6 inch, f9 CP Goerz Apochromatic Red Dot Artar on 4x5?

[Kino]

I have a 6 inch, f9 CP Goerz Apochromatic Red Dot Artar lens in a Prontor Press Shutter that came with a B&J 4x5 flat bed camera.

Found an original Goerz pamphlet that states this lens covers 3.25 x 4.25 at infinity.

What would be the purpose of a quarter plate lens on a 4x5 camera? Was it for tabletop work of smaller items?

[Mark Sampson]

The Artar was designed long ago, for copy work at around a 1:1 reproduction ratio. However its symmetrical design means that they are also well corrected at infinity. This comes at a cost in coverage- about 45 degrees, where a tessar-formula lens covers around 60 degrees, and a plasmat 70 degrees (generally speaking).
Since coverage increases as you focus closer, you are right: your 6" Artar was probably used for tabletop and copy work on 4x5.

[Kino]

Mark,

Thank you for that explanation.

While the lens elements are kind of rough, I'll be interested to see how it performs once I get the bellows patched and repair the film back.

The longer versions seem to fetch good money, but this length seems much less desirable in online sales.

Thanks again!

[Mark Sampson]

Kino- you're welcome.
Red Dot Artars are very high resolution lenses... you might try using it at infinity (normal shooting distances).
It may a) work fine b) illuminate the corners of the negative but not be sharp) or c) most likely, vignette. One sheet of film exposed at (say) f/22 will give you your answer. Best of luck- and have fun!