Big Nikkors

[kiev4a]

Here are the two Nikkor APO flat field lenses I acquired. The give you and idea of the size, the 305mm lens barrel is 2.5 inches across and the 480mm is 3.75 inches across. Both are f9 to f128!

[k38]

Were these lenses from a process camera? They must have been outstandingly expensive when new!


Dwight

[PeterW]

Very nice lenses, Wayne.

There must be quite a few of these older process lenses around in print shops still. When my son John was at photographic college he acquired a couple of Schneider flat field process lenses from a PMT (Photo Mechanical Transfer) camera that was no longer in use at a local printers. They were massive beasts designed to cover A4. Hideously expensive when new, but at the time no-one locally wanted them.

The mounting thread was the same as the largest size Compur shutter, and I picked up one of these, including its mounting ring. for a very reasonable price because it was old, non-synchronised, maximum speed 1/250sec, and it needed a thorough CLA.

After cleaning, it worked pefectly, and John mounted it on the front of a Toyo 5x4. The flatness and definition in a studio was outstanding. Strictly speaking, process lenses are designed to be at their best at short distances, but these two seemed to perform equally well at near infinity on landscapes.

Sadly, when he finished college John had to sell the Toyo and the lenses for financial reasons, but he got top price for them from an advertising studio.

PeterW

[kiev4a]

k38 said:

Were these lenses from a process camera? They must have been outstandingly expensive when new!


Dwight

I'm sure they were expensive. They produce negatives up to something like 40 x 20 inches that are razor sharp from edge to edge.

[mickeyobe]

Re: Shutter question.
« Reply #3 on Today at 11:43pm »

[Modify] [Delete]

We must not forget the lens cap shutter.
By simply removing the lens cap and counting the seconds and then replacing it the old time photographers exposed their film.
I still use one on a 480 mm f9 Apo Nikkor which is mounted on an 8" x10" Gundlach Korona.
This particular lens cap started life as a lid on a pickle jar and a knob from an old dresser drawer.
Very effective. Never jams. Ergonomic and user friendly.

Mickey

P.S. Addendum: I made the lensboard from a piece of plywood and painted it black.
P.P.S. See "The Work Bench" For photos.