Some Soft Focus Lens Sales Information

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

I usually report those faked auctions (from hijacked accounts) to ebay (there is button for it), they're down virtually minutes later usually...

[Jim Galli]

A very pretty (too pretty?) Pinkham Smith Series IV (http://www.ebay.com/itm/250892031769?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649) Visual Quality #4 16". I asked the seller if there was a tiny decal mentioning Burke & James because the bright white lettering looks like one of their 1960's refurbishments (shouldn't compromise quality rendered or value). He said no. $4367 seems about right. 2 years ago it would have been quite higher perhaps.

[CCHarrison]

Jim,

Here is some data regarding previous sales of Pinkham VQ lenses.


2nd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 3,000
Ebay


3rd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 1,999
Private Sale, in Studio Shutter


2nd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 1,915
Ebay, in shutter, condition only fair


1st Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 4,550
Ebay

2nd Qtr 2011
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 1,402
Ebay, poor cond.



4th Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 3,550
Ebay in Studio shutter


This lens will be the first VQ on my list thats a No. 4 (16" for 8x10)

See http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenssales.html

for the full list of Soft Focus lens sales I have tracked for almost 2 years.

Best,
Dan

[Jim Galli]

Jim,

Here is some data regarding previous sales of Pinkham VQ lenses.


2nd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 3,000
Ebay


3rd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 1,999
Private Sale, in Studio Shutter


2nd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 2, Series IV Lens
$ 1,915
Ebay, in shutter, condition only fair


3rd Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 12,500
Ebay



1st Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 4,550
Ebay

2nd Qtr 2011
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 1,402
Ebay, poor cond.



4th Qtr 2010
Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality No. 3, Series IV Lens
$ 3,550
Ebay in Studio shutter


This lens will be the first VQ on my list thats a No. 4 (16" for 8x10)

See http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenssales.html

for the full list of Soft Focus lens sales I have tracked for almost 2 years.

Best,
Dan

One small correction to eliminate any confusion. The $12,500 one was not a Visual Quality. VQ is series IV. That was a Series III Semi Achromatic. A giant lens with 2 opposing doublets. The only one like it I've ever seen........or even heard of.

Thanks for all the hard work Dan.

Jim

[CCHarrison]

woops, you are correct... when I copied the data from my site, which has it listed properly, I had to edit the post for this forum and I changed the III to a IV by accident.. thanks for pointing it out... I deleted the error above.

Thanks !

Dan

[Hugo Zhang]

Dan,

Great list, but you missed this one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110728765927?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[Jim Galli]

Dan,

Great list, but you missed this one!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/110728765927?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

How'd I miss that for $550 bucks?? Did you get that one Hugo?

[CCHarrison]

Hi Hugo,

Didnt miss it, just havent updated the list since June...I usually update every 3 months or so ! I actually have lots of SF lens sales data to add...will post soon when I update...

Best
Dan

[Hugo Zhang]

How'd I miss that for $550 bucks?? Did you get that one Hugo?

It was on my watch list and I was too poor to bid. I had a 36cm version though. :)

[Emil Schildt]

ILEX PARAGON SOFT FOCUS ANASTIGMAT 12 INCH ( 305mm )

US $236.66

Item number: 260855344870

Very cheap, if you ask me.. should have made a bid (I have it's larger brother, and it is a great soft focus lens!)

[CCHarrison]

I think it was cheap for 3 reasons:

1. The sellers ad, where the description flip-flopped about it being SF
2. The Ilex Paragon SF lens is not well known
3. Ilex is not very sexy as a brand....

Dan

[Emil Schildt]

I think it was cheap for 3 reasons:

1. The sellers ad, where the description flip-flopped about it being SF
2. The Ilex Paragon SF lens is not well known
3. Ilex is not very sexy as a brand....

Dan

yes - poor seller... I actually wrote him to tell him, that it was a SF lens...

I have heard the SF is like a Wollensak..

It works so fine. Somebody got a nice lens at a great price!

[Jon Wilson]

yes - poor seller... I actually wrote him to tell him, that it was a SF lens...

I have heard the SF is like a Wollensak..

It works so fine. Somebody got a nice lens at a great price!

It is a nice lens and is like a SF Wolly. The Ilex model is probably best described as the "Rodney Dangerfield" of Soft Focus lens. I had one which I sold on this forum, but only due to the fact I have the Wolly versions in studio shutters.

Someone in deed got a nice one for a very reasonable price.

[Louis Pacilla]

One day a 36cm Universal Heliar sells for $500 and then a few days latter a 12" Kodak Portrait gets near $1500 . WTF :confused: :eek: :confused: :eek:

http://cgi.ebay.com/330614375592

[cdholden]

One day a 36cm Universal Heliar sells for $500 and then a few days latter a 12" Kodak Portrait gets near $1500 . WTF :confused: :eek: :confused: :eek:

http://cgi.ebay.com/330614375592

For that much, I'll gladly sell you my 12" Kodak Portrait lens for $100 less. Recent CLA and will include free shipping.
What a bargain!

[Jon Wilson]

One day a 36cm Universal Heliar sells for $500 and then a few days latter a 12" Kodak Portrait gets near $1500 . WTF :confused: :eek: :confused: :eek:

http://cgi.ebay.com/330614375592

But they are selling it with an original YELLOW Kodak lens box

some people......and their money soon part.

[Mark Sawyer]

One day a 36cm Universal Heliar sells for $500 and then a few days latter a 12" Kodak Portrait gets near $1500.


For that much, I'll gladly sell you my 12" Kodak Portrait lens for $100 less.

Um, no, but I'll gladly give you $400 for a 36cm Universal Heliar... :D

Somebody gat a deal on that one...

[cdholden]

But they are selling it with an original YELLOW Kodak lens box

some people......and their money soon part.
I've got the box too. It might be time to post a sale.

[Hugo Zhang]

But look at this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220849547193?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

It is not a soft focus lens.

[cdholden]

But look at this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220849547193?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

It is not a soft focus lens.

That's a collector bidding high for that one. The Technika badged Heliars don't come around often. My first LF lens was a Technika badged 210/4.5 Heliar in Copal 3. Someone had mangled up the front threads and ultimately did a hack job supergluing a slip on adapter for Cokin filters to the front. As most uninformed people do, I made a poor decision. The proper one would have been to keep it, regardless of how ugly it was. The glass was coated and in immaculate condition. That was around 2004. I have yet to see another like it for sale anywhere.

[cdholden]

One day a 36cm Universal Heliar sells for $500 and then a few days latter a 12" Kodak Portrait gets near $1500 . WTF :confused: :eek: :confused: :eek:

http://cgi.ebay.com/330614375592

Many thanks to Louis' nomination for this week's WTF Award! This week's winner goes to Item # 330614375592 - A 12" Kodak Portrait in questionable Ilex Shutter for $1600.00! For more than double what they usually go for, the lucky winner gets some filters and a box.

[Tim Layton]

Dan, thank you for doing this. I have been a LF photographer for years but just now getting into the older/antique gear. This is extremely helpful. Thank you.

Tim

[cdholden]

Taylor Hobson Cooke IIA Portrait Soft Focus 10.5" F3.5
Item # 310341166699
GBP 368.88 / US 597.77

I finally received this, only to find that the flange and rear element are rusted to the main barrel, keeping any internal service from ever happening. I'm currently negotiating a partial refund to keep or full refund for return. Regardless of the outcome, I gave the seller a chance to come clean in case there was a second lens that he could have accidentally swapped in shipping. This was not the case. Intentionally describing the lens as in "excellent condition" is willfull deceit.
Ebay user "clicklovely" should be at the top of everyone's "Sellers To Avoid" list. He currently has another for sale "in good condition". If this was excellent, I can only imagine what good is.

[jumanji]

I finally received this, only to find that the flange and rear element are rusted to the main barrel, keeping any internal service from ever happening. I'm currently negotiating a partial refund to keep or full refund for return. Regardless of the outcome, I gave the seller a chance to come clean in case there was a second lens that he could have accidentally swapped in shipping. This was not the case. Intentionally describing the lens as in "excellent condition" is willfull deceit.
Ebay user "clicklovely" should be at the top of everyone's "Sellers To Avoid" list. He currently has another for sale "in good condition". If this was excellent, I can only imagine what good is.

I appreciate! First, I think he relists that Cooke, but he told that this is another Cooke, different to last one he sold. So I intend to bid it for my friend. I've just pm him about what you describe. Waiting his answer.

[Emil Schildt]

this 30cm heliar was sold today at Breker's auction.

The price is difficult to pinpoint as there also was a big 40x50cm field camera in the auction.

I was suggested that the prices would be about 40% of the value for the camera and 60 for the lens..

Price reached was 900€

If the lens part was 60% then it would be approx. 686€ (added extra 27% for taxes and fees)

686€ = 934$

guessing of course...

here's a link to the item(s): http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/9712732

[Steven Tribe]

Just to add that it is a post-war, coated, Universal.
These "auctioneer invented lot groupings" are a nightmare. For some, the presence of the huge reise/studio camera is a distraction. For others interested in the super camera alone, the Universal just has to be disposed of, preferable at a profit, with some inconvenience, afterwards.

[cdholden]

Oh yes, that Universal just must be disposed of. Feel free to contact me if you need help with the disposal.
Oh? Profit and inconvenience? Nevermind. But you know I'm there for you if you feel the need to ship one of those uber-nice lenses across the pond!
My Universal is still visiting the SK Grimes Day Spa. I have not been able to use it yet.

[alex from holland]

would have loved to buy that reise kamera.
40 x 50 would have been prefect for me......

[edp]

40x50 Reisekamera? You're not going to travel very far dragging a 40x50 camera.

[Steven Tribe]

Alex - I knew you were interested in that size, but assumed you had seen this as a lot on this very well known and best advertised Photo auction each year?

[Emil Schildt]

would have loved to buy that reise kamera.
40 x 50 would have been prefect for me......

me too! mostly for the three cassettes - I only have half a cassette working for mine...

[alex from holland]

Alex - I knew you were interested in that size, but assumed you had seen this as a lot on this very well known and best advertised Photo auction each year?

actually i didn't....
Normally i buy these things locally. I prefer to see what i get befroe buying ( which isn't always possible)

[Emil Schildt]

Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 12'' f/4.5

US $426.99

Item number: 120786245223

[Steven Tribe]

Another problem Nicola Persheid. 320766076064 - £641. Attractive but with faulty iris
Surprising early (ROIA engraving 1900?) but with the usual German patent no.
260mm and F7.5.
Triplet?

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

No, like this

http://oldlens.com/nicola%20perscheid.jpg

[Steven Tribe]

Yes, I know - but many Nicola Perscheid's have been reported to be triplets, even when they had the German patent no.!

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

I was wondering why you'd asked. Never heard of that "triplet myth" though.

[CCHarrison]

Klaus,

If you see my Feb 27th entry on this page

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=55306&page=3&highlight=perscheid


you will find that the blog below discusses 3 and 4 element Perscheid lens types.... you need to translate the page unless you can read Japanese.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/finephotograph_com/e/5a328171a6870d815e931a50db2d91ae


I think the Portrait Objective may have 3 elements while the regular objective has 4 - but this hasnt been confirmed by someone who has had both Perscheid lens types.

Best,

Dan

[cdholden]

If that difference did exist, I would think that not many of the triplets would be on the market if they were imprinted with the patent number for an aplanat. It seems like that would be an easy error to spot by any photographer familiar with the different lens designs of the time.

[CCHarrison]

Cdholden

I'd urge you to translate and read the page I posted. He discusses the patent issue as well.

Actually, whats most helpful is if we had anyone who can read and translate the page to better English than google and Bing can....

Best,

Dan

[Lachlan 717]

Some days ago now - 320738414878.
Verito f4, 9 inches.
What looks like a Verito front and rear cell in a plane barrel (no iris) marked Wollensak. Perhaps this is how Wollensak sold their plain cells?
Probably as good a buy as the usual in a defunct Studio shutter?


I could not tell for certain from the pictures, but the barrel looked too short IMO. I have a 9 inch f4 Verito in a studio shutter and it has an overall length of approximately 8 to 9 inches (I will have to measure it when I get home if anyone is interested in the measurements).

Jon


That was absolutely just a front or rear barrel from something with cells. Shutter or aperture section and rear barrel were gone. Who knows what the cells even are? Might or might not actually be the verito cells.

I received this lens recently, but haven't had time to run some film behind it.

I'll try to take some shots tomorrow and post them. I'll admit that the barrel length seems too short, but when I have it on the camera, it seems fine to me. It's beautifully diffused on the GG.

Given your thoughts on this, I'd be interested to work out what the lens actually is. It's definitely marked as Verito Diffused Focus...

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Klaus,

If you see my Feb 27th entry on this page

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=55306&page=3&highlight=perscheid


you will find that the blog below discusses 3 and 4 element Perscheid lens types.... you need to translate the page unless you can read Japanese.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/finephotograph_com/e/5a328171a6870d815e931a50db2d91ae


I think the Portrait Objective may have 3 elements while the regular objective has 4 - but this hasnt been confirmed by someone who has had both Perscheid lens types.

Best,

Dan

Thanks, that was new to me (not that there are faked ones around though).

[Andrew Plume]

I finally received this, only to find that the flange and rear element are rusted to the main barrel, keeping any internal service from ever happening. I'm currently negotiating a partial refund to keep or full refund for return. Regardless of the outcome, I gave the seller a chance to come clean in case there was a second lens that he could have accidentally swapped in shipping. This was not the case. Intentionally describing the lens as in "excellent condition" is willfull deceit.
Ebay user "clicklovely" should be at the top of everyone's "Sellers To Avoid" list. He currently has another for sale "in good condition". If this was excellent, I can only imagine what good is.


Hi Chris

I've just seen your post, interesting - I was at the same auction when mr 'clicklovely' aka Rob Smith bought not just that lens but around six or seven more as one lot - from what I've seen of his similar sales, he does no cleaning at all before posting them for sale - I bought an unnamed RR from him, around six to seven years ago, it wasn't good at all and I've never bothered since - from memory, I certainly wouldn't have described the Cooke lens as being in 'an excellent condition'

regards

andrew

[Andrew Plume]

Hi Chris

I've just seen your post, interesting - I was at the same auction when mr 'clicklovely' aka Rob Smith bought not just that lens but around six or seven more as one lot - from what I've seen of his similar sales, he does no cleaning at all before posting them for sale - I bought an unnamed RR from him, around six to seven years ago, it wasn't good at all and I've never bothered since - from memory, I certainly wouldn't have described the Cooke lens as being in 'an excellent condition'

regards

andrew


..............and fwiw, I was looking out for what he sold it for and as I didn't find it as part of his feedback.........I did a google search and it threw up your post - now I understand why there's no feedback..................

andrew

[cdholden]

Hi Chris

I've just seen your post, interesting - I was at the same auction when mr 'clicklovely' aka Rob Smith bought not just that lens but around six or seven more as one lot - from what I've seen of his similar sales, he does no cleaning at all before posting them for sale - I bought an unnamed RR from him, around six to seven years ago, it wasn't good at all and I've never bothered since - from memory, I certainly wouldn't have described the Cooke lens as being in 'an excellent condition'

regards

andrew

We negotiated a partial refund and I am keeping the lens. Even without being able to CLA the iris and SF control, I am hoping I can get at least a few years of use out of it before the movements begin to freeze up. While I would prefer one in better condition, it is just a tool, one with which I should still get some nice results with. I've not had time to find someone to bore out a Sinar board for it yet, but it does focus on the ground glass.
I'm still contemplating how I'm going to respond in feedback until after I get the lens mounted and get a few prints out of it in a week or two.

Chris

[Andrew Plume]

We negotiated a partial refund and I am keeping the lens. Even without being able to CLA the iris and SF control, I am hoping I can get at least a few years of use out of it before the movements begin to freeze up. While I would prefer one in better condition, it is just a tool, one with which I should still get some nice results with. I've not had time to find someone to bore out a Sinar board for it yet, but it does focus on the ground glass.
I'm still contemplating how I'm going to respond in feedback until after I get the lens mounted and get a few prints out of it in a week or two.

Chris

Chris

Good to hear that this has been resolved, your call but I would personally 'pass' on the feedback issue

best

andrew

[eddie]

Ebay user "clicklovely" should be at the top of everyone's "Sellers To Avoid" list.

i looked but could not find it but i had a post about swapping everyones "banned bidder list" form e bay. i received quite a few. now i have a nice list of problem people that can not bid on my stuff.

anyway, as far as the feed back goes, i think that if you negotiated money back (which i consider extortion and do not accept this or ask for it. but this is ONLY ME. i will take an item back for a full refund ONLY) you should not leave negative feedback. what is the seller to do? he agreeed to terms so it should be a done deal. maybe a pos or a neutral (at worst) saying the item was poorly described but the seller made good etc etc....but again, i do not think he should be bashed as an agreement was reached. $.02

eddie

[Lachlan 717]

I received this lens recently, but haven't had time to run some film behind it.

I'll try to take some shots tomorrow and post them. I'll admit that the barrel length seems too short, but when I have it on the camera, it seems fine to me. It's beautifully diffused on the GG.

Given your thoughts on this, I'd be interested to work out what the lens actually is. It's definitely marked as Verito Diffused Focus...

Couple of quick, rough shots through this lens (marked Verito 9" Diffused focus):

[Jim Galli]

Couple of quick, rough shots through this lens (marked Verito 9" Diffused focus):

Those look great.

[Mark Sawyer]

It gives a Verito-like look! Does it focus at 9"? For comparison, my 8 3/4" Verito in a factory barrel (with iris diaphragm) is 2 3/4" long.

[Jim Graves]

On the bay ... 170713592668 ... Graf Variable 8.5"-9.5" ... nice glass, in barrel, no flange ... very nice write-up and pictures for $761.

[Steven Tribe]

Yes - but it continues the "lowish" price trends seen in CCHarrison's log.
To me, it seems amazing that there isn't a premium on the smaller sizes of mega large/heavy designs like the Graf variable because they can be used in the field on "normal" dimensioned cameras. Perhaps the current success of the Port-Land and other meniscus lenses is very much a factor of their portability?

