Kodak Anaston lenses

What sort of construction do they have? Triplets? 4/4?

 

TIA

Kodak played name games with some of their lenses, sometimes applying new names to existing lenses and using the same name for different formulas. You need to research each case.

Specifically the ones on the Kodak stereo cameras if that would clarify.

 

Yes, I googled and to my view no specific information appeared.

 

Thanks!

From the book "Photographic Optics" by Greenleaf, the Anaston design is of simple triplet construction, as opposed to the four element (Tessar) design of the Kodak Anastar, or Anastigmat Special.

Thanks, Alex.

 

You saved me the trouble of ripping one apart to find out!

 

Fabulous lenses with endearing image quality.

Hi Vivek,

 

See the link

 

http://www.prairienet.org/b-wallen/BN_Photo/Kodak_index2.htm

 

you will find it enligthing.

 

Should be a coated triplet.

 

Good look

Hi Vivek , no need to rip them apart. Hold the lens to a strong light source and count the refections. Two refections for each element , in case of a cemented lens the reflection is weak.

Note that some Anastons were Tessar formula:

 

http://www.prairienet.org/b-wallen/BN_Photo/KA_KASIntr.htm

 

In this case, it replaced the Kodak Anastigmat, also a Tessar. The Anastigmat Special was replaced by the Anastar, also a Tessar. (Unclear what the difference was, maybe higher-index glass?)

 

What you really need is the Kodak Lenses data book covering the year the camera was made.

Here's another reference that states 'triplet' for the Anaston lens: http://www.rit.edu/~andpph/pf-faq/faq-20.html

 

Anastigmat apparently does not imply a specific optical formula (number of elements) other than being corrected for astigmatism.

 

'Anaston', from my understanding of what I have read is a post WWII coated triplet whereas 'Anastars' were the higher-end coated 4 element lenses. Not all 4 element Anastars were Tessar type.

Appreciate all the kind information, folks!

 

The Anston (on the stereo camera) appears to be a triplet, as per Manfred's suggested test. Beautifully coated as well.

As a followup, I checked my collection of Kodak Data Books and the original Kodak Reference Manual Lens & Shutters section.

 

Anastons and Anastars were the coated versions of Kodak Anastigmats and Kodak Anastigmat Specials. The Anastons appear to have all been triplets. The Anastars were in general Tessars, with some exceptions.

 

- A four element air spaced 80mm f/3.5 on the Kodak Reflex

- A triplet 44mm f/3.9 on the Pony II

- A triplet 44mm f/3.9 on the Pony IV

 

My data books extend through 1958. It is possible that Kodak used these names beyond that time.