royfisher

The thing that isn't typical, though, at least as far as my copy of the 90mm W.A., is that it is so soft wide open that I can't identify the focus point with any assurance. It's good enough for framing, but not for focusing. But if it's stopped down just a little, it becomes sharp enough to focus. So, what I am suggesting is that if stopping down is all it takes to cure the problem, that would actually seem normal to me for this lens. (If it still doesn't focus, there is likely to be an actual problem.) It looks like I misjudged the age of Chuck's lens. I couldn't make out the first three characters of the serial number, so I was going by the lack of the symbol that Wollensak put on their lenses to show they were coated. Apparently, the Optar versions did not have that symbol, regardless of coating status. Based on the labeling on the shutter, I'd say his lens might be 10 or more years newer than mine.

I have a slightly later (coated) Wollensak-branded version of the 90mm W.A., and it is not at all sharp wide open (f/6.8). It begins to clear up at f/11, and it's reasonably sharp in the center at f/16. If you can get enough light to try focusing when stopped down a bit, it should show whether or not that is the problem. I'll also suggest measuring the distance from the film plane to the aperture with the bellows collapsed, just to verify that it's no longer than 90mm.

Wollensak Raptar W.A. 3.5in (90mm) f/6.8 (1948) @ f/22, Nikon D3.

I was guessing 1950s military surplus--it would look right at home bolted onto a tank, with a remote shutter release operated by someone safely within. School pictures might be a similar application, though. I'll second chuck_foreman about the lens and shutter.

The serial number on the lens dates it to 1965, according to the list on the alphaxbetax web site.

Perusing the Kodak booklets a bit more, I found copies of most of them listed on one of those big a*ction sites. The better quality images there show that the typeface does match the condensed serif on the copies I have, it isn't an eccentric deco-flavored one. Matching the covers as best I could reveals the editions are likely to be: Kodak Lenses Range Finders and Shutters (being able to actually read the title is helpful!): 1945. The camera is an Ektra. The Lenses book I have is for large format, and the cover is altogether different. Kodak Slides: The photo is the same for the 3rd and 4th editions, but the word blobs above the title in the camera shop picture do not appear to match either one. The 3rd edition is dated 1946, the 4th first appeared in 1949. For both the 3rd and 4th, the text above the title reads "Kodak Data Book On". The text below the title reads "Third Edition - For Revising Kodak Reference Handbook" or "Fourth Edition". I did not find an older edition. Kodak Papers: 3rd edition 1946. The 1947 (4th) and 1951 (5th) editions both have different cover photos. Formulas: 1943 Ektachrome and Kodachrome: 1948 Copying: 1945. The 1947 4th edition has a different cover photo. I didn't find newer versions for the Lenses, Formulas, or Ektachrome/Kodachrome booklets. I can only conclude that book sales were not their cash cow. And on Kodacolor Type A film: According to this link: https://web.archive.org/web/20150328005106/http://www.photomemorabilia.co.uk/Colour_Darkroom/Early_Kodak.html#anchor3

1949-1952 is my best guess, possibly to 1954 or slightly later depending on inventory turnover. In the second image: a) On the back wall there's a Brownie Hawkeye poster. The Hawkeye was introduced in 1949 (discontinued in 1961). b) There's a hanging shop fixture for Verichrome film, which was discontinued in 1956 (replaced by Verichrome Pan). In the first image: a) Kodak Slides booklet: I have a copy of the fourth edition. The cover photo is the same, but the version shown in the photo has many (unreadable) words beneath the title; mine just says "Fourth Edition". The fourth edition copyright is 1952, mine is the 1953 printing. Earlier copyrights are listed from 1941 through 1949. The typeface is different, too. The booklet shown in the photo has a 1940s deco-style typeface, while my copy has a condensed Scotch-like serif. b) Kodak Lenses booklet: The cover illustration shown in the photo is completely different from the one I have, and appears to feature a Medalist, which was discontinued ca. 1953. My copy of the Lenses booklet is the fifth edition, copyright 1955; earlier copyright dates range from 1942 to 1952. The fifth edition has a generic sans typeface instead of the deco style shown in the photo.

D3, 4in. RD Artar (1954), PB-4 + PK-13. ISO 200, 1/10" @ f/16 x 19.

With RawTherapee, set the white balance from the napkin beneath the glass.

Rodenstock Apo-Ronar 150/9, Nikon D3, 23 frame focus stack.

Rodenstock Apo-Ronar 150/9, Nikon D3.

Elderly fire-breathing snapdragon dazzles Vegas! (~0.6x)

A post-party pair of petunias.

Plus manual focus for additional adrenaline rush.

Wollensak Raptar Series Ia 6.5in. f/6.8 (1955), Nikon D3

Raptar 6.5" f/6.8 on Nikon D3.

ca. 1950 Wollensak Raptar 6.5" f/6.8 triple convertible (for 4x5) mounted on a Nikon PB-4 bellows, Nikon D3.

Tokina AT-X 90/2.5, Nikon D3