Improve sharpness of a magic lantern lens?

[badler]

I have a brass magic lantern lens. I am wondering if I can add an aperture and reduce the softness of the lens?
Thanks 242565

[Tin Can]

Yes and Magic Lanterns had them

[badler]

Yes and Magic Lanterns had them
Thanks I’m guessing I could place one behind the rear cell. There is no slot for a Waterhouse stop.

[Tin Can]

Many old lenses were cut for stops

Not at front or back

Middle

Some of us like soft

[Greg]

For a small donation a High School metal working shop (yes they still exist) would be glad to cut you a slot. Question is just where to place the slot in the brass barrel. I once did this in an old brass projection lens and placed the slot midway between the lens elements. It worked out just find, but probably more because of blind luck.

[cowanw]

I would cut a black matboard to fit in the lens hood and make the apertures in the middle of that to try out various smaller apertures.

[Daniel Unkefer]

I removed the stop in my magic lantern lens. Got black candle soot all over my fingers LOL. Threw the stop away. I wanted swirlier and swirlier. Got it, and Yep it's SWIRLY. :p Mucho increased lens speed too now F4 or so. Some here say it's out of focus, but not in the center. I kind of like the effect sometimes.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53008403359_00de298c5f_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2oLaVwX)Makiflex JLane 9x12 Glass Plate EI 1 Key Day (https://flic.kr/p/2oLaVwX) by Nokton48 (https://www.flickr.com/photos/18134483@N04/), on Flickr

[Vaidotas]

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?163431-A-simple-and-ancient-way-to-facilitate-central-stops-on-projection-lenses&p=1597102#post1597102