I Want It All...

[wfwhitaker]

I'm looking for a lens which has the following characteristics:

1. Around 14" focal length
2. Image circle large enough to allow moderate movements on 8x10
3. Sharp, yet with soft and pleasing out-of-focus areas (OK then, nice bokeh!)
4. Good color fidelity
5. A reliable shutter suitable for use with those touchy chrome films

Clearly I want to have my cake and eat it, too. There are lots of 14" lenses. But there seem to be few which meet all the requirements, particularly on the bokeh bit. I'd be interested in your suggestions. Any Cooke Series XVa users may feel free to chime in. 311mm is a little short, but would still work.

Thanks,
Will

[lee\c]

355mm G-Claron. it may have more movement than you want but more is better. Copal #3 fits directly no spacers. It is single coated though if that makes a difference but it is tack sharp.

lee\c

[tim atherton]

I'm looking for a lens which has the following characteristics:

1. Around 14" focal length
2. Image circle large enough to allow moderate movements on 8x10
3. Sharp, yet with soft and pleasing out-of-focus areas (OK then, nice bokeh!)
4. Good color fidelity
5. A reliable shutter suitable for use with those touchy chrome films

Clearly I want to have my cake and eat it, too. There are lots of 14" lenses. But there seem to be few which meet all the requirements, particularly on the bokeh bit. I'd be interested in your suggestions. Any Cooke Series XVa users may feel free to chime in. 311mm is a little short, but would still work.

Thanks,
Will

14" Commercial Ektar - lovely for colour, I've always found has very nice Bokeh-y stuff and sharp. Only downside is making sure to get a good running shutter.

Beyond this, you probably couldn't beat a 14" Kern Dagor - fantastic (take a look at Lynne Cohens work) - but harder to find

(this one went fast :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ADME:B:SS:US:1 )

[Jack Flesher]

At 355mm, I Second the 14" Gold dot Dagor (Kern) in a Copal #3. Beautiful everywhere, great oof rendering.

HOWEVERBUT! I sold mine because I got a nearly identical look in the Cooke Triple -- but it's a 311/476/646 *and* costs twice what the Kern 355's are selling for... But then it is three great focals for 8x10 and even the single cells are surprisingly sharp and smooth *and* it all fits in the space and weight of one lens

[Scott Davis]

14" Commercial Ektar - lovely for colour, I've always found has very nice Bokeh-y stuff and sharp. Only downside is making sure to get a good running shutter.

Beyond this, you probably couldn't beat a 14" Kern Dagor - fantastic (take a look at Lynne Cohens work) - but harder to find

(this one went fast :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ADME:B:SS:US:1 )

I'll second the remark about the Commercial Ektar. Will- if you'd like to shoot one sometime, to see how it goes, I'd be willing to let you try mine out. The shutter on mine has been CLA'd recently and timed, so I know that the shutter speeds are basically on, except for the 1/25th, which I think is essentially the same as my 1/50th. Either that or the same as the 1/10th- I'd have to look at my cheat sheet.

[Steve Hamley]

I'll second the Kodak Commercial Ektar.

Steve

[squiress]

Are these Cooke triplets readily available or are there long waiting times to purchase one, or are they only available in the used market?

Thanks

Stew

[Christopher Perez]

360mm Schneider Symmar Convertible in a CLA'd #5 Compound shutter.

The optic is as large as the Queen Mary's main anchor, but it's razor sharp (even wide open), has beautiful "bokeh" (due to the circular aperture of the Compound shutter), and privides enough coverage to spill light over 12x20 inches. Oh, and they're cheap.

[Scott Davis]

360mm Schneider Symmar Convertible in a CLA'd #5 Compound shutter.

The optic is as large as the Queen Mary's main anchor, but it's razor sharp (even wide open), has beautiful "bokeh" (due to the circular aperture of the Compound shutter), and privides enough coverage to spill light over 12x20 inches. Oh, and they're cheap.

Chris- A: How cheap, and B: how easy are they to find in that configuration?

[Christopher Perez]

A: In mint condition, I've seen these (even on eBay) for $300 to $400.

B: I had no problems chasing three down inside an hour when I started looking. I was either very lucky or there are plenty out there. There was even one guy who had one in his eBay Store with an attractive Buy It Now. If you find nothing on the open market, call Jim at MidWest Photo to see what he might have.

Chris- A: How cheap, and B: how easy are they to find in that configuration?