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Post by pentaxgraflex on Dec 11, 2006 20:08:33 GMT -5
I have the SMC Takumar 85mm F/1.8 that I use on my Spotmatic. I can tell you it has produced some of the sharpest Kodachromes I have. The same optical design was carried over into the K-mount, then replaced by the 85mm F/2 M series. A lot of the Pentax boards say the compact F/2 is not as sharp as the F/1.8, but I can't really tell much difference myself. I was lucky enough to get both for a incredible bargain price of $60 (!) for each one, the Takumar in the late eighties at the local camera shop, and the K-mount F/2 at a Dallas camera show in about 1994. The Takumar showed the usual wear, but the F/2 was showroom perfect. I still shake my head when I think of how cheaply I got them for. Today, you'd have to be very lucky to get them for less than approx. $200!
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Dec 11, 2006 20:28:33 GMT -5
The lens legends I was told were the Vivitar Series 1 lenses such as the first gen. 70-210, the Varifocal 35-85 F/2.8, and the 90-180. In medium and large format were the Goerz Dagors, the Kodak Ektars such as the 203mm F/7.7 (which can resolve as much as 85 lp/mm on film) and the APO Lanthars. My sharpest zoom I have is the 60-120 Tokina AT-X I bought in 1985. It's a constant F/2.8 and produces some fine Kodachromes. It was only offered for sale for a couple of years, then dropped. And yes, I have a Century Graphic (late production) that came with the 100mm F/3.5 Zeiss Tessar (the re-formulated one) in a Synchro-Compur and it's also very very sharp.
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Feb 23, 2008 21:42:01 GMT -5
Yes, all the 3.5 lenses were Triplets and the 3.2 version is a Tessar. The 3.2 only came in the full sync Rapax, the others also were available in the Alphax (with a narrower speed range). I have both, and yes the 3.2 is sharper, but there is very little difference. I actually used the 3.5 version on a 6x8 roll holder and it covered (although there was the slightest bit of darkening in the corners, although detail was visible). The 3.2 Tessar version covered completely. When Graflex bought and used the Wollensak lenses, the were called Optars whereas the ones Wollensak sold to outside manufacturers used Wollensaks in-house Raptar name. Raptar was copyrighted in 1947, before that Wollensak used the name Velostigmat. Since Wollensak was founded by two ex. Bausch and Lomb shutter designers you will find the shutters to be quite excellent (easily the equal of a Synchro-Compur).
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Apr 29, 2007 2:03:05 GMT -5
The 83mm F/3.2 is a Tessar design, the 85mm F/3.5 is a Triplet design. That might influence your decision. As for the lubricant, plain 'ol moly wheel bearing grease should work great.
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Oct 7, 2007 21:05:21 GMT -5
Don't let anyone tell you they only work well for Black&White. They'll make great color prints also, although a bit flat in contrast with slightly muted colors. Slides will turn out OK also. I use a lot of WW1 era lenses on my Graflex's and they are great for color E6.
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Dec 11, 2006 20:37:42 GMT -5
I also have a Petri 7S I picked up in Longview Tx many years ago at a pawnshop for $10. It had a dented top, but the rangefinder was not off and the meter still works properly. I shot some Ektachromes with it several years ago that are very sharp. Haven't used it in about 10 years, but seeing yours, I might have to bring it back out sometime soon.
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Mar 19, 2007 19:21:33 GMT -5
The circle "L" stands for Lumenized which is Kodaks name for their hard coating. Kodak actually started selling coated lenses in limited applications in 1941 (the Ektra lenses). I personally have some 16mm Kodak Cine Special lenses from 1943 (from a military outfit) that are coated. The early coatings were soft enough to wipe off the lens, so they were only used on internal surfaces ( I also have a 100mm F/3.5 Ektar from a 1944 Medalist that is soft coated on the inside surfaces only). They started to hard coat the lenses about 1945 and that's when the Circle "L" symbol appeared. That's also when the coatings were put on the outside lens surfaces. It's hard to imagine today but from WW1 to the 1960's America had a optical industry that was the equal of the great European manufacturers such as Zeiss, Schneider, and Rodenstock and was used for domestic consumption. Kodak in particular built their lenses beyond their price level with excellent quality control. Just ask any devout Graflex user!!
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Mar 19, 2007 19:02:42 GMT -5
The "EO" is kodaks date code they used on their Ektar lenses from 1940 to sometime in the 60's when they phased out lens production. The code is: C A M E R O S I T Y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
That makes EO 1946. That is when the lens was produced. For further info go to Graflex.org.
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Post by pentaxgraflex on Dec 11, 2006 20:44:53 GMT -5
In my camera bag right now as I type this from the cab of my 18 wheeler in Syracuse NY, I have a Vitomatic II that has the rangefinder and selenium meter (that still works) that otherwise is identical to the Vito B you have. It takes great photo's. I use it for my B&W film.
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