Rare lens maybe only exists in catalog

[Songyun]

Some of those rare lens, appear maybe once in a very long time.
For example, Fujinon A 1200mm. I have seen two copies. One in midwest photo about 15 years ago, the other at my friend's collection.
Fujinon SW 300mm. Once I thought this was one of those lens that only exists in the catalog, until I saw one for sale (or link for sale) in one of the posts here.

But some lens I have only seen them in the catalogs.
Hypergon 200mm. I have never seen a photo of such a lens.

What are other mysterious lens maybe only exists in catalogs?

[Greg]

RE: Hypergon 200mm. I possibly saw one once FS by an auction house.
1. Though it could have been a 150mm. It definitely was larger than a 120mm.
2. More importantly the lens had only one element... was missing the other, plus no fan.

One lens that I have never come across was a No. 8 10" GRAY's Extreme Angle Periscope that is said to converter 20x24. I have a No 5 5.9" that Grimes amazingly mounted inside a Copal shutter. Covers 11x14 with a little movement possible. Lens line also included a No. 6 7.1" for 14x17 and a No. 7 8.4" for 16x20. I have seen the barrel mounts with their rotating apertures FS but in both cases the glass was missing - Educated guess is that the optics were remounted in a shutter.

[ic-racer]

I don't think the Rollei 35mm rectilinear lens for 6x6 cameras ever materialized.

216826

[Paul Ewins]

The Komura 33mm f4.5 fish-eye for 4x5 definitely exists in the catalog, maybe not in the outside world.

[Ethan]

The Komura 33mm f4.5 fish-eye for 4x5 definitely exists in the catalog, maybe not in the outside world.

For lenses like that, even if none sold (which would be too bad, that lens sounds fun) I’d assume the manufacturer made production samples which must exist somewhere

[Greg]

For lenses like that, even if none sold (which would be too bad, that lens sounds fun) I’d assume the manufacturer made production samples which must exist somewhere

First hand info: A friend of mine was a photographer in the US Navy. He told me that quite a number of exotic lenses were specced out by them and prototypes made by major manufactures. After the lenses were tested out, very few were put into production for them. The prototypes that were not put into production were literally crushed in the base's parking lot.

Second hand info: On the other hand, early on in the space program, exotic lenses made for NASA were eventually sold as government surplus. In the 1990s I was able to acquire a super fast prototype made by Zeiss for very little money. Eventually I donated it to a Museum.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I don't think I've ever seen a Hermagis Eidoscope # 0. I have the #1, 2, and 5.

[Dan Fromm]

Little known, but it ought to be the holy grail of ultra ultra large format. Lacour-Berthiot's #14 800/14 Ser. VIa Perigraphe, claimed coverage 120 x 160 "at small apertures." That's a 2 meter circle. "Small aperture" seems to mean f/25 and smaller.

[Hugo Zhang]

How about some lenses not even in catalog?

1. Kodak wide field ektar 18 inch F/6.3
2. Schneider Aero-Xenotar 460mm F/4.5

[Songyun]

The Hypergon in the auction house could be a 150mm. I have seen a few 150mm Hypergon.

RE: Hypergon 200mm. I possibly saw one once FS by an auction house.
1. Though it could have been a 150mm. It definitely was larger than a 120mm.
2. More importantly the lens had only one element... was missing the other, plus no fan.

One lens that I have never come across was a No. 8 10" GRAY's Extreme Angle Periscope that is said to converter 20x24. I have a No 5 5.9" that Grimes amazingly mounted inside a Copal shutter. Covers 11x14 with a little movement possible. Lens line also included a No. 6 7.1" for 14x17 and a No. 7 8.4" for 16x20. I have seen the barrel mounts with their rotating apertures FS but in both cases the glass was missing - Educated guess is that the optics were remounted in a shutter.

[David Lindquist]

The Goerz "Six In One Multifocus Lens and Shutter Set". The leaflet I have is dated 7/63. This does not appear on my December 1964 or March 1966 Goerz price lists.

(I scanned the leaflet but was not successful in adding it to this post)

David

[Mark Sampson]

18" Wide Field Ektar? I've seen and used a few low-production, specialized Kodak lenses, but never heard of that one. If it existed it would cover 20x24.

[Songyun]

If it was never in a catalog, how to know such a lens even (possibly) exists?

How about some lenses not even in catalog?

1. Kodak wide field ektar 18 inch F/6.3
2. Schneider Aero-Xenotar 460mm F/4.5

[Hugo Zhang]

If it was never in a catalog, how to know such a lens even (possibly) exists?

Because I have them. :-)

[Songyun]

Because I have them. :-)

That is BSO... show me next time when I stop by.

