Some Soft Focus Lens Sales Information

[alex from holland]

How big was the Hermagis globe?
I have one in my collection.
It has a beautiful change apparture mechanism.

[jaytral]

How big was the Hermagis globe?
I have one in my collection.
It has a beautiful change apparture mechanism.

LOT 0890 DETAILS
Globe Wide-Angle Lens by Hermagis, Paris, No. 18267, c. 1875
A lens similar to the "Globe" by Harrison consisting of two convex achromatic lenses. Different from "Globe Avec Diaphragmes Perfectionnés" dating from 1872, this lens does not have a shift diaphragm but a revolver diaphragm. Height: 39 mm. Front lens: Ø approx. 42 mm. Focal length: approx. 40 cm. 155604

[Steven Tribe]

The brass was in very bad condition so the engraving was unreadable. Didn't look like a Globe, which is why I added the (?)! The other Globe copy/improvement "lentiforme de l'oeil" by Gasc & Charconnet is more easy to identify.

[jaytral]

Today at Deutsch Auctionneers sale, a Dallmeyer 6D in poor condition: 2794 euros

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

PINKHAM & SMITH Petzval 9" f/5 $3.950 BIN 131730516184

[Mark Sawyer]

PINKHAM & SMITH Petzval 9" f/5 $3.950 BIN 131730516184

That one's still active. And it appears to be a standard f/5 Petzval, perhaps from Wollensak or B&L, that Pinkham & Smith engraved their name on for resale.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

That one's still active. And it appears to be a standard f/5 Petzval, perhaps from Wollensak or B&L, that Pinkham & Smith engraved their name on for resale.

I was wondering about that, haven't seen such before...

[brandon13]

PINKHAM & SMITH Petzval 9" f/5 $3.950 BIN 131730516184

It's been on the Auction site for about 8 or 9 months now. Maybe more. Just sits there.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Pinkham & Smith P&S Semi-Achromatic Doublet 12 inch f/4.5 5x7 Large-Format Lens
ebay 252562964697

[Mark Sawyer]

Pinkham & Smith P&S Semi-Achromatic Doublet 12 inch f/4.5 5x7 Large-Format Lens
ebay 252562964697

That one is also still active, with 9 days to go. This thread is for watching price trends through completed sales, not advertising on-going auctions.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Sorry. Wasn't an ad, not related in any form. Can I delete my entry?

[brandon13]

Sorry. Wasn't an ad, not related in any form. Can I delete my entry?

Yes you can delete posts. Completed listings only Dr. as this Forum and not just this thread frowns upon links to the auction site. Just put the number. It's to help us all understand market value of these wonderful lenses. Go back and read a few pages of posts on this thread and it should be pretty clear.

[Steven Tribe]

To-day, UK on-line auction. Kershaw Soft lens (clone of the Spencer Port-Land) 11" F5.6. Fair condition on a fair Watson 1/2 plate camera with fair T-P shutter.

£200 gbp - 293 usd (with the auction house 20% added.

The bargains are getting fewer and the auction houses descriptions have to help a little ( "missing the front lens" in the main description).

[brandon13]

14.5 inch Verito in medium condition. separation on the front elements. still quite a steal at $309.00 IMO. 182302006035

[Steven Tribe]

A very odd ebay sale.

This is engraved as a Dallmeyer 2a and has been sold/not sold approximately 6 times in the last six weeks, with small changes in the listing description/photos each time. It cannot be a 2a, as the size and weight (over 4 kilos) make this impossible. It could be incorrectly engraved 4a.

Anyway, it is 17240880431. Sold for 960usd.

I was unable to check the serial number (14186) in the Dallmeyer Archive to-day.

There was also a military WWI Dallmeyer Dallmeyer 5d (122202256578) for 742 usd some time ago.
Only difference from the "usual" 5d is that there is no marking (at present) showing degree of diffusion selected.

[brandon13]

[QUOTE=Steven Tribe;1363974]A very odd ebay sale.

This is engraved as a Dallmeyer 2a and has been sold/not sold approximately 6 times in the last six weeks, with small changes in the listing description/photos each time. It cannot be a 2a, as the size and weight (over 4 kilos) make this impossible. It could be incorrectly engraved 4a.

Anyway, it is 17240880431. Sold for 960usd.

Yes it was listed at buy it now for $3000.00 $2000.00 and as low as $1000.00 with expensive $150 shipping as well as other amounts. It finally sold for the 960usd with much cheaper shipping. thanks for your input Steven I was wondering about it.

[lucaas]

Someone got an incredible deal on a Dallmeyer 6A.
282245864674, $2995

[alex from holland]

Has something been changed on EBay? I always could find the sold item by using the above mentioned numbers.
But that isn't working anymore

[Mark Sawyer]

Has something been changed on EBay? I always could find the sold item by using the above mentioned numbers.
But that isn't working anymore

After the search shows up blank, check the "completed sales" box. Yup, ebay found a new and improved way to screw up what worked before...

[Amedeus]

Someone got an incredible deal on a Dallmeyer 6A.
282245864674, $2995

I totally missed that one in my backyard ...

[Amedeus]

Updating some lens sales I kept track of ...

Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality Series IV No 3, 14" for $3,500 (BIN, 142194612795)

Cooke Series IIe 270mm f4.5, knuckler on lensboard for $2,050 (BIN, 281828109012)

Graf Variable Anastigmat F3.8-F4.5 EF 9.5-11 inch for $375 (132005543788)

Wollensak Vitax #4 in Studio Shutter for $720 (272413876386)

Hermagis Eidoscope 150mm in proper shutter for $931,89 (322297130771)

P&S Semi-Achromatic Doublet (Series II) 12" 5x7 lens for $3,716 (252562964697)

P&S Semi-Achromatic Lens (Series I) for $5,651,5 (182280538869)

Dallmeyer Bergheim Soft Focus Lens #1 for $2,389 (302073711941)

Dallmeyer Bergheim Soft Focus lens #2 for $2,400 (BIN, 302092147465) ... would have loved to have seen that one first ...

[Steven Tribe]

And some interesting groups from this morning's (EU) Stockholm auction.
Selling prices have been adjusted up to include auctioneer's fees.

Nicola Perscheid:

lot 73 210mm. Described as being very rare for 6x9 Voigtlander Bergheil (?). With brass screw mount for 35mm camera. 2,133 usd. This is first time I have seen a real premium for small sized soft lenses!

lot 74. 420mm. With flange. 1,740 usd.

Imagon Tiefenbild.

Lot 56. Complete and boxed. 300mm in shutter. 933 usd.
Lot 57. Complete and boxed. 360mm. 1,200 usd.

Generally, quite a lot of interest for LF items. But selection of lenses was not very exciting - which maintains the last few years demise of real gems!

[Steven Tribe]

[QUOTE=Steven Tribe;1363974]A very odd ebay sale.

This is engraved as a Dallmeyer 2a and has been sold/not sold approximately 6 times in the last six weeks, with small changes in the listing description/photos each time. It cannot be a 2a, as the size and weight (over 4 kilos) make this impossible. It could be incorrectly engraved 4a.

Anyway, it is 17240880431. Sold for 960usd.

Yes it was listed at buy it now for $3000.00 $2000.00 and as low as $1000.00 with expensive $150 shipping as well as other amounts. It finally sold for the 960usd with much cheaper shipping. thanks for your input Steven I was wondering about it.

I have keeping an eye on this seller, trying to spot feedback on this 2A/4A? Nothing yet, but his current listing of a stone he found at a very high price seems to indicate our doubts were correct!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-wild-vintage-beautiful-Natural-and-rare-Stone-/172440199535?hash=item28263ca16f%3Ag%3AUt8AAOSwJ7RYTdpb&nma=true&si=OUFOxLwFVUM6OqJ9xv16WZIcCqI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

It appears the listing has now been removed, and the many photos of a stone removed, along with the description.

[Amedeus]

Pinkham & Smith Semi-Achromat Series I, 12 inch, no serial number, with flange and Packard shutter on ebony board for $3,500 (152345735546)

[Stephane]

Same seller who sold me a very nice 16" P&S Synthetic this year, and the controversial 16" P&S semi-achromatic in brass barrel 3 years ago. He also sold a Bi-Quality not so long ago...


Pinkham & Smith Semi-Achromat Series I, 12 inch, no serial number, with flange and Packard shutter on ebony board for $3,500 (152345735546)

[brandon13]

Dallmeyer 5D. Pretty beat up with adequate separation on front pair. No flange. $975.00 #311759261694

[8x10 user]

Rodenstock Imagon 420mm $2100 191956626576
Gundlach Hyperion 18" F4 $6500 201655916911

[brandon13]

I Just purchased a beautiful 14.5 inch Verito from a great photographer on this forum. Good glass and smooth iris. $500

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I Just purchased a beautiful 14.5 inch Verito from a great photographer on this forum. Good glass and smooth iris. $500

I'm glad it went to a great photographer who will make the lens sing!

[jaytral]

"Adjustable Landscape n°2, Pulligny, Optique Francaise Ligny", 990 euros, ( 122271436835 )

[thomas ciulei]

Cooke IIe 15 inch knuckled with flange, french inscription on soft focus dial "flou artistique" 1667 EUR

http://www.ebay.de/itm/162328789293

[brandon13]

Dallmeyer 30" 6A with a little separation on front pair. Really nice and complete and I wish I was the buyer. $2,995.00 (not a typo) Proof that there are still some great deals out there despite comments from the peanut Gallery. # 282245864674

[Amedeus]

Dallmeyer 30" 6A with a little separation on front pair. Really nice and complete and I wish I was the buyer. $2,995.00 (not a typo) Proof that there are still some great deals out there despite comments from the peanut Gallery. # 282245864674

Dallmeyer 6A was gone by the time it showed up in my filter ...

Fastest BIN I know of happened few days ago ...

Cooke 16" f4.5 Series II soft focus, no knuckler, with flange for $500 ... soft focus stuck ... BIN within 4 minutes of posting afaik ... (BIN, 332075908228)

B&L Portrait Plastigmat, 15" f5.6, rear element only version with flange for $150 (BIN, 182403945312) ... couldn't resist the steal.


Happy New Year !

Rudi A.

[pierre506]

Dallmeyer 30" 6A with a little separation on front pair. Really nice and complete and I wish I was the buyer. $2,995.00 (not a typo) Proof that there are still some great deals out there despite comments from the peanut Gallery. # 282245864674

Failed~

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[seven]

what do you mean with failed, Pierre ?

[Steven Tribe]

A more common 3A!

381900393868. 1125 usd. Brass was almost completely black, identical in condition to another lens which the lister offered. Looked quite good, although the lens(es) were dotted with brown spots.

[pierre506]

what do you mean with failed, Pierre ?

I meant that the "lucky" eBay buyer didn't get the lens.

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[lucaas]

I meant that the "lucky" eBay buyer didn't get the lens.

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Hi Pierre, do you know the buyer? What happened? The seller looks like a legit one.

[alex from holland]

I am sure a clever buyer contacted them directly and offered a double amount of money....��. And no, not me.

[pierre506]

Hi Pierre, do you know the buyer? What happened? The seller looks like a legit one.

Another long long story~
Yes, I know the 3 characters.

