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View Full Version : The Lens you have owned the longest and still do.



TheDeardorffGuy
26-May-2012, 17:59
In the summer of my junior year in High School I bought a 1946 135 WF Ektar and a 90 Angulon. Still got them.

Gudmundur Ingolfsson
26-May-2012, 19:05
My oldest lens I still use is a Leica collapsable 50 mm Summicron I got with my virgin Leica M3 in 1962 !

rdenney
26-May-2012, 19:45
My first LF lens that I owned was a 8-1/2" Ilex Paragon, and I still have and use it.

Rick "who has it parked on a Speed Graphic right now" Denney

Oren Grad
26-May-2012, 20:06
First LF lens was a 250mm Wide Field Ektar, 1996. Yeah, I started with 8x10, making contact prints. Spoiled me forever.

John Kasaian
26-May-2012, 20:09
An uncoated, mint 162mm Wollensak Velostigmat Series II in a Rapax. A lovely lens.

Steve Barber
26-May-2012, 20:32
300mm f5.6 Rodenstock Sironar-N that I bought from Sally Mann, I think in 2003. It was the lens she used for the pictures that were published in "Immediate Family".

Bill_1856
26-May-2012, 20:41
90mm Angulon gifted to me in 1953 in a recessed board for my Graphic View II.

David Lindquist
26-May-2012, 21:38
A Carl Zeiss Jena Goerz Dagor, 21 cm., purcased Spring 1966 with my 4 X 5 Sinar Norma (see that thread),
David

Corran
27-May-2012, 00:30
Uh, a 50mm f/1.4 AF-D lens for my Nikon. LF-wise, a Schneider APO 150mm f/5.6.

I guess I'm showing my age, or lack thereof...

Mark Sawyer
27-May-2012, 00:58
Nine-and-a-half-inch Velostigmat Series II in a Studio Shutter. It was my only 8x10 lens for maybe fifteen or twenty years, sharp as a tack and wonderful tonalities. Still one of my favorites, it's on the 8x10 waiting for wet plates right now. :)

cjbroadbent
27-May-2012, 01:47
Since 1962, A Suter Stella 360mm mounted on a 4x5 german reflex (customised for bellows extension and for Fidelity back). I still use the lens on 8x10, the reflex is there but defunct.

Emil Schildt
27-May-2012, 02:12
My oldest LF lens still here and in use is a Boyer 300mm .4.5 Saphir -in a compur shutter - bought together with my first Gandolfi camera. (10x8)

about 1990

David A. Goldfarb
27-May-2012, 02:26
Same as Oren--10" WF Ektar, 1990's sometime.

Doremus Scudder
27-May-2012, 06:24
203mm Ektar f/7.7, bought with my first camera, a Graphic View II, in the late 1970s. I have and use both still. The Ektar is one of my staples.

Best,

Doremus

desertrat
28-May-2012, 20:42
My first two LF lenses came with my first LF camera, an 8X10 Seneca Competitor View that I bought around 2001. One lens is an unmarked anastigmat of some sort, f6.3, about 8-1/2 inches focal length in a Wollensak Auto shutter and covers 8X10 with a little wiggle room. From counting reflections, it may be a series II Protar copy with the order of elements reversed. The cells cannot be swapped due to differences in thread depth. I use it for a wide angle. The other is an unmarked Petzval about 9-7/8 inches focal length in a rack and pinion focusing mount. It's mostly brass with a nickel plated barrel, and has a fixed aperture and no slot. I think it may be a late 19th century projection lens. It doesn't quite cover 8X10 at infinity, but does cover for closeup work. I've used both lenses in the last year.

neil poulsen
28-May-2012, 21:49
My first lens was a 7" Dagor f6.8 Goerz American Optical Co. I sold it and bought a Symmar S 180mm, which is about the same focal length. I still have it. I remember reading a columnist, Steve Sint, who said that a 180mm was his favorite focal length. I think that it's also my favorite. After that, it was a Super Angulon 121mm, which I also still have.

Vaughn
28-May-2012, 21:58
My first was a Computar 210/6.3 which left me in 1995 (but I have replaced it). My longest continous ownership lens is a Caltar IIN 150/5.6 (about 1983 or '84)

Peter Gomena
29-May-2012, 08:09
Symmar-S 210 bought in 1980. My most-used lens.

Peter Gomena

E. von Hoegh
29-May-2012, 08:15
The first LF lens to come into my posession was an 8 1/4" Dagor type in a Goerz Sector shutter. I found it and a camera at a lawn sale in Schenectady N.Y. in the early 1970s. The camera fell apart as soon as I got it home, but the lens with it's original leather and velvet caps was pristine and suvived until my LF "career" started in the mid 1980s.

IanG
29-May-2012, 08:15
Sirona-N f5.6 150mm bought around 1986, although there should be a 1960's 150mm Xenar I bought in 1976 somewhere.

