Good equivalent of the now pricey Aero Ektar 178 2.5?

[Memento Mori]

Any suggestions for lenses equivalent to the AE178? I’m looking for the fast/shallow dof stuff. I use a Speed graphic with focal plane shutter, so barrel will work. Quirky is fine, under $500, please:p

[maltfalc]

buhl projector lenses. the 2.5 versions have gotten pricey and hard to find, but still a better deal than an aero ektar, and the slower versions are nice and cheap and even fit in a closed speed graphic.

[Paul Ewins]

Dallmeyer 8" f2.9 Pentac would fit the bill.

[Memento Mori]

Thank you!

[Memento Mori]

Thanks, I’ll look around.

[Embdude]

The following lenses are available in varying sizes between 150mm-400mm:

1.2 Fujinon Projection Lens (145mm)
1.8 Zeiss Ernostar
1.8 Astro-Berlin Pan Tachar
2.0 Taylor Hobson Cooke Series O
2.0 Schneider-Göttingen Xenon (125mm)
2.5 Leitz Hecktor
2.5 Taylor Hobson Cooke Speedic Series X
2.5 KOMZ Uran
2.5 Clave Paris Nocton
2.5 Kinoptik Foyer
2.7 Zeiss Tessar
2.7 Ernemann Anastigmat Ernostar
2.8 Zeiss Biotessar
2.8 Schneider Xenotar
2.8 Komura
2.9 Dallmeyer Pentac
2.9 Plaubel Anticomar
2.9 Ross XPRES
3.0 LOMO OKP
3.1 Cooke Portrait Series I
3.1 Emil Busch Glaukar
3.5 Schneider Aero-Xenar
3.5 Schneider Xenar
3.5 Schneider Xenar Type D
3.5 Schneider Xenoplan
3.5 Zeiss Tessar
3.5 C Friederich Doppelanastigmat Coronar
3.5 Wollensak Varium
3.5 C.P. Goerz Hypar
3.5 Hugo Meyer Trioplan
3.5 Steinheil Cessar Anastigmat
3.5 G. Rodenstock Dopple Anastigmat Euryner
3.5 Taylor Hobson Cooke 'Knuckler'
3.5 Berthiot Stellor No.3 Serie 1a
3.5 OIP Gand 'LABOR'
3.5 Dallmeyer Dalmac
3.5 Voigtlander Color Skopar
3.5 Ilex Seminat
3.8 Wollensak Vitax
3.8 Ilex-Acme Portrait
3.8 Graf Variable Anastigmat

Some are rather obscure (ie. Xenoplan) and some are generally expensive (ie. Ernostar) but bargains can be found with patience.

Older -All manner of fast projector lenses from Schneider, Leitz, Fuji, Buhl, Bessler, B&L etc...
Newer - LCD Projection lenses mostly Japan, Korea, and Russia some German names but likely still made in Asia...

Other sources of fast lenses: Surplus Shed, photocopier lenses, projection tv lenses...

[paulbarden]

Buhl Projector Lens

[domaz]

Carl Zeiss Jena 250mm 3.5 Tessars. Most of the ones I've seen have the red "T" meaning they are coated. A bit slower than an Aero Ektar but also a tad longer so overall DOF is comparable.

[Embdude]

This is a good place to find fast LF glass: https://www.wetplatedreams.com/allitems

They have a 200 f2.9 Pentac: https://www.wetplatedreams.com/dallmeyer-pentac-200mm-f2-9

[Mark Sawyer]

Another possible option. Perhaps. Put a +3 diopter on an f/4.5 300mm lens. That would give you (approximately) a 160mm f/2.3. There might be some aberrations, but they might be interesting.

[Memento Mori]

Interesting!

[Memento Mori]

Another possible option. Perhaps. Put a +3 diopter on an f/4.5 300mm lens. That would give you (approximately) a 160mm f/2.3. There might be some aberrations, but they might be interesting.

So now my brain is trying to sort out how that works. The diopters I’m used to are teeny things at the eyepiece on a dslr.

Do you have more info on this approach?

[Dan Fromm]

So now my brain is trying to sort out how that works. The diopters I’m used to are teeny things at the eyepiece on a dslr.

Do you have more info on this approach?

PMFJI. The diopters mentioned are sold as "close-up lenses" or as "close-up adapters." They screw into lenses' filter threads. Cheap ones have single elements, are to be avoided. There are also multi-element diopters that are more expensive but work better.

[Mark J]

1 Diopter means a focal length of 1m ( 1000mm )
2 diopters is a focal length of 500mm.

I don't know if you can get diopter lenses big enough to cover a 300mm f/4.5 - can you ? I have never checked.
There will be aberrations .... if not colour, then some other things....

[Dugan]

I have "+3" and "+4" single-element close-up filters in 72mm size...so yes, they're out there...maybe check with www.filterfind.net for other sizes.

[Memento Mori]

I snagged a clean (couple of minor blemishes off to the side on the front element) Buhl 9” f/2.5 for about $250 today. Came with RAF alloy lensboard. Happy enough for now:o