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[angusparker]

Spencer Portland 11.5" 5.6 - no flange but with an adapter for Pentax 6x7, EX+ condition glass, iris smooth. $1,000 182330997962

[Steven Tribe]

Port-lands are very often in very good condition. Perhaps something to do with light use by inspired "Amateurs" in the last century?

Dallmeyer 3B 182412022755 1355 usd (auction bidding with many entries during the last 24 hours).

Looked Okish, but very dirty, impossible to judge glass and minus the flange. This a local listing and I had arranged to have a look at the glass on Saturday. However, I was told that I couldn't take out the two lens cells " because the photos in the listing would no longer match the lens". Which could mean that the cells were stuck, or there is glass damage etc. But the lister was also very non-photographica intested.

I was surprised that this attracted bidding up to this level, but old glass does clean up to former glory!

Bidding was probably assisted by the listing having a no. 5 Suter Petzval at the same time which had obviously been through the same brass treatment as the Dallmeyer. The glass here was easier to judge!

[Steven Tribe]

T, T & H Rapid View (RV) for 1/1 plate 12.5" (f.11.3 with front iris installed). Same lens as the later Rapid View, Portrait (RVP) series. Minus flange. Very good condition.

192074529221 505 gbp ( 612 usd this morning before PM May's Brexit speech!).

Very solid bidding with much interest.

[Amedeus]

Pinkham & Smith P&S Visual Quality No. 2 Series IV #2813 on a 5 1/4" x 5 1/4" lens board in Studio No 3 shutter for $1,880 (282307654586)

B&L Plastigmat Portrait lens, 12" with front and rear glass for $761 (122284986672)

B&L Plastigmat Portrait Lens, 9" on lens board with front mounted shutter for $535 (252708763262)

Kodak 405mm Portrait lens with flange for $900 (112223868748)

Wollensak Vitax No 5 on lens board with Packard shutter for $836 (252666929170)

Wollensak Verito 18" in Studio Shutter with flange for $588 (371801805215)

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Wow, nice prices. To think no one wants my Kodak 405 with flange and leather cap for $875.00 Go figure.

[russyoung]

That's hard for me to comprehend, Jim. As much as I like the Kodak 305mm, the 405mm has, in my eye, an even finer bokeh. I've used it as much on 5x7 as 8x10. If I could have only one soft focus lens, it would be the Kodak 405, beyond any doubt.

A point of curiosity: mine has a Kodak marked velvet lined aluminum lens cap. Would you please tell me about the leather cap on yours? I wonder if it has to do with the year of manufacture? Any thoughts?

Russ

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Russ, mine had no cap so I made the leather lens cap myself. The lens has some wipe marks and look like it is maybe missing an Iris blade but still make a beautiful round iris when closed down. I love the lens as well and agree with you. I have them both. Still I have a 16"-18" Graf variable that I love more than the Kodak 405 so hence I was going to let it go. Maybe not now as no one seems to realize what a value this is.

[russyoung]

Russ, mine had no cap so I made the leather lens cap myself. Ah, thank you for the clarification - you really had me puzzled! I have the large Graf as well but never seem to have gotten the hang of it. Any hints? I've read and re-read the original instructions but maybe I'm too dense.
Russ

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Russ, like all lenses you have to find the sweet spot. I use mine on the Century 8A and shoot x-ray film. Cheap way to find the sweet spot. Works with any lens but especially well with a lens that has infinite adjustments.

[goamules]

It seems to be going back to a buyers market again, after several years of being a sellers.... Some real deals recently.

[Amedeus]

It seems to be going back to a buyers market again, after several years of being a sellers.... Some real deals recently.

Yep, some great deals recently.

One from today ... poorly labeled Universal-Heliar for $962 ... focal length not listed but most likely 300 or 360mm ... I for one forgot to wake up ... 252724135330 ... came with some other bits and pieces

As for Kodak 405mm Portrait lenses ... great soft focus lens indeed ... few more from recent sales:

Kodak 405mm Portrait lens, no flange, sold for $774 (BIN, 192037926880)

Kodak 405mm Portrait lens, nice custom mounted job on a Sinar board for $1,080 (BIN, 371829798405)

[Steven Tribe]

The Universal was a coated post war Western Germany product with a front mounted shutter. I get the feeling that this is less than 300mm. The bidders must asked and got the answer as to the focal length, which reduced bidding, perhaps. Good photos and awful text!

[goamules]

I have a Kodak 405 that for some reason I've never shot. It's in fine condition with both lens caps. Makes a good door stop, but I need to get it going one day.

[brandon13]

Dallmeyer 3B $1072 BIN. Really nice complete great glass with a tiny bit of front pair separation. With a complete set of water house stops. I would have been the buyer but the seller in Europe would not ship to the US. Sold in about an hour or so. # 172501828073

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Dallmeyer 3B $1072 BIN. Really nice complete great glass with a tiny bit of front pair separation. With a complete set of water house stops. I would have been the buyer but the seller in Europe would not ship to the US. Sold in about an hour or so. # 172501828073

why not ask me, I would be willing to relay!

[brandon13]

why not ask me, I would be willing to relay!

Next time i will Doctor. Next time i will for sure.

[Steven Tribe]

Next time i will Doctor. Next time i will for sure.

Posting to a third party is not possible 'cos of ebay/paypal rules about registered addresses. Can be done, of course, if the seller agrees, but if something goes wrong (postal loss or damage) the seller/buyer has problems!

The Dallmeyer full plate 12.5" came up again due to non-paying winning bidder. 20179955944 431.33 gbp. Still a good price.

Dallmeyer 3D - quite nice - 222390680700. Rear adjustment and quite late. 468.88 gbp.

[Emil Schildt]

Boyer 210 F4.5 Opale

First one I have ever seen for sale... didn't get it.. :(

440£

322411687124

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Posting to a third party is not possible 'cos of ebay/paypal rules about registered addresses. Can be done, of course, if the seller agrees, but if something goes wrong (postal loss or damage) the seller/buyer has problems!

The Dallmeyer full plate 12.5" came up again due to non-paying winning bidder. 20179955944 431.33 gbp. Still a good price.

Dallmeyer 3D - quite nice - 222390680700. Rear adjustment and quite late. 468.88 gbp.

Never had problems when I shipped to my family in the US and to other locations.
When Paypal gets a "package received" note from the mail tracking system, all is fine.

[Steven Tribe]

SAS auction to-day. Just a single item.


T,T&H Cooke series 2a, f3.5 with 9.5" focal length. Spotty brass finish, but otherwise clean but without flange.

890 usd including auctioneer's 18 %.

Generally, the auction showed a continued decline in lots for the large format fraternity!

[Tin Can]

SAS auction to-day. Just a single item.


T,T&H Cooke series 2a, f3.5 with 9.5" focal length. Spotty brass finish, but otherwise clean but without flange.

890 usd including auctioneer's 18 %.

Generally, the auction showed a continued decline in lots for the large format fraternity!

Do you mean a decline in selling price or a decline in total items offered?

[Steven Tribe]

Number of pictorial large format lots.

It was the knuckler version.

And the buyer didn't waste any time. So a new result soon, perhaps!

[brandon13]

Cooke 18 inch 5.6 series Vi 15x12 inch in amazing shape with incredibly clean glass (no joke glass is clearer than any of my older lenses) bought by me a week ago from a very reputable, knowledgeable, and fair pricing seller. Bought on this forum in the For Sale posts. $1299.00 Focal length is actually a wee bit longer.

[GlobalMic]

I had exactly the same thought. I hope to see it uploaded to cameraecentric or somewhere soon

[Amedeus]

Cooke 18 inch 5.6 series Vi 15x12 inch in amazing shape with incredibly clean glass (no joke glass is clearer than any of my older lenses) bought by me a week ago from a very reputable, knowledgeable, and fair pricing seller. Bought on this forum in the For Sale posts. $1299.00 Focal length is actually a wee bit longer.

Congrats Brandon ... I was too slow on the trigger ... marvelous lens and I'm sure you'll have great use for it !

[Steven Tribe]

A sale of a standard, very very clean glass, Dallmeyer 3B in unusual circumstances.

It was sold on an 18x24 cm German Gorlitzer type studio camera on an exceptional nice finish, fully adjustable, studio tripod. And a complete set of plate holders and a couple of extra lenses (large Suter Aplanat and a big F7.7 Goetz Dagor, camera drape etc. etc.). It also had a well functioning internal shutter made by NORKA which is a delightful cross between the Grundner and Guerry shutter.

It was auctioned in the market town in Denmark - the same town as the original Studio Photographer owner. He was active from around 1920 to the late War period. Unusually, his glass plates and his records have been deposited in the local archive. They fill almost 10 square meters. I don't think he ever used the soft focus possibility as the rear adjustment was completely locked.

The 3B must have been most of the winning bid of 1,580 usd.

The, rather good, auction photos can be viewed here.


http://www.lauritz.com/Item/ItemImage/ItemImagePage.aspx?LanguageId=1&ItemId=4593634&ImageNo=1&ImageCount=20

[Amedeus]

Somewhat recent sales:

Universal Heliar, 360mm, f4.5 on lens board for $1,700 (282371931212)

Dallmeyer 5D with flange, few small dings on glass for $1,376 (162413388910)

Universal Heliar, 360mm, f4.5, coated version for $1,949 (BIN, 222425980387)

Wollensak Vitax #3 in Studio #5 Shutter for $2,250 (BIN, 172511110963)

Wollensak Verito 18", f4 with flange for $999 (BIN, 272571477051)

Pinkham & Smith Lens element for Synthetic Series V, No 3 for $599 (BIN, 132127669320)

[Emil Schildt]

someone got lucky...

Oscar Zwierzina Kunst Portrait Objektiv Plasticca 300mm F4

$840

162428655626

[Steven Tribe]

And another Dallmeyer Patent lens. But not so common.

The 5" Patent Stereoscopic. Just about OK for LF as regards using the front achromat alone for 5x7". Don't know the F value of these.

262892340848. 430usd.

[Steven Tribe]

Breker auction to-day.
Quite a wide range, only 5 pictorial lenses. In general, lenses did not approach the Breker estimates and there were lots of "passed" lots. Breker stuck to their starting prices, except when there was a room offer slightly lower.

there were many mixed lots this time, mostly with incomplete lens with as many as 78 in total. These lots went well above the Breker estimate! I was very doubtful about some of Breker's estimates of focal length of Petzvals. I wish the no.2 Ross Cabinet did have a focal length of 30cm.

Prices are converted from Euros, with the approx. 23% fee added on.

Hermagis Eidoscope: the amateur version F.4.7 150mm mounted in an Ibsor and on a folding 9x12 camera.
535 usd.

Dallmeyer 4D . 930 usd.

Dallmeyer Bergheim no. 2. 1620 usd.

2 caskets from TTH, both including the Rapid View lens.

1/2 plate set. 162 usd.

full plate set (?) and thought incomplete.. 910 usd. So the RV has been discovered by at least two people as an alternative to the RVP!

[Mark Sawyer]

So the RV has been discovered by at least two people as an alternative to the RVP!

I'd guess you're right Steven! There's always been funny pricing on these, the RV usually goes for quite a bit less than the RVP, which in turn usually goes for quite a bit less than the Cooke Achromatic Portrait, even though all three are the very same lens. The RV doesn't open quite as wide as the others, but the wise user knows to simply unscrew the aperture mechanism completely, giving the RV the same maximum aperture as the others. I have two Cooke casket sets with RV's, one in a standard barrel, and one in a very short barrel made to fit into an aperture mechanism that extends it to full length. Using that version with only the short barrel greatly increases coverage, although the corners are very soft. It appears Cooke made quite a few variations of their casket sets...

Garrett has a good thread on them here:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?94655-Rapid-View-Portrait-(RVP)-Pictorial-lens

[8x10 user]

Whomever purchased lot Lot # 0523 - Large Lot of Lenses (for Restoration and Spare Parts)

Please send me a PM when you get the items.

I am looking for a front aperture for a Dallmeyer Bergheim (the 12-20" model).

[Steven Tribe]

Bidding on these mixed large lots is really only for floor bidders who can ensure the part they need is really there amongst the scrap brass! I won the Hermagis (12" long, 4" lens) Convertible, which, according to the description and email response, should have the front achromat!

I suppose you all saw the forged "J.Voightlander" with a low serial number? Serial number in the wrong position, Name initial wrong, no "& Sohn" or "Wien"!

[8x10 user]

I got the small casket set and the Bergheim no 2, both seem like a good price to me :)

I took these with the 12-20" version.

[Steven Tribe]

Yes, that was a very good price for the very clean set. I picked mine up as a loose (but complete) casket-less set some years ago from Australia! The RV's came after Hermagis, so I had already used my self imposed quota for March. I have got into the objectif d'artiste and Eidoscope, so too late to start the other alternative.

And yes, pictorial lenses are very good outdoors as you show us!

I forgot there was also a boxed Imagon 250mm set which went for very little. Breker have a policy of the hammer price being unavailable a few hours after the end of the auction, so I can no longer confirm that is was around 150€! LATER: This was the starting bid, but I can see it was passed.

Lot 472 was interesting/challenging. It was a large Vallantin petzval. Dated by Breker to 1858. It had an apparently later (after Dallmeyer's patent date!) WHS cut out and the I to IIII groves on the outer rear ring, like the Dallmeyer patent. Described by Breker as a soft adjustment lens. There is no join in the rear lens cell so unscrewing will take out the whole double lens assembly.

Ebay 322454306066. Cooke series VI 15.5" "as new" but minus flange. Post WW2, so coated. 2000€.

Added 10 April:
Dallmeyer 3D, later design, very good with original card case - but no flange. A recent sale record at 1907 usd. 262905941037.

[angusparker]

Jan 12, 2017: Port-Land 11.5" 5.6 w/ Pentax 67 adaptor for $1,000.00. Lens in very good condition given age, iris very smooth.
182330997962

[Amedeus]

Antique Bausch & Lomb Optical Co Camera Lens 15 In. E. F. Plastigmat Portrait with missing iris and front lens for $212.5 (391742088590)

Portrait Art Plasticca brass vintage lens 3.5/450mm #18712 for $1599 (BOBIN, 401010807398)

Some older sales:

Very nice looking TT&H Cooke 10.5 Inch f4.5 Series II for $1598 (BIN, 122305423242)

Nice looking 15" F/5.6 Spencer Portland soft focus for $1800 (BIN, 142334549624)

PORT-LAND 9'" SOFT FOCUS F 4.5 for $919 (292067046621)

Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 15 1/2 F4.5 Soft Focus on Deardorff lensboard in Studio Shutter for $550 (182506093050)

Dallmeyer London 6D #46359 Brass Lens, no flange, for $4,970 (BIN, 401299036838)

Cooke 12.1 Inch f3.5 Series II.A Brass Portrait Lens for $1,780 (BIN, 351892043827)

VOIGTLANDER UNIVERSAL-HELIAR 1:4.5 / 42 CM for $3,220 (112304465630)

wollensak vitax #1 petzval lens in studio shutter for $998 (132094655192)

Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 12" F4.5 8x10 Variable Soft Focus Lens with few dings for $199 (302207800661)

[pierre506]

Grad Variable Anastigmat f4.5-5.6 8.5-9.5in
112367960855
USD 309.88

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[Mark Sawyer]

I picked up a cute little oddity on ebay, a 7-inch Velostigmat Series II with the diffusion adjustment. Wollensak advertised that only the 9.5-inch and longer Velostigmats were available with the fuzz-ulator dial, but this is the second I've seen in a shorter version (in more than ten years), so they must have made a few shorter ones. $183.50 +$7.35 s&h, (311851182117).

I also noticed a Velner Soft Focus Lens Ser.I No.3 F=9in f4.5, which I've never heard of before. Possibly a rebadged Velostigmat Series II or Ilex Paragon Series A? Mounted in an older Copal 3, $224.50 + $30 s%h, (182542977381).

[goamules]

That Velo will be cool. It seems hard to official soft focus lenses for anything small.

[Steven Tribe]

There are also the 6" f.4.5 Spencer Port-Lands!

Ebay 332206933278. A later Dallmeyer 1B with the original rear adjustment system. The aluminium version with an iris in the Waterhouse stop position. Attractive with an early teletube attached. Perhaps a record price for a CdV petzval? A very "Chic" lister whose info. is fairly reliable!

1580usd.

[Steven Tribe]

Ebay 332227719188. Dallmeyer 5D.

Another one from the "Chic/apple" lister! Black/aluminium/front turn adjustment.

Clean, but seized front adjustment, no flange. 1824 usd.

One of few listers at the moment who believes in open bidding rather than (unrealistic?) BIN or starting price.

[pierre506]

165578

Wollensak Verito 5in f6
RMB 400
Pity, slipped.

[Emil Schildt]

ILEX PARAGON ANASTIGMAT 12 INCH, 305MM F 4.5 SERIES A Soft Focus

sold here

350$

Kodak 12" (305mm) f4.8 Portrait Lens in Ilex #5 Shutter - $650

also sold here

[angusparker]

Fujinon SF 420/5.6 - LFPF sale - very good condition, with both yellow dot and red dot discs and Shanel A shutter in good working condition. $1,100.

[Mark Sawyer]

I just bought on this one, ebay 142405656749, an 18-inch Cooke Achromatic Portrait Lens, for $1500. Don't really know if I overpaid or underpaid, (there's only a single 12-inch at $800 on the database generated from this thread), but I've always wanted one, and it will push me back onto film this summer.

[Emil Schildt]

item number doesnt match anything... But I'll take it on your word - congrats - I think it will be awesome





I just bought on this one, ebay 142405656749, an 18-inch Cooke Achromatic Portrait Lens, for $1500. Don't really know if I overpaid or underpaid, (there's only a single 12-inch at $800 on the database generated from this thread), but I've always wanted one, and it will push me back onto film this summer.

[Mark Sawyer]

item number doesnt match anything... But I'll take it on your word - congrats - I think it will be awesome

Very odd.... I found it when I checked my purchase history, but out of curiosity, I signed out from my ebay account and afterwards couldn't find it in a search for completed sales. I wonder if it's just in transition, or somehow deleted? Anyways, here's a screenshot with the seller id removed:

[Steven Tribe]

Odd!

I tried to find it, through item no. and title search, almost as soon as you mentioned it. No luck, so I didn't post my comments.

CHecking Lens VM, it says that the 18" is for 8x10", but it must surely cover more. I havn't checked the qualities of my puny 8.72" RV compared with "ordinary" similar meniscus lenses yet, so I can't comment on the intrinsic value. But in terms of current opinion and the absolute demand for this lens, it must be called a "fair" price!

I have the Dallmeyer equivalent 18" meniscus and even a 30" Wray one, but these were never sold as other than a Landscape lens!

[Mark Sawyer]

Very odd, Steven... I did searches for several of my recent purchases, and though I could reach the listings through my Purchase History, there was no trace of the listings when I did searches for the item number or key words in the Completed or Sold search. I wonder if eBay is changing the accessibility of sold listings...

Knowing meniscuses, I'm sure the RV/RVP/CAPL of this focal length would illuminate 20x24-inches and then some if you removed that long barrel. But the edges go soft quickly, and 8x10 is probably about the limits for conventional "acceptable sharpness", even with a soft lens. I'll be very curious to match it against some old Landscape Lenses. I have a Puech, a Grubb, a Waterbury, and a Darlot from the pre-Pictorialist era, and a few Pictorialist and post-Pictorialist doublets as well. The original RV was the bridge between the first two generations of meniscus doublets, and I've wondered if there's really much of a difference. (I'd bet that 18-inch Dallmeyer of yours is spectacular!)

[Amedeus]

I just bought on this one, ebay 142405656749, an 18-inch Cooke Achromatic Portrait Lens, for $1500. Don't really know if I overpaid or underpaid, (there's only a single 12-inch at $800 on the database generated from this thread), but I've always wanted one, and it will push me back onto film this summer.

Congrats Mark, that is one beautiful lens ! Good price also ...

Ebay is indeed experimenting again with completed sales and it's more and more difficult to keep track of real price paid ... sigh.

Rudi

[Steven Tribe]

Dallmeyer 4B. First model, missing the pinion and flange. But also missing the complete rear twin cell!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dallmeyer-4B-vintage-portrait-lens-Big-For-pieces-or-repair-/311757691233?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=OUFOxLwFVUM6OqJ9xv16WZIcCqI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Has been listed a few times. It looks like it has sold for $1750, but perhaps the "completion" is just a withdrawn item which has been sold privately?

[Amedeus]

Dallmeyer 4B. First model, missing the pinion and flange. But also missing the complete rear twin cell!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dallmeyer-4B-vintage-portrait-lens-Big-For-pieces-or-repair-/311757691233?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=OUFOxLwFVUM6OqJ9xv16WZIcCqI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

Has been listed a few times. It looks like it has sold for $1750, but perhaps the "completion" is just a withdrawn item which has been sold privately?

Hmmm ... "listing has ended" ... no indication it sold which is typically the language used ... would be an expensive front end ;-)

Rudi A

[Mark Sawyer]

That 4B's serial number was 21669, for future reference. As the only 4B listed in the table associated with this list sold for $4388, I'd fear someone may reverse-engineer new elements and re-sell it.

[Steven Tribe]

A notable first recording, I think, of the Derogy version of the de Pulligny objectif d'Artiste. Seems to have a simplified (Read, "understandable"!) method of use. This is the 5x7" (full plate) 30cm version.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DEROGY-objectif-de-Pulligny-soft-focus-f8-300mm-brass-no-petzval-lens-wet-plate-/222521450992?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&nma=true&si=OUFOxLwFVUM6OqJ9xv16WZIcCqI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

A very attractive version in good condition. 841 usd.

[goamules]

That 4B's serial number was 21669, for future reference. As the only 4B listed in the table associated with this list sold for $4388, I'd fear someone may reverse-engineer new elements and re-sell it.

What, like this one? 152584373724 At least he's "honest" about it not being the right barrel. Not sure how he can honestly say it's Dallmeyer glass. Where's the proof, his word?!

[Mark Sawyer]

I tend to avoid a Frankenstein lens like that, although I have one myself that works beautifully, a set of Spencer Projection Petzval elements that fit perfectly into a Columbia Portrait Lens (Wollensak Vesta) barrel that was missing a rear element and the others were scratched up. The spacing is off by just the right amount to introduce very nice spherical aberration for soft focus. :) So you never know.

