Collinear Series III, No 3 1:7.7

[Wenbiao Liang]

Just bought this lens on impulse. I have heard about Collinear lenses, being similar in construction as that of Dagors, although with the order of the elements reversed?

A net-friend told me Series III, #3 is about 180mm in focal length, and covers 18X24, so it would not cover 8x10?

this is all I know about this lens, there is not much information on Collinear that I could find out over the internet.

How Collinear's compare to Dagor in performance, coverage and characteristics?

Thanks!

[medform-norm]

Hi Wenbiao,

Personally, I know nothing about your lens, but the Lens Vade Mecum offers this bit of rather unconclusive information that may help you along. Since you seem to be in the habit of buying older lenses, may I advise you to get a copy of the LVM for your own library? I think it's on sale at eBay or from MWClassics.You will find it very useful indeed and it may aid you in looking for new old lenses. There are also other books on lenses available, e.g. Ole Tjugen has some interesting reference materials at home.

The Voigtlaender Anastigmats were initially the Kollinear - or spelling as Collinear for export markets.
Kollinear was made in several series, and there may be changes in the designs. Users say that the performance is very good but that the colour correction can be less good than other types, and the faster series may lack ultimate sharpness. Frerk writing in 1926, says the old versions were in f5.4 and f6.8, and that the line was simplified in 1921 when R. Richter redesigned the Kollinear as an f6.3 in all sizes. Today, demand for Kollinear seems to be increasing and prices are rising, perhaps as it is more flexible in use than Dagor, the main 3+3 symmetrical competitor. The angle covered was good but not outstanding. The first list noted is from a Rochester Optical catalogue for 1899.

There were 3 main types of 3+3 symmetrical anastigmat. The most successful was the Goerz Dagor and the next most important was the Voigtlaender Kollinear and Steinheil Orthostigmat, which are to products basically of the same design group, and finally, the Watson Holostigmat was a third basic type, though Zeiss had also used this layout. A fourth could be envisaged but never actually used commercially.

Kollinear Series 111
It was covered by D.R.P. 88,505. (Voi013) This seems to be scarcer, and may be aimed at shutter mounting as it is smaller. It covers up to 90° stopped down. It was made in:
f6.8 7.0, 9.0, 10.5, 12.0, 13.5, 15, 18cm, where it was suggested to use 15cm for 5x4. But note the lenses found are f6.3 and seem to be of this period.
In the USA list it was as:
2.25in for 2.25x3.25in; 3.5in for 2.75x3.25in; 4.25in for 3x3.25in; 4.75in for 3.25x4.25in; 5.375in for 3.75x4.5in; 6in for 4x5in or 5x7in stopped down; 6.5in for 3.25x5.5in; 7.125in for 5x7 or 6x8in stopped down.
f7.7 20, 25, 31, 37, 44, 52, 58cm. Use 13.5cm for 5x4. It covers about 90°.
In the USA list it was as:
8in for 6x8in; 10in for 7x9in or 8x10in stopped down; 12in for 8x10in; 14.5in for 11x14in; 17.5in for 14x17in; 20.5in for 16x18in; 23in for 18x22in.

All sizes from 1A to 6 ie 4.25in to 12in inclusive were avaialable in cells to fit shutters.
A Collinear II No5 f7.7 ie 10in was noted at No49,11x.
[Afalter seems to have the same lens in Germany in 1910, but notes it covers 66°. Rather than underline a difference in angle, one is probably with the iris fully open and the other stopped down. He notes 3 Casket sets as follows: for 9x12cm, with 143, 209, 262mm cells for 97mm and up. for 13x18cm, with 224, 262, 358mm cells for 138mm, etc. for 18x24cm with 262, 358, 447, 538mm cells, 172mm, etc.
These were listed but have not been seen in the UK.]

Ah, I forgot to mention that cameraeccentric.com is a good site to peruse for info on old lenses, although Seth apparently has not been able to lay his able hands on an older Voigtlänger catalogue yet, so no info from him on this lens.