Ian

Jason Greenberg Motamedi
29-May-2012, 08:21
A 16.5cm f4.5 Zeiss Tessar in Compur mounted to a rickety Korona, given to me by a Great Uncle in 1986.

Scott Walker
29-May-2012, 13:36
150mm Rodenstock Sironar-N 5.6
Purchased in the late 80's

Preston
29-May-2012, 14:13
210mm, Schneider-Kreuznach, f-4.5, Copal 3, since 1980.

--P

BrianShaw
29-May-2012, 14:37
Symmar-S 210 bought in 1980.

ditto, plus a 135 bought at the same time.

cyberjunkie
29-May-2012, 16:02
A 90mm Angulon, with original Linhof cam, which came on a Technika III 5th version, which i purchased more than 25 years ago (mid eighties).
The lens and the camera are a couple years older than me :)

Then there is a Voigtlander Heliar 210mm on Compound, which came on a wonderful Fatif 13x18 camera, with a rectangular rack and pinion monorail, which has extensions with rapid slide-in joints (spring/sphere system). That Fatif was my second camera, it came a few months after the Technika.
I just sold the Fatif for peanuts, to a young photographer approaching large format.
The camera has a one-of-a-kind design, which allows to store it flat in a very small backpack, without removing the bellows.
I kept the lens though, i think that the Heliar will stay with me for a LONG time.

have fun

CJ

Eric Rose
29-May-2012, 19:28
Sorry to say my oldest lens that I still have was bought in 1974 and is the venerable and oft maligned Nikkor 43-86 zoom. I must have got a good copy because mine is wonderful to use.

dsphotog
29-May-2012, 21:57
In 1972 my mom bought me my first camera, it was a Minolta srT102 with a 50mm f1.7 lens, for my high school photo class.
The camera was stolen in 1987, ten years later, I was working at a local camera store, when a guy (not the thief) came in with my lens, I told him the story & he gave me the lens.

David R Munson
29-May-2012, 22:51
The LF lens I've had the longest I've had less than a year, but for lenses in general it would be a Mamiya 80mm f/1.9 that I've had about 10 years now. I get the feeling that it would also be the last lens I ever let go of.

leighmarrin
30-May-2012, 02:33
My longest-owned lens is a 50mm Leitz f1.5 Summarit, and my second-longest-owned lens is a 50mm f2 Russian Jupiter-8. The Summitar came with my first real camera, a Leica IIIf given to me in 1970 by a cousin who bought it in an army PX in Korea. When I got the Russian lens a few years later, I mostly used it instead--so much more lighter and did not protrude as far into the IIIf's viewfinder. The Russian lens was not quite as sharp at most settings as the Leitz, but it also focused much quicker.

My longest-owned LF lens is a 1960s 135mm f4.7 Xenar, bought around 1985. Comparing it to a slightly scuffy Ektar 127mm at f8 and f11, I was surprised to find the scuffed-up Ektar was sharper in the center. (Yes, I refocused for the 8mm length distance.) But I use the Xenar more, as it's the only LF lens I own that has a modern PC plug for flash synch, and it's quite sharp enough for my small enlarged prints.

Michael Graves
30-May-2012, 04:35
Mine would be the 300mm Fujinon that came with the Toyo 810M I bought from Trevor Stanley (Arizona Highways photographer) back in 1985. Still have the camera, tripod and lens that were part of that package.

W K Longcor
30-May-2012, 09:54
For longest owed, and still using -- a great Triple convertible Raptar (10" / 15"/ 20") in an Alphax shutter. Bought it in the fall of 1965. Shortly there after, I had a flash sync added to the formerly non-sync shutter. A old friend, and I've always felt comfortable when using it. I do have an old 135mm Tessar on an Anniverasary Speed Graphic that I have owned maybe two or three years before the Raptar - but I can't remember the last time that was used -- more than 20 years, I guess.

largeformatguy
31-May-2012, 21:09
Owned the longest and still do... that would be my 305mm(12") B&L convertable Protar. It sits in a Betax #5 shutter.
Had from Lens & Repro since about 1985. I have a couple of pre-war Angulons but these are more recent purchases.

Robert Opheim
11-Jun-2012, 20:55
I still have my first LF lens a 180mm Symmar from the 1960's that I bought in 1974, and a 3 5/8 inch WA Dagor bought around 1982 - since then I have aquired
more lenses and traded up cameras: a Graphic View II, to a Omega View, to a Technikardan.

TheDeardorffGuy
12-Jun-2012, 12:51
How do you like the B&L Protar? I found I need the orange filter to keep it sharp.

hiend61
12-Jun-2012, 23:40
My first LF lens was a Rodenstock Sironar N 210/5,6 in Compur shutter. This lens came with my first LF camera, a secondhand Sinar F 4x5. I purchased it 25 years ago. I still use this lens which is one of my preferred ones. The Compur shutter is begining to be non accurate, and I will replace it for a Copal one.