Perhaps someone who knows Dallmeyer well could recognize the element housings. I see four distinctive notches in the back element housing which may be identifiable, and perhaps the front is too. And the spacing could be measured against a known Dallmeyer. But the owner would always know he's got an odd jumble of parts. People used to put Ferrari and Ford GT40 bodies on VW Beetle pans; this is like putting a Ford Model T body on a Porsche pan...

BTW, that incomplete 4B is back up for sale.

[Steven Tribe]

The notches look OK, but I would like to see more of the rear elements to make a judgement. They can easily be made with a round file. The cells must come from an old style model with Waterhouse stops, so I can't imagine what could lead to the barrel being "given up". The later design included an iris which could be unrepairable. The loose cells of a 3B I once found were from this second model.

[Spikon]

This is soft focus,
Spikon Sweden

[Spikon]

Homemade meniscus f:360,

Spikon,
Sweden166202

[tripod]

Sold http://www.ebay.com/itm/332224976319?ssPageName=STRK:MESOX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1559.l2649

[lucaas]

Dallmeyer Mutac 9 inch, without flange, €390
332272761431

[Steven Tribe]

We definitely have a problem with the real sale price of listed items which use the "BIN or best offer" method. When a purchase has been made, the item is listed as sold with the original BIN price given. I have recently bought a little gem (Not a gem lens, though!) through "Best offer" which was accepted. There is no sign this was a "Best offer" and the original BIN price is still there in the completed listing? There was almost a 20% reduction on the BIN price.

Later:
A BIN reduced to "best offer" can still be identified by looking at the seller's feedback list, but still without the actual price.

[brandon13]

There are often 30-40% or more reductions on BIN auctions. Of course there are also a few less than scrupulous on this forum who post things less than accurate to help their sales on the auction site.

[Jody_S]

There are often 30-40% or more reductions on BIN auctions.

Sounds about right for most BINs. I have rarely accepted an offer, or had someone else accept my offer, of a greater than about 35% reduction. Camera stores and professional dealers seem to top out closer to about 15%, some occasional sellers might go down 50%.

[Steven Tribe]

T,T & H. Cooke Achromatic Portrait (rebranding of RV and RVP). Full Plate and EFL 15.2". 122567833156.

With extension tube for small format! Iris OK but hard to evaluate lens. Less than average "finish". Perfect item title, which helped!

1058 usd.

[Amedeus]

T,T & H. Cooke Achromatic Portrait (rebranding of RV and RVP). Full Plate and EFL 15.2". 122567833156.

With extension tube for small format! Iris OK but hard to evaluate lens. Less than average "finish". Perfect item title, which helped!

1058 usd.

I picked that one up. Owner told me she received quite a few requests to sell the lens for few hundred and end the auction. Finish is indeed less than average but I always wanted to shoot with the lens after seeing the RV and RVP images of some of our members here.

Rudi A.

[Steven Tribe]

I am afraid the "pestering" of listers is a common problem! I was in correspondence with a lister of a Hermagis Convertible very recently (about serial number data and focal length). A perfect listing but still lots of persistant "take it off your hands now" brigade. This was probably because this was just number 2 listing by the person, but fortunately her husband had a lot more sales under his belt.

I can't remember seeing the Achromatic on the bay before.

[Mark Sawyer]

I picked that one up. Owner told me she received quite a few requests to sell the lens for few hundred and end the auction.

Congrats, Rudi! It should be a fine using lens, and may clean up nicer than you'd hope.

Steven is right; I've had sellers make the same comment to me regarding lenses I've bought recently, (including the 18-inch version of your new lens which I mentioned here just a couple of pages back). One of the problems with sniping is that with no bids until the closing seconds, the seller may think they've priced the lens too high and be more open to sell low to one of the "sharks". There are people, including at least one member here, who'll convince them a very expensive lens is worth very little, but they'll "take it off their hands" for a fraction of its worth. When I see a lens I'm interested in, I put in an early bid so the seller is less likely to cave to a cheap "buy it now" offer, or even send them a message asking them to let the auction run its course.

[Steven Tribe]

............When I see a lens I'm interested in, I put in an early bid so the seller is less likely to cave to a cheap "buy it now" offer, or even send them a message asking them to let the auction run its course.

I did, in fact, make the first bid on the Hermagis I mentioned. There were just 2 days left and just hours later a bidding war started between two with the starting price tripling in just a day. They both lost to a third sniper at the end.

I don't think this can be considered to be interferring with market forces, although I had no intention of following my bid up. I had previous correspondence with the lister(s) and they were very helpful (As Mr. T would say "nice, nice people"), but there was no collusion.

[online]

There are often 30-40% or more reductions on BIN auctions.

[Steven Tribe]

Things still sell on auctions as opposed to BIN!

An elite lister sold a Koristka Small ARS - with a 6" lens for 4x5 + coverage - for 1159 usd. At least 7 bidders. 272764818492.

Plenty about this elusive series of ARs's here. Emil Schildt has a couple, at least.

And sometimes, a successful sale attracts other items!

The spelling of Koristka is often incorrect, by the way.

[Emil Schildt]

Things still sell on auctions as opposed to BIN!

An elite lister sold a Koristka Small ARS - with a 6" lens for 4x5 + coverage - for 1159 usd. At least 7 bidders. 272764818492.

Plenty about this elusive series of ARs's here. Emil Schildt has a couple, at least.

And sometimes, a successful sale attracts other items!

The spelling of Koristka is often incorrect, by the way.

never owned an ARS... always wanted, but...

[Steven Tribe]

Didn't you have the use of one - or Am I getting it mixed up with the Plasticca clones?

[Mark Sawyer]

Didn't you have the use of one - or Am I getting it mixed up with the Plasticca clones?

You may be thinking of the Kronar/Kronarette?

[Emil Schildt]

You may be thinking of the Kronar/Kronarette?

bingo - I have both the plasticca - the Kronar and the Kronarette..

[Steven Tribe]

Another Koristka small ARS (as hinted at a few days ago). Fitted with the longer 210mm lens. BIN 253060319455. 1,316 usd. Very nice condition with original advert.

[massimodec]

I did, in fact, make the first bid on the Hermagis I mentioned. There were just 2 days left and just hours later a bidding war started between two with the starting price tripling in just a day. They both lost to a third sniper at the end.

I don't think this can be considered to be interferring with market forces, although I had no intention of following my bid up. I had previous correspondence with the lister(s) and they were very helpful (As Mr. T would say "nice, nice people"), but there was no collusion.

True. One kind of my sad experiences are those "normal auction" lenses, that are withdraw by the seller, since someone convinced him/her to accept an offer out of the auction.
Several times, I have seen lenses on which I was seriously intentioned to spend some money on, disappear out of a sudden, while a I was waiting to bid.

Other aspect is that several lenses rocket their prices too high, due to the easy spreading of information through the Internet... so the demand-offer ratio is enhancing the offer, and some prices are "inflated"

I see for example, many Universal Heliars on sale at too high prices (IMO) that stay there, unsold for years.

[Amedeus]

Some lens sales I've been keeping track off, some of them are a few months old but I don't believe they have been reported here.

DEROGY objectif de Pulligny soft focus f8 300mm brass for $885 (BIN, 222521450992)

Brass Dallmeyer Bergheim No.2 Soft Focus for $2,595 (BIN, 192205372306) ... I hesitated on this one and then it was gone ...

Not part of this thread but I'm tracking this one nevertheless ... Cooke Portrait Lens PS945 229 mm f/4.5 for 4x5 for $3,500 (172731147149)

18 Inch Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus for $799 (132242518219)

WOLLENSAK VERITO 8¾in F4 for $300 (BIN, 182644066984)

Taylor Hobson Cooke Series II Brass Portrait Lens 14 1/2" f4.5 for $2,100 (322579786324)

Vintage Wollensak #5 Brass Vitax Portrait Lens F-3 No. 4888 for $1,267 (382152674809)

[jp]

Vintage Wollensak #5 Brass Vitax Portrait Lens F-3 No. 4888 for $1,267 (382152674809)

This appears to have a universal iris clamp on it, which sweetens the value a bit for whoever got it.

[Mark Sawyer]

This appears to have a universal iris clamp on it, which sweetens the value a bit for whoever got it.

There's an iris clamp big enough for a 16-inch Vitax? I think I'd rather have a flange than trust such a front-heavy lens to a clamp!

[Steven Tribe]

Some pictorial/soft lens results from Breker auctions to-day!

The sold prices are without commission fees and in Euros. Ill do the conversion when I have some time on Sunday!I have done the conversion to usd. Note that the percentage to be added to the basic Euro price is 28.92 % which includes auction commission, internet platform fees and the VAT on this amount!

488. Dallmeyer 4B original style 2800€ (3771 usd)

493. Dallmeyer 3B turn front. 1100€ (1482 usd)

498. Cooke IIa F3.5 307mm. 1400€ (1886 usd)

541. De Pullingy Adjust. Landscape check tomorrow! ((1010 usd)

562. Rodenstock Monar (with no. 6 Busch Aplanat.) 400€ (538 usd)

569. Imagon set in box 250mm 160€. (216 usd)


I counted 48 unsold lots amongst the brass lenses on offer, which is a similar figure to the last auction. Anything with a known name was unrealistical high in starting price and estimated selling range. But the interest for things like triple achromats and actinic doublets is quite low! There were a lot of Voigtlander Petzvals which sold quite well. There was a studio group set of the rapid Busch Petzvals, sizes up to a big 400mm. No name" Petzvals found few buyers.

I consider it unprofessional of Breker to just have a single photograph of their lots. Room bidders are given an enormous advantage and it is impossible to judge condition - their grading system is not enough.

[studiochrom]

good prices. well, except the cooke maybe (wenn under market price in my opinion)...

didnt know the Monar was a soft focus lens(?) as far as i know its pure petzval design..?

the Hugo Meyer Goerlitz Schnellarbeiter (not Busch), were sold for solig prices. all went to one bidder (which i didnt know btw).

[Steven Tribe]

Sorry about the Meyer mistake! The Monar has called a soft lens before here but I know nothing about the construction.

I thought you might be reporting the Voigtlander Universal Heliar 36cm which went for £1,000 to-day. Will work out the usd price ( with fees) tomorrow. This was a saleroom/internet UK auction and this was the only photographic item. But it had been found by other bidders than yours truely!

Original box - but no flange!

[seven]

Quinn's Auction Galleries Central Virginia 26. Sep. 2017
P & S Visual Quality. Semi-achromatic; 13 inch (132334663535) = US $3.000,00 +20, 25 or 29% fees depending on bidding and payment
P & S Visual Quality. Series IV f4.5. No. 3. 14 inch (132334663177) = US $2.300,00 +20, 25 or 29% fees depending on bidding and payment

[Mark Sawyer]

Quinn's Auction Galleries Central Virginia 26. Sep. 2017...

That was quite an auction, but the lenses were very poorly described, the pricing was uncertain with those variable premiums, the "live auction" format was confusing, and shipping was "pick it up or hire an outside party to ship it". I ended up not bidding at all, though I had signed up.

I was especially curious about one item (132334663136), a CC Harrison "conical lens", (no further description given). It may have been a Landscape Lens in a conical housing, which I've seen somewhat similar examples of by other makers. Or it may have been a telescope eyepiece, judging from the closing device which were common to protect the eyepiece lens on a telescope from the elements, (see second picture). Anyone have a clue?