[dap]

Yes - but it continues the "lowish" price trends seen in CCHarrison's log.
To me, it seems amazing that there isn't a premium on the smaller sizes of mega large/heavy designs like the Graf variable because they can be used in the field on "normal" dimensioned cameras. Perhaps the current success of the Port-Land and other meniscus lenses is very much a factor of their portability?

I agree. It seems that smaller soft focus lenses that are appropriate for 4x5 (not taking into account imagons/fujis) are pretty hard to find (not impossible, but they seem to be harder to find than the lenses appropriate for 8x10 and larger). Maybe soft focus lenses are priced on a per ounce basis :)

[jp]

Meniscus lenses are a lot easier to use than a graf variable from what I understand. (Have used various meniscii, but not the graf.) Perhaps the meniscus lenses are somewhat more apt to go to users? I know Russ Young has been students to go for meniscus/kodak/verito over the more esoteric options for starting out.

It could be supply is getting low on quality s.f. lenses and more people are hanging on to the good ones, leaving more crap bubbling up.

[cdholden]

The lenses you listed sare fairly easy to work with since they lack the chemical focus that vastly differs from the visual focus.
There is aberration at play, but it is more of a "what you see is what you get" than some of the older "esoterics" where the chemical focus has to be estimated, rather than seen.

[Mark Sawyer]

The lenses you listed sare fairly easy to work with since they lack the chemical focus that vastly differs from the visual focus.
There is aberration at play, but it is more of a "what you see is what you get" than some of the older "esoterics" where the chemical focus has to be estimated, rather than seen.

I'm going by my understanding, so someone correct me if I'm wrong...

Chemical focus is more an issue with orthochromatic film/plates than of lenses. Some lens designs focus uv light (which affects the ortho plates) on a different plane than the visual light which is seen on the ground glass. On modern panchromatic films, the visual light prevails equally on both the gg and the film, so chemical focus coincides with visual focus with all lenses, and is not an issue. (Wet plate and the like would be a whole 'nother situation...)

[Stephane]

To me, it sounds like all the SF lens with soft dials like the Universal heliar with moving element are less perfect than the lenses with fixed spacing. Why? Adjust softness and you change the FL. I also feel that moving the elements with softness from 1 to 5 will never give the softness of a proper SF lens, but is more about luck than anything. They are do-it-all lenses, not designed to be best for a specific purpose (or maybe set in their sharpest mode). Except the fast Cooke...

With this POW, fixed symmetrical (i.e. perscheids, P&S) are great, and meniscii are even better SF lenses.

SF lenses where softness can be adjusted with the iris get my vote!

[eddie]

SF lenses where softness can be adjusted with the iris get my vote!

+1

[cdholden]

More from Ebay...

16" Wollensak Vitax - $1000
# 230686452131

8" Cooke, Series II - $599
# 220878322974

[Fred Heming]

DALLMEYER 6D - $810； ended 7 days early
#290624537408

[DanK]

More from Ebay...

16" Wollensak Vitax - $1000
# 230686452131



Does anyone know why the 16" Vitax lenses seem to be more common? Looking at the sales data list - looks like one 10" and two 13"ers, but quite a few more 16's...were production rates higher for the 16's? or just a more common size purchased during the era?

Thanks,
Dan

[goamules]

Dan, there are a lot of the larger ones but don't forget this list is just a sampling of sales. There are offline sales, like camera shows, networking, craigslist. There are also eBay sales that most people miss, due to poorly worded ads or the "old lens" type of ad. Since the cost of these in the day was VERY expensive, it would make sense that a lot of studios bought smaller ones too. I see them often...

[Jim Galli]

DALLMEYER 6D - $810； ended 7 days early
#290624537408

That number's not useful unless the auction ended normally. Chances are almost 100% that someone got to the seller and made an offer the seller couldn't refuse. I'd guess $2500 - $3500 and might still be low. Anyone?

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Mark,
"I'm going by my understanding, so someone correct me if I'm wrong...

Chemical focus is more an issue with orthochromatic film/plates than of lenses. Some lens designs focus uv light (which affects the ortho plates) on a different plane than the visual light which is seen on the ground glass. On modern panchromatic films, the visual light prevails equally on both the gg and the film, so chemical focus coincides with visual focus with all lenses, and is not an issue. (Wet plate and the like would be a whole 'nother situation...)"

Just tested some green X-ray film with an un-corked Unar, nope it's the lens. From panchro, ortho, green to blue sensitive it does get worse but the focus shift is still there with panchro film. The green x-ray has perfect focus with a tessar, matches the GG so it's not the film.

[fluidrive]

Hey Jim,

As discussed I was watching this 6D and a little miffed at it disappearing off the charts a week before it was over.

I agree someone made a serious offer as seller was aware of the interest in this lens and decided to take the pop anyway.

wild west,
c

[Emil Schildt]

a couple of days ago;

Kodak Portrait Lens 305mm
US $405.00

Item number: 110760565469

[Hugo Zhang]

It is not a soft focus, but somebody outbid me by $5 and won it. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230688832631?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[Emil Schildt]

It is not a soft focus, but somebody outbid me by $5 and won it. :)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/230688832631?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

thought you ment this....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220877973699?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

:eek:

outbid by about 5K's......

[Steven Tribe]

Cheap!
This is a "sechszöller". Normal size no. 9, 26" focal length.
A similar, in worse condition, sold for 15,000 Euros at a German Auction House.

[Emil Schildt]

Cheap!
This is a "sechszöller". Normal size no. 9, 26" focal length.
A similar, in worse condition, sold for 15,000 Euros at a German Auction House.

:o

can't even figure out what that word means.... not in a dictonary - not in google..

explain?

[Steven Tribe]

This "zöller" is old German size descriptions of large Petzvals (like Victorias).
Voigtländer made a 4 , 5, 6 and 8 (acht and 72cm long) zöller.
Busch made a 10 Zöller and Plagniol (whoever they are!) made a 12 Zöller!
Zöller is close to "inches". So a Zwölfzöller is about 12" across!
Now back to soft lens sales!

[vitality]

UPD. Answer was here already... So just edited mine

[papah]

A 9" Spencer Portland did not sell, starting price $1700. #120797156435

[jp]

a couple of days ago;

Kodak Portrait Lens 305mm
US $405.00

Item number: 110760565469

That's gonna need a bunch of work to get that iris right. Perhaps the buyer has the skills.

There hasn't been a Kodak 305 portrait on Ebay since probably September, and there used to be a couple at a time during parts of the past year.

[jp]

A 9" Spencer Portland did not sell, starting price $1700. #120797156435

That's a lens I'd really like to have, but it's about 3x what I'm willing to pay. It's a nice 4x5 soft focus lens for a speed graphic or graflex SLR.

[Emil Schildt]

Cooke 13" 5.6 Series VI

US $900.00

Item number: 330630683657

[Mark Sawyer]

I was somewhat surprised the Darlot/Puyo Artiste lens (120797244222) didn't draw the opening bid of $1100.

[alex from holland]

I was somewhat surprised the Darlot/Puyo Artiste lens (120797244222) didn't draw the opening bid of $1100.

I own one myself. It gives a beautifull picture on the groundglass.
Unfortunately it's not suitable for wet plate photography :mad:

alex

[DanK]

Unfortunately it's not suitable for wet plate photography :mad:

alex

Is this due simply to speed of the lens, or some other factor. Curious.

Thanks,
Dan

[alex from holland]

Is this due simply to speed of the lens, or some other factor. Curious.

Thanks,
Dan

Hello Dan,

no the speed isn't the problem. Softfocus lenses react very strage on wet plate. There is a lot of glow. The picture lookes a bit "smeared"
Will have to try it on dry plate someday.

alex

[DanK]

Hello Dan,

no the speed isn't the problem. Softfocus lenses react very strage on wet plate. There is a lot of glow. The picture lookes a bit "smeared"
Will have to try it on dry plate someday.

alex

Thanks Alex

[Emil Schildt]

Wollensak 12" 300mm Velostigmat series II

US $282.00

Item number: 290623799561

[Steven Tribe]

"I was somewhat surprised the Darlot/Puyo Artiste lens (120797244222) didn't draw the opening bid of $1100."

I wasn't surprised.
The Waterhouse "square" did not look professionally cut and the Puyo etc marking was a very light impression. Probably genuine, but perhaps "made up" from the stock left over when Darlot gave up the sale.

[Ramiro Elena]

Wollensak 12" 300mm Velostigmat series II

US $282.00

Item number: 290623799561
I was following that but passed on the big scrach.

[Emil Schildt]

"I was somewhat surprised the Darlot/Puyo Artiste lens (120797244222) didn't draw the opening bid of $1100."

I wasn't surprised.
The Waterhouse "square" did not look professionally cut and the Puyo etc marking was a very light impression. Probably genuine, but perhaps "made up" from the stock left over when Darlot gave up the sale.

didn't notice this...

But the one attached has been for sale for more than a year.. at approx 1400$

apparantly FL about 450mm (don't know whather this holds true)...

