal length is close to the distance between the focal point (where you'll see the image of a distant object) and the middle of the lens barrel.
Note that if this is a long focal length process lens, the object for testing where the focal plane is located should really be far away, not only 3 feet away ;-)

[Dan Fromm]

It is a zoom lens for an automatic printing machine. Unusable as a taking lens. That doesn't stop unscrupulous eBay sellers from making extravagant claims for the things or hopeful suckers from buying them.

[Louis Pacilla]

It is a zoom lens for an automatic printing machine. Unusable as a taking lens. That doesn't stop unscrupulous eBay sellers from making extravagant claims for the things or hopeful suckers from buying them.

So true so true.

[mccarl.k]

Thank You.
it weighs over 6 pounds and close estimate of focal length from center of lens barrel assembly is 8.5 inches using the sun/infinity.
your sure It is a zoom lens for an automatic printing machine.
please say no!
thanks again

[alan-salsman]

vario-claron f5.6 240-260mm stops to f16 as marked but will actually go down to f22.A brilliant tacking lens with studio flash on 4x5 film.I would think it would cover 8x10 but have not tried it.For table top work or reproduction you will find it difficult to find a lens that will out preform it, But the massive size limited f stops and lack of a shutter restrict it usefulness. When I get around to it mine will be mounted on a C-1 for which I have a 4x5 back,then would like to try some out door work with it

[Dan Fromm]

Alan, thanks for giving the name. mccarl.k, see http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/archive/index.php/t-101541.html

Alan have you shot with yours?

[alan-salsman]

Yes I used it for table top and reproduction exposer controlled by flash. Using 4x5 polaroid asa 100 color film. The results were stunning, the only lens that I have seen producing a strong 3-d affect. I must correct my earlier statement however the lens stops are marked to f 11 and actually stops to f 16. I would not give to much money for one just because of its limited uses and size. It would be great for photographing art if you could control the exposure, since most people do not think art should be exposed with flash.

[pierre506]

Yes I used it for table top and reproduction exposer controlled by flash. Using 4x5 polaroid asa 100 color film. The results were stunning, the only lens that I have seen producing a strong 3-d affect. I must correct my earlier statement however the lens stops are marked to f 11 and actually stops to f 16. I would not give to much money for one just because of its limited uses and size. It would be great for photographing art if you could control the exposure, since most people do not think art should be exposed with flash.

Dear Alan,
Could you show the picture?
I recalled I used to take ONLY one 10x12in wet plate picture by the same lens.
Let me find It out later.

[alan-salsman]

pierre I was photographing various objects and than cutting up the photos and assembling components for art project's. I don't think any of those photos exist, I did not paint any of the concepts from that project. I would like to see your wet plate if you can find it-alan

[Emmanuel BIGLER]

And the Urtext says :
"VARIO-C-CLARON 5,6/240 bis 7/260"
http://web.archive.org/web/20100922053809/http://www.schneiderkreuznach.com/archiv/pdf/ccn.pdf

[mccarl.k]

Thank you everyone.

i have never seen such a helpful forum as this one.
the pdf link http://web.archive.org/web/201009220...iv/pdf/ccn.pdf even identified another similar lens i have with no markings at all.
i made the similar lens into a low power spotting astroscope and background sky glow is seen thanks to its large aperture and low element number.
114633
Thanks again
kevin

[davewmchoi]

I took amazingly sharp picture on my 8x10
114646
114647
114648
This was taken using HP5+, wide open at 5.6
If I step down two stops or use a finer grain film (e.g. Delta or TMAX), I might read the car license plates!
I am sure it can cover more than 8x10

[EdSawyer]

I have one of these, new in box like the one shown. Agreed, it is a 240-260mm lens, 8 elements, covers at least 8x10. I haven't used mine, but in testing it it is extremely sharp. I have the blueprints/optical diagram for it somewhere, will post them if I can. I don't think I will get around to using it anytime soon so if someone is looking for one I'd part with it for $300/BO.

-Ed

http://pubpages.unh.edu/~eme39/schneider_vario_claron.jpg
http://pubpages.unh.edu/~eme39/schneider_vario_claron2.jpg
http://pubpages.unh.edu/~eme39/schneider_vario_claron3.jpg

[Dan Fromm]

Ed, thanks for posting that. About coverage, the spec sheet reports 6 lp/mm MTF on the order of 13% 225 mm off-axis at 1:1 and unspecified aperture, probably f/5.6. 6 lp/mm MTFs are much higher closer to the center. The document Emmanuel gave a link to reports the same coverage (450 mm = 2 * 225 mm @ f/5.6 at focal length = 240 mm).

At higher resolutions than 6 lp/mm MTF will be lower and coverage somewhat less.

I can't help wondering how you and the other happy owners who've reported in this discussion assess sharpness and coverage.

[Nathan Potter]

Intriguing lens here, but a 13% contrast at 6 lp/mm. seems pretty poor assuming this is at optimum aperture and magnification factor. Assessing this at reasonable resolution (40 lp/mm. or so) would yield a vanishingly low contrast.

Nate Potter, Austin TX.

[Dan Fromm]

Nathan, see post #15 in this thread. I think it is at wide open.

[EdSawyer]

1) I was testing it at 4x5 so well within the sweet spot of the lens, there the numbers are in the 80-90 range (insanely good! ok, only 6lp/mm but still, go compare to MTFs @ 10lpmm and see how that stacks up)

2) There's more to life than specs on paper. Results trump specs anyday.

3) according to you (Dan), based on the USAF spec sheets, the Aero Ektar is not sharp either, but I think plenty of people would disagree with that presumption (myself included).

FWIW
-Ed

[Dan Fromm]

Ed, I didn't produce the USAF data sheets. Some of them, not all, don't show the lenses' measured performance. Those that do show it wide open. It shouldn't be worse than that stopped down.

As for the much-loved, or at any rate much more expensive than it used to be, 7"/2.5 AeroEktar, if you look around you'll find that some users say theirs is sharp and other users report that theirs isn't. I can't tell whether the differences are between examples of the lens or between the users. Not my job, either.

[EH21]

Since I just picked up one of these lenses on ebay - I'm bringing this thread back to the fore. Since the lens is optimized for close up work, I'm pretty excited about the picture Davewmchoi posted. But what kind of shutter can I use with this lens?
Thanks!