Rotelar 270mm Questions
M Bruce McFarland
I have available to me a Rodenstock Rotelar 270mm lens that seems to
be in pretty good condition except for the shutter sticking at the low
speeds, which just seems to be from inactivity. The price is
attractive, but I can't seem to find any real information on the lens.
I've checked DejaNews, the rodenstock website, the large format home
page, and of course the search engines. I'm looking to find out any
specifics on the lens, and any information would be much appreciated.
1) Any idea about elements/groups ?
2) Single or multi coated ?
3) True telephoto or not?
4) Circle of coverage ?
5) Anyone out there have personal experiance with the lens ? Would I
be better off waiting to get a later lens like a Sironar or one of the
Schneiders ( would probably have to wait a while because of the $$ ) ?
Thanks in advance to all of you out there in large format land...
Bruce McFarland
302 - 455 - 0700
Change the at to @
mbmcf at erols.com
Bob Salomon
bobsa...@mindspring.com hpmarketingcorp.com
HP Marketing Corp. Amazon, Braun, Gepe, Giottos, Heliopan, HP Combi-Plan-T,
Kaiser, KoPho, Linhof, Pro Release, Rimowa, Rodenstock, Sirostar 2000
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In article <3687a772...@news.erols.com>, see.si...@erols.com (M
Bruce McFarland) wrote:
>Hello to all,
>
>I have available to me a Rodenstock Rotelar 270mm lens that seems to
>be in pretty good condition except for the shutter sticking at the low
>speeds, which just seems to be from inactivity. The price is
>attractive, but I can't seem to find any real information on the lens.
>I've checked DejaNews, the rodenstock website, the large format home
>page, and of course the search engines. I'm looking to find out any
>specifics on the lens, and any information would be much appreciated.
>
>1) Any idea about elements/groups ? 5 elements 2 groups
>
>2) Single or multi coated ? non multicoated
>
>3) True telephoto or not? true
>
>4) Circle of coverage ? 270 = 156mm @ f22
>
>5) Anyone out there have personal experiance with the lens ? Would I
>be better off waiting to get a later lens like a Sironar or one of the
>Schneiders ( would probably have to wait a while because of the $$ ) ?
Yes a later one is much better than an old tele.
Richard Knoppow
>Hello to all,
>
>I have available to me a Rodenstock Rotelar 270mm lens that seems to
>be in pretty good condition except for the shutter sticking at the low
>speeds, which just seems to be from inactivity. The price is
>attractive, but I can't seem to find any real information on the lens.
>I've checked DejaNews, the rodenstock website, the large format home
>page, and of course the search engines. I'm looking to find out any
>specifics on the lens, and any information would be much appreciated.
>
>1) Any idea about elements/groups ?
Arthur Cox's book shows it to be a five element lens with a cemented
two element front component, others air spaced.
>2) Single or multi coated ?
Will depend on age. I think this name has been in use by Rodenstock
for a long time. I don't have the catalogue sheets for the latest
version of this lens but it will be available from the distributor, HP
Marketing.
>3) True telephoto or not?
Yes
>4) Circle of coverage ?
Coverage angle is given by Cox as 35deg. This translates to a 170mm
image circle for a 270mm FL lens at infinity. Linhof lists this lens
in _Linhof Practice_ 4th ed. (1963) giving the coverage as 160mm at
infinity and f/22. In any case, telephoto lenses have very limited
coverage and generally do not allow for camera movements.
Controlling movements would be difficult anyway since the nodes of
the lens are displaced from the physical lens (thats what makes it a
telephoto).
>5) Anyone out there have personal experiance with the lens ? Would I
>be better off waiting to get a later lens like a Sironar or one of the
>Schneiders ( would probably have to wait a while because of the $$ ) ?
>
This depends more on the application than on anything else.
Telephoto lenses are useful for getting long focal lengths on cameras
which do not have the bellows draw for a normal lens of the same FL
but they have some limitations. If you can use a normal lens of this
focal length I would advise that rather than the tele.
Sironar or Symmar lenses are not necessarily later. All these lenses
were available in the late 1950's and after. While current lenses are
exceptional in quality often the difference in practical use between a
current lens and one built thirty years ago is minimal and the cost
difference quite large. A Sironar or Symmar will allow considerable
movement and will also function as a wide-angle lens for larger
formats. Either of the above in 270mm will cover an 8x10.
Shutters get sticky even when used but they get that way faster when
not used. Its a combination of the lubricant drying out and getting
gummy and the fine dust which the lubricant accumulates.
Getting a Compur or similar shutter properly serviced will cost on
the order of $75 US. This includes partial disassembly, cleaning,
relubricating and adjustments or minor repairs.
>Thanks in advance to all of you out there in large format land...
>
>
>
>
>Bruce McFarland
>302 - 455 - 0700
>Change the at to @
>mbmcf at erols.com
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, Ca.
dick...@ix.netcom.com