Meopta Belar 4,5/210mm

[Jbuck]

Does anyone have info on this lens?
is it sharp at 4.5, is it coated?

what is the image circle -would it cover 5x7 with a bit of movements?

thanks alot?

[Oren Grad]

It was offered with the Meopta Magnola 13x18 cm camera:

http://meoptahistory.com/?id=311

[John Kasaian]

i thought the Belar was Meopta's name used for it's enlarging lens?

[Corran]

Supposedly a Tessar type, see last paragraph here:

http://www.arnecroell.com/grandina.pdf

[Liquid Artist]

i thought the Belar was Meopta's name used for it's enlarging lens?
I have an 80mm right in front and you are right. It is en enlarging lens.
With that in mind a 210mm is designed for a 5x7 enlarger, so I would think it would cover a 5x7 camera too. However there may not be much movements.

[ic-racer]

It is for 5x7. If using it on a Durst, it should have coverage for perspective control.

[plaubel]

I own this lens, but I'm really not shure if it is coated or not.
I own a 4,5/210 Xenar, too, and they both are looking like twins, except the Belar has no filter thread.
Used them on a Plaubel 5x7", coverage and some movements were given.
I love them both.
Both are sitting in a compound.
If you need more data of movements, I will hang the Belar onto my Globica..

I have had some problems with my Xenar and Macro, doesn't work so good, it was not sharp enough.
F4,5 is ok to me, but here, I usually look at the unsharpness :-)
Closed, both lenses are sharp enough to me.

Coated or not, depending on the direction of light, you will get a ( lovely) mild character.

Ritchie

[notorius]

Little bit late to the party. :-)
The naming of Meopta lenses can be a little bit confusing given the fact that they used the same name for enlarging and taking lenses. As a taking lens Belar is always a Tessar formula. You can find it as 45/2.8 lens for Opema 35 mm camera, 80/3.5 in the 6x6 TLR Flexaret and 210/4.5 in Compound(like) shutter as a standard lens for Magnola LF camera.
210/4.5 is single coated and you can expect similar results as from Xenar or Tessar lens. Wide open it is quite soft with nice bokeh, suitable for portraits. Stopped down is sharp to the edges. I had mine serviced lately so I can post some new examples from the Belar here. For now I have only the picture below. The lens was stopped down to f16 if I remember correctly.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4777/39819451225_8a27c8599c_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/23EH6yv)
Snowy cabin (https://flic.kr/p/23EH6yv)

[Mark Sampson]

Well done, Notorious! A fine photograph that somehow reminds me of Josef Sudek.

[notorius]

Well done, Notorious! A fine photograph that somehow reminds me of Josef Sudek.

Thank you, Mark!

[Tom Sobota]

I once had a large Meopta enlarger for 5x7", and it came with a Belar 210mm. Magnitarus was the name of the enlarger, or something like that. Never user the lens in a camera, so I cannot speak about quality.
Later I bought a Magnola, but it came with an actual Tessar so go figure.
Nice photograph, Notorius. Where was it taken?
Tom

[notorius]

I once had a large Meopta enlarger for 5x7", and it came with a Belar 210mm. Magnitarus was the name of the enlarger, or something like that. Never user the lens in a camera, so I cannot speak about quality.
Later I bought a Magnola, but it came with an actual Tessar so go figure.
Nice photograph, Notorius. Where was it taken?
Tom
Thank you, Tom.
Magnitarus 13x18 was an LF enlarger made by Meopta, they made smaller sizes too(10x15 for sure, 9x12 maybe). I had the 13x18 size too for some time. It came with an enlarging Belar 210, but I cant remember if I ever made any print with it. If you were lucky you could have it with a Meopar 210 which is a Heliar type lens actually.
The photograph was taken in a cottage near the Czechia/Slovakia border. I openned the window and made the exposure from a cozy warm room during heavy snow falling. :-)
I developed two 13x18 sheets right now. Taken at the very same cottage with the 210 Belar two weeks ago, I will post it as soon as I process it.

[Mark J]

That is a nice shot - great to be able to take a 'snapshot' on 5x7" !