Graflex.org

[jakeyferret]

Could anyone tell me what type of photography this lens would be used for? If I don't keep it does anyone know of a good place to sell it other than Ebay? Thanks for the assistance, MC.

[troublemaker]

This was a general purpose medium long lens for 4x5 and a long lens for the 2x3 Graphics produced by Wollensak and sold under the Graflex line as an Optar.
They can be very good lenses for portraits, landscapes or any number of applications where one requires a longer than normal lens. On the Graphic they can be useful because the Tele lens requires less bellows draw than a standard focal lenth lens, esspecially closer than 16 feet where the longer bellows of a view camera would be needed. Some folks like them a lot while others think they are so so. This may have something to do with the fact that some are not as sharp as others. For example my 8" tele-raptar (same as Optar) is not very sharp, but produces useable images at times. On the other hand, my 15" Tele-Optar is impressive. I have found this to be true accross the Wollensak line, and other vintage lenses, and suggest it is best to judge each lens individually based on one's own needs. Regardless, it is hard to argue against a lens that can produce very good images, has a fast aperture, and the benifit of less bellows draw for relatively few dollars... Your approach to photography and needs will dictate if the lens is useful or not.
I'd hang on to it for a while and shoot some film with it and then decide...