[Tracy Storer]

"Hypergon 200mm. I have never seen a photo of such a lens"
I remember seeing one for sale, perhaps on Ebay, or through Lens and Repro in NYC. My memory is a little foggy, but I think Wisner may have made a custom one-off 20"x24" fixed focus camera for it, the camera and lens were probably offered together, IIRC.

[erian]

I don't think I've ever seen a Hermagis Eidoscope # 0. I have the #1, 2, and 5.

According to this https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?65614-Some-Soft-Focus-Lens-Sales-Information&p=627937&viewfull=1#post627937 old post, it has been at least once listed on eBay.

[cuypers1807]

How about a lens I can't find in any catalog? Sadly not mine:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51270693161_9aa044eecf_z.jpg

[Drew Wiley]

I've actually seen two 1200 Fuji A's up for sale in the past ten years (maybe the same one twice?), and maybe three 600's. I had a hard enough time just finding two clean 360 A's for my own use, but ended up selling the reserve one to someone else.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I saw a Hypergon wrapped in plastic behind the counter at Midwest Photo, but I didn't touch it. It had the complete spinner fan mechanism, and clean mint rubber tubing and bulb.

Glenn Evans once had a 90mm Hypergon. http://glennview.com/

[Greg]

I saw a Hypergon wrapped in plastic behind the counter at Midwest Photo[/url]

When I was a student in the 1970s, I stopped by a Photo store in Bridgeport, CT. FS were 210 and 300 Apo-Lanthars in shutters and in like new condition. Next to them was an unusual lens which at the time I couldn't identify. Looked like a round marble with a "propeller" in front of it. Went back about a year later to buy the Apo-Lanthars but they were gone. That round marble like lens with the propeller was still there, but I had no idea what it was. Years later learned about Hypergons, but by that time the store was closed and gone.

In the 1980s and into the 1990s, I was using a Rollei SL-66 system. Acquired a Novoflex 500mm f/5.6? lens which had a rear adapter for my SL-66. Focus via the SL-66 body's bellows. All OEM Novoflex but never mentioned in any of the Novoflex literature that I had at the time.

Didn't Kiffit Kilar make a 200mm f/2 lens that covered 6x6 (or 6x7). Have only seen one FS. Remember reading that only a handful (5) were ever made.

[Maris Rusis]

https://live.staticflickr.com/885/41176369011_761a493abd_b.jpg
I have a 42cm Imagon in a shutter. I've never seen another or even a catalogue listing for one. It could be unique?

[erian]

How about a lens I can't find in any catalog? Sadly not mine:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51270693161_9aa044eecf_z.jpg

Interesting. Where did you encounter it?

[Hugo Zhang]

There are three Imagon 420mm on eBay. They are not in shutters.

[Ethan]

https://live.staticflickr.com/885/41176369011_761a493abd_b.jpg
I have a 42cm Imagon in a shutter. I've never seen another or even a catalogue listing for one. It could be unique?

what kind of shutter is that? Do you know what it's maximum aperture size (in mm) is? I'm curious if an aerial lens could be mounted in it

[Bernice Loui]

Imagon focal lengths of 360mm, 420mm and 480mm are made pre WW-II.

The 360mm was intended to be short focal length for 8x10.

420mm being the most often used for 8x10 with 480mm being longest for 8x10 and usable on 11x14.

It is possible that 420mm Imagon in shutter was installed into a shutter from barrel at some point in it's life as there is no
Rodenstock catalog listing I've seen for a 420mm Imagon in shutter. Imagon focal lengths of 420mm are not common,
the 480mm is rare, this 420mm in shutter could be a one-off.


Before the Imagon, they were Jmagon, often with six disc with fixed disc that do not close like the later Imagon.
The hole close-able disc allows tailoring of the Imagon Sorta-Focus effect to what the image maker would perfer.

Here is 300mm six disc Jmagon that came out of Europe eBay years ago when few were interested in these sorta-focus lenses.
Previously discussed: https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?121333-30cm-H5-6-Jmagon&highlight=jmagon
216983

Sample image:
216984

The "set-up":
216985


Bernice

[Tin Can]

KEH had a 420 Imagon

now they don't

[Daniel Unkefer]

I have a 420 Imagon mounted on a forward mounted Sinar Norma board. So I use it with Sinar Norma shutters.

[Tin Can]

I have a 420 Imagon mounted on a forward mounted Sinar Norma board. So I use it with Sinar Norma shutters.

Does that combo allow the wide open 420 aperture to be unobstructed?

