Wollensak Velostigmat and Wollensak Verito

[Andrew O'Neill]

Anyone out there have experience with these lenses?

[John Kasaian]

I have an uncoated 162mm Velostigmat II aboard a 4x5 Anny Speed Graphic. It is the tessar type, not the Velostigmat with the "dial-in bokeh" feature, but IMHO it is a very fine protrait lens just the same (an opinion shared ny the college prof who owned the speeder before me---the camera came from her estate and she was well known locally for her portraiture) I don't have a Verito to compare it to, but I do know that Veritos are a lot larger and heavier than equivalent focal length Velostigmats. I hope this helps.

[Jay DeFehr]

I have a 14½" Verito, and love it. Very diffuse wide open, but sharpens considerably by f11. Even at apertures small enough to eliminate most of the diffusion, the bokeh and overall image quality are excellent. Getting to know one of these lenses requires a commitment, but it's worth it for me.

Jay

[Jim Galli]

Yes, quite a lot. You can see images done with both at my little web page (http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com).

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com

The Velostigmat was a general purpose lens of high quality and the 3 largest sizes, 9.5, 12, and 15.5 inch all could be ordered with a diffusion ring at the front to diffuse them for portraiture. Not really necessary though because where they really shine for portraiture is wide open at f4.5. The result is very similar to a Heliar. Sharp in the focus plane which can be quite shallow at f4.5 and the rest is just creamy smooth. Here's a recent shot that shows sharpness stopped down.


http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/WorkGlovesS.jpg

The Verito is a very different animal. Wide open at f4 it is VERY diffuse. From f4 to f8 you literally choose the amount of diffusion you're after. Here's an ancient bristlecone done with the Verito @ f6 and a Kodak 7X11 format camera.


http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/VeritoBristleconeF6ss.jpg

A page about the Velostigmat. (http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/Bokeh/Velostigmat.html) Another with Velostigmat used on the first 2 pics. (http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/Campbells/Campbells.html) And a page that has some Verito Portraiture. (http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/PinkhamSmithLens.html)

I have a 12" Velostigmat that is extra just now. Contact me offline if interested. Not supposed to advertise in the threads. ;)

[Ernest Purdum]

"Velostigmat", like "Raptar" later on, was Wollensak's name for their whole anastigmat lens line. It included f12.5 extreme wide angle lenses up to the f4.5 that Jim Galli is talking about.

"Verito" lenses were probably the most common of the several types of Wollensak soft focus non-anastigmat types. They are in considerable demand today, many years after they were made.

[Jim Galli]

"Velostigmat", like "Raptar" later on, was Wollensak's name for their whole anastigmat lens line. It included f12.5 extreme wide angle lenses up to the f4.5 that Jim Galli is talking about.

"Verito" lenses were probably the most common of the several types of Wollensak soft focus non-anastigmat types. They are in considerable demand today, many years after they were made.

Thanks Ernest, I should have included that. Velostigmat:

Series I, is a double or triple convertible very similar to the Zeiss Protar VII design.

Series II, is what I described above and what I automatically thought of when mentioned with the Verito.

Series III, is the f12.5 EWA Extra Wide Angle

Series IV, is a cheaper f6.3 dialyte type.

others? I think the f9.5 wide angle is a IIIa?

[Dan Fromm]

Uh, Jim, Rochester inconsistency strikes again.

My only Velostigmat is a tiny 3"/4.5 Ser. II in Rapax. Perfectly ordinary little tessar type with fixed cell spacing. Its only claim to fame is that is seems to cover 2x3. If, that is, by covers one means "is as soft in the center as in the corners," i.e., very soft all over.

Cheers,

Dan

[Jim Noel]

I have two Verito's, one Velopstigmat with variable softness and a Veritar.
Jim GAlli's explanation essentialy tells it all. Each of the lenses is different and yields a different image. But each is excellent when used for its stated purpose.

Jim

[Steve H]

I just got a Velostigmat II with the dial-in soft focus. Here is a shot, developed in caffenol+c, f/5.6 with out any dialed-in adjustment:
http://static.flickr.com/113/303016445_d569df4979_o.jpg

[Jack Flesher]

Man, I cannot wait to get my Velo II cranking! Nice shots guys!

[Andrew O'Neill]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of prices are you paying for these lenses? I've noticed a few at Igor's... why are such old lenses so expensive?

[Steve Hamley]

Andrew,

Old lenses in general have less contrast and smoother transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas. An Apo Sironar-S with Velvia gives the "calendar look", but a Heliar, Dagor, Verito, Velostigmat, etc can give a different and "smoother" look, especially in black and white.

I'm eclectic and enjoy both, but prices are high for premium examples of vintage lenses because the supply is limited with respect to the (current) demand, as evidenced by your inquiry!

Steve

[jnantz]

Just out of curiosity, what kind of prices are you paying for these lenses? I've noticed a few at Igor's... why are such old lenses so expensive?

hi andrew

i also have a velostigmat ( triple convertible ) as well as a verito.
i got the velostigmat at igors ( thanks to a tip from john kasaian!)
and it wasn't cheep, but at the same time it wasn't as expensive as a new lens.

the attached image is the velo convterted to 20" wide open - paper negative.
folks say these triple convertible lenses aren't s very good because of sharpness issues, but i don't really notice :)

have fun!
john

[wfwhitaker]

...Veritos are a lot larger and heavier than equivalent focal length Velostigmats.

My experience has been different. I have both the 12" Velostigmat SF and an 11 1/2" Verito, each mounted to use with the Wisner 5x7 and the Velostigmat takes the boat anchor award each time. The reference is to weight only; both are fine lenses, each with its own qualities. This link may be old news to most, but it's still an amusing exercise: http://wfwhitaker.com/tech/verito.htm


Just out of curiosity, what kind of prices are you paying for these lenses? I've noticed a few at Igor's... why are such old lenses so expensive?

Demand.

[Shen45]

This is an image done the other day with a 12" Velostigmat on a 5x4.

The scan is a reasonable representation of the print but some of the highlight detail has been lost. The tonality is much better from a print compared to the scan.

This was shot at f11 for 2.2 secs on Efke 5x4 100iso developed in a modified Buetler formula [dilution only]



If I had this as my only 300mm lens I would not feel in any way cheated. This image was shot against the light without any lens shade [no sun on the lens]. The lens is nearly 100 years old performs wonderfully

When Jim Galli, Kevin Saitta and myself shot at his friend's foundry I was amazed at the way the 12" handled the light.

http://tonopahpictures.0catch.com/Campbells/Campbells.html

I need to develop an old fashioned eye to take advantage of some of the wonderful characteristics of this glass.

Jack Flesher recently indicate he is also soon to get a Velostigmat so it will be good to see some of his results.