[anachromatic]

That was quite an auction, but the lenses were very poorly described, the pricing was uncertain with those variable premiums, the "live auction" format was confusing, and shipping was "pick it up or hire an outside party to ship it". I ended up not bidding at all, though I had signed up.

I was especially curious about one item (132334663136), a CC Harrison "conical lens", (no further description given). It may have been a Landscape Lens in a conical housing, which I've seen somewhat similar examples of by other makers. Or it may have been a telescope eyepiece, judging from the closing device which were common to protect the eyepiece lens on a telescope from the elements, (see second picture). Anyone have a clue?

Shape like british and french landscape lenses but this one it's a french made landscape lens.
Botton a ferrotype of mine branded by Richebourg.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/924/iENBdp.jpg (https://imageshack.com/i/poiENBdpj)

[Mark Sawyer]

So similar that I'll go with it being a landscape lens. Thank you, anachromatic!

[Steven Tribe]

Definitely, a landscape meniscus. Telescopes have push-in, rather than "swing" plates.

And the flange ring with reduced diameter of the concealed flange thread is just like every other photographic lens.

Finally, no telescope manufacturer has ever engraved this part.

[Steven Tribe]

Eidoscope of the amateur variety!

Hermagis set of lenses making a 150mm Eidoscope in the original casket. No included shutter like the Busch Unicum set. About 1925, so perhaps for a dial Compur? Havn't seen this set before. The normal 150mm is described as being OK for 6x9cm, whilst the casket set talks about up to 9x12cm!

Ebay 132334508928. 709 usd.

[Amedeus]

Eidoscope of the amateur variety!

Hermagis set of lenses making a 150mm Eidoscope in the original casket. No included shutter like the Busch Unicum set. About 1925, so perhaps for a dial Compur? Havn't seen this set before. The normal 150mm is described as being OK for 6x9cm, whilst the casket set talks about up to 9x12cm!

Ebay 132334508928. 709 usd.


Hi Steven,

I have one of those 150mm Hermagis Eidoscope casket setx and I mounted mine in a Compur shutter that came with a Carl Zeiss 150mm f4.5 Tessar lens. Perfect fit. Using this to shoot on MF digital. I'm more comfortable with the 6x9cm spec ... 9x12cm is a vignetting stretch ...

Rudi A.

[Amedeus]

Quinn's Auction Galleries Central Virginia 26. Sep. 2017
P & S Visual Quality. Semi-achromatic; 13 inch (132334663535) = US $3.000,00 +20, 25 or 29% fees depending on bidding and payment
P & S Visual Quality. Series IV f4.5. No. 3. 14 inch (132334663177) = US $2.300,00 +20, 25 or 29% fees depending on bidding and payment

There was another P&S lens but mistakenly labeled Wollensak because of the #3 Studio Shutter .. the P&S lens is actually a Series II, #2 ...

Wollensak P&S Visual Quality No. 3 Studio Lens Lot 182 (132334663334) ... also US $2,300 +20, 25, 29% fees depending on bidding and payment as you noted. For completeness and to remove confusion around the poor title, this is a Pinkham&Smith, Visual Quality, Series IV, No 2 lens with extremely clean glass.

The brass Visual Quality (with iris, no shutter), Series IV f4.5, No 3 had dirty glass FWIW.

Rudi A.

[Steven Tribe]

Dallmeyer 2A - not a common size - especialy in the aluminium "turn the barrel"
Iris described as well functioning (in French) but nothing about softness adjustment. Loss of black finish, but with the flange.

132348678590 614.91 usd

[Steven Tribe]

The Flint's auction today was mostly about complete wood and brass 1/4 to 1/1 plate cameras with lenses. There was a single soft focus lens on one of the more non orignal full plate cameras.

Lot 373 Dallmeyer 3D £380 plus 20% fee.

[Darren Kruger]

Kalosat IB with original box but without flange.

BIN at $3000 USD. Item 292324365334

[Amedeus]

Kalosat IB with original box but without flange.

BIN at $3000 USD. Item 292324365334

I believe this closed at $2400 Best Offer unless you paid $3k for it. Ebay is has become almost good at hiding the Best Offer pricing, there's still one bug imho that reveals the actual transaction amount.

Rudi A.

[Amedeus]

While I'm at it ...

Pinkham Smith P&S Visual Quality No. 2 Series IV Lens for $2,182 serial #2858, a late lens in this series (BOBIN, 263295553088)

Soft Focus Brass Lens 400mm F/4 Oscar Zwierzina Plasticca Kunst Portrait for $1,150 (BIN, 122314504117)

305mm F3.5 Taylor Hobson TTH Cooke Series IIA Brass Portrait Lens w Soft Focus for $3,000 (BOBIN, 201655916914)

Taylor-Hobson Cook 15" F4/.5 Anastigmat Brass Portrait Lens for $3,251 (202095607980) ... This lens was sold before for $2,125 and resold by same seller. Note: a very similar lens was available as a BIN for $1,900 and disappeared after this listing.

Wollensak Verito 9" inch f/4 Diffused Focus Lens for $285 (352193095342)

Brass Portrait Hawkeye Diffusing Focus f-4 Series A 5x8 No.1 for $371 (142547015527)

Kodak Portrait Lens 305mm (12 inch) F4.8 in #5 Shutter for $450 (332414802816)

Kodak Portrait Ektar 16" 405mm f/4.5 for $1,212 (322820486902)

Hermagis Eidoscope NO.2 F/5 for $979 (112593775645)

13” 330mm F4.5 Taylor Hobson Cooke Series II for $1,400 (BOBIN, 201655916913) ... Rear soft focus adjustment per seller, no provision to move the middle element through the usual design.

Hermagis 1:4.5 №2 Eidoscope 375mm for $2,700 (131555990858)

Taylor-Hobson Cook 15" F4/.5 Anastigmat Brass Portrait Lens for $2,125 (202064348111). Deal didn't go through and lens was resold on the auction site for significantly more money ...

ANASTIGMAT LABOR 4,5/250mm O.I.P GAND - SOFT FOCUS for $1,108. This Belgian lens from the 1930's has the same design as Universal Heliar. (BIN, 122176574465)

[Darren Kruger]

I believe this closed at $2400 Best Offer unless you paid $3k for it. Ebay is has become almost good at hiding the Best Offer pricing, there's still one bug imho that reveals the actual transaction amount.

I was not the winner. I am not surprised that ebay has done what it can to hide the true sell value. Thanks for the update.

-Darren

[Steven Tribe]

Some more "front turn" Dallmeyers.

3D aluminium with black finish (somewhat "finished"!). Ebay 30253554708. Warning about seized soft control. 400 usd.

1A plain aluminium. Attractive. The flange thread (flange missing) is halfway up the barrel, so goodness knows how the "turn the barrel"system works. Edinburgh auction to- day. 763 usd (including fees).

2A brass "turn the barrel". The lot following on from the 1A. Attractive. Described as a ZA patent! 1044 usd.

The auctioneers in Edinburgh were obvious way out of their comfort zone. I am sure they have overloaded by people asking for better desciption of the lenses and explaining how to check the iris (another problem area with these!) and whether the barrel turns as it should. They had a nice selection of tropical cameras in the auction, but only a single photo of each lot (All cameras were closed!) nothing about condition.

[Amedeus]

The Monar is a pure Petzval design, not a soft focus design as we understand it. Yes, it has been called a soft focus design on this thread and we're guilty of propagating the myth ;-)

Cheers,


good prices. well, except the cooke maybe (wenn under market price in my opinion)...

didnt know the Monar was a soft focus lens(?) as far as i know its pure petzval design..?

the Hugo Meyer Goerlitz Schnellarbeiter (not Busch), were sold for solig prices. all went to one bidder (which i didnt know btw).

[pjd]

550mm f4 Simon Kronar, 332657466890 - $1,081.00. Lens complete with barrel and flange in good condition. The seller replied to a question I asked saying "the back glass has a little magnification. Definitely it is not a filter". I'm sharing that because there's not much information online about the optical design of the Kronar.

[Emil Schildt]

550mm f4 Simon Kronar, 332657466890 - $1,081.00. Lens complete with barrel and flange in good condition. The seller replied to a question I asked saying "the back glass has a little magnification. Definitely it is not a filter". I'm sharing that because there's not much information online about the optical design of the Kronar.

I don't know much of the lens design, but the results will be crazy.. :)

I have the 300mm F4..

[Tin Can]

Gundlach Manhattan Opt. Co. Achromatic Meniscus Portrait Lens f:6 18"

eBay $1625

[dap]

Gundlach Manhattan Opt. Co. Achromatic Meniscus Portrait Lens f:6 18"

eBay $1625

The price of this lens might not be indicative of a standard lens of this type. The barrel was engraved with “P&S Boston, Mass” (I assume this was a standard Gundlach lens that was distributed by the Pinkham and Smith company). My guess is that if it did not have the P$S engraving the final price would have been lower.

[Steven Tribe]

Still down in the doldrums as far as both supply and demand are concerned.

On the 13th, two larger sizes of the Cooke triplet (IIA and IIE) were auctioned in North Yorkshire along with a plateholderless Century Studio set.

£1650 for the complete lot (plus approx. 24% com.).
Condition and functionality unknow. No apparent "fall from a great height" type of damage.
Early IIA F.3.5, 12.5". Late IIE just pre- coating, I think. F.4.5. 15".

[Emil Schildt]

been looking for this for years... so I snapped and made an offer..

Boyer "Opale" 300 F4.5 looking bad (glass looks good though)

€700

eBay item number:223051821966

[pjd]

Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality series IV no 4, $800 BIN. SN 2660. Studio shutter no. 5, decent sized scratch on the back element and a lot of free dust. 153111689491. I'm not the buyer.

[Jim Galli]

I'm not the buyer.

Dang! Wish I WAS!!

[andrewch59]

I just sold my Cooke series IIA 15inch f3.5 for au$5800

[Emil Schildt]

I just sold my Cooke series IIA 15inch f3.5 for au$5800

dang... I paied about $200 for mine... :D

[Amedeus]

Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality series IV no 4, $800 BIN. SN 2660. Studio shutter no. 5, decent sized scratch on the back element and a lot of free dust. 153111689491. I'm not the buyer.

I know the buyer and he actually paid $450 ... even with the scratch, major steal.

Cheers,

[seven]

this thread is slowly dying :(

Cooke IIE 15"/4.5 (332733341688) 2484EUR (2900USD)

[Amedeus]

Ebay makes it currently very difficult to retrieve finished auction information through search ... hit and miss nowadays ...




this thread is slowly dying :(

Cooke IIE 15"/4.5 (332733341688) 2484EUR (2900USD)

[pjd]

Does anyone know more about what this lens was, 253816534003, 16" B&L portrait lens - f4, looks like a factory mount in a Wollensak studio shutter (no. 5?). Sold for $501.00 (auction, not BIN), damaged aperture blades, maybe one blade missing. I'm not actually sure if it was a soft focus lens, but this thread seems the right place to ask. I didn't buy it, before anyone asks.

[Mark Sawyer]

Looks like a B&L Sigmar, a fairly fast triplet. It was advertised as somewhere between soft and "wiry sharp".

