Meteor cased and sets lens, who knows detail?

[seanwang]

I just bought a set of lens in ebay, which name is "Meteor".
It includes 7 separate element lens, 2 extend tubes,and 1 main tube that includes aperture.

Over all in the case and lens, I can only find few words that are "Meteor" and F stops(shows in number from 0 ~5), each separate element lens engraved the different number in the rim, 15,25,35 to 75. I think it means the focus of separate element lens.

So, I have 3 questions...:confused:
1. Who is the maker of these lens?
2. I know two of separate lens can combined togather and get a new lens which has different focus, but I dont know how many ways I can combined them and how about the focus & coverage for each combination. Who have documents about this lens?(or in the internet?)
3. Any comments for the quality of this lens in shoot photo?

Many thanks!!!!!!

Sean.W

[Benno Jones]

Sean - similar to this (http://cgi.ebay.com/Rodenstock-Meteorsatz-Lens-casket-4x5-8x10-15x12_W0QQitemZ160291803201QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item160291803201&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) one?

Disclaimer - I have nothing to do with the linked auction.

[David A. Goldfarb]

It sounds like one of a number of copies of the Busch Vademecum Sätz II. Do a search, and you should be able to find a table showing all the combinations, coverage, and f:stops. The tubes convert the lens combinations from wideangle configuration to "normal" configuration, which gives you less coverage, but slightly sharper results.

[Richard Rankin]

Here's a copy of mine, but I'm not sure how well it ill look here uploaded. Email if you'd like a copy of the jpg.

Cheers,
Richard

[Ole Tjugen]

At least some Meteor sets were made by Rodenstock.

The combinations should be readable in the attachment in the previous post, but if not here are some general rules:

Each cell alone behind the aperture
two adjacent (in FL) cells with the shorter behind the aperture
two "leap" cells (e.g. 25 and 45) with the shorter behind the aperture.

All of these can be used without spacers for wider "coverage", or with one spacer for each cell giving useable results.

In my experience the sharpness increases dramatically when using the spacers, passing from "hopelessly muddy" to "useable".

Sooner or later I'm going to get around to putting this on www.casket-set.com

[seanwang]

Thanks for Benno Jones, David, Richard and Ole Tjugen. :)

My casket lens just like this one. http://www.casket-set.com/Casket_03.html

I think, I can get the combinations from the JPG file above. And I'll test it on sunday on my 4X5 and 8X10 camera.

BTW: In case of my casket lens, each lens element is made of only single glass, probably.:D


Thanks again!;)

[Ole Tjugen]

http://www.casket-set.com/Casket_10.html is a partial Rodenstock "Meteor". The table shown in http://www.casket-set.com/Casket_05.html is the same as Richard posted above, and is equally valid for a Busch Vade Mecum and for the Chr. Fr. Winter set - which was probably made by Rodenstock anyway. ;)