Results 1 to 6 of 6

Thread: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Collinsville, CT USA
    Posts
    2,330

    GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    Several years ago I took a chance and acquired a barrel mounted 5.9 inch f/10 GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lens for my 11x14. At the time I had absolutely no information on the lens and the seller was not a photographer and knew little to nothing about the lens. Hot-glued the barrel lens to a sheet of black Foamcore and taped it to the front of my 11x14. It actually covered the format! Had S K Grimes mount into a Copal No 3 shutter. Marked F/stop scale goes from f/14 to f/64. The iris actually opens up to an unmarked f/9 (interpolated from the marked scale).

    http://piercevaubel.com/cam/acc/lens...opeextreme.htm
    "Notes: Gray's Rapid Symmetrical Periscope Lens was a fairly popular wide angle lens of the 1890's. As its name states, it was a symmetrical rapid rectilinear type lens. There was also a Gray's Wide Angle Lens and a Gray's Extreme Wide Angle Periscope, which had a coverage of 115°" Seems to indicate that there were two lens lines for Gray's wide angle lenses.

    vade mecum Mentions R D GRAY of New York but does not list lenses offered. Also lists "Gray's Extreme Angle Stigmatic for 90-95 degrees. f/11 4.5, 5.375, 6.5in This seems to be a Portable RR. It was suggested to use 5.374in for 10x8 (at small apertures?)"

    Impressions of my 5.9 inch f/10 GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lens 5.9 inch f/10 GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lens: Sweet f/stop seems to be f/64 in which the 4 corners are the sharpest, judging from the negatives and my contact prints. Unmarked f/9 aperture setting for focusing only. Have found the lens to be too wide for me most of the time , but every now and then just perfect. Have come to prefer my 200mm f/6.5 TAYLOR-HOBSON Cooke Series VIIB WIDE ANGLE ANASTIGMAT mounted in a COPAL 3 for my very wide angle lens for my 11x14. Had always considered acquiring a 150mm WA Nikkor for my 8x10, but the 5.9" GRAY easily fits that bill and saves me around a $2.5-3K purchase.

    Once I was Emailed that the production of GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses was very, very limited to only a few examples being completed and actually sold to photographers.

    If anyone can pass on some more info on GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses, please post your comments.

    Should any of the FORUM members find one FS, absolutely buy it or at least pass on the info so that I can buy it... :-)

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Poolville, Texas
    Posts
    323

    Re: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    Greg,

    Yesterday, looking through some cool brass lenses I found a Gray Extreme Angle Periscope #2 lens. It is in very nice shape with its original lens cap, so I mounted onto my ROC 5x7 and made an exposure at the f/10 setting. The negative looks great, I can post it here after scanning later today.

    Searching does not reveal much information about this lens and have not found any posted images using it. All I found are some advertisements from Gray's from about 1890-91.

    Perhaps the email you received is correct about limited production?

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Poolville, Texas
    Posts
    323

    Re: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    ROC Universal 5x7 Gray Extreme Pariscope Road Runner by rrunnertexas, on Flickr

    Lens test of the R. D. Gray Extreme Wide Angle Periscope #2 on a Rochester Universal 5x7. Image on Arista EDU 100, as shot at f/10. Notice the camera bed in the bottom of the shot.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Posts
    991

    Re: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    Aha!
    I now understand your forum name.
    Very nice '68.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Poolville, Texas
    Posts
    323

    Re: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    Dugan, yes - I'm a road runner guy! 1968 Plymouth, factory 4 speed and factory fun!

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Poolville, Texas
    Posts
    323

    Re: GRAY'S Extreme Angle Periscope lenses

    ROC Universal Gray Extreme Periscope Chrysler by rrunnertexas, on Flickr

    Gray's Extreme Angle Periscope #2, as shot with the f/10 aperture on a ROC 5x7 Universal.

Similar Threads

  1. Info on GRAY's Extreme Angle Periscope lenses wanted
    By Greg in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 24-Sep-2018, 19:49
  2. RD gray no. 6 periscope
    By Hollis in forum Lenses & Lens Accessories
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 17-Feb-2008, 18:51

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •