180mm for 5x7

[Bernice Loui]

Previously discussed Bob.

US military Foto recon went from 10x10 roll to 5x5 roll film to reduce weight and get more images during any given fly over. This was the origins of the 3" f4.5 Biogon type lens (exposures made at or near f4.5) and others used for recon Fotos. Notable was the side looking camera used on the SR71. This aero recon camera has a special flat mirror in front of the lens and has a image stabilization and ground speed compensation (Similar to Fairchild) system to limit camera movement that will blur images made. Have pictures of this camera, SR71 and the related electronics some where from the SR71 that is on display at Edwards Field Riverside, CA.

They were later printed up to 10x10 using a 6" Goerz Magnar enlarging lens specifically designed for 2x reproduction. This enlarging lens is exceptional in it's performance at 2x.

It is remarkable what can be seen on these Foto Recon films in many ways.


Bernice

Ever look at those recon images of the personnel around the Cuban missle sites, or the missles in the ship holds? Those were all 5x5” long roll aerial film shots from RF101 Voodoos out of Homestead AFB, FL. Those were shot by my squadron and I printed many of them either on a Kodak package printer for prints up to 10x10” or on Durst or Loge enlargers for prints up to 24x24”. Also duped the film on Loge and all were detailed enough for the photo interpreters and for Langley and JFK.

If you haven’t seen them before they are usually displayed at the AeroSpace Museum in DC under one of our units Voodoos.

[Bob Salomon]

Previously discussed Bob.

US military Foto recon went from 10x10 roll to 5x5 roll film to reduce weight and get more images during any given fly over. This was the origins of the 3" f4.5 Biogon type lens (exposures made at or near f4.5) and others used for recon Fotos. Notable was the side looking camera used on the SR71. This aero recon camera has a special flat mirror in front of the lens and has a image stabilization and ground speed compensation (Similar to Fairchild) system to limit camera movement that will blur images made. Have pictures of this camera, SR71 and the related electronics some where from the SR71 that is on display at Edwards Field Riverside, CA.

They were later printed up to 10x10 using a 6" Goerz Magnar enlarging lens specifically designed for 2x reproduction. This enlarging lens is exceptional in it's performance at 2x.

It is remarkable what can be seen on these Foto Recon films in many ways.


Bernice

Bernice, we flew 5” roll for obliques and 9” roll for verticals. The 9” was flown in RB 66 widow makers the 5” in first RB 101 Voodoos and then in RF4C currently I believe in RF16s.

[David Lindquist]

Previously discussed Bob.

US military Foto recon went from 10x10 roll to 5x5 roll film to reduce weight and get more images during any given fly over. This was the origins of the 3" f4.5 Biogon type lens (exposures made at or near f4.5) and others used for recon Fotos. Notable was the side looking camera used on the SR71. This aero recon camera has a special flat mirror in front of the lens and has a image stabilization and ground speed compensation (Similar to Fairchild) system to limit camera movement that will blur images made. Have pictures of this camera, SR71 and the related electronics some where from the SR71 that is on display at Edwards Field Riverside, CA.

They were later printed up to 10x10 using a 6" Goerz Magnar enlarging lens specifically designed for 2x reproduction. This enlarging lens is exceptional in it's performance at 2x.

It is remarkable what can be seen on these Foto Recon films in many ways.


Bernice

Thank you very much Bernice for confirming what's long been my hunch about the origins of the Goerz Magnar enlarging lens. Given its price of $2600.00 on my 1970 Goerz price list (where it's called the Imperial Magnar II). I always thought U.S. military reconnaissance was a more likely market than even the most finicky commercial lab.

David