Goerz Dagor 8 1/4"

[Elias Butler]

Hello -

I have a Goerz Dagor gold-rim 8 1/4" lens in very good condition with serial # 812984, which I believe dates it to the 1960s.

I am dissatisfied with the contrast this lens offers, though it makes excellent quality images otherwise. Can anyone recommend a schneider or nikon that would offer improved contrast with equally good image quality?

I'm also interested in knowing the value of the lens. It has a SK Grimes custom step ring to accomodate normal size filters and has a synchro compur shutter. If anyone has ideas about where to obtain specs or can give a ballpark figure for what I could expect on ebay I would appreciate it.

[David A. Goldfarb]

Are you using it for 4x5"? The lens has quite a lot of coverage (8x10"+), so your contrast problem may be bellows flare with a smaller format. Dagors have good contrast in general, and coated ones like yours in particular (I have an 8-1/4" and a 12", both Gold dot versions), compared even to modern multicoated lenses. Before you sell it, try a compendium shade to restrict the image circle to the minimum necessary, if you aren't already using one.

[Donald Miller]

I use an 8 1/4 inch Dagor on my 8X10 (non gold rim or dot)...no problems it delivers contrast equal to my more recent 450 Nikkor M.

[Bill_1856]

My coated 8.25" (210mm) Dagor is every bit as sharp and contrasty as my 240 Symmar. I have a 6" Dagor that seemed to be getting soft, and looking slightly cloudy. I removed the elements from the shutter and cleaned the inner surfaces of some "greasy" stuff which must have evaporated from the shutter blades, and it's right back to par.

[Elias Butler]

Thanks for the pro-Dagor arguments. I haven't had it cleaned, nor do I use a compendium shade, I do use it with a 4x5.

It is a fine lens, so I am in no rush to part with it, but I will perhaps make some comparisons with a symmar 210mm to see what might be the difference contrast-wise. Also I will try cleaning and the shade.

elias

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have an older 240 Symmar convertible, and I think corner to corner it's probably a little sharper at wider apertures than the Dagor for 4x5", but not necessarily contrastier. The Dagor has six elements in two groups, so only four glass-air surfaces, making contrast one of its strengths, even in uncoated versions.

[Tito Sobrinho.]

I have an uncoated 210 Dagor, a Gold Rim 305 as well as a 150 Gold Dot. They are all contrasty.