Graflex.org

[Henry]

I think the best examples of the f3.7 105 mm are held in very high regard, although there is doubtless sample variation with this, as with others. Price seems a bit on the high side, but don't take my word for it; I haven't been keeping up with such things as my "kit" is complete at this point. (Just as a point of personal preference, though, I don't care for Supermatic (Kodak) shutters and favor Graphex---not an option in this case.)

[1banjo]

there is one thats been on Ebad for like 6 mouths at $365.
its now down to $315. BUT its still there!!

I gave $100. for a 23 Crown with a 105mm lens on it
and the other one I gave $150. on a crown

as they seem to be on Crowns more offen
some thine on speeds
I never seen one on a Century on ebad

[Joey Anchors]

Banjo how do you like the Ektar 105mm? Oh and that's the one I might be buying (Ebad)

[Dan Fromm]

Joey, reread my lens diary.

I've had two 105/3.7 Ektars. The first one shot worse (softer) than my 101/4.5 Ektar at all apertures from f/4.5 down so I sold it.

After reading many very positive statements about how wonderful the 105/3.7 Ektar is I bought another one. Same story.

Since then I've done a set of formal lens tests with a USAF 1951 target and all that. The results? My 103/4.5 Graftar (since sold) is better corner to corner than my 101/4.5 Ektar is better corner to corner than my 105/3.7 Ektar. This at all apertures from f/4.5 down.

You already have the 2x3 Graphic normal lens magic bullet. Calm down and learn how to use your gear before you go crazy buying more.

Henry, every person who's posted here about 2x3 Graphic normal lens shootouts has got the results I report above. Myths die hard.

[Henry]

Hi Dan,

I thought so. That'll save me some $$. Not that I had planned on acquiring an Ektar. Far from it. Meanwhile, I'm happy with my plebian Optars! And I too own the f4.5 Graftar. Lucky us!

Henry

[45PSS]

http://www.cameraeccentric.com/html/info/kodak_4.html
_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

[1banjo]

well the Ektar is a Portrait lens!!
the Ektar 80 , 105 , & 135 they came on Hasselblad from 1946 to 1966
when kodak stop making
so they can't be all bad if Hasselblad used them as one of there main lens!!
just saying it make you stop and think!!

[Joey Anchors]

Dan you have made some very good points. I will put that money into a good Ries Monopod and some 120 film

[Dan Fromm]

banjo wrote:

[1banjo]

yes there different Ektar design
& I have seen Kodak//Hasselblad lens on ebad
80mm, 100mm, 105mm, 135mm and maybe a 203mm

as far as proof thats all I can go by at this point in time

then there is the highly desired Voigtlander
Heliar I don't know if its a 100mm or a 105mm
but it gets a higher price then the Ektar Heliar do
so the Heliar design in lens can't be that bad!
I have no complant with my Ektar 105mm its
one of the best lens that I now have some 100
lens for 23 cameras I do have a Voigtlander just
not the Heliar design
Dan you probly don't like the Ektar 80 WF
I don't know about it as have not used it much yet
but in the late 40s to mid 60s Kodak was one of the
best lens maker in 1967 they stoped making film camera lens
as to do Digal lens for NASA!! you know spys in space

[1banjo]

hey Dan this one is a 1957 //135mm Ektar
Kodak 135/3.5 Ektar Hasselblad 1600F RS5186... MINT/Box
Item: 390044632572

[BrianShaw]

I also respect Dan's evaluations; however, my experience with Optar lenses has been fine too.

[Dan Fromm]

Banjo, Hasselblad cataloged only two Ektars. 80/2.8 and 135/3.5. They dropped the Ektars from their catalogs, replaced them with Zeiss lenses, in 1952.

Thanks for directing me to Kevin's 135/3.5. It is a problem in two ways. Made after H'blad stopped offering them, made around the time the 1000F was replaced. Perhaps a very special order.

Banjo, about Heliars from Voigtlaender, my friend Eric Beltrando wrote a ray-tracing program that he uses to evaluate lenses. He takes prescriptions from patents and, in the case of Boyer lenses, from as much of the Boyer archives as he has. See www.dioptrique.info. He finds that Heliars and EKCo's Heliar-like lenses have narrower coverage than the equivalent f/4.5 and slower relatively modern Tessar and worse performance in the corners (which goes with less coverage). This is consistent with my tests of my lenses.

I don't know why people go all mystical about Heliars. They certainly do, though.

The Hasselblad 1600 and 1000F have focal plane shutters so lenses in barrel that are long enough to clear the mirror can be adapted to them. If you think other Ektars were adapted to them, fine, but they weren't original issue and the first purchaser (from EKCo) wasn't Victor Hasselblad.

Brian, there's been a lot of disagreement about 101 Raptars vs. 101 Ektars, I've had a couple of 101 Raptars, in fact still have one, but have never tested any of them. So I can't report on them relative to the Kodak alternative from personal experience.

What I can do, and I hope I've been explicit enough about it, is report what Richard Knoppow has said many times about Raptars vs. Ektars. He tested a bunch of both, found that for the same focal length and maximum aperture the Raptar, shot at f/2x, matched the Ektar's image quality in the corners at f/x. In other words, for image quality an Ektar is two stops ahead of the equivalent Raptar. He speculated that there was a computation error when the Raptars were designed. Whether image quality in the corners matters depends on the image and the photographer's preferences.

Cheers,

Dan

[1banjo]

as of today on ebad
Kodak 100/6.3 Wide-Field Ektar #EI1100 ..... Hasselblad
Item: 270350176167
Kodak 135/3.5 Ektar Hasselblad 1600F RS5186... MINT/Box
Item: 390044632572
Kodak 80/2.8 Ektar for Hasselblad 1600F ET809.....Minty
Item: 270414511527

thats 3 different Ektars there now!

[Dan Fromm]

Banjo, the 80/2.8 and 135/3.5 are original issue. There's no dispute about them, they're real and I said so.

The 100/6.3 WF Ektar is very interesting. Very interesting.

First of all, it is in Synchro Compur Reflex engraved "LENS MADE IN WEST GERMANY" . That shutter first came to market in 1957. Can't be EKCo original issue.

Secondly, its s/n is EI1100. It is a 1947 lens, made two years before the 1600 was released and at least ten years before the shutter it is in.

It smells like a remount. One of the things that Kin Leung, who sells on eBay as Kevin Li, does is remount lenses.

Some times you just can't believe your lyin' eyes. They can miss fine details.