[vitality]

Dallmeyer 3B - 1010 EUR
#150682684330

[Emil Schildt]

Wollensak Velostigmat II

US $810.00

Item number: 330633009082

[Steven Tribe]

Emil, I found the Trouse Anachromat Puyo (and lots of other nice brass too!).
But where is the rest of the set?

[Steven Tribe]

Very nice (-flange) and very late Dallmeyer 3B.
E**y 360406212536.
Reached £800 and then suddenly "This item is no longer available - listing ended".
Poor show from MW.
So logic and experience says they received an offer they couldn't say no to. Unless they decided to relist saying that it was actually a 3B.
More than £800, though.

[Jim Graves]

Nice 16" Wollensak Vitax ( 290624531788 ) $875.00

[Emil Schildt]

VERITO DIFFUSED FOCUS 4/9"

US $355.00

Item number: 140629272183

[bobherbst]

Looks like this thread has become a secondary ebay listing site. There is some good information in here, but seriously, 85 pages and 841 responses????

[Jim Graves]

Well, it started in Aug. 2010 ... so that's just about 2 posts per day.

The "Nude" category in the images thread started two months later and has about 30 more posts ... I learned a lot from this thread .... not so much from the Nude thread ... not that I haven't followed it some.

[alex from holland]

Looks like this thread has become a secondary ebay listing site. There is some good information in here, but seriously, 85 pages and 841 responses????

So? If you are not interested, just don't read it.....:confused:
personally i find it a great thread.

[Steven Tribe]

Yes it has all the necessary components:

Thread title is absolutely spot on.
Informative and interesting. Dare I also say educational?
We all have access to the information/photographs of the item, which is not the case with many lenses in secure private ownership.
Regular updates.

Through it's lifetime, it seems to have developed slightly lesser emphasis on the pricing aspect and more on the identification of the less common types. The versions of the Puyo discussion has been very interesting.

I personally think that an additional thread "Notable completed sales of unusual lenses" - not just E**y items - would be a good supplementary parallel thread. Pricing could just be a minor part of this.

[CCHarrison]

I started this thread way back to post information regarding my tracking of Soft Focus Lens Sales. That specific webpage is here: http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenssales.html

As I collect ebay completed auction data, I update this page. Last update was June 2011 and another update is on the way. But, thanks to the good folks in this forum, people are posting sales in this thread which in turn helps me not miss any sales and provide even more accurate data to all those interested. Not only am I posting sales amounts, but the dates of these sales which I find add is extremely helpful in identifying pricing trends... Keep up the good work. I will post when my page has its next update.

Best
Dan

[Emil Schildt]

Kodak 305mm Portrait Lens in Ilex 5 - $550

this forum:
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=82812

[jw918]

I like this thread so much, keep posting. Thank all for sharing.
Jack

[cdholden]

I like this thread so much, keep posting. Thank all for sharing.
Jack
Okie dokie.

Item #380381257031
Series II Cooke Portrait Lens 10.5"/f4.5 - $505
Ding on the front rim, haze on the glass and no iris.

[bobherbst]

On the contrary, I am very interested...enough so that I took Tillman Crane's soft focus workshop in September down in Floyd, VA...and subsequently picked up a Kodak 405. There is much good information in the thread. I agree. But it has become almost impossible sifting through the private exchanges and other unrelated items. When a database, or knowledgebase, or forum fills up with clutter and unrelated items, it becomes less relevant and less useful. If I am doing a search on a topic in this forum and the results point to a thread with 85 pages, I'm not likely to even bother because of the amount of information I have to sort through to find the actual relevant post.

So please carry on. It was just an observation. Didn't mean to offend anybody.




So? If you are not interested, just don't read it.....:confused:
personally i find it a great thread.

[CCHarrison]

Bob,

Perhaps you missed my post above. I am collecting the data off of ebay and this thread to amass a clear list of (mostly ebay) SF lens sales.

http://antiquecameras.net/softfocuslenssales.html

Thanks
Dan

[Paul Fitzgerald]

B&L Unar 305/4.5, no iris, $406.

#320785873837

[Jim Galli]

B&L Unar 305/4.5, no iris, $406.

#320785873837

:eek: :eek:

Not the soft focus version. Just an old piece of crap 4 element pre-tessar. That was a hosing.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

"Not the soft focus version. Just an old piece of crap 4 element pre-tessar. That was a hosing."

I guess you never converted one and used only the rear cell.
It's the only lens I've seen keep it's soft focus down to f/22. :D
Now I'll need to try reversing it to the front to see if it changes the image. :eek:

[goamules]

Coincidentally, I saw a regular Unar (small 5x7 one) in a nice Volute this weekend at a camera show. The seller wouldn't state a price because he needed to research Unar's (but said he couldn't find anything on them). I told him it wasn't a Portrait Unar, and that it was a less than optimal pre-tessar design, and offered him 100 bucks. He wouldn't take the offer, wouldn't state a price, but left it sitting there in his "for sale" case. A regular Unar is not a soft focus lens, but that one sale will now be referenced by "researchers" in the future, so I needed to comment too.

[Jim Galli]

:eek: :eek:

Not the soft focus version. Just an old piece of crap 4 element pre-tessar. That was a hosing.

Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110773249336&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123) they come (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110772873476&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123)..........;)

[Paul Fitzgerald]

"Here they come..........;) "

Hehehe,

...I like, I love it, I want some more of it
I tried so hard but I can't rise above it...

Did I forget to mention the color fringing and visual focus shift? oops :eek:

For all it's faults it does have a great look to it BUT does take some time to get used to using it. :D

[cyberjunkie]

Velostigmat 12.5" f/4.5 in Betax No.5
Ebay # 400254539023
282 USD

The seller didn't mention any soft focus feature, but it could be the adjustable version, from the pictures.
I asked if the front does rotate, and i was told that's very stiff.
There is something strange though, i couldn't find anything about a 12.5" f/4.5, soft focus or not, just 12", mostly in Studio shutter.
There is a Wollensak triple convertible 12.5", with a max aperture of f/6.3, but the Betax shutter has just one diaphragm scale, with a max aperture of 4.5.
Any clue?

have fun

CJ

[goamules]

Here (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110773249336&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123) they come (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110772873476&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123)..........;)

Yep, I think that gold one is the exact one I was looking at. My mistake, it was a 4x5 size. Hmmmmm....400 bucks buy it now, imagine that! I think I'll pass, but someone may fall for it.

[ghostcount]

Dallmeyer 3A Patent Portrait
Ebay: 3290628715196

$1,425 USD

Got outbid at $1,325

[eddie]

Dallmeyer 3A Patent Portrait
Ebay: 3290628715196

$1,425 USD

Got outbid at $1,325

probably a good thing you missed it. it does not look right to me. it looks like the front and rear elements are on opposite ends....not a real big deal but it looks like there is damage on what is the front group in the picture (this i believe is the rear group) this damage could and probably does affect the dis assembly of the lens.....ie the SF mechanism.

we may never know.

eddie

[ghostcount]

probably a good thing you missed it. it does not look right to me. it looks like the front and rear elements are on opposite ends....not a real big deal but it looks like there is damage on what is the front group in the picture (this i believe is the rear group) this damage could and probably does affect the dis assembly of the lens.....ie the SF mechanism.

we may never know.

eddie

True... I was looking at it with my iPhone and couldn't really tell from the small screen - prolly not a good idea to have the E bay app whilst waiting for the missus at the mall. :o

Oh well, more money for that Pinkham ;)

[eddie]

Oh well, more money for that Pinkham ;)

now you are thinking. put that 1300$ in a jar somewhere safe.....:D ;) you are on your way.

[Stephane]

plasticca 400mm, $600 (140634885105)
plasticca 300mm, $95 (250924559463)
Both missing yellow filter, but hey, come on!

[eddie]

plasticca 400mm, $600 (140634885105)
plasticca 300mm, $95 (250924559463)
Both missing yellow filter, but hey, come on!

did u get em? $95 WOW!

[Stephane]

No, did not. the 300mm must have been there for few minutes I guess...
You snooze, you loose.

[Steven Tribe]

Missing the yellow filter doesn't mean anything!
You buy-
Take the achromat out.
Separate the two halves.
Rejoin using yellow dyed canada balsam.

This is what Oscar did with the later production of Plasticcas!

[Emil Schildt]

No, did not. the 300mm must have been there for few minutes I guess...
You snooze, you loose.

I snoozed I guess..... :(

[Emil Schildt]

Many soft focus lenses are sold as I speak.

I have to leave my house now, so I don't know the final prices of the last ones - maybe others can check them out..