[pjd]

Looks like a B&L Sigmar, a fairly fast triplet. It was advertised as somewhere between soft and "wiry sharp".

Thanks Mark, a quick search for Sigmar lenses does show a striking similarity.

[jp]

Here's my Sigmar for comparison. The major difference is that the ebay one does not say Sigmar or it is obscured. Maybe it says what it is. The knurling around the front metal is similar and that varies among similar vintage B&L lenses. The inner front ring is also stepped in in the ebay picture at an angle, but mine is atleast 85 degree, making it a much thinner ring thickness than the ebay auction. Look for the old catalogs online; forgot where to find them.

181944

If it is a triplet of some sort, it will be a fun lens.

[Amedeus]

Cooke IIA, 12.5", f3.5, very early model with push/pull SF adjustment for $2,600 (BIN, 332777264603)


Cheers,

[Amedeus]

Wollensak Verito 9" for $395 (BIN, 382225487580)

Pinkham & Smith 15" f4.5 Semi Achromatic Doublet Soft Focus, serial #1382, Series III for $5,500 (CA sales tax ... ) This is a Burke&James rehoused P&S ... glass in great condition. (173585987411)

Dallmeyer 3A for $2,495 (BIN, 192696331977)

Nicola Perscheid, 360mm lens for $2,800 (BIN, 202244394173)

Cooke, Series VI, knuckler, 13" f5.6 for $1,830 (38256712324)

Cooke, Series II, 10.5", f4.5, no knuckler for $1,014 (223130991471)

Cooke, Series VI, 19" f5.6, no knuckler for $2,000 (BIN, 292725659925)

Kodak Portrait lens, 305 in Ilex #5 shutter for $1,014 (BIN, 12331744261)

Cheers,

[Steven Tribe]

Eddie had a T,T&H RV meniscus 12.5" F11. He didn't say it was the RV (rapid view).
In an auction it made 700 USD and this shows how rare the slightly faster RVPs must be!

LATER:

This sale has apparently lead to a large quantity of similar listings - which I will post about when the time comes!

He also sold a unique Thomas Slater lens as another item. I know of no Slater lens other than the achromat lens that he made for the enormous refracting telescope erected in Wandsworth common - just south of the Thames in London.
Interested can see a popular description here.

http://www.craig-telescope.co.uk/lens.html

This was in the 1850's. In the 1950's, when I used to attempt cross country running here, there was nothing left. The lens appears to have had an incorrect profile on one surface. A soft lens perhaps?

[seven]

Taylor Taylor and Hobson 12 Inch R.V.P. in amazing condition (143003986524) - £756,00 = EUR 867,57

[peter brooks]

Guilty. That's what happens when two or three people really, really want a lens that's on ebay. I don't think the euro exchange rate helps either.

A more accurate value is probably (and I'm guessing here) around two thirds of that price but I'm philosophic - I see the difference as a tiny cost spread over the years of enjoyment. (I'm very happy :) )

Also from the same seller a smaller TTH '4 1/4 x 3 1/4 RVP Eq.Focus 8.8 Inches' (352508997920 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Taylor-Taylor-and-Hobson-Ltd-4-1-4x3-1-4-R-V-P-Eq-Focus-8-8-Inches-Brass-Lens/352508997920)) made £725 = EUR 828.62 (not me that time).

[goamules]

They are very portable soft focus lenses. Sometimes they slip by the average ebay watcher, but not often.

[pjd]

Koristka Little ARS 210mm, No.96503. £1200 (currently US $1,534). 223224501238.

[peter brooks]

They are very portable soft focus lenses. Sometimes they slip by the average ebay watcher, but not often.

Really enjoyed your 2012 thread on 'Rapid View Portrait (RVP) Pictorial lens', very informative.

[Mark Sawyer]

Voigtlander Universal Heliar 1:4.5 / 42cm, $4,016 (+ s&h). Nice lens, but yeow! The classic soft focus lenses are holding their value well...

[goamules]

Really enjoyed your 2012 thread on 'Rapid View Portrait (RVP) Pictorial lens', very informative.

Thanks! I see this one just sold for only $441 with a beautiful plate camera, holders, and another lens. That one slipped by most people, I could tell by looking at the large iris it was a Rapid View Portrait. 173659250695

UPDATE: My mistake, I could have sworn I saw "RVP" on the picture of the lens...but it's just "RV".

[Steven Tribe]

UPDATE: My mistake, I could have sworn I saw "RVP" on the picture of the lens...but it's just "RV".[/QUOTE]

This mistake is quite understandable as it has the later style engraving, whilst most RVs have the earlier style. It is the very useful full plate size, too!

[peter brooks]

Bargain. Was that a casket set?

This was - 132861756529 TTH RV (8.75") / WAR casket set £495 BIN (~$631)

[Steven Tribe]

No, there was a casket in the Marlow Bros set - but it looked like it came with the RV and the other T,T & H lens.

The casket RV looks a lot less "clean" in design and is full of Instructions, f values and the 3 focal lengths!

[peter brooks]

Thanks for the clarification - I see what you mean!

[Steven Tribe]

The Belgium version of the Voigtlander Unversal Heliar - LABOR 300mm F3.5made by OIP. In good condition with lens board. 316.50 usd (including auction fees of 9%). Wehave had a few owners here of this lens!
Nederlands ebay- type auction (but with extra 2minute extensions for every late bid ) last night.
The engravings showing both the f values for the iris ring and the front turn ring for soft control are not discernable. So there is a chance it might be a non-soft version of this Cooke patent triplet design. My guess is that the markings are just covered with dirt.

[Emil Schildt]

The Belgium version of the Voigtlander Unversal Heliar - LABOR 300mm F3.5made by OIP. In good condition with lens board. 316.50 usd (including auction fees of 9%). Wehave had a few owners here of this lens!
Nederlands ebay- type auction (but with extra 2minute extensions for every late bid ) last night.
The engravings showing both the f values for the iris ring and the front turn ring for soft control are not discernable. So there is a chance it might be a non-soft version of this Cooke patent triplet design. My guess is that the markings are just covered with dirt.

this one (440mm) is on sale on the site.. here's how the writing is on that one...

[jaytral]

The Belgium version of the Voigtlander Unversal Heliar - LABOR 300mm F3.5made by OIP. In good condition with lens board. 316.50 usd (including auction fees of 9%). Wehave had a few owners here of this lens!
Nederlands ebay- type auction (but with extra 2minute extensions for every late bid ) last night.
The engravings showing both the f values for the iris ring and the front turn ring for soft control are not discernable. So there is a chance it might be a non-soft version of this Cooke patent triplet design. My guess is that the markings are just covered with dirt.

Every OIP Labor lens have the "Flou-Net 1-5" ring, this one also (you can see on the other pictures in description). Made in 3 different focal lengths: 250mm, 300mm and 440mm with aperture f4.5, but 300mm exists also in f3.5

[peter brooks]

6" TTH RV £176 (~$224) - 254004031684 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Taylor-Hobson-EQ-Focus-6-06-Inch-4-1-4-x-3-1-4-RV-Large-Format-Brass-Lens/254004031684)

[peter brooks]

Another pair of TTH lenses with a casket - were they were sold this way as an old style 'kit'?

From sellers description: '6 1/2 x 4 3/4 R.V. lens EQ focus 10.65 inches No 14272' and '6 1/2 x 4 x1/2 Wide angle rectilinear WAR EQ Focus 4.1 inches No 15454' in a 'velvet and satin lined box / case complete with TTH name in gold on the top'.

Item 25401644259 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Boxed-Pair-Of-Taylor-Taylor-Hobson-Brass-Camera-Lenses-Rapid-View-amp-Wide-Angle-/25401644259) - it made £530 (~$667)

[peter brooks]

Hermagis Eidoscope 150mm f4.7 (a 'No 1' I think) - front and rear cells for fitting into Copal or Compur shutter, in a brown leather case.

264079403493 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Objectif-EIDOSCOPE-HERMAGIS-150-mm-4-7/264079403493) - EUR 426 (~ £383, or $482).

[Steven Tribe]

Hermagis Eidoscope 150mm f4.7 (a 'No 1' I think) - front and rear cells for fitting into Copal or Compur shutter, in a brown leather case.

264079403493 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Objectif-EIDOSCOPE-HERMAGIS-150-mm-4-7/264079403493) - EUR 426 (~ £383, or $482).

Hermagis used the reverse system in numbering sizes - so number 1 is the third largest size ( there are sizes 0 and 00)!
This 150mm sold in a mini casket was a one size special offer made from 1927 for a few years.
It was called the "Eidoscope Amateur" and was developed for the thousands of 9x12cm cameras in Europe.
There are two smaller Eidoscope lenses around, made for the cine market. No. 6 and 7, 75mm and 50mm resp.

[Steven Tribe]

And whilst we are on the subject of Eidoscope there was an auction for a no.1 (223284751423) this week. The auction site has many BIN Eidoscopes - mostly at a price which excludes a sale. It went for 1550 usd with many, many bids. It seems pretty clear that the confidence that comes from there being bid competitors is necessary to sell high value items!

[peter brooks]

Good looking TTH Cooke Series II 13 inch f4.5 - £1,276 (~$1,620). UK ebay 332966879063 (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cooke-13-inch-f4-5-Portrait-brass-lens-Soft-control-TTH-10x8-Taylor-Hobson-c1914/332966879063)

[CCHarrison]

Sold a TTH RVP 11.78in with no flange $ 749 - direct sale (no fees)

185932185933185934185935

[Amedeus]

Voigtlander Universal Heliar 1:4.5 / 42cm, $4,016 (+ s&h). Nice lens, but yeow! The classic soft focus lenses are holding their value well...

Just for record keeping, this sale didn't go through.

[Mark Sawyer]

Just for record keeping, this sale didn't go through.

Seems to be a lot of that going around over there...

[Duyfam]

Hermagis Paris Eidoscope 5/50 mm EUR 1,299.00 401674395686 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hermagis-Paris-Eidoscope-5-50-mm-89887-Lens-Head-/401674395686?nma=true&si=340B0trWHyoOn7MVFAswk2QysXQ%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557)
186246 186247

[Jim Galli]

Hermagis Paris Eidoscope 5/50 mm EUR 1,299.00

One of my dream lens. (No I didn't get it) But I hope whoever did will be kind and show us some things in the tiny format thread done with this on 35mm DSLR perhaps.

[goamules]

Agreed, a small format vintage soft focus lens is hard to find.

[peter brooks]

Someone got a good deal, auction at Harrogate, UK, this lot of three caskets went for a total of £480 (IIRC), inc commission that's £610 (~ $777):

TTH 'gift set' - a Series III No. 266 4 1/4 x 3 1/4, Eq Focus 5.04in and No 15153, Eq Focus 10.45in (an RV or RVP)
TTH casket set - 'No 7871, 8 1/2 x 6 1/2 No 3 Casket, and back, R.V, W.A.R front and back'
a B. Cowgill, Burnely, Extra RAP.17c and accessory, boxed (3)

[Emil Schildt]

Just got this

200mm Imagon lens for Rolleiflex SL66 (MF)

720€ but that was with camera and bag..

depending on the value of the camera I estimate the lens value to 150-200 €

[Emil Schildt]

Cheap ?


$ 2050

264186645494

48cm Nicolai Perscheid sf lens

[anachromatic]

Cheap ?


