Want Lens Suggestion late 19th C.

[Two23]

I'm gathering bits & pieces to begin my foray into wet plate, and have been shooting the dry plates as well of course. I think I'll settle on 5x7 for both eventually (now mostly shooting 5x7 dry plates,) but will begin with 4x5 as it's easier to handle. I have a nice selection of pre-Civil War Petzvals and pill box lenses, but have nothing for the era 1865-1890. I'm looking for a lens that would have been used by a landscape photographer in that period and I'm thinking that would be a rapid rectilinear of some type. I know there's many names--Hemispherique, Aplanatic, rapid rectilinear, and (?) symmetrical. I'm thinking of something a bit wide, like 4 inch for 4x5 or 6 inch for 5x7 but don't know what's available and the coverage. I prefer Waterhouse slots but could live with something else. I have a 6 inch B&L rapid rectilinear in Uncum that I've been using on my 4x5 and do like it. It's a pretty lens. What should I be looking for c.1865-1890?


Kent in SD

[Mark Sawyer]

Rapid Rectilinears aren't wide. You'd probably be best with a Wide Angle Rectilinear. Or on the early side, an Orthoscop, Globe or Pantoscop. On the late side, an early Goerz Doppel Anastigmat (later known as the Dagor).

[CCHarrison]

A classic lens, that is pretty inexpensive, is the Darlot Wide Angle Hemispherical View Lens. This one has the three levers to be used as stops for the lens.

Dan

[goamules]

R. D. Gray also made good wide angles and extreme wide angles in the period. Morrison too.

[Chauncey Walden]

How about a Dallmeyer or Lancaster achromatic meniscus "Landscape" lens? Early ones could have a wheel stop and after about 1885 an iris diaphragm.