(Westlicht auctions)

Busch Nicola Perscheid 6/16.5cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054323 - 6000€

Busch Nicola Perscheid 6/18cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054323 - 3600€


Busch Nicola Perscheid 4.5/30cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054324 - 3800€

Busch Nicola Perscheid 4.5/42cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054326 - 1400€

Dallmeyer No.3.B.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054352 - 750€

Dallmeyer No.3.B.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054353 - 1400€

Rodenstock Tiefenbildner-Imagon 4.5/12cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054375 -

Rodenstock Tiefenbildner-Jmagon 5.8/17cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054376 -

Rodenstock Tiefenbildner-Imagon 5.8/200/250mm (var
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054377

Rodenstock Tiefenbildner-Imagon 5.8/300mm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054378

Rodenstock Tiefenbildner-Imagon 5.8/360mm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054379

Taylor & Hobson Cooke Lens Series IIA 7x5 inches
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054383

Taylor & Hobson Cooke Portrait Anastigmat Lens Ser
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054385

Voigtländer Universal-Heliar 4.5/30cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054402

Voigtländer Universal-Heliar 4.5/36cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054403

Oscar Zwierzina Kunst-Objektiv Plasticca 4/28cm
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/10054373

[Steven Tribe]

I was already checking them, Emil, and writing the winning bids.

You forgot to mention that 22% has to be added!
I didn't bother with Tiefenbildner/IMAGON - they were around asking price 150-200 euro although the bigger went for more.
Plasticca f4 28cm 600
Universal heliar 30cm coated 700
ditto 36cm 750
ditto 36cm 260
I seem to have lost one of the 3 Cookes.
The last one IIA 3.5 went for 1200.
And I think the series VI 5.6 (only fair) went for 400.

I almost forgot - A maker's guide to the Nicola Persheid went for 550 euros.

[Steven Tribe]

Just in case someone thinks that the price for the Nicola Persheid F6 16.5cm in a shutter is excessive (6000 euro) note that there at least 2 Leica items that went for over 100,000 Euros! There are collectors and users and then there are COLLECTORS!

[Ramiro Elena]

And there are drug dealers finding ways to launder money :P

[edp]

Universal heliar 30cm coated 700
ditto 36cm 260

€260? Bargain.

[Emil Schildt]

Kodak Portrait Lens 405mm

US $1,393.00

Item number: 110768894659

[CCHarrison]

Waaaaay too high. First 405mm to break a $ 1,000 in a looooooooooooong time.

Dan

[Steven Tribe]

Whoops!
One of the universal heliars I quoted at 260 euros was a "plain" Heliar!
Unlike many auctioneers, Westlicht has already posted the complete results. You can use gandolfi's earlier links to see the results.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

"Waaaaay too high. First 405mm to break a $ 1,000 in a looooooooooooong time."

That's actually a good thing, the market's back.

Happy holidays.

[Emil Schildt]

...Westlicht has already posted the complete results. You can use gandolfi's earlier links to see the results.

not unless you're a member..

[jumanji]

A few weeks ago, a Kodak Portrait 405mm in good condition was listed with BIN $450 (or around IIRC), and it's gone after afew hours.
I del the ended list so dont have item number.
Cooke VI on Westlicht looks like a good deal :D.

[tuant]

Anyone know how much would a Cooke IIe 15" cost? It seems to me that Eddie usually has two or three of these Cookes in his closet :D

[cyberjunkie]

RE: my own post # 458
The seller gave me the answer: it is in fact a soft focus 12" f/4.5 Velostigmat.
The description was not correct.
I'll find out soon what's the problem with the stiff SF ring. Whatever the problem, $ 282 for a 12" Velo is not that bad.
There still are good finds on Ebay, that's very encouraging. You have to look for typos or badly described items, though.
Nevertheless, this is my most expensive purchase of SF lens to date. All the others were somewhat cheaper, including a TTH Cooke Portrait 10.5" Series IIE and an Eastman Portrait 12" f/4 (Dallmeyer type, adjustable Petzval).
So there still are a few hidden jewels, if you are lucky enough to spot them, while no others do.
I guess that it will be harder and harder to get such lucky chances in the future.
It must be globalization, more people will get the soft focus bug, and more smaller lenses will go on DSLR cameras. That's how it works.
Whatever the reason, some Ebay prices are getting higher than those at camera fairs. The 405mm Kodak Portrait sold for more than 1300 dollars is a good example. Little time ago you could find a decent example for less than $500.
Prices are definitely going up, as a whole. I am just afraid of what could happen if/when film availability (especially larger formats) will become problematic. Pure COLLECTORS alone (as opposed to users-collectors, or plain users) constitute a rather small minority of the total market. Of course i definitely prefer to see prices increase, and be able to find film for my cameras ;)
Just wondering how things will turn out...

have fun

CJ

[Jim Graves]

Anyone know how much would a Cooke IIe 15" cost? It seems to me that Eddie usually has two or three of these Cookes in his closet :D

Not sure it's a good idea to start speculating what's in Eddie's closet!

[bobherbst]

Maybe this is heresy, but has anyone here considered that this thread might be serving the purpose of increasing selling prices of these lenses?


Waaaaay too high. First 405mm to break a $ 1,000 in a looooooooooooong time.

Dan

[mdm]

Thats the point of the thread. All theese people are long SF lenses and short money.

[cdholden]

Thats the point of the thread. All theese people are long SF lenses and short money.

Well yeah. Several people claim to have too many lenses. You never hear of anyone having too much money.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Heliar 480 / 4.5 $1402.77 #110770758407

that's a grand more than I paid for mine. :eek:

There is a 480 Universal listed but still running.

Yes, the market is back. :D

[Jim Galli]

Yes, the market is back. :D

I think you could argue that some of these types of tangibles travel with the gold prices. I don't want to get swacked for saying something political, but it's pretty obvious now is not a good time to have cash laying around. The same thing has happened to the factory hot rod market. Seen what a '57 cheby with factory fuel injection that's all correct is worth??

It makes it tough on the folks who are making wages and would like to have these lenses to use. Never-the-less, I remain a capitalist.

[Steven Tribe]

Another atypical anachromatique (Puyo)?
The design looks exactly like the recent similar listings with various names. Disposal of lenses from Darlots stop? This was labelled by Gaumont. 310357036251 and $273.

[Emil Schildt]

looks like soft focus to me..

Dallmeyer 4.0 lens with telephoto adapter

US $434.99

Item number: 150695677608

[Steven Tribe]

I looked at it early on.
Didn't like how clean the set of soft adjustment marks looked. But everything else checked out. Small size so it must be a 1A.

[goamules]

That was a good deal. Sometimes those notches look like that, on a very clean lens. They basically just cut them, and they will be shiney if the lens was never tarnished/polished/retarnished/left in barn.

[Steven Tribe]

A Cooke series VI (spectacles version) 18". £620. 160680047068

AND a Century 8a included
AND a Century Stand.

Cooke was in "as found" unknown condition. Studio 8a needed work. Stand looked quite good.

[papah]

9" Kershaw SOFT FOCUS f4.5 vintage lens #270852609134 $1294.

[ghostcount]

Cooke 13" 5.6 Series VI with knuckles #330641710889
$1302 USD

[cyberjunkie]

Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 12" f/4.5
Ebay item #170729614536
Lost it. My bid was a tad too low, but i can only guess which was the max bid of the winner :)

Is it considered a proper soft focus lens, or just a "portrait"?
The Vademecum is not of much help, there are so many late SF lenses made by Dallmeyer...

have fun

CJ

[Jim Galli]

Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 12" f/4.5
Ebay item #170729614536
Lost it. My bid was a tad too low, but i can only guess which was the max bid of the winner :)

Is it considered a proper soft focus lens, or just a "portrait"?
The Vademecum is not of much help, there are so many late SF lenses made by Dallmeyer...

have fun

CJ

Looks like a WWII leftover that someone hammered Dallmeyer Portrait f4.5 into.

[vitality]

Is it considered a proper soft focus lens, or just a "portrait"?


If I'm not wrong - F/3,5 version of "portrait anastigmat" is SF lens, but 4,5 is not.

[Emil Schildt]

Dallmeyer 2C

$726.02

Item number: 270852714171

[Steven Tribe]

A 2C is a 2C and it is a dramatically fast Petzval but I don't think it was available with the rear cell adjustment (soft) as the other series were.
The seller really messed up his auction - doesn't accept returns and announced late in the auction that there was doubt about the completeness of the lenses (missing one of the rear pair?).
An expensive achromat?

[vitality]

A 2C is a 2C and it is a dramatically fast Petzval but I don't think it was available with the rear cell adjustment (soft) as the other series were.
The seller really messed up his auction - doesn't accept returns and announced late in the auction that there was doubt about the completeness of the lenses (missing one of the rear pair?).
An expensive achromat?

I asked him about it, he said that he found another glass element which screws in perfectly (don't know why he didn't change description again). Or its complete, or it is bad luck that something else got the same size and thread to be screwed in.
Anyway as you said, he messed it up.

[CCHarrison]

A 2C is a 2C and it is a dramatically fast Petzval but I don't think it was available with the rear cell adjustment (soft) as the other series were.

Steve

I believe you are correct... The 2C doesnt seem to be advertised as part of Dallmeyer's Patent Portrait line but was actually called the Extra Quick-Acting Portrait Lens (no Patent)

See ad from 1869

Dan

[vitality]

#320805218826

Nicola Perscheid 48cm 4.5 - 399 EUR
Good price (BIN).

