Aero Ektar please help

[photojournalism]

Hello!
Is the front element of Aero Ektar (cemented doublet and spaced lens) producing any image?
Thanks.

[Jim Noel]

Take off the rear element and try to focus the front and then you will have your answer.

[photojournalism]

Thanks, it works!!!
If serious, I have no Aero Ektar, just going to buy it. So need to know how the front element works. As I understand this is a tele lens, so the rear group should be a negative and front group should be a solo lens. But may be I'm wrong.

[Dan Fromm]

Not a tele lens. A more or less symmetrical double Gauss type. Why do you think it is a tele?

Oh, and by the way, the 7"/2.5 Aero Ektar's flange focal distance is a bit shorter than focal length. This is normal for double Gauss types, which are often a bit telephoto. But tele lenses in the conventional sense they are not.

[photojournalism]

Thanks! I found Aero Ektar description and scheme. It's really close to double gauss.

[dystopia]

can anyone who has a ektar 2.5 let me know if the lens is meant to have a rear element? as mine doesnt seem to have one.. (i havent tested it yet still waiting on a jolo board to come). thanks

[Corran]

Uh yes the AE should have a rear element!!

[EdSawyer]

definitely has a rear cell behind the aperture, yes.

[Wayne Aho]

The rear element on the 7"/2.5 will show a little bit of yellow/brown coloring. The rear glass contains radioactive thorium, and will be about 2-3 millirem on contact. Store it away from the kids.

[dystopia]

thanks for all your responses! - so you guys actually have this lens? thank you all again for letting me know.

i purchased the lens from ebay and they never said anything about this on the listing..so that pisses me off! it for my graflex i even have a jolo mount in the post. though it was bit odd as i have never seen a lens without a rear element expositing the aperture blades. hmm! dammit.

that scares me it doesnt have the rear element on also.. exposing more radiation!? gahhh - scared (dont have anything to test it either - thats stay far away as possible from me).