Kodak Wide Field Eltar 190mm(7.5in) F6.3, how good is it?

[diversey]

I got a Kodak wide field ektar 190mm(7.5in) F6.3 lens and I am wondering how good it is? I shot several 5x7 pictures with this lens, but I am not quite satisfied with it.
What was this lens for, 5x7 or 8x10? Is it as good as Kodak commercial lenses?
Thanks.

[Tin Can]

I got a Kodak wide field ektar 190mm(7.5in) F6.3 lens and I am wondering how good it is? I shot several 5x7 pictures with this lens, but I am not quite satisfied with it.
What was this lens for, 5x7 or 8x10? Is it as good as Kodak commercial lenses?
Thanks.

I don't know but we could compare, as I have 8-1/2" Commercial in #3 Acme shutter. We could swap them, shoot in same camera, use same DDS holder.

What shutter are you using? I can also mount to Korona 5X7 with internal Packard.



LMK

[John Kasaian]

Not a lot of wiggle room on an 8x10, so IMHO far more useful on a 5x7. The WF is a Double Gauss, rather than the Commercial Ektars, which are Tessars. There have been a lot of posts here on the Kodak Wide Fields as well as write ups linked in the Large Format Home Page, so do some searching---your reward awaits you!
What exactly aren't you satisfied with? These are old lenses so it might be possible someone along the way messed up the spacing of the cells, but WFs have enjoyed very good reputations in all the focal lengths they were produced.

[Doremus Scudder]

Wide Field Ektars in good condition are very sharp and have more coverage than more modern Plasmat designs in the same focal length.

If you're not getting sharp results, something is wrong. Check the coating for cloudiness and/or scratches; the softer coating on these older lenses often gets damaged. And, as John mentions, check to see if the lens is in the original shutter. If not, lens spacing may be an issue.

FWIW, my WF Ektars are a bit soft at the edges when focusing, but sharpen up just fine when stopped down to taking aperture, which for me is usually f/22 or smaller.

Best,

Doremus

[diversey]

The shutter is No4 ACME Synchro. I believe this lens was designed for 5x7. When can we compare these two lenses?

I don't know but we could compare, as I have 8-1/2" Commercial in #3 Acme shutter. We could swap them, shoot in same camera, use same DDS holder.

What shutter are you using? I can also mount to Korona 5X7 with internal Packard.



LMK

[diversey]

The photos were flat and low contrast, resolution was no good either. I have to do some PS to increase contrast and sharpening.

Not a lot of wiggle room on an 8x10, so IMHO far more useful on a 5x7. The WF is a Double Gauss, rather than the Commercial Ektars, which are Tessars. There have been a lot of posts here on the Kodak Wide Fields as well as write ups linked in the Large Format Home Page, so do some searching---your reward awaits you!
What exactly aren't you satisfied with? These are old lenses so it might be possible someone along the way messed up the spacing of the cells, but WFs have enjoyed very good reputations in all the focal lengths they were produced.

[diversey]

The lens is clean in general, but there are some hairlines due to cleaning. Is the No4 ACME Synchro shutter original one? It was Ilex ACME Synchro #3 from Kodak Date Book 1948 I saw online after searching.

Wide Field Ektars in good condition are very sharp and have more coverage than more modern Plasmat designs in the same focal length.

If you're not getting sharp results, something is wrong. Check the coating for cloudiness and/or scratches; the softer coating on these older lenses often gets damaged. And, as John mentions, check to see if the lens is in the original shutter. If not, lens spacing may be an issue.

FWIW, my WF Ektars are a bit soft at the edges when focusing, but sharpen up just fine when stopped down to taking aperture, which for me is usually f/22 or smaller.

Best,

Doremus

[diversey]

KODAK WIDE FIELD
EKTAR LENSES 
80mm, f /6.3; 100mm, f /6.3;
135mm, f /6.3 ; 190mm, f /6.3; 250mm, f /6.3
Covering more than twice the area of good definition obtainable with lenses of conventional design, Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses, f /6.3, are especially useful for press photography, architectural photography and similar work in which wider than normal coverage is desirable. They are not, however, "special purpose" lenses, since their versatile performance makes them suitable for all types of photography. As a result of careful design and precision manufacture, Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses, f /6.3, show no distortion; preserve flatness of field, even at 1 to 1 magnification; and have no significant shift in focus with change in aperture. In a addition, lateral color has been completely eliminated, making possible the perfect registration of color-separation negatives made with these lenses. Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses are Lumenized and are supplied in flash shutters. At very short subject distances, it is advisable to use the lens at reduced openings when the work to be done is of an exacting nature. Best definition is obtained at f /11 or smaller diaphragm openings.
Kodak Professional Data Book/Camera Technique for Professional Photographers © 1952

f/6.3 190mm
Wide Field Ektar Ilex Acme Synchro #3
1 - 1/150 Double Gauss
Builtin adapter ring, Ser VIII.
Magnesium fluoride coated-'Lumenized'
Angle of view at Inf 56° x 68°;
(80° - 230mm circle)

recommended for 5 x 7 w/swings;
8 x 10 w/o

Circle of good definition @ f /16 with object at Inf: 312.5mm µ
Mounting hole: 2 1/8 in; 53.7mm
Back Focus: 167.5mm; Flange Focus: 179.4mm
Coverage: 318

[Jim Noel]

Since it is in an Acme #4 instead of a #3, it has probably been re-shuttered and the cell spacing could be off.

[David Lindquist]

KODAK WIDE FIELD
EKTAR LENSES 
80mm, f /6.3; 100mm, f /6.3;
135mm, f /6.3 ; 190mm, f /6.3; 250mm, f /6.3
Covering more than twice the area of good definition obtainable with lenses of conventional design, Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses, f /6.3, are especially useful for press photography, architectural photography and similar work in which wider than normal coverage is desirable. They are not, however, "special purpose" lenses, since their versatile performance makes them suitable for all types of photography. As a result of careful design and precision manufacture, Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses, f /6.3, show no distortion; preserve flatness of field, even at 1 to 1 magnification; and have no significant shift in focus with change in aperture. In a addition, lateral color has been completely eliminated, making possible the perfect registration of color-separation negatives made with these lenses. Kodak Wide Field Ektar Lenses are Lumenized and are supplied in flash shutters. At very short subject distances, it is advisable to use the lens at reduced openings when the work to be done is of an exacting nature. Best definition is obtained at f /11 or smaller diaphragm openings.
Kodak Professional Data Book/Camera Technique for Professional Photographers © 1952

f/6.3 190mm
Wide Field Ektar Ilex Acme Synchro #3
1 - 1/150 Double Gauss
Builtin adapter ring, Ser VIII.
Magnesium fluoride coated-'Lumenized'
Angle of view at Inf 56° x 68°;
(80° - 230mm circle)

recommended for 5 x 7 w/swings;
8 x 10 w/o

Circle of good definition @ f /16 with object at Inf: 312.5mm µ
Mounting hole: 2 1/8 in; 53.7mm
Back Focus: 167.5mm; Flange Focus: 179.4mm
Coverage: 318

Could you please re-check what your reference says? I'm sitting here looking at my 1962 edition of Eastman Kodak's _Camera Technique for Professional Photographers_ and it states that the 190 mm Wide Field Ektar was mounted in a No. 4 Ilex Acme Synchro shutter. Just looked on eBay which currently has two 190 mm Wide Field Ektars, one from 1947 and one from 1955, both in No. 4 Acmes.
David