Voigtlander Heliar Universal Lens vs ?

[Tin Can]

These are mostly in EU and beyond

My question is, what other lenses including Cooke variations

and USA products compare

I mean big glass, starting at 300mm to 460mm or bigger?

Opinions and image examples welcome

[gypsydog]

I own and would suggest The 14" f/4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat Series II variable soft focus, a highly versatile lenses and quite lovely rendering.
I have the 9.5", 12" and 14". They are all nice but I find the 14" to be the sweet spot.

[Tin Can]

Upon review I have 2 Wolly 12" One SF

I forget what I have

I am going to set up my B&J 8X10 Rembrandt and try a few studio shots, with a variety of 300 to 360 mm glass

Thank you

Good suggestion, I will avoid the tempting fruit


I own and would suggest The 14" f/4.5 Wollensak Velostigmat Series II variable soft focus, a highly versatile lenses and quite lovely rendering.
I have the 9.5", 12" and 14". They are all nice but I find the 14" to be the sweet spot.

[gypsydog]

Upon review I have 2 Wolly 12" One SF

I forget what I have

I am going to set up my B&J 8X10 Rembrandt and try a few studio shots, with a variety of 300 to 360 mm glass

Thank you

Good suggestion, I will avoid the tempting fruit

The 14"is very hard to find, I imagine it would be pricey in todays market.
Have fun with your project!
Is your 12" un-corked (retention screw removed)?

[Mark Sawyer]

The Velostigmat Series II came in 12, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, and 19-inch versions. Just for your search parameters.

Here's a thread on removing that retention screw:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?57385-Velostigmat-Series-II-Info-and-Images

The Cooke Portrait lenses are closest to the Universal Heliar design-wise, but the Velostigmat is also a wonderful alternative. It should be noted that the adjustable soft-focus Petzvals like the Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens, Vitax, etc. don't have much of a soft-focus effect. Other dedicated soft-focus lenses (Verito, Kodak Portrait...) are adjustable by closing the aperture a bit to curtail the softness.

[Tin Can]

Yes


The 14"is very hard to find, I imagine it would be pricey in todays market.
Have fun with your project!
Is your 12" un-corked (retention screw removed)?

[gypsydog]

The Velostigmat Series II came in 12, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, and 19-inch versions. Just for your search parameters.

Here's a thread on removing that retention screw:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?57385-Velostigmat-Series-II-Info-and-Images

The Cooke Portrait lenses are closest to the Universal Heliar design-wise, but the Velostigmat is also a wonderful alternative. It should be noted that the adjustable soft-focus Petzvals like the Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens, Vitax, etc. don't have much of a soft-focus effect. Other dedicated soft-focus lenses (Verito, Kodak Portrait...) are adjustable by closing the aperture a bit to curtail the softness.

Also, the 9.5 inch.

[Tin Can]

I have 2 Cooke's 10.5 Knuckler and 14.5 adjustable

[cuypers1807]

Do you want to shoot stopped down or wide open?

[Tin Can]

I shoot my SF wide open


Do you want to shoot stopped down or wide open?

[Tin Can]

https://www.pacificrimcamera.com/rl/00248/00248.pdf



To be honest, I think the 12” Turner-Reich Gundlach convertible is an underrated marvel: https://flic.kr/p/2ccTNFj Its out-of-focus rendering is quite beautiful.

[ridax]

I like the Turner-Reich but don't think it could be called whatever similar to a Universal Heliar. I suppose the OP would be more satisfied with any Tessar or Celor type lens that has some means to move its elements. And the above mentioned Wollensak Velostigmat would probably be the best of these options.

[cuypers1807]

I shoot my SF wide open
The reason I asked is that I tend to shoot my UH and Cooke Knuckler more on the sharp side wide open. For SF, I use a 14in. Pinkham Bi-quality or a 14.5" or 18" Verito. My Veritos have the advantage of having fully functioning studio shutters.

[Tin Can]

I know I have enough lenses

I have many with good OE shutters

I collect Packard shutters for the rest


The reason I asked is that I tend to shoot my UH and Cooke Knuckler more on the sharp side wide open. For SF, I use a 14in. Pinkham Bi-quality or a 14.5" or 18" Verito. My Veritos have the advantage of having fully functioning studio shutters.