Ross Doublet Lens

[Pete Askew]

Following on the thread about the Aero Ektar (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/lenses/7468-7-aero-ektar.html), this is another interesting lens. It is wide angle lens intended for the 5"x8" format made by Ross of London in the early 1880s. It is about f1:16 and has 5 'stops' on a rotating plate. Here it is mounted on a Sinar panel and fitted to a P2.

From the front you can see the rotating disc containing the 'Waterhouse' stops.

Here, the disc / wheel can be seen in more detail along with the engraving identifying the lens.

Looking through the back of the lens you can see the minimum aperture stop.

And the maximum.

 

[David Mitchell]

Where do you find these amazing bits of kit? thats certain an interesting way to change the aperture, I guess with a camera like that you don't really need a quick change as you may want with street photography

 

[Pete Askew]

A Sinar would probably not be the most discreet camera to use for street photography! (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/film-conventional-cameras/4327-anatomy-technical-camera.html). The Waterhouse stop was the original way that the aperture of a lens was controlled. At the end of the 19th century, another company (Lancaster) patented the use of an iris for use in controlling aperture and so the practice of using either slide-in or rotating stops continued into the 1920s. Now you only find them in things like Lensbabies! (http://www.realphotographersforum.com/lenses/7234-anatomy-lensbaby.html).

I bought this lens from a specialist in historic optics a while back and sometimes these sorts of things turn up on eBay (eg http://www.realphotographersforum.com/lenses/7477-10-5-cooke-aviar-anastigmat-lens.html).

 

[Hamish Gill]

Looks lovely! There are some old lenses in a shop in town I must see what he wants for them ... He has kept fobbing me when I've asked before!
Must get my Bauch and Lomb lens project underway again too!!

 

[Paul Lange]

I keep seeing lenses like this I would like to use them on the SLR for my current project but the focal lengths tend to be relatively huge. If only there was someone I knew who had a spare technical camera and a Phase One back laying around...................

 

[Pete Askew]

Hamish seems to have a spare technical camera lying around (no pressure Hamish), not sure about a PhaseOne back though! What about a bellows unit in between (eg http://www.realphotographersforum.com/lenses/7468-7-aero-ektar.html)?

 

[Paul Lange]

Appreciate the offer, thank you but I am barely set up to develop 120 film let alone anything larger. Once the new shed is up it will be a different story though............

 

[Brian Moore]

Another interesting post Pete. Thanks. By the way, I subscribe to an electronic newsletter that you might be interested in. Often recently the gentleman who produces it has features old lenses not unlike the one you have posted in this thread. Below is the link to his site's home page. I thought you might be interested in having a look.

Antique and Classic Camera Home Page

 

[Pete Askew]

Thanks Brian, that looks interesting. I love the gun camera. That would be just perfect for street photography!!