I just got my first Speed Graphic and I'm thrilled! The auction listing didn't give much description on the second lens (first is an Ektar 127mm) so I'm now figuring it out.

It's a Wollensak Velostigmat series IV and also says 7 1/4 Focus and f6.3. I'm looking to try some portraits on polaroids. Will this lens give a short depth of focus? Is it any good? I note a lot of dust, how shall I clean a lens.

I'm not much of a photographer, but want to learn. I last took photos as a side job in the Navy. Should I start with the Wolensak, or the Ektar when my polaroid 72 film comes in?

the 127 ektar has been the subject of many a post, just do a search for it. It is a bit wide for portrait work. The Velostigmat should do a nice job on portraits.

If you do not have then get a MicroFiber lens cleaning cloth example:http://www.adorama.com/CPCAS.html?searchinfo=microfiber&item_no=6. Follow the instructions with the cloth or blow as much as possible from the glass, starting at the center and working toward the edge with a circular motion wipe the entire lens surface. If the dust is internal then unscrew the front and rear elements from the shutter or lens barrel and clean the inside surfaces the same as the outside surfaces. do not use lens cleaning fluid with the microfiber cloth.

A friend of mine once met Dr. Kinglake, the last of the classic lens designers. My firend didn't want to let the moment pass, and yet didn't know what to ask him. Frantically searching his brain he came up with a question he knew had been answered by Kinglake on many occasion. It was similar to your question.

Mr. Kinglsake could have been indignant at the question, he could have scoffed, he could have told him an answer and backed it up with a 1/2 hour lecture few of use reading the post could understand. But he didn't. He simply said,

"Why don't you try it and find out for yourself?"


I'm certain that a Series IV Wolley will focus sharply and the longer than normal focal length with be advantageous with portraits.

"Is it a good lens?" Is subjective.

I'm also certain that if you compared this to the latest multicoated lens on the market you'll find the new lens to be sharper in certain situations and contrastier in nearly all.

I'm also certain that it possess qualities in softness, and local contrast that you can't get in a new multi-coated lens that are probably desireable.

I make two suggestions:

Try it

and try it again with the longest lens shade you can find that doesn't intefere with the image.

Then you'll know if it's "a good lens"

Les

Thanks for these two good advise topics on cleaning and using. I'll do both. I've actually used the lens on 4 of my precious polaroid 72 sheet films. I'm a novice so I'm happy just to figure out the exposures. Which have worked.

But I'm not getting the sharpness of the photos I see referenced in this board. Most of them have been dark (overexposed?) which I expect is common using 400 speed outdoors with a large aperature. I'll keep trying....

out side in bright sun: f16 a 1/400 so large apertures, high speed film and bright sun don't usually mix well.

Well...

"Large" aperture is relative; if you want to shoot at, say, f/8 with that Velostigmat, you'll probably be best off holding the front shutter open on Bulb and using the focal plane shutter at 1/1000. That will give a "sunny 16" exposure for ISO 250, which is only 2/3 stop over box speed for ISO 400 film and ought to be well within latitude. And f/8 should give pretty narrow DOF with a 180-ish mm lens like that 7 1/4" Velostigmat.

Or, of course, you could load some ISO 100 (in Polaroid, that'd be 664 or 54, as I recall), which would let you shoot the Ektar at f/5.6 and 1/500 -- still focal plane territory, but I know from experience that will give pretty thin DOF. BTW, a dark Polaroid is underexposed (works like slides, not negatives).

Thanks for the exposure help. I'll report back when I try again.