[eddie]

#320805218826

Nicola Perscheid 48cm 4.5 - 399 EUR
Good price (BIN).

yeah but i see no photos etc etc. maybe the instruction book? :eek:

"für Reisekamera" is "camera for travel"..... according to google translate.

a 480mm percheid is not a travel lens let alone camera.

you see the photos?

e

[vitality]

yeah but i see no photos etc etc. maybe the instruction book? :eek:

"für Reisekamera" is "camera for travel"..... according to google translate.

a 480mm percheid is not a travel lens let alone camera.

you see the photos?

e

It's listed as for "tailboard design" (reisekamera) cameras. Sometimes big petzvals comes with same description.
Don't see much pictures (only one), don't see is there rear element at all... Anyway, as I understand listing was with possibility of return, so would not consider it is for instruction book. + seller is listed as "Business Seller" (don't know how much you can trust them, but I think it's more reliable than private).

To be honest, I think more about fake listing, to get attention to seller. Or someone is very lucky to be "on-time".

[Steven Tribe]

I think the seller had been to a Christmas Party. He sold over 20 items this afternoon with B-I-N and this was his/her biggest mistake!

[Emil Schildt]

SOM Berthiot Paris NO. 2 Eidoscope 1:4.5 / F=375mm

Item number: 330647017761

US $992.25

[Jim Fitzgerald]

okay, I took a chance with this one. Not sure what it is and the seller did not give me any other info after the auction was closed. Any ideas?

270858677079

[Steven Tribe]

Very brave! This isn't the F3.5 is it. The early 20's were still in brass finish?

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Steven, I'll be sure to give an update when I get the lens.

[Jim Galli]

Steven, I'll be sure to give an update when I get the lens.

I'm a sucker for a crap shoot too. This one with the knurling looks pretty industrial though. Good luck!

[Steven Tribe]

"the seller did not give me any other info after the auction was closed."
I assumed that you had now been told what it was - so it found a natural home in this thread as a quiz.
The iris marking is single digits and the knurling looks military as Jim mentioned.
My guess would be that you will be no wiser when it has arrived as far as markings go.

[Geoffrey_5995]

I was watching this lens but didn't bid because it looks like the front element is missing. There are threads there that indicate that a mount is missing. The knurling could be for a helical focus mount. My guess is that it is a lens from an aerial reconnaissance camera.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I'll know when I get it. I got a 600 Nikkor that was missing the rear group but that was only 10 bucks. Gambling is part of what we do. I was Leary also but decided to live dangerously!

[Geoffrey_5995]

I'll know when I get it. I got a 600 Nikkor that was missing the rear group but that was only 10 bucks. Gambling is part of what we do. I was Leary also but decided to live dangerously!

Hey Jim, I don't fault you at all for gambling! I gamble all the time and get some great lenses but also some turkeys. It's all part of the game and the fun. Please let us know what it is when it arrives. I'll be tuning in. Geoff

[eddie]

hey all,

i am beginning to video lenses and cameras. please check out my you tube channel occasionally. i will try and add stuff regularly about lenses adn cameras.

http://youtu.be/tfFHw4mEkbs

thanks

eddie

[ghostcount]

http://youtu.be/tfFHw4mEkbs


Awesome video. Love the Jamin lens. It should be nicknamed the "Transformer" lens. A couple of questions...

Does the Jamin suppose to have a rear cone on it?

What's the coverage in both landscape and standard view?

[eddie]

Awesome video. Love the Jamin lens. It should be nicknamed the "Transformer" lens. A couple of questions...

Does the Jamin suppose to have a rear cone on it?

What's the coverage in both landscape and standard view?

This is not the version of the cone. Others have cones. I am sorry to say I have. One left. I wish I had one to make a video with.

It is a 12 inch lens in landscape. Coverage depends on the mechanical vignetting. It covers more with out of the barrel.


Eddie

[jp]

hey all,

i am beginning to video lenses and cameras. please check out my you tube channel occasionally. i will try and add stuff regularly about lenses adn cameras.

http://youtu.be/tfFHw4mEkbs

thanks

eddie

Thanks for showing off the lenses; quite educational. I've been checking your youtube channel since you showed off the gun videos.

[Steven Tribe]

Very sober, Eddie!
I don't dare lift lens and brass parts across the top of other lenses myself.
Perhaps you should mention than the majority of Jamin, Jamin/Darlot objectives were never mounted with central removeable lenses and that numerous variations exist. Otherwise there may be a panic reaction.

I have no idea how the family Jamin pronounced its name - but as guess would be the following:

Jardin (garden) is pronounced Zhar-DAN.
Jamin is/was probably pronounced Zha-MAN.
French speakers please contribute!
However, I am a great believer in using the pronunciation which one is comfortable with!
So next time you are in France, Eddie, you can try it out.

[Emil Schildt]

Very sober, Eddie!
Jamin is/was probably pronounced Zha-MAN.
French speakers please contribute!
.

Zha-MANg ?

not that it matters...

[Stephane]

go to translate.google.com
select translation from french to whatever, and there is a small buton with a woman voice saying "jamin" the french way.
You can make her say anything, really ;)

[Emil Schildt]

go to translate.google.com
select translation from french to whatever, and there is a small buton with a woman voice saying "jamin" the french way.
You can make her say anything, really ;)

hey... I was right!!

(But I have a tendency to pronounce Darlot in a very danish - non french way.... (at least I know how it should sound...:rolleyes: )

PS: this is fun - the voice is all wrong, when I aks her to say Darlot in danish.... I guess she isn't danish born..)

[Ramiro Elena]

You can make her say anything, really ;)

I do that all the time just for the laugh. I write in spanish but select german so I can hear that german accent talking back to me :D

[Steven Tribe]

I tried with Lynkeioskop to check the German with 3 vowels in a row.
OK, but a slight hiccup in the middle!
Hermagis in pure French would not be instantly recognised by we English speakers.
Emil, you may have had the "master control" on Danish?

[Emil Schildt]

I tried with Lynkeioskop to check the German with 3 vowels in a row.
OK, but a slight hiccup in the middle!
Hermagis in pure French would not be instantly recognised by we English speakers.
Emil, you may have had the "master control" on Danish?

"Hermagis" sounds quite good in french, but terrible in danish...

[eddie]

go to translate.google.com
select translation from french to whatever, and there is a small buton with a woman voice saying "jamin" the french way.
You can make her say anything, really ;)

i was pretty close.....especially for a yank!

[Steven Tribe]

Back to the subject.

Dallmeyer 6D (plus another not described lens).

620UKP (plus around 25% for auction fees, Internet services and partial VAT). Not good looking but one can't be particular about the bigger sizes!
Auction house sale with linked internet.

[ghostcount]

Dallmeyer Brass Portrait Lens 3. A.

1181 Usd

190609604899

[eddie]

Dallmeyer Brass Portrait Lens 3. A.

1181 Usd

190609604899

damn. i meant to bid on that lens!

[Steven Tribe]

Shows what happens when the market is limited to the USA!

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Grundlach Hyperion 12"/4 $1200 USD

#120828755488

[ghostcount]

Wollensak-Rochester Verito 9" Diffused Focus F-4
- shutter glued to the lensboard
375 USD
#230714653187

[Jim Galli]

Wollensak-Rochester Verito 9" Diffused Focus F-4
- shutter glued to the lensboard
375 USD
#230714653187

Shutter such as it was, is irrepairable, so basically a much lower price than even in a proper factory barrel. People don't like shutters that are just an iris.

[ghostcount]

Shutter such as it was, is irrepairable, so basically a much lower price than even in a proper factory barrel. People don't like shutters that are just an iris.

Like buying a Model A with a proper, but seized engine.

[goamules]

That Hyperion is an uncommon lens, great price.

[Emil Schildt]

Hermagis Eidoscope No.3
US $845.00

320808180990

[Jim Galli]

A little "buyers beware": (you'd have all caught it in any case, but still.......)

I wrote in and told this guy that this lens (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11051.m43.l1123/7?euid=bc21e76eaf1b45c39aeeb89819f8f0a3&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D230718086046%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AX%3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1123) is nearly worthless because the 2 rear glasses are missing.

He thanked me and lowered the price from $1400 to $1050. You can thank me for that $350 bargain.

[Richard Rankin]

A little "buyers beware": (you'd have all caught it in any case, but still.......)

I wrote in and told this guy that this lens (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11051.m43.l1123/7?euid=bc21e76eaf1b45c39aeeb89819f8f0a3&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D230718086046%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AX%3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1123) is nearly worthless because the 2 rear glasses are missing.

He thanked me and lowered the price from $1400 to $1050. You can thank me for that $350 bargain.

The same guy also has item 230718136256, which is a Darlot landscape lens, BUT it has no glass in it. When I queried it, he apparently lowered the price to the bargain brass spot price of only $250...

Richard

[Jim Galli]

The same guy also has item 230718136256, which is a Darlot landscape lens, BUT it has no glass in it. When I queried it, he apparently lowered the price to the bargain brass spot price of only $250...

Richard

When there's no glass at all, how do you figure out the f~stop?

[Richard Rankin]

When there's no glass at all, how do you figure out the f~stop?

My daughter bought division flashcards, made in China, for the grandkids to drill with, and the cards say that, for x in 0..12, X/0 = 0. I suspect this seller could calc f-stops the same way. Might work in Area 51 at least...