$ 2050

264186645494

48cm Nicolai Perscheid sf lens

It is probably its realistic price.
Fortunatly in last months, prices are going down strongly...and surely they will continue to go down.

[Steven Tribe]

At last, something a little out of the ordinary!

English auction room to-day. Mixed sale with some non-LF photography items.

A home built apparatus with a long mahogany base. Including a largish photographic Petzval. It is, in fact a Dallmeyer patent (first design) Petzval. The size can be worked out (to some extent!) from only dimension given - the length of the base - at 93cm.

My measuring before the auction gave a figure which suggest a 3B, 3A or the equivalent sized D series - perhaps even a 4B! I stopped at £360 so it went for 638 usd (including fees etc.) to probably someone who will read these lines!

Not convinced this is a patent Dallmeyer?

Diffusion can be your friends - see the next posting!

[Steven Tribe]

Even a poor photo shows that the rear cell is made up of two halves and there is one of the identicator marks (3 groves) highlighted by edge flare.

[Tin Can]

Steven,

Could the camera have been a lantern slide projector?

[Steven Tribe]

Perhaps - I think the auction house listed it as such. But there was no sign of a slide holder other than the rails by the condenser lens.

I continued bidding well past the "sensible" stage!!

[Steven Tribe]

A rare and precious "bird".

Modern Cooke PS945 229mm f4.5. Another one that looks as if it has never been used.
German ebay 3499 € or best offer. Sold within a day or so of listing.

[Amedeus]

A rare and precious "bird".

Modern Cooke PS945 229mm f4.5. Another one that looks as if it has never been used.
German ebay 3499 € or best offer. Sold within a day or so of listing.

Pretty much the going rate for these rare, precious and wonderful lenses ... mine is used ... :o

Cheers,

[Steven Tribe]

A couple more "Benchmarks" this weekend!

Very clean late series IIB Cooke. 15" . 2,575 usd.
Plasticca 400mm. OK. 1,030 usd.

I have added auction house fees.

Just to set these prices in relief - a Meyer kino plasmat F2, 4.2cm lens sold for 12,232 usd at the same auction!

[fabphoto73]

Plasticca 400mm F4 (missing yellow filter) Sold yesterday on Ebay for 350usd buy it now! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352703065787 I missed it by a few seconds! Arrggh! Would have been nice to compare it directly with my Kronar 400mm f4.

[Emil Schildt]

Plasticca 400mm F4 (missing yellow filter) Sold yesterday on Ebay for 350usd buy it now! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352703065787 I missed it by a few seconds! Arrggh! Would have been nice to compare it directly with my Kronar 400mm f4.

I have a plasticca 280mm - a Kronar 300mm and a Kronarette 305mm

VERY different signatures... Kronarette is surprisingly sharp in the center - perfect for portraits - Plasticca much more soft and wild in the nature - Kronar is Plasticca on stereoids... :)

[pierre506]

Plasticca 400mm F4 (missing yellow filter) Sold yesterday on Ebay for 350usd buy it now! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/352703065787 I missed it by a few seconds! Arrggh! Would have been nice to compare it directly with my Kronar 400mm f4.


Missing the rear group?

[Steven Tribe]

Missing the rear group?

The rear cell is, in fact, the yellow filter. It is basically a meniscus lens.
The "yellow" filters I have seen are more beige these days rather than yellow. I have also seen some that have a granular appearance. I doubt that few 100 year old yellow filters are still in their original condition!

[Amedeus]

I typically don't mention sales of Imagon lenses but making an exception for the one below as I've never seen this one.

Mount is M39 for Leica

Images were up for a few hours and listing ended. Never seen an Imagon with 7.5 cm focal length before. Just listing the images here for perma-link.

193698193699193700

[Bob Salomon]

I typically don't mention sales of Imagon lenses but making an exception for the one below as I've never seen this one.

Mount is M39 for Leica

Images were up for a few hours and listing ended. Never seen an Imagon with 7.5 cm focal length before. Just listing the images here for perma-link.

193698193699193700

The shortest modern Imagons were the 120 and the 150mm. Rodenstock had discontinued them sometime in the 60s.

Then a German portrait studio photographer, Burghard Schmactenburg contracted with Rodenstock somewhere between the late 70s and mid 80s to manufacture the 120 and 150mm Imagons on an exclusive basis for him and he then had manufactured lens mounting tubes, focusing mounts and a version of the Prontor Professional 0 shutter to his own specs. These lenses were then offered with or without shutter for 35mm and mf cameras. He made a special version of the shutter specifically for the Rollei 6000 and Hasselblad 500 series cameras. The 35mm system used T-2 adapters for various camera systems.

Starting about 1988 we became the US distributor of his Imagon series replacing the previous distributor, Frank Cricchio, a well know studio photographer from Texas. Thus we sold the 120 through the 300mm Imagons until they were all discontinued. We also sold the Imagon focusing mounts and adapters made for the 200 and 250mm by Zork.

The 120 and 150 were discontinued well before the longer ones as Schmactenburg went out of business.

[Emil Schildt]

The shortest modern Imagons were the 120 and the 150mm. Rodenstock had discontinued them sometime in the 60s.

Then a German portrait studio photographer, Burghard Schmactenburg contracted with Rodenstock somewhere between the late 70s and mid 80s to manufacture the 120 and 150mm Imagons on an exclusive basis for him and he then had manufactured lens mounting tubes, focusing mounts and a version of the Prontor Professional 0 shutter to his own specs. These lenses were then offered with or without shutter for 35mm and mf cameras. He made a special version of the shutter specifically for the Rollei 6000 and Hasselblad 500 series cameras. The 35mm system used T-2 adapters for various camera systems.

Starting about 1988 we became the US distributor of his Imagon series replacing the previous distributor, Frank Cricchio, a well know studio photographer from Texas. Thus we sold the 120 through the 300mm Imagons until they were all discontinued. We also sold the Imagon focusing mounts and adapters made for the 200 and 250mm by Zork.

The 120 and 150 were discontinued well before the longer ones as Schmactenburg went out of business.

I have a 200mm for my Rolleiflex SL66

[goamules]

I typically don't mention sales of Imagon lenses but making an exception for the one below as I've never seen this one.

Mount is M39 for Leica

Images were up for a few hours and listing ended. Never seen an Imagon with 7.5 cm focal length before. Just listing the images here for perma-link.

193698193699193700

Now THAT I'd like to have. Or any 50mm-17mm LTM soft focus lens.

[Steven Tribe]

Oscar SImon "Kronarette". F.4.5 250mm. Mounted with central curtain shutter (German/not working).
European web auction 294 usd. Intact yellow rear filter.

This is, actually, a sensible mounting system. The lens section is in the front, whilst the rear section, contaning the yellow filter, doesn't have to be at a precise distance from the front section. Thus the sections can be moved to a different curtain shutter, without "adjustment"!

[Tin Can]

Of course our ancestor's figured out a good shutter solution.

Makes me think!

Old LFPF thread.
(https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?48272-Kronar-Kronarette&p=462067&viewfull=1#post462067)

Oscar SImon "Kronarette". F.4.5 250mm. Mounted with central curtain shutter (German/not working).
European web auction 294 usd. Intact yellow rear filter.

This is, actually, a sensible mounting system. The lens section is in the front, whilst the rear section, contaning the yellow filter, doesn't have to be at a precise distance from the front section. Thus the sections can be moved to a different curtain shutter, without "adjustment"!

[Steven Tribe]

Reading the old 2009 thread, it looks as Emil got hold of exactly the same combination - rather than the "studio shutter" he mentioned.


He has been more than satisfied with this purchase!

[Emil Schildt]

Reading the old 2009 thread, it looks as Emil got hold of exactly the same combination - rather than the "studio shutter" he mentioned.


He has been more than satisfied with this purchase!

indeed - now one of my favourite lenses for portraits...

[Steven Tribe]

Renewing this thread happens just about once every month now!

Anyway, here is a "Virgin" entry!

Eckhardt Optics take on the Dallmeyer 3B - using glass available a few years ago.

Unused example sold during the second Ebay listing period (bid not BIN). 850 usd.

Background is here:-

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?118510-Project-to-Produce-a-12-quot-f-3-6-Petzval-Gathering-Steam&highlight=eckhardt

and here:-

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?137738-Dallmeyer-3B-is-being-reproduced-with-currently-available-glass&highlight=eckhardt

[Mark Sawyer]

Eckhardt Optics take on the Dallmeyer 3B - using glass available a few years ago. Unused example sold during the second Ebay listing period (bid not BIN). 850 usd...

It's not an authentic reproduction unless it has the soft focus adjustment already frozen in place...

[goamules]

Renewing this thread happens just about once every month now!

Anyway, here is a "Virgin" entry!

Eckhardt Optics take on the Dallmeyer 3B - using glass available a few years ago.

Unused example sold during the second Ebay listing period (bid not BIN). 850 usd.


Are you calling it "virgin" because it was never used? Or because no one ever bought any of them and they remained immaculate? I've thought a more appropriate name would have been "Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Lens" but it was too long to engrave.

[Steven Tribe]

"Virgin" because this particular lens has never been used - according to the seller. But also because this is the first time this retro design has appeared in this thread.

[stormpetrel]

Boyer Opale 260mm f4.5 + Gitzo shutter US$880 (BIN 223619657158)
Rodenstock 250mm Imagon for $180 on the local classified (nice linhof box set with color filters)
I have now to explain to my wife what an Opale Boyer is and why I broke the piggy bank....

[Mark Sawyer]

The Boyer Opale is an interesting lens, one of the few to use chromatic aberration rather than spherical aberration to achieve its softness. I've been told it is a Tessar with the glass types in the achromatic doublet reversed.

[stormpetrel]

It is an intriguing lens indeed. This auction was for an Opale/Saphir lens. You are right about the Opale being a modified tessar. This lens can be set as a tessar (Saphir) or as an anachomatized tessar (Opale) just by changing the back element. This lens comes with both Opale and Saphir back elements.
I have no idea how the softness will looks like as I could not find any picture made with this lens online....

[Mark Sawyer]

I think if you varied the spacing between the front elements (as Wollensak did with their f/4.5 Tessar), and used it with the anachromatic rear element, you could open up a tear in the space-time continuum...

[Emil Schildt]

I have no idea how the softness will looks like as I could not find any picture made with this lens online....

here you go..

[stormpetrel]

Thank you Emil. This is a very nice picture indeed. The softness is very light but wonderful!
By the way, did you hand painted the red pattern on the print?

[stormpetrel]

I think if you varied the spacing between the front elements (as Wollensak did with their f/4.5 Tessar), and used it with the anachromatic rear element, you could open up a tear in the space-time continuum...
.... and produce the Holy Grail Softness! Unfortunately for us humans, our eyes and brain could not perceive such beauty...

[Emil Schildt]

Thank you Emil. This is a very nice picture indeed. The softness is very light but wonderful!
By the way, did you hand painted the red pattern on the print?

I did... just a hint

[zoltan]

It is, in fact, a standard first series Voigtländer Petzval (just on the boundary between those with or without the need for chemical focus adjustment!) with the standard size number 9.
Here is a copy of the 1861 catalogue.
Serial number 16,000 from 1864 was a bit larger - total length 72.5cm, weight 100 kilos. This was an "achtzöller" - well over 20cm glass diameter.

