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I think I could take out the power grid for the whole east coast if I plug this thing in! The bulb is pretty vintage though.

Thanks Mark. Took it apart and I'm no expert, but it definitely has 2 rear elements (non cemented) of the correct shape and one front element that seems to be cemented. The edges of lens are a...

So I think I finally got lucky and found an old projector with a B&L Petzval on it. I bought the projector/magic lantern just for the lens, but is there any value in the projector? I feel bad...

Thanks guys for potentially saving me a few bucks. So if these lenses don't cover squat and don't focus to infinity, how come they are so popular?

Thanks Ian. That kind of sucks :( The price was a little steep anyways.

Someone is selling a Robert Ballantine projector in my area. I've been looking for a Petzval lens for my 5x7 wet plate camera and am wondering if anyone knows what type of lens this might be. Image...

WOW!! Thanks R.K. for the detailed explanation, or should I say Russian photo history lesson. Truly fascinating. I guess a new one is particularly rare. The seller says it comes with all the...

Found my answer!

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@Goamules. Yes I know they were used for FKD cameras. What I was trying to ask was what OTHER uses did they have, which is why I tried to be more specific in my follow-up post. Many russian...

@Dan Fromm. Sorry my bad. Wrong use of Process. I needed a 300mm fast lens for my 5x7 for Wet plate head shots in studio. I don't need a shutter but need it to be 4.5 or faster since I am using...

I've already read all the above links, thanks, but they do not answer my specific questions. Is there a reason why are they so worn? Are they used only on FKD cameras? Does anyone know of any other...

What is this Google you speak of Dan? ...Of course I googled the topic. I was on page 5 before I gave up. Lots of chatter about sharpness and shutters and mounting and Tessar design etc, but...

Hi all,

I just bought an Industar-37 for my DIY 5x7. Mine is brand new, but most that are for sale are seriously worn. I'm a Photojournalist and my gear goes through the ringer but isn't as worn...

Thanks for the input LabRat. You are indeed right. I only go as far as I deem safe, but in this case the problem became quite obvious and was easy to fix. The important thing to know is where to...

Oops, yes Bob thanks for clearing that up. I'm new to LF and not used to shutters and lenses being 2 separate parts ;)

FIXED IT!!!! Ok, so for future records, here's the fix…

PROBLEM: Bulb (B) and Time (T) work intermittently or not at all. Shaking the lens makes them work again, but only briefly.

FIX: I...

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try and like you say Pierre, I can always send the bits and pieces later. I've done much scarier stuff to my cars and cameras. I was just wondering if it was...

I recently bought a Schneider Xenar 240mm f4,5 lens with a Compound shutter. I hadn't noticed or it just started doing this, but the B and T settings don't work consistently. I never forced the...

Thanks again for the advice. Will try it shortly and post the results for the archives ;)

Thanks for clearing that up. I might be able to play with the timing a little using pocket wizards, but hardly worth it since the max speed is only 1/75s anyways.

Cheers,

I have a Schneider 240mm f4.5 Xenar lens on a Compound shutter. Does anyone know if I can plug modern strobes on the PC socket?

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Thanks,

D

This thing just keeps getting weirder. The front element is a 2" Plano-concave lens (flat on one side and concave on the other). It seems more to be the centre element of a Cooke lens. This would...

Mark, May I impose upon you for a little more of your know how? I'm reading like a sponge, but it's slow going and I've yet to find a single picture of my exact lens for comparison. You're saying...

I guess that is what the original DYI was going for. Not sure it will take decent pictures, but I might try to mount it anyways and see. Thanks again Mark, you have an impressive knowledge of the...

So I had a go at the lens this morning and took it apart. There was some serious DYI job done a very long time ago. After unscrewing all the sections, I got to the stainless barrel part with the...

Interesting! Thanks Mark :) So it's some kind of Frankenstein lens. Although there is no actual shutter, just an iris. I'll take a closer look at it. Hopefully it will take nice pictures.

Now...

Almost 25 years ago I moved into a house and the previous owner had left a few decorations lying around. One of them was this mysterious optical thing that I had always assumed was part of an old...