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Thread: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

  1. #1

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    Question Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    I recently purchased a 1866 Voigtlander f4 lens and trying to figure out the focus on it. To me it looks complete it has rear and front lens optics. I did the wall test and image came into focus around 11.5 in (measured from waterhouse slot to wall)
    When i mounted the lens to my 8x10 Century Studio with 5x7 GG back image would only come into focus when rear standard was about 1-2in from front standard. (Very sharp image very shallow DOF) Pretty much smushed the bellows. subject about 3 ft away Why is this?

    I would think by the wall tests this should be the same scenario with image on GG when bellows is stretched. Kinda thrown off by this. I tried backing up to about 8ft of subject and it was even more OOF.


    Any ideas? Is this lens a paper weight? Lens optics reversed? Missing a lens?



    Thanks,
    Michael

  2. #2

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    It does not make any sense at all that it would focus at a different distance from the wall than the ground glass. Did you take it apart between these tests, and put something back together wrong? If not, one of these tests is wrong. Which one? Do both again.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  3. #3

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    No i never re-arranged rear or front lens only unscrewed rear to get a look inside. I am still very confused....I did the Wall test this AM bc I wanted to make sure a image was coming into focus at a reasonable distance. I used my window to project onto wall it was 10-15 ft away. Did i do test correct?

    Quote Originally Posted by mdarnton View Post
    It does not make any sense at all that it would focus at a different distance from the wall than the ground glass. Did you take it apart between these tests, and put something back together wrong? If not, one of these tests is wrong. Which one? Do both again.

  4. #4

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    Your wall test is correct, if you replace the wall with a GG, as Michael said, it should project just the same. I'd do again the wall test to be sure that it's working like before unscrewing the rear, then measure the flange to the wall distance, and use same distance for the flande to GG.

    When doing the wall test do not focus the window itself, but subjects that at very long distance and that are seen thought the window, be careful if you use sun, it's a bright reference but you can burn something, even one eye...

  5. #5

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    Thanks Yes, ill have to do more testing i was just initially confused bc I own a 14in Wollensak and for portraits... lens aprox 5ft away from subject and GG from front standard is aprox 12-14in for sharp focus.


    Quote Originally Posted by Pere Casals View Post
    Your wall test is correct, if you replace the wall with a GG, as Michael said, it should project just the same. I'd do again the wall test to be sure that it's working like before unscrewing the rear, then measure the flange to the wall distance, and use same distance for the flande to GG.

    When doing the wall test do not focus the window itself, but subjects that at very long distance and that are seen thought the window, be careful if you use sun, it's a bright reference but you can burn something, even one eye...

  6. #6

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    If there was a missing rear lens, it would have a much longer focal length!

    The focal length may be shorter than you image, especialy if it is nearer F3 than F4. If the lens diameter is around 3", then the focal length for the lens should be about 9 1/6".

  7. #7

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    Yeah,it deff has a rear lens and in place! It was marked f4 prob by photo studio not factory... Added 2 images of lens. Rear element is about 3 1/2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steven Tribe View Post
    If there was a missing rear lens, it would have a much longer focal length!

    The focal length may be shorter than you image, especialy if it is nearer F3 than F4. If the lens diameter is around 3", then the focal length for the lens should be about 9 1/6".

  8. #8

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    But the glass is 3", which is what Voigtlander measures for the adverts/catalogues.
    There was an earlier series which was nearer F4 - glass diameter (front lens) 81mm focal length 11".

  9. #9

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    Thanks for the info! yes from my window/wall test thats what i measured about 11' from waterhouse slot to wall. Just waiting for the 5:00 whistle to give it another test on the GG. Just bizarre that when I had the GG pulled back stretched about 8-12in its was just OOF (subject 6ft way) and i was moving my camera further way and just got worse from there.


    Quote Originally Posted by Steven Tribe View Post
    But the glass is 3", which is what Voigtlander measures for the adverts/catalogues.
    There was an earlier series which was nearer F4 - glass diameter (front lens) 81mm focal length 11".

  10. #10

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    Re: Focus Issues on 1866 Voigtlander Petzval

    Did more testing... so it looks like it is indeed 11in and giving me a sharp image on GG Just not use to being super close to subject (3 1/2 away) standards are stretched 11in from Waterhouse stops to GG. Compared with my Wollensak Vesta it seems like a lot wider of lens not sure of the mm but no where close to 300-200mm. Would this make it a not a Portrait lens?


    Thanks
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