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View Full Version : New member - Questions about a Dr. Staeble Choroplast lens.



7x17
12-Dec-2012, 07:23
Hi,

I just became a member today and am curious if other members have any information on this lens I recently purchased.

First off, I am more of a collector of these lenses than a shooter.

That said, my main user is an old 8x10 Deardorff.

Anyway, I recently picked up a Dr. Staeble Doppel-Anastigmat Choroplast f/4.8 (50cm). It only stops down to f/11 and is REALLY heavy.

I looked for about an hour on various sites and can't find a thing about it.

Nothing about this one in my Large Format Optical Reference Manual by J.L "Woody" Wooden (c. 2007) which is an amazing book by the way.

Coverage is my main question. However, any references or links would be great.

Thanks.

Jeff Glickman

Dan Fromm
12-Dec-2012, 07:36
From the VM:


Choroplast
This was made in several series as follows:
Series 1 f3.9 4.75, 6.0, 7.25, 8.5, 10in It seems to be a 4-glass Gauss type.
Series - f4.5 For the f3.9 and f4.5, Frerk suggests 25cm for 13x18cm or 24x30cm closed
down.
Series 11 f5.5 4.25, 5.5, 6.5, 8.0, 10.75in.
Series 111 f6.3 3.5, 4.75, 6.0, 7.25, 9.5in. For the f5.5 and f6.8 series, Frerk suggests
19.5cm for 13x18cm plate or 18x24cm closed down. Series 111 is said to be separable, but not absolutely
symmetrical, and all these are said to be 4-glass Gauss type lenses (B.J.A. 1910, p1157) (Layout Sta001) It
was also sold as Satz- ie sets with an extra cell.

E. von Hoegh
12-Dec-2012, 07:41
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/biology/chloroplast.html

Jim Andrada
12-Dec-2012, 07:48
One man's Mede is another man's Persian

One man's Choroplast is another man's Chloroplast?????

I really do find it fascinating how lenses get their names.

Louis Pacilla
12-Dec-2012, 09:47
Maybe you can have this translated into English? Anyhow here is a page from the 1912 Staebles catalog found on Camera Eccentric site . Thanks Seth.:)

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/staeble_1.html

7x17
12-Dec-2012, 10:19
Wow!

You guys are quick!

The choroplast is a f/4.8. Is this a process lens as well? After all, it only stops down to f/11.

So, in regards to the vade mecum post of Series 1 is f/4.75 plus others - this is a series one? And you just round off?

That piece taken from the V.M. is a bit hard me to understand.

Any way to put in easier terms?

I also don't see anything on a 50cm only 25cm lens...

Thank you very very much for ALL the help.

Jeff Glickman

Sevo
12-Dec-2012, 10:44
Wow!

You guys are quick!

The choroplast is a f/4.8. Is this a process lens as well? After all, it only stops down to f/11.


Before WWII, most makers did not differentiate that much between process and other lenses - most designs were used for either purpose, and if any, the former received a different mount (capable of downward mounting and with waterman stops for rectangular apertures). Staeble long were the main lens supplier of Agfa and eventually were bought up by them in 1969 - as Agfa got out of most fields of camera production while they became a process gear heavyweight, Staeble by the seventies/eighties had grown a reputation as a dedicated process lens maker. But in the period they made the Choroplast, they had neither close Agfa ties nor a known bias towards process lenses.

Jason Greenberg Motamedi
12-Dec-2012, 10:47
The sheet which Louis attached suggests that it is an all purpose lens. Design is a 4/4 dialyte, which were used as reproduction lenses like the Goerz Artar or Rodenstock Ronar, as well as portrait lenses, like the Goerz Celor. Best thing to do is use it, but be sure to use a good lens hood.