[pure-silver] Re: Graflex Optar vs. Kodak Ektar
- From: "Richard Knoppow" <dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 23:08:50 -0700
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Daneliuk" <tundra@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Pure-Silver Mailing List" <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2014 8:24 AM
Subject: [pure-silver] Graflex Optar vs. Kodak Ektar
I just bought a 4x5 Graflex with a 127mm Ektar on it. I've
had excellent
results with various Ektars in the past, but I wonder if
anyone could comment
on the Optars by comparison? I've only used an Optar on
the smaller
2x3 Graflex years ago and - if memory serves - it was OK.
The Optar appears to be the same as the Wollensak
Raptar. One has to be careful about which Optar/Raptar is
being discussed. The Optars found on Speed and Crown
Graphics, in my experience, are inferior lenses that appear
to have a design problem. The problem shows up as serious
coma or probaby oblique spherical aberration, the two look
very similar. The symptom is smearing toward the edges of
the image unless the iris is stopped down nearly all the
way. Now, all Tessar type lenses, including the Ektar have
some oblique spherical but in the f/4.5, 127mm Ektar its
gone even on a 4x5 film by f/11 and there is very little at
f/8. The Wollensak Optars have visible smearing until
stopped down to about f/22. Now, a word of warning: first
Optar was a trade mark of Graflex and other companies than
Wollensak made Optars. The Optar lenses on the Super Graphic
and Super Speed Graphic are Rodenstock lenses of excellent
quality. Also, the Optar lenses on Graflex cameras appear
to be of a differen design from those on the Speed/Crown
Graphic. The 190mm Optar on my Super-D is an excellent lens.
Also, the Tele-Raptar/Tele-Optar are very good lenses. The
Enlarging Raptar seems to suffer from the same problem as
the Speed Graphic lenses, avoid them. OTOH, Enlarging Ektars
are excellent lenses nearly comparable to modern enlarging
lenses. They are modified Heliars with a design similar to
the lens on the Kodak Medalist camera.
FWIW, Kodak was making lenses which were the equal of
any made anywhere during the Ektar period. All the Ektar
series were designed with special attention to color
performance because Kodak was interested in selling color
film. The Commercial Ektar and its predecessor the Eastman
Ektar, are very nearly apochromatic lenses.
Unfortunately, the larger Ektars came in Ilex shutters.
While quite servicable they are not the equal of others in
accuracy or repeatability. The large Wollensak shutters are
much superior. Wollensak made excellent shutters (their
original business) and variable lenses. Kodak shutters are
also very good and generally repairable but often need new
drive springs. They are very ruggedly built. The advantage
of Wollensak and Ilex shutters is that all the springs are
hair springs and so reasonably easy to make from spring
wire.
--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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