Wolly 19in Velestigmat

[ericantonio]

Hello! Not much information on this lens. I finally, after having it for many years, took a photo with this lens. It's long, and big and I want to do full face shots with it. I figure I can focus with the modeling lights, remove dark slide, turn down lights, remove lens cap, pop the stobe. Hopefully all that in less than 3 seconds. Thinking of getting a styrofoam head to practice with first.

Anyway, from what I'm reading, Velostigmat is the way the cells are made right? Not the characterstics of the lens? Also, it's a barrel lens which means it used to be a process lens? Does this mean it's too sharp or not sharp enough?

Here's a test shot I did with 2 cold lights on each side. I had a 28" draw and added ummmm, about 1 1/3 or so stops more on the metering. I think I had some light fall off on the edges so I gave it a little edge burn just to see what that would look like. (8x10, Kodak Master View, Wollensak 19" Velostigmat, HP5+, PMK)

http://www.ihave3thumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/wolly19test2.jpg

[Dan Fromm]

Velostigmat is a trade name, not a design type. Replaced by Raptar, also a trade name and not a design type.

What is y'r monster's maximum aperture? And what's engraved on it besides Velostigmat? Series number (not serial number), in particular.

[ericantonio]

Velostigmat is a trade name, not a design type. Replaced by Raptar, also a trade name and not a design type.

What is y'r monster's maximum aperture? And what's engraved on it besides Velostigmat? Series number (not serial number), in particular.

F10

Hmmm, pictures speak, so here is a pic I took last week. But I don't see a series number. Would that be on the barrel? I never really paid much attention to the barrel of that thing.

http://www.ihave3thumbs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2018-07-19-07.59.23-e1532362996980.jpg

[Dan Fromm]

Process lens. Wolly process lenses are poorly documented, the only way to get an idea of design type is to count reflections. Should be sharp at near distances, might but need not be sharp at magnifications smaller than 1:10. Probably gets full coverage -- assume 40 degrees, more than 45 is unlikely -- at f/22.

[ericantonio]

Process lens. Wolly process lenses are poorly documented, the only way to get an idea of design type is to count reflections. Should be sharp at near distances, might but need not be sharp at magnifications smaller than 1:10. Probably gets full coverage -- assume 40 degrees, more than 45 is unlikely -- at f/22.

Sweet thanks. I get a little confused with all the terminology and math. But when you say "should be sharp at near distances", does this mean if I'm using it the way I described (long bellows -- I had it at 28" , does that mean little magnification?). So it should be pretty sharp. I think that was around f/22 that I shot.

[Dan Fromm]

Yes, extension long relative to focal length means relatively high magnification, relatively closeup. Here's a simple stupid rule of thumb. Magnification = 1:10 means extension -- from film plane to diaphragm for most LF lenses including your Process Velostigmat -- is 110% of focal length. More extension, greater magnification.

[ericantonio]

Yes, extension long relative to focal length means relatively high magnification, relatively closeup. Here's a simple stupid rule of thumb. Magnification = 1:10 means extension -- from film plane to diaphragm for most LF lenses including your Process Velostigmat -- is 110% of focal length. More extension, greater magnification.

I love it!! That's what I need. I'm going to write this down on my Evernote app!

Not sure i can get a headshot with it, I figure that Mixer is ...about.... the size of a person's head. I'll pick up a styrofoam head today on way home from Michaels to play around with. 8 bucks, cheaper than getting a person to sit!

[Dan Fromm]

If you're far enough from the head it will fit on a sheet of 8x10. This is true even for the heads on Mt. Rushmore.

[ericantonio]

If you're far enough from the head it will fit on a sheet of 8x10. This is true even for the heads on Mt. Rushmore.

::thumbsup:: Thanks!!!

[Jim Galli]

I see balsam. Some of these early Wolly Process lenses are 4 + 4 construction like a Series VII Protar. 4 cemented elements each end and symmetrical front and rear. Much more costly to mfr than the later dialyte types which ruled the day for many years.

[ericantonio]

I see balsam. .

What does that mean? Balsam is the "glue"? Is that good or bad? Does it mean it's breaking?

[Jim Galli]

What does that mean? Balsam is the "glue"? Is that good or bad? Does it mean it's breaking?
No, just a clue. A little 'crazing' at the edges doesn't hurt anything.

[goamules]

If you're far enough from the head it will fit on a sheet of 8x10. This is true even for the heads on Mt. Rushmore.

Hahaha!

[Dan Fromm]

Now that I think of it, it works for 4x5 too. Might even work for smaller formats.

[Tin Can]

In jhe undated Wolly Catalog # 39 there are 9 pages of Velostigmat lenses of a vast variety followed by the cheap stuff.

I had one of those big prisms in hand, but let it pass. Now I wish I had it.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/29741886988_aa6425594e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MjbWNY)Wolly Cat # 39 Page 8, 9 No date (https://flic.kr/p/MjbWNY) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[ericantonio]

In jhe undated Wolly Catalog # 39 there are 9 pages of Velostigmat lenses of a vast variety followed by the cheap stuff.

I had one of those big prisms in hand, but let it pass. Now I wish I had it.

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/930/29741886988_aa6425594e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/MjbWNY)Wolly Cat # 39 Page 8, 9 No date (https://flic.kr/p/MjbWNY) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

WOW that's awesome! What year is that? So looks like a Wolly 19" will cover 14x17. That's amazing.

[Dan Fromm]

14x17 at 1:1. 7x8.5 at infinity.

[Tin Can]

Point taken






14x17 at 1:1. 7x8.5 at infinity.

[Louis Pacilla]

I'm fairly sure this lens the Velo/Raptar APO Process lens is the same design as the Goerz Artar and the coverage is likewise.( (I) ) So a Gaussian design w/ 8 air to glass surfaces. I had one in surplus a few years back and before I gave it to a friend I had it broken down for cleaning the glass & the design was 2 elements w/air gap per cell

You can find a side cute of this and many of the Wollensak designs including the Raptar Apochromatic This catalog was after the trade name was changed from Velostigmat to Raptar and where now single coated.

Look on pg52 for side cuts. http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensak_14.html

[ericantonio]

I'm fairly sure this lens the Velo/Raptar APO Process lens is the same design as the Goerz Artar and the coverage is likewise.( (I) ) So a Gaussian design w/ 8 air to glass surfaces. I had one in surplus a few years back and before I gave it to a friend I had it broken down for cleaning the glass & the design was 2 elements w/air gap per cell

You can find a side cute of this and many of the Wollensak designs including the Raptar Apochromatic This catalog was after the trade name was changed from Velostigmat to Raptar and where now single coated.

Look on pg52 for side cuts. http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensak_14.html

You guys know your S**T!!!!

So newer'ish lenses of this type and others will be called Raptar and 60+ year old ones are going to be Velostigmat. This is very cool. I can't wait to use this lens some more. I was reading somewhere I can change bellows on the Kodak Master view to get a longer extension but I don't see how that work work since the rails only go so far.

[Mark Sampson]

in 1945 or so Wollensak held a contest to re-name the Velostigmat lens line, and the winner was "Raptar". I don't know what the prize for winning was.. This more or less coincided with the introduction of lens coating, which might have been the reason for the name change.