I have my 420 coming and have Sinar shutter

[Maris Rusis]

what kind of shutter is that? Do you know what it's maximum aperture size (in mm) is? I'm curious if an aerial lens could be mounted in it

The shutter is a Zettor with a maximum opening of about 87mm. A far as I know they haven't been made for a long time. The shutter has three modes: open for focussing, closed with a "B" mode actuated by a cable release, and "instant" with the speed depending on how forcefully the cable release is pushed. The cable release needs a long throw with the first 24mm of travel to open the shutter blades plus an extra 1mm to let them trip back to the closed position when in "instant" mode

[Daniel Unkefer]

Does that combo allow the wide open 420 aperture to be unobstructed?

I have my 420 coming and have Sinar shutter



https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51273126848_540baa21a0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m7Qbhq)Sinar Norma 420mm Rodenstock Imagon Homemade Board (https://flic.kr/p/2m7Qbhq) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Here's my 420mm Rodenstock Imagon. My Clockmaker friend made the homemade "forward mounting with the appropriate spacing, looks like held together with JB Weld. This is a big lightweight lens; the flange is bigger than the board itself. The Norma Shutter diameter is about 84mm across. The rear cell on this Big Baby is about 94mm across. So the rear cell diameter is bigger than the Norma Shutter diameter.I've used this for 8x10 B&W headshots and it is outstanding. Wish I had more than just the H5.8-H7.7 disk. I'd like to have some custom 3D printed. That would be a real service.

Might just be me but I've never seen anything on a 480mm Imagon.

[Tin Can]

Good to know, thank you

Mine, if I keep it, will be installed on wood 8X8", which will adapt to bigger metal lensboards

I definitely will use Packard shutter large enough to not block magic light


https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51273126848_540baa21a0_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2m7Qbhq)Sinar Norma 420mm Rodenstock Imagon Homemade Board (https://flic.kr/p/2m7Qbhq) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

Here's my 420mm Rodenstock Imagon. My Clockmaker friend made the homemade "forward mounting with the appropriate spacing, looks like held together with JB Weld. This is a big lightweight lens; the flange is bigger than the board itself. The Norma Shutter diameter is about 84mm across. The rear cell on this Big Baby is about 94mm across. So the rear cell diameter is bigger than the Norma Shutter diameter.I've used this for 8x10 B&W headshots and it is outstanding. Wish I had more than just the H5.8-H7.7 disk. I'd like to have some custom 3D printed. That would be a real service.

Might just be me but I've never seen anything on a 480mm Imagon.

[cowanw]

My 480 is on a Cambo board which in turn fits on a 12 inch Packard shutter fabrication, here shown with a Cooke on it.217019

[Whir-Click]

I’m curious to know if anyone has a 20” f/5 Vitax.

Wollensak added this lens to their catalog in 1923, along with a “Vitax extension lens.” The extension lens is a front cell which interchanges with the original on a 16” Vitax to produce a 20” focal length. While I know of at least two existing Vitax extension lenses (mine and I believe Mark Sawyer’s), I have never seen the factory-original #7 20” Vitax. The 1973 Wollensak bankruptcy auction catalog included one 20” Vitax.

[Jody_S]

About 18 months ago I bought a lens from a forum member. Hugo Meyer double plasmat 240mm f4, it was on my want list for a while. Slightly larger than my 240mm f4.5 Xenar, as expected. I put it on a shelf and forgot about it because I've been dealing with a death in the family and a new member of our household in a wheelchair. Finally this week I mounted it on my 4x5 and gave it a whirl. Unexpectedly, it did not focus at 240 mm. It focused at 105mm. Entrance pupil: 52mm. Calculated: f2.

I can't find it at the moment, but I read somewhere in the Lens Vade Mecum (?) that Meyer had promised to make an f2 version of their f4 Plasmat but that no examples had ever been seen. Or possibly someone has put the wrong rear element on my lens and it just happens to work out to f2. The front element says 240mm f4, the rear has no writing. It does cover 4x5 at infinity, but very very soft. I need to develop a couple of shots and try out the individual elements to see what gives. Does anyone have an actual 240mm f4 Meyer plasmat that you could post a photo of? There are a couple examples of this lens on eBay that look significantly different than mine.

[Rod Klukas]

How about the 2 lenses used for the Mammoth camera? 8x4.5 foot format circa 1900

One lens was 5.5 feet in focal length, and a wide angle to boot. And they also had a 10 foot plus lens for the camera.
“The Mammoth Camera of George R. Lawrence”. Here is a drop box link.
Has pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/s/93o7o3r4ftg78qe/%20%E2%80%9CThe%20Mammoth%20Camera%20of%20George%20R.%20Lawrence%E2%80%9D.pdf?dl=0

Enjoy.

There was also in digital the 120mm Apo-Digitar ASPH. It came out and they announced the 100mm. put it in the catalogs etc. NO lenses....

[Jim Noel]

Several years ago i missed a chance to buy one on a KMV. The combo was only$350, but i had just spent all my cash on other things. I have wished it had been different ever since.