Were Verito 18” lenses made in different barrel lengths?

[36cm2]

Sorry for the strange question, but I am looking at two Verito 18” lenses that seem to have barrels of different lengths. One of the lenses is 7.5” in total length and the other is about 9” in total length. Is this possible or is one of them an imposter? Thanks for any help you can provide on this.

[djdister]

Is it marked as a Verito lens? There were no unmarked Verito lenses...

205945

[Mark Sawyer]

Mine are all 7.5 inches. The 16-inch Vitax is 9 inches. Perhaps someone switched barrels? But the Vitax had a soft-focus knob that would identify it.

[Whir-Click]

Can you add some comparative pictures of the two Veritos side-by-side? The older-style Verito (in a brass barrel or black barrel with the fleur-de-lis) appears a bit longer than the later versions, but it’s hard to tell from disparate catalogs and sales listings.

[cowanw]

Yes there are different lengths as well as different placement of mounting flanges.

[36cm2]

Thank you all for the incredibly fast and, as usual, thorough help. I appreciate the confirmations. I wasn't necessarily surprised by variations in the barrel and shutter placements, but the difference in barrel length and the separation of the front and rear element seemed weird to me. Both lenses are labelled as Verito 18" Diffused Focus on the front element, although the labeling differs slightly in word order. Here are pics of the two lenses.

Does anyone know if there are any significant differences optically or in other terms of photographic performance as between older or newer versions? I haven't been able to test them both, but am likely partial to the longer one (which Whir-Click suggests is the older version), as having the flange at the end of the lens seems more Packard-shutter-friendly if I decide to mount one for general use inside the studio camera that this lens will do duty with.

In all cases, thanks again for the helpful confirm. Best of luck in all your photography.

This is the longer one with the flange at the end (perhaps the older version?). It has the labeling on the barrel as seen in the photo and the front element is labelled "VERITO 18 INCH DIFFUSED FOCUS F-4"
206008


This is the shorter one with the mid-mounted flange (perhaps the newer version?). It has no labeling on the barrel and the rear barrel is flat-black painted (perhaps anti-reflection). The front element is labelled "Verito Diffused Focus f.-4. 18 Inches"
206009

[Whir-Click]

The Verito design was changed in 1920. You can read about the differences in the pages from Wollensak’s Lensology and Shutterisms V. 8 No. 4 below.

Your longer barrel with the fleur-de-lis is likely the old design. You can try the serial number on the Studio shutter and/or name ring against my Wollensak serial number project here (https://alphaxbetax.com/wollensak-serial-numbers/).

If you have an opportunity to post images taken with both lenses at the same aperture, it would be an instructive comparison of the old and “new” Verito designs. I can’t recall having seen such a comparison.

206016206017206018

[36cm2]

The Verito design was changed in 1920. You can read about the differences in the pages from WollensakÂ’s Lensology and Shutterisms V. 8 No. 4 below.

Your longer barrel with the fleur-de-lis is likely the old design. You can try the serial number on the Studio shutter and/or name ring against my Wollensak serial number project here (https://alphaxbetax.com/wollensak-serial-numbers/).

If you have an opportunity to post images taken with both lenses at the same aperture, it would be an instructive comparison of the old and “new” Verito designs. I can’t recall having seen such a comparison.

206016206017206018


Thank you so much for the even greater detail. Yes, it looks like 1913 vs 1920. I kind of like the concept of flexibility in a greater range of softness in the earlier lens, as I have enough w/s of lighting for that not to matter, but the purported WYSIWYG benefits of the latter design may be worth giving up a supersoft f/4. Thank you again for the great help. The wealth of knowledge among members on LFPF never ceases to amaze me. I don't know that I'll have enough time to run the side by side, as it will require some side work and logistics, but I will try to fit something in.

[lungovw]

If that helps: I have a Verito 18" f/4,5 #15204 with iris and without any shutter. Total length is 7 1/4" (184 mm). The flange is positioned at the rear of the lens.

[36cm2]

Below please find a very quick and dirty side by side of the 1913 (longer, end flange) vs 1920 (shorter, mid flange) Veritos. Please take this with a very healthy dose of salt, considering that I don't test lenses and really just wanted to give a very high level sense of the old vs new model shift in f-stop impact. This was done as a digital capture off an 8x10 groundglass. No post-process other than cropping to the 8x10 image (keep in mind that the ground glass was in a slightly different location for the shots relative to the digital camera as the rear cell is further back (into the view camera) in the latter version - that's why the perspective is different. Also keep in mind that I tried to shield extraneous light between the view camera back and the digital camera, but did not succeed greatly. I would really just look at these as giving a very rough idea of the Verito soft focus style differences at different f-stops between the two lenses. I would not make any judgments as to contrast, sharpness, color rendition, etc. as the captures were really not thorough or controlled enough for any of that. With all of that said, I hope it's somewhat interesting to someone. If not, then, well, I meant well and tried. Thanks.


f/4

1913
206301

1920
206302

[36cm2]

f5.6

1913
206303

1920
206304




f8

1913
206305

1920
206306

[36cm2]

f11

1913
206307

1920
206308



f16

1913
206309

1920
206310

[36cm2]

I have the rest if people want to see them, but that's probably the range that most people would be most interested in, if they're helpful at all. Thanks again for all the help. I greatly appreciate the clarifications.

All the best,
Leo

[karl french]

Veri interesting. Just picked up a 22.25" Verito.

[Amedeus]

Sorry for the strange question, but I am looking at two Verito 18” lenses that seem to have barrels of different lengths. One of the lenses is 7.5” in total length and the other is about 9” in total length. Is this possible or is one of them an imposter? Thanks for any help you can provide on this.

As others have stated, the design changed and I have both long and short 18" verito lenses. On top of that, the location of the lens flange can differ as well.

[karl french]

As it turns out, I ended up with the shorter Verito with the Studio shutter pictured in this thread via KEH. Small world.

[36cm2]

As it turns out, I ended up with the shorter Verito with the Studio shutter pictured in this thread via KEH. Small world.

I think you'll love it karl. The differences seemed minimal and the shorter base likely balances better at the front standard.

[karl french]

That's exactly what I was after. The 22.25" Verito I recently picked up is mounted in barrel with the flange at the back. My 12x20 Canham can hold the lens up but it does want to start tipping down. Hopefully the more centrally mounted flange with help with that.

[36cm2]

Yes, if I was going to put it on a field camera, I would prefer the midmounted version. I have it on a heavy studio camera, so the end mount is of no issue (and helpful if I want to use a packard shutter). Enjoy!!!


That's exactly what I was after. The 22.25" Verito I recently picked up is mounted in barrel with the flange at the back. My 12x20 Canham can hold the lens up but it does want to start tipping down. Hopefully the more centrally mounted flange with help with that.