What do I have? Is it worth messing with?

[ashtonsmith]

I just picked up a bunch of items at an auction, and in it there was

one lens that caught my eye. It looks like a very nice lens. I

would like to know what it would take to make it useful to me as a

larger format lens for my 4x5.

 

Here is what I see. It is a Schneider. It says Schneider-Kreuznach

Xenotar 1:2.8/150 7691854. So it is a 150mm f2.8. I can see purple

reflections in the glass which I believe to mean that is is

multicoated. It's fairly large compaired to my Kodak 203mm. It

looks older than the current Scheider lenses I see in my local camera

shop. It's chrome on the front half, not like the all black of the

newer ones.

 

My main problem with it is that it has no shutter, but getting a

Schneider that is f2.8 and multicoated makes me want to make it work

on my camera. Does anyone have any experience with this lens? Is it

worth trying to put a shutter on it? Is there another way without

spending huge sums of money?

 

Thanks,

Ashton Smith<div></div>

[jim_galli4]

Ashton, It is a very nice lens indeed. Single coated as multi-caoting hadn't been invented yet in 1962 when it was made. They are highly sought after in shutter. Limitation is a narrowish angle of about 55 degrees which means it just barely covers 4X5 and will vignette with any movements at all. Still a big pretty light bucket of a lens. It is Planar in design. 5 elements in 3 groups like Zeiss's famous Planars that are found on Rollie's and Hassleblads. It should be very sharp. It will need a Compur #2 shutter which is obsolete. Check with <A/href="http://www.skgrimes.com"> Mr. Grimes</A> at to see if he has one and what it will cost to have it put in a shutter.

[tracy_storer1]

The lens has sort of a cult following, they're very nice as Jim

said.

Just wanting to state the obvious: it will also fit in a bigger shutter

like a Copal#3 which is very easily available...

Tracy

[ashtonsmith]

Well I'm pretty new to the LF crowd, so it isn't that obvious to me. Thanks for pointing it out. The only lens I have ever used up until now is my 1947 Kodak 203mm. I haven't even played with a modern copal shutter or any other shutter for that matter.

[geoffrey_chen]

Nice glass. Should ask Steve Grimes to pop it into a copal #3 shutter and Marflex to cam it to your range/viewfinder. It is a fast portrait lens, and many photogs use it wide open for fashion shots. Make sure you get a Tiffen 77mm metal lens shade for it. Cheers,