E. von Hoegh
13-Jun-2012, 12:22
My first LF lens was a Rodenstock Sironar N 210/5,6 in Compur shutter. This lens came with my first LF camera, a secondhand Sinar F 4x5. I purchased it 25 years ago. I still use this lens which is one of my preferred ones. The Compur shutter is begining to be non accurate, and I will replace it for a Copal one.

The Compur is the better shutter. A CLA will cost less than a Copal, and you'll be good for another 25 years.

hiend61
14-Jun-2012, 01:50
I know Compur is better than Copal, but after two CLA services the shutter stil has problems.

E. von Hoegh
14-Jun-2012, 06:51
I know Compur is better than Copal, but after two CLA services the shutter stil has problems.

Find a competent technician.

Jay DeFehr
14-Jun-2012, 07:32
I still own not only my first LF lens, a 135mm Schneider Xenar, or a 163mm Ilex Paragon (I don't recall which came first), but every LF lens I've accumulated along the way. I'm not much of a seller, but I'm starting to have some very-near duplicates -- an 8-1/4" Dogmar and a 210mm Symmar-S, for example. I should really choose one and sell/trade the other.

hiend61
14-Jun-2012, 12:11
Find a competent technician.

I will aswer you with a joke that describes well Europe an my shutter siruation:

Heaven is a place where policemen are English, mechanics and engineers are german, cookers are Spanish, lovers are Italian and
all is organized by Swiss.

Hell is a place where policemen are German, machanics and engineers are Spanish, cookers are English, lovers are Swiss and all is
organized by Italian.

E. von Hoegh
14-Jun-2012, 14:12
I will aswer you with a joke that describes well Europe an my shutter siruation:

Heaven is a place where policemen are English, mechanics and engineers are german, cookers are Spanish, lovers are Italian and
all is organized by Swiss.

Hell is a place where policemen are German, machanics and engineers are Spanish, cookers are English, lovers are Swiss and all is
organized by Italian.

Gotcha. I've heard that joke, from a Czech engineer.

Ari
14-Jun-2012, 16:01
Nothing as old as most here, but I've had a Fujinon 210, with the inside lettering, for about eight years.
I use it less than the other lenses these days, but it would be the last lens I'd sell off.

Carsten Wolff
22-Jun-2012, 02:23
I will answer you with a joke that describes well Europe and my shutter situation:

Heaven is a place where policemen are English, mechanics and engineers are german, cookers are Spanish, lovers are Italian and
all is organized by Swiss.

Hell is a place where policemen are German, mechanics and engineers are Spanish, cookers are English, lovers are Swiss and all is
organized by Italian.
For many years I lived in Australia, am currently in Ireland and often hang out in Spain or Germany. ....My shutters always went and will still go to Flutots for servicing, or SK Grimes for custom jobs.....and that has nothing to do with the favourable exchange rate.

Re: "owned the longest and still do:...90mm f6.8 Grandagon-N perhaps, but for many years I had a fair turn-over in lenses, not the least because I changed from 4x5 to largely 5x7. If I hadn't, I'd still have my 135mm Symmar-S, soon the Grandagon is probably going to go as well, although it is an excellent lens. Much of my more recently acquired glass is actually of MUCH older vintage.

PS: Generally speaking, I don't "do" my lenses. :)

Andre Noble
30-Jun-2012, 22:54
Hey Mr. Hoegh, I am a native of Schenectady NY.

Only in Schenectady (home of GE) would one find a LF lens out in garage sale table.

1997 Schneider 150mm Componon S enlarging lens.

Gordy
1-Jul-2012, 21:23
The lens I've had the longest that I still use is a 1958 50mm Leitz Dual Range Summicron that I've owned since 1976. A year later I bought the large format lens that I now have had the longest and still use regularly--a 90mm f/8 Fujinon-W. It was not my first LF lens, but the previous ones are long gone.

Gordy
1-Jul-2012, 21:29
Heaven is a place where policemen are English, mechanics and engineers are german, cookers are Spanish, lovers are Italian and
all is organized by Swiss.

Hell is a place where policemen are German, machanics and engineers are Spanish, cookers are English, lovers are Swiss and all is
organized by Italian.

The version of this I've heard is that Canadians could have had it all--they could have had British culture, French cuisine and American know how. Instead, they got British cuisine, French know how, and American culture.

My apologies in advance.

Jody_S
1-Jul-2012, 22:59
The version of this I've heard is that Canadians could have had it all--they could have had British culture, French cuisine and American know how. Instead, they got British cuisine, French know how, and American culture.

My apologies in advance.
Ouch. I like to think our culture is at least part French/Irish/Ukranian/Haitian. Nice combo, btw. You should come to our Montreal 'jazz festival' (on now). Bring a respirator if you're allergic to pot.

DrTang
2-Jul-2012, 12:07
Hey Mr. Hoegh, I am a native of Schenectady NY.

Only in Schenectady (home of GE) would one find a LF lens out in garage sale table.

1997 Schneider 150mm Componon S enlarging lens.




I got 6 just last saturday