I see that it wasn't sold at the auction I mentioned - there were no bids at this starting price/minimum.
Still not a soft lens.


Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but the famous No. 16000 weights 32kg and the diameter of the tube in the middle is 29cm. Focal length: 125cm at f/5.8. The length is correct at 72,5 cm

It is called the "achtzöller" - acht=8 and zöller=inch. Back then, they used a measurement unit called "Wiener Zoll", which equals 12 "Wiener Linien", which equals 2,63401cm.
The "achtzöller" therefore has a front element which is 21,07cm wide.

The numbers we know from lens catalogues came only later. The #9 was only a "sechszöller".

Here you have an illustration of the "achtzöller". The camera had a plate format of approximately 75cm x 90cm

205578

Contemporary photographers were not too enthusiastic about the plates that the "achtzöller" produced because it was difficult to handle and did not produce as 'delicate' images as smaller lenses.
And btw., there were two of these made, though I did not find any info on the serial number of the other one.

[seven]

Dallmeyer Stigmatic series 1 No4 = £998 = EUR 1.107,65
(www.ebay.de/itm/Rare-Brass-Bound-J-H-Dallmeyer-Stigmatic-Soft-Focus-Portrait-Large-Format-Lens/333643439657)

don't really know why i'm posting this, i miss the times when this thread was alive

[Andrew Plume]

And yes.....................

The owner of this lens recently put this lens up for Auction on another site, where it didn't meet the/his reserve, so he listed it on eBay instead, I'd imagine he would be pretty pleased with the result, he's one of the eBay sellers who always seems to achieve very high prices for just about everything he sells

regards

Andrew

[Ron (Netherlands)]

And yes.....................

The owner of this lens recently put this lens up for Auction on another site, where it didn't meet the/his reserve, so he listed it on eBay instead, I'd imagine he would be pretty pleased with the result, he's one of the eBay sellers who always seems to achieve very high prices for just about everything he sells

regards

Andrew

Indeed, but I doubt whether these are all real sales - he shields off all the biddings - and he doesn't answer any questions

[Andrew Plume]

Indeed, but I doubt whether these are all real sales - he shields off all the biddings - and he doesn't answer any questions

Cannot add anything to what you've said Ron, I know him but not that well, admittedly from memory I had a similar experience with him (in not replying that is), however I have to say that both him and his Father (who mainly sells some very decent 'Wood and Brass' Cameras) on the 'big Auction site' seem to have 'the knack' of consistently obtaining very high prices, in fact often exceptional too.....................

regards

Andrew

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Cannot add anything to what you've said Ron, I know him but not that well, admittedly from memory I had a similar experience with him (in not replying that is), however I have to say that both him and his Father (who mainly sells some very decent 'Wood and Brass' Cameras) on the 'big Auction site' seem to have 'the knack' of consistently obtaining very high prices, in fact often exceptional too.....................

regards

Andrew

Andrew, you must be right. Even if only part of the sales would be real, they almost all fetch prices largely beyond prices paid for comparable camera's on the same market. These sellers seem the have a steady group of clientèle that is only willing to buy from such a 'reputed and high rate' seller, even if they have to pay 2x or 3x market value. Anyhow, there seems to be one remarkable difference with other sellers i.e. that the presentation of their goods is very professionally done.

[Andrew Plume]

Thanks Ron, appreciated. Until you mentioned it, I have to say that I had no idea (at all) that "......part of the sales would be real......"

Said seller's Father certainly obtains really high prices and way beyond what I feel is both sensible and/or realistic, good for him, he seems to be a decent chap. Yes, they both present "their goods" extremely well, mind you I have seen what i believe is 'the set up' that they use and it's very professional and certainly an 'expensive piece of kit'. They're also very fond of using a certain fruit in a lot of their images.................

I too sell over on "that Auction site", I have little choice but to since my main source of income has been 'decimated' by the 2008 Financial crash, Brexit and now the awfully said COVID-19. I'm making a profit but nothing comparable to those two guys and one other, all based in the UK. I'm definitely with you that apparently they have "........a steady group of clientèle that is only willing to buy from such a 'reputed and high rate' seller......", it's frustrating for me, I have to say/admit....... Based on that they're very aware that they can start all of their listings at £0.99 whereas I have to start much higher, I simply can't take any risks in not achieving a profit

Finally, it's really interesting to me to see that I'm not the only one who is aware of these trend(s) etc

best regards

Andrew

[erian]

Lets push some fair life into this thread and post some last year soft focus lens purchases.

I listed them in original currency so you could add your expected approximate shipping cost and taxes.

2019/10 Berthiot Eidoscope N°3 f/4.5 275mm (€400) (body is ugly but glass is fine)
2019/11 Universal Heliar f/4.5 360mm (€1650)
2019/11 Berthiot Eidoscope N°2 f/4.5 395mm (€850)
2019/12 Baush Lomb Portrait Lens F/4 400mm (Sigmar) ($1300)
2020/02 Imagon f/5.8 300mm (without discs and shutter) ($138)
2020/02 Wollensak Verito f/4 9" ($170) (apperture is stuck and could not be accessed easily)
2020/06 Fujinon SF f/5.6 180mm front and rear element (€29)
2020/06 Gundlach Hyperion f/4 18" ($3600)
2020/07 Pinkham & Smith Visual Quality IV f/4 14" ($1400) (there are minor defects on rear element)
2020/08 Gundlach Hyperion f/4 12" ($1050)

Little comments follow.

I felt that I paid too much but have not seen 360mm Universial Heliar for this or lower price after. So this is probably my 2019 highlight. Still I am happy about all my 2019 purchases.

I missed the KEH Sigmar fire sale unfortunately. That was spectacular! I was really happy to get mine so perhaps it was needed for my piece of mind.

There are currently many N°2 Eidoscopes available at the moment. I would recommend to get one with special extended flange when conditions allow.

I am happy to have 18" Hyperion and 14" Visual quality. These are my this year highlights so far.

[Mark Sawyer]

2020/02 Imagon f/5.8 300mm front and rear element ($138)

Front AND rear elements? Umm...

[Bob Salomon]

Front AND rear elements? Umm...

That’s more then for one Imagon. Maybe he means rear group and front trim ring?

[Tin Can]

Should we list SF we got for free?

[erian]

That’s more then for one Imagon. Maybe he means rear group and front trim ring?

Just did not think too much about it. Sure there is only one group. I fixed the description to be more correct.

[erian]

Should we list SF we got for free?

Sure. Why not? But then you also should include the story I think.

[Louis Pacilla]

Sure. Why not? But then you also should include the story I think.

Then WHY have this thread keep track of "SF lens sales"? Not the place to show off ones score. JMO.

[Tin Can]

It was a rhetorical question

and I already posted about them elsewhere here (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?158495-New-to-me-6-Old-Lenses&p=1555186&viewfull=1#post1555186)

maybe they weren't free as I bought a lot of glass from my source

Some people just want to get old lenses back in use

and I don't trust eBay sales one bit, lots of shills at work


Then WHY have this thread keep track of "SF lens sales"? Not the place to show off ones score. JMO.

[erian]

It was a rhetorical question

and I already posted about them elsewhere here (https://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?158495-New-to-me-6-Old-Lenses&p=1555186&viewfull=1#post1555186)

maybe they weren't free as I bought a lot of glass from my source

Some people just want to get old lenses back in use

and I don't trust eBay sales one bit, lots of shills at work

Yes, this thread. But your links are unfortunately broken.

[erian]

Little more soft focus lenses

2020/10 Verito f/4 18" ($700)
2020/11 Spencer Port-Land f/5.6 11½" (£530)
2020/11 O.Zwierzina "Plasticca" f/4 400mm (€550)
2020/12 Taylor Hobson 8x5 R.V.P. (£545)
2020/12 Ilex Photoplastic f/4.5 10½" ($220)
2020/12 Gundlach Equal Diffusion f/4 18" ($1340)

[Scott Davis]

I got a Cooke Series II f4.5 10.5" along with a Voigtlander 11.5" f3.5 in an estate sale for $198 for the pair. The insanely low price was due to them both being incredibly dusty and looking battered. The Voigtlander is in excellent condition given the age (ca. 1862-3). The Cooke, well, not so much- it has seen a rough life. But after cleaning and having the iris serviced, it is fully functional and making some excellent images.

[Steven Tribe]

My impression is that supply is still low, but demand is slowly going up!

Kodak 405mm. Very, very clean on Swedish Corona adapted web auction. Equivalent to 1,214 usd.

[Steven Tribe]

Really lens porn here

Grubby Plasticca 600mm to be picked up from storage in The Netherlands on a very poor condition huge studio camera/support.
Internet timed auction. The engraving is very similar to the usual from Dresden but has “Bruxelles” and some other text I can’t read. The lister did not know what he was selling so the camera got the attention.
Approx, €1,500 with auction fees included.

Condition, well judge for yourself!
This is the first time I have ever seen evidence that the Plasticca actually found use in a commercial studio.

[e]

How would you guys say the LF Soft Focus lens market is these day..for buyers..and sellers?
Has it gone up over the past 5 years (good for sellers)..or a buyers market at the moment w/drop in prices..
Thinking about buying a SF lens this week ..but the owner is asking a lot of dough..
I've been out of lens buying for a long time now..and have no idea of the current market..

[jp]

I've only bought one LF SF lens in the past year.. Seems to be a pretty stable market without big changes.
If you can try it in person, I think it's potentially worth a small amount extra to not have any surprises.

[dap]

My impression is that the overall market has softened compared to 5 years ago, but the strength of the market really depends on the make of the lens. Some lens prices seem to have fallen (verito), some seem to have gone up (Cooke knucklers), and many have been relatively stable. Some lenses that you used to run across frequently have become hard to find and some that you would never see for sale have hit the market with more frequency (I have seen more gundlach hyperions on the used market in the last year or so than I have seen in the previous 5). Long term - it is anybody's guess.

[Mark Sawyer]

Vitaxes have doubled or more, though I don't think it's for their soft focus feature. Veritos were never that expensive, as there are so many of them, and they're just stellar for soft focus work. Cookes are through the roof, and deservedly so. Most others are staying about what they were, from what I've seen.

[Steven Tribe]

I have the impression that both supply and demand are down.

I think most people interested in portraits/pictorialism are well stocked up on a wide range of suitable lenses and there are not waves of newcomers or replacements coming in to influence prices.

Whilst we who dabble in passing on items regularly are prepared to adjust our prices to what people currently are willing to pay, there are plenty of eBay listers and specialist auction valueers who won’t - thinking, perhaps, that the next upturn is a few months away.

So.

-the market is smaller than 5 -10 years ago.
-certain items/sizes are as popular as ever, but average prices have fallen to a more (sensible) level.

[e]

Thx for the great info guys!
I've decided to buy the lens..probably am paying a bit too much for it..
But I know the guy selling it from long ago..and its local..so all the ducks are in a row for this purchase.
I'll post a pic in a few days..

[e]

OK..here is is..a 16" P&S..always wanted one of these..a lot bigger then I thought though..
Metal tube is minty..glass very clear but w/marks..no aperture..
price $3.3K

214747

[Hugo Zhang]

A Pinkham is a Pinkham. You will be happy.

[seven]

it would be nice if you share also the price, that was the idea of this thread