Bausch & Lomb 5x7 Tessar

**Athiril** · 21-Jun-2009, 21:51

Only info I found on it was under B&L 5x7 Tessar section
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...c-experts.html

This one specifically
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....m=360162678875

Speed Graphic has a focal plane shutter? Shouldnt need to replace the shutter then on that

Anyway I bought it since it was inexpensive, and looked like I could steampunk my camera up with some old world charm with it

Anyone have more info on it?

**goamules** · 22-Jun-2009, 07:56

Yep, you can't go wrong with a B&L lens for $16! They were under license to Zeiss to make the IC and IIB designs in the early years. It's a nice little lens.

**IanG** · 22-Jun-2009, 08:36

Optically it should be similar to a comparative Zeiss Jena Tessar ofb the same focal length & vintage.

Zeiss licensed the manufacture to other companies outside Germany, this included B&L for the US and Ross in London for the UK and then British Empire.

Tessar's don't begin to give good edge & corner sharpness until stopped down to at least f16 and the recommended aperture for optimal performance is f22.

Ian

**Petzval Paul** · 22-Jun-2009, 08:57

I have a slightly later version of that lens. It's very good and has great coverage. You can use it on 8x10 without movements, so it works better on whole-plate. Corner-to-corner sharpness isn't great, but if that were your concern, you might have to spend a bit more than $16.00!