Richard

[Mark Sawyer]

When there's no glass at all, how do you figure out the f~stop?

Figure it as a pinhole!

[goamules]

A little "buyers beware": (you'd have all caught it in any case, but still.......)

I wrote in and told this guy that this lens (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/e11051.m43.l1123/7?euid=bc21e76eaf1b45c39aeeb89819f8f0a3&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dll%3FViewItem%26item%3D230718086046%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AX%3ARTQ%3AUS%3A1123) is nearly worthless because the 2 rear glasses are missing.

He thanked me and lowered the price from $1400 to $1050. You can thank me for that $350 bargain.

Ha! I sent the seller the same note "It's missing the rear glass and worthless", with "you say you don't know anything about lenses, why then start your price at the very top of what these sell for?" I got a "thank you" but notice the question was NOT added to the auction. Even though the seller wrote "If anyone knows anything about this please write so I can put in in the description." Slimey.

[cdholden]

Ha! I sent the seller the same note "It's missing the rear glass and worthless", with "you say you don't know anything about lenses, why then start your price at the very top of what these sell for?" I got a "thank you" but notice the question was NOT added to the auction. Even though the seller wrote "If anyone knows anything about this please write so I can put in in the description." Slimey.

Why complain?
If you just buy the 1 year warranty for $179.99 (or 2 years for $239.99) the seller is offering, all of your concerns are null and void.

Chris

[Steven Tribe]

"If anyone knows anything about this please write so I can put in in the description."

What he meant was:

"If anyone knows anything Advantageous about this please write so I can put in in the description. That will remove some liability from me as a seller to "an ebay colleague". I will, of course, neither, list as question/answer or as additional listing text, anything which is likely to detract from the selling price I wish to get.
I also insist on:
Choosing parts of the communication, altering dates and removing "perhaps", "might be" and introducing all sorts of orthographic mistakes.
If I do insert these, by mistake, I will be sure to remove them when the item is relisted. "

[cyberjunkie]

Kodak Portrait 16"
auction ended with a winning bid of 835 USD
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190609988528&ssPageName=ADME:X:eRTM:US:1123

I report the link to the auction, and i am not using the word "sold", because the vendor just wrote me his 15th ( fifteenth !!) email saying that the winner didn't pay.
After more than 400 Ebay purchases, i can affirm without any doubt that he is the worst vendor i've been in contact with.
I make a long story short:
i asked if he was willing to accept bids from EU; he promptly replied that he accepted my offer for 500 USD (??), and that he would keep the lens for me.
I was a little dubious, but the price was good and i accepted, asking to close the auction (there were no bids), and issue a Buy It Now, including delivery charges.
He wrote me three or more times reassuring me that the lens was mine, but he didn't close the auction, taking five days to ascertain the cost of shipment.
At that time there was the first bid, something i realized just after i offered $600 (i was right smelling greed, but i was wrong hoping that 100 bucks more would make him happy).
Before that email i had already sent him four more emails with any possible detail about my address, and explaining every time how to close the auction and open another one.
The last email i read, before the end of the auction, repeated the concept: the lens is yours... but why don't i see your bid (??). My answer was that i explained him countless times that my offer was for a BIN (must be said that, in the meantime, i could not see a single image of the glass, or get any meaningful description of the state of the lens).
Another email followed, but i refrained from reading, i didn't want to get nervous... i buy lenses for fun, and there was no fun at all in dealing with such a person, just an endless, surreal, exchange of meaningless emails. Every time i was getting responses that were in no way related to my questions!
Now i must admit that i am happy he didn't accept my offer, he has 3 positive feedbacks, and a neutral one (which, if you read the comment, should have been negative). On top of that, when people are so greedy, i think it's better stay away from them.
So i lost interest and the auction ended, and i erased it from my "watched" list.
Then today i got the 14th and 15th emails :D
I advised him in advance that with expensive lenses (and with his feedback, no good pictures, and a not-so-good description), one could be certain of the outcome only after the payment is done... and if the lens is damaged, there are 90 days to issue a complain...
Maybe the winner (from Holland) smelled something stinky, and he didn't pay.

The lens will probably go on auction again. You're advised.
I badly wanted that lens, and i was willing to pay a price, which was good, but barely affordable for my current resources.
In the meantime, i purchased 3 boxes of B&W film (8x10", 5x7" and half plate), and new darkroom chemicals. Instead of feeding my GAS monkey, i'm trying to push myself into shooting some more pictures, with all the lenses that still haven't "seen the light". I guess i'm going to have some fun, and save some money in the process :)
Who knows, maybe i'll score another one in the new year...

P.S.
There is bad. And there is good.
I must thank in public two members, Steven Tribe and Marko Trebusak.
They sent me two much needed items. I appreciate a lot, and i consider those goods as two wonderful Christmas presents.


cheers

CJ

[Steven Tribe]

It is always difficult with a desirable item and less than professional lister!

He has only been active since May this year and I think his "special" way of doing E**y business is more due to his inexperience than anything else. His posted reply was pleasant enough and I am sure this lens really exists!
But, as you say, its condition is unproven!

[Andrew Plume]

Back to the subject.

Dallmeyer 6D (plus another not described lens).

620UKP (plus around 25% for auction fees, Internet services and partial VAT). Not good looking but one can't be particular about the bigger sizes!
Auction house sale with linked internet.


Hi Steven

That 6D according to the Auctioneers was pretty well shot and had some defects, I suspect the winning bidder hadn't obtained a condition report

regards

andrew

[Steven Tribe]

I have no real confidence in UK Auctioneers' reports - in contrast to the professional houses in Germany, Austria and Sweden. I have received useful extra photos, though, and they are able to see if there is a lens in the front and the rear.

[eddie]

Hi Steven

That 6D according to the Auctioneers was pretty well shot and had some defects......

andrew

never heard that before...."pretty well shot" har har har. interesting way to run an auction.....telling people the items are "shot/junk" can you be more specific? sounds like it could be interesting.

[eddie]

Before that email i had already sent him four more emails with any possible detail about my address, and explaining every time how to close the auction and open another one.
CJ

i think it is best never to act overly interested as this will tip them off to the fact that the item may be worth more than the offer.

[Emil Schildt]

M.L. de Pulligny, Ligny, Meuse

US $610.00

Item number: 170750308110

[Hugo Zhang]

Did your guys follow that Dallmeyer 8D? It ended today, several days before the official end time, at $2,025? Geez, that's a great price if it is true.

[Tri Tran]

Did your guys follow that Dallmeyer 8D? It ended today, several days before the official end time, at $2,025? Geez, that's a great price if it is true.

Hi Hugo,
i offered offline with buy it now for 5K . Just kidding :) . Happy New Year!

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Definitely NOT soft focus but of interest:

APO-El Nikkor 105/5.6 $3227.77 USD (#220920284846)

I think the markets are all turning around. Happy New Year!

[alex from holland]

Did your guys follow that Dallmeyer 8D? It ended today, several days before the official end time, at $2,025? Geez, that's a great price if it is true.

Just interested, what was the number?

Alex

[CCHarrison]

$ 2025 was a steal (http://www.ebay.com/itm/230725220008?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649) ! I even posted about this lens on my blog the other day.... http://antiquecameras.net/blog.html

Thats a great deal. The last one I know about sold for over $ 5K.....

Dan

[eddie]

$ 2025 was a steal (http://www.ebay.com/itm/230725220008?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649) ! I even posted about this lens on my blog the other day.... http://antiquecameras.net/blog.html

Thats a great deal. The last one I know about sold for over $ 5K.....

Dan


wow! i do not surf e bay too often but i just did a dallmeyer search last week and some how missed this....oh well.

did it go till the end of the auction? i bet not.....or maybe i have to kill my e bay search!

eddie

[eddie]

i just looked. it was a 7 day auction that started on the 31st....and ended on the 2nd. even with my public school edumication i think it is at least 1 or two days short of a week. :)

a classic story about accepting offers before the end of teh auction. poor seller! great buyer! so who got it? come on, you can tell us.....:) well done.

[rknewcomb]

Definitely NOT soft focus but of interest:

APO-El Nikkor 105/5.6 $3227.77 USD (#220920284846)

I think the markets are all turning around. Happy New Year!


What am I missing here? How can an enlarger lens cost that amount?

Robert

[tuant]

i just looked. it was a 7 day auction that started on the 31st....and ended on the 2nd. even with my public school edumication i think it is at least 1 or two days short of a week. :)

a classic story about accepting offers before the end of teh auction. poor seller! great buyer! so who got it? come on, you can tell us.....:) well done.

