Wide Angle RR

[Two23]

I'm thinking of getting a 19th C. wide angle lens for my 8x10 to round out my kit. I know they weren't all that common and most are more than I want to pay. However, the wide angle RR lenses look pretty good, affordable, and are plentiful. I'm looking at lenses like 8 inch Darlot wide hemispherique, Busch wide RR 190mm, and so on. On the down side they seem to be f16 or so wide open. I start having trouble with focus at f8. Anybody using lenses like these? How are they to work with in the field?


Kent in SD

[Hugo Zhang]

While they are not RR lenses, Dallmeyer and Meyer made some wide angle lenses in 1930s with F/6.3 viewing stop. 100-105% coverage. Very sharp. With patience, should find them under $200.

[Two23]

While they are not RR lenses, Dallmeyer and Meyer made some wide angle lenses in 1930s with F/6.3 viewing stop. 100-105% coverage. Very sharp. With patience, should find them under $200.


I do have a Wollensak 190mm f9 wide angle. It seems to cover but that's about it. I use it for film. I'm looking for something period correct to wet plate now.


Kent in SD

[Dan Fromm]

Not WARs, Kent, but I have three f/14 Perigraphe Ser. VIa lenses. 60, 75 and 90 mm. Not hard to focus out-of-doors.

[Drew Bedo]

LF photography is a bit like coaching at the college level where recruiting is the norm. But the coach still has to adjust things to the players he has each season.

And in a similar way, in L photogrqaphy we try to make the best kit of gear we can, then make the best images we can using the gear that we have.

If the WA-RR that you have is f/16 wide-open, you will indeed have some limitations. One strategy might be to use it outdoors at infinity, capturig wide vistas and employing hyperfocal technique. Indoors you might use tables and measuring tape on stil life compositions.

They created images in the old days with this gear. We canstill do it today.

In any case: It will look great on your camera!

[paulbarden]

I have a Darlot wide Rapid Rectilinear for my 8x10 and I like it a lot. I think it’s f11 wide open, but it’s not impossible to see what you’re doing. It’s soft at the corners wide open (rushes a bit) but is quite sharp all 0ver if you stop it down. I’ll find an example photo made with it...

[paulbarden]

A couple of wet plate images made with the Darlot wide angle hemisperique:

This one was with the lens at f16:https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulbarden/32701083468/sizes/k/

This one shows it’s character when used wide open (f11):
https://flic.kr/p/2gqZYMw

And stopped down one stop:
https://flic.kr/p/26RWuPm

[Andrew Plume]

Hi Paul

The second one really is excellent, great stuff

regards

Andrew

[paulbarden]

Hi Paul

The second one really is excellent, great stuff

regards

Andrew

Thank you, Andrew. It is a very fine lens when used as intended.

[Two23]

A couple of wet plate images made with the Darlot wide angle hemisperique:

This one was with the lens at f16:https://www.flickr.com/photos/paulbarden/32701083468/sizes/k/

This one shows it’s character when used wide open (f11):
https://flic.kr/p/2gqZYMw

And stopped down one stop:
https://flic.kr/p/26RWuPm


I'm guessing this is the older Hemispherique with the sliding barrel focus and not the one with the lever apertures?



Kent in SD

[paulbarden]

I'm guessing this is the older Hemispherique with the sliding barrel focus and not the one with the lever apertures?

Kent in SD

Nope, this is the one with the three levers that act as a kind of "swinging waterhouse stop".

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