Eddie, we all thought it was you! :D \

I followed the lens. It was already at 1900. Why would someone end it so early for just 100 more? I know one of my friends offered for a lot more than that but still didn't get it. So, to console all the souls in despair, I am attaching a link to a cartoon. Note that on the banner it says: " Dallyemer 8 D early auction support group", and on the board it says "Sold unexpectedly for 2050!" From left to right, the folks crying are: Tri, Hugo, Eddie, Dan, Jim, Tuant" :D

http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/opinions/x1980207646/Granlund-cartoon-Snow-plow-drivers-and-the-mild-winter?photo=0#axzz1iP2QIT9L

[Jim Galli]

Eddie, we all thought it was you! :D \

I followed the lens. It was already at 1900. Why would someone end it so early for just 100 more? I know one of my friends offered for a lot more than that but still didn't get it. So, to console all the souls in despair, I am attaching a link to a cartoon. Note that on the banner it says: " Dallyemer 8 D early auction support group", and on the board it says "Sold unexpectedly for 2050!" From left to right, the folks crying are: Tri, Hugo, Eddie, Dan, Jim, Tuant" :D

http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/opinions/x1980207646/Granlund-cartoon-Snow-plow-drivers-and-the-mild-winter?photo=0#axzz1iP2QIT9L

maybe one of those guys is laughing :eek: Nope, not me. I wish.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Robert,

"What am I missing here? How can an enlarger lens cost that amount?"

It's a really fine lens, actually APO corrected (not marketing blather).

People have figured out all the gloom&doom about the market and 'film is dead" is all BS.

[alex from holland]

Eddie, we all thought it was you! :D \

I followed the lens. It was already at 1900. Why would someone end it so early for just 100 more? I know one of my friends offered for a lot more than that but still didn't get it. So, to console all the souls in despair, I am attaching a link to a cartoon. Note that on the banner it says: " Dallyemer 8 D early auction support group", and on the board it says "Sold unexpectedly for 2050!" From left to right, the folks crying are: Tri, Hugo, Eddie, Dan, Jim, Tuant" :D

http://www.wickedlocal.com/weston/news/opinions/x1980207646/Granlund-cartoon-Snow-plow-drivers-and-the-mild-winter?photo=0#axzz1iP2QIT9L


Just wondering, are younrwally sure it is sold for that amount?
Maybe it was sold for a lot more?

[CCHarrison]

Actually if you read the ad it says he is going to market it and potentially sell it privately. The auction was ended because it was "no longer for sale."

I bet it sold for $ 4 to 5K privately.

Dan

[Mark Sawyer]

Hmmm, that's a new one, at least to me. Use Ebay as free international advertising for private sales, and skip the fees.

[CCHarrison]

Hmmm, that's a new one, at least to me. Use Ebay as free international advertising for private sales, and skip the fees.

Happens all the time...

". Some items may be offered locally and we reserve the right to cancel auctions early"

is what the seller wrote in the ad.....

[cdholden]

Do they cancel/refund your listing fees if the auction ends early? If so, that's win-win for the seller (rare these days).

[Jim Galli]

Do they cancel/refund your listing fees if the auction ends early? If so, that's win-win for the seller (rare these days).

No.

[Steven Tribe]

The UK E**y site is full of property ads! Needless to say, sale is not conducted through E**y and Paypal.

[Emil Schildt]

Dallmeyer 3A patent brass soft focus

US $1,825.00

Item number: 270889501317

[Hugo Zhang]

Sometimes you can find nice deals like Dallmeyer 2A for $699. Item # 330648353827
Or a apertureless B&L 3A, basically a copy of Dallmeyer 3A, for $400 (not on ebay).

[Jim Fitzgerald]

This looks like a great deal! e-bay 200699210383

Wollensak 19" Varium! $710.00

[Jon Wilson]

This looks like a good deal....ebay 200699211962

Spencer Port-land lens 9 inch f4.5 for $799.99.

[Steven Tribe]

Naughty boys - mentioning in-progress auctions!
The Imagon type strainer with Port-land meniscus is probably a good idea. There was a Plasticca (which doesn't have an iris) at another auction about 4 years ago that had a similar complete set of these. I'll try and find the auction photo. There must be an article somewhere in a magazine in the distant past which suggested the use of these to obtain intermediate effects at different F values.

[CCHarrison]

Actually Jim, the Varium is not a soft focus lens. Was sold as a Portrait lens and Group lens for those who "do not want soft focus." It was "firm" but "soft" at full aperture and "cutting" at f/8

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/wollensak_8.html

Best
Dan

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Dan, yes I knew that and thanks for the reminder. I saw it on your site. It has a special look to it. I have the Charles Abel book that has a portrait done with that lens and it is quite nice. Even so, a 19" portrait lens! Hard to find without paying a fortune!

[CCHarrison]

If you search the net you will find many posts stating this is a SF lens. Just trying to help inform and keep people from making an expensive mistake. Cheers, Dan.

[Tri Tran]

Dan, yes I knew that and thanks for the reminder. I saw it on your site. It has a special look to it. I have the Charles Abel book that has a portrait done with that lens and it is quite nice. Even so, a 19" portrait lens! Hard to find without paying a fortune!

indeed Jim, this lens has a special soft to sharp (or vice versa) look to it as I've seen the picture taken from that lens regardless soft or non soft focus. I don't have the lens to try it myself but hopefully somedays...
I have never seen another one until now since the last one sold from Steve ( camera Quest ) a few years a ago especially at this focal length .

[Steven Tribe]

"Naughty boys - mentioning in-progress auctions"

Whoops! I appear to have assumed that the auctions were still "on" at the time of posting. I was wrong!

[Emil Schildt]

Pinkham & Smith 11 inch Semi Achromatic

US $3,330.00

Item number: 320830960907

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Wollensak Verito 18"/4 US $719.77

item number #170766394906

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Wollensak Velostigmat 15.5"/4.5 adjustable SF US $869.00

item number #260938646607

[Jon Wilson]

Wollensak Velostigmat 15.5"/4.5 adjustable SF US $869.00

item number #260938646607

What struck me as interesting is the fact it was the barrel lens version and not one with a studio shutter.

[Mark Sawyer]

What struck me as interesting is the fact it was the barrel lens version and not one with a studio shutter.

For those who believe the roundness of the aperture has a lot to to with bo-... bo-... bok-... the "b" -word, the barrel aperture is very round, and the studio shutter is very roughly shaped. (Other than with flaring reflections of the aperture-shape itself, I don't think it makes much difference.)

It's nice to see the Velostigmats getting some respect. They used to be the "cheapies", but they've always been lovely to use.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Voigtlander petzval? #20248 US $2,467.00
(may be petzval or very early euryscop)

item #160719522333

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Large Voigtlander petzval US $11,211.00

item # 190631019681

Yes, the market is back.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Large Voigtlander petzval US $11,211.00

item # 190631019681

Yes, the market is back.

Wow! Great lens! Some very deep pockets!! I hope they use it!

[Paul Fitzgerald]

"Wow! Great lens! Some very deep pockets!! I hope they use it!"

At 33lbs I guess they will attach the camera to the lens.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

If they don't they can send it to me. I have the camera.

[CCHarrison]

My three year old weighs less than that lens ! I posted a blurb about this lens on my blog. This has to be the largest Petzval sold on ebay - perhaps ever !

Dan

[eddie]

Large Voigtlander petzval US $11,211.00

item # 190631019681

Yes, the market is back.

HOLY CRAP!

[goamules]

Large Voigtlander petzval US $11,211.00

item # 190631019681

Yes, the market is back.

There haven't been many (any?) lenses this size to compare the market for. We should record that this was a 33 inch focal length lens, about the size of an outdoor metal trash can. Three times larger than the average Petzvals that are selling every month. I've never seen a lens this size, though it was in Tucson and I had an appointment to go see it....

[Ramiro Elena]

What would this lens would have been used for? in what format or camera?
I understand you finally didn't get to take a look at it Garrett?

[goamules]

A camera like this probably: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_giant_camera.jpg

[Hugo Zhang]

I think this lens will be shipped to China as somebody posted the ebay link to this item on the Chinese LF forum while the auction was still on and there were some discussions and the new owner was probably not so happy to bid against some other fatwalleted fellow countrymen and had to pay this price.

Just a speculation.

[Tri Tran]

I think this lens will be shipped to China as somebody posted the ebay link to this item on the Chinese LF forum while the auction was still on and there were some discussions and the new owner was probably not so happy to bid against some other fatwalleted fellow countrymen and had to pay this price.

Just a speculation.

No doubt ! I knew this lens is going to China eventually because there is a lot of "8" in the bidding amount . Number 8 is our lucky # 7 to us. Congrats to the buyer , great price while you can still find it.
BTW but if you saw number 9 that's mine .

[Hugo Zhang]

Tri,

You didn't increase your bid amount?! I almost thought you had won it. :)

Hugo

[Tri Tran]

Tri,

You didn't increase your bid amount?! I almost thought you had won it. :)

Hugo

It's alright I still have a same size E Francais French Petzval. It's time for somebody turn my friend.

[Songyun]

No doubt ! I knew this lens is going to China eventually because there is a lot of "8" in the bidding amount . Number 8 is our lucky # 7 to us. Congrats to the buyer , great price while you can still find it.
BTW but if you saw number 9 that's mine .
But you can never tell what is the max winning bid, from the "8"s you can tell at least one of those runner ups are from China.

[Songyun]

I have a quick question, does 15" cooke knuckler (IIa, IIb or IIc) fits on a sinar board? compatible with a sinar shutter? I know that the 360 Heliar works fine with a sinar shutter.