Soft Focus lens for ROC Reversible Back Premo Whole Plate size

[chris schwer]

Hello,

I have and love a 6 1/2 X 8 1/2 Rochester optical Reversible Back Premo camera. It has a very small lens board which measures 3.5"x3.5" I am looking for a vintage soft focus lens in a portrait focal length which will fit on a board this small.
I have not been able to come up with anything that will work. I had an English half-plate petzval which fit but the focal length is just too short. I do not need a petzval lens although it would be great. I could be happy with a Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 4.5 if I could figure out a way to mount it on the camera. This particular camera is such a joy to use. It has been my favorite vintage view camera to date. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Fotoguy20d]

You might want to try the front glass of your petzval. Remove it from the barrel and it'll have loads of coverage and around double the focal length.

Dan

[chris schwer]

Thanks Dan,
I will give that a try.... I just managed to buy two original ROC Lens boards uncut and unused.... they match the camera perfectly.

best... Chris

[jnanian]

hi chris,

you might also look in the classifieds section here ..
reinhold ( an apug member ) makes beautiful wollaston soft focus lenses
and they are very affordable. you might see if one of the ones he is selling
will work for you ...

good luck !
john

[phfitz]

"I am looking for a vintage soft focus lens in a portrait focal length which will fit on a board this small."

Emil Busch Rathenow "Busch Bis-Telar #3 16" f/7".
Great look to it and a nice focal length for whole plate, I use mine on 5x7.
Jim Gali had one for sale recently, ask him if it is still available..

[cyberjunkie]

"I am looking for a vintage soft focus lens in a portrait focal length which will fit on a board this small."

Emil Busch Rathenow "Busch Bis-Telar #3 16" f/7".
..

I don't think the Bis-Telar qualifies as "soft-focus", i guess it's simply not-too-sharp.
Most (all?) old tele designs shared that "feature".
They can be a cheap solution, if you want to take portraits, but you'll get just a hint of softness, don't expect the "glow" shown by true soft-focus lenses, or the "swirliness" shown by petzvals (and some projection triplets) used beyond the intended format.

phfitz, do you want a shuttered lens?
If you can do without a shutter, or use a front-mounted one, there is some choice.
If you want a modern shutter, check first the dimension of a Betax No.5 flange. If it fits, shop for a Velostigmat Series II or an Ilex Paragon Series A, WITH soft-focus adjustment (most of them don't have it).
MOST "soft" and "portrait" lenses have no modern shutter AND are too big for your lensboard.
The solution could be a "landscape" meniscus of the right focal, which can be separated from its diaphragm.
You will have the choice to use the lens as-is, or wide open, and the size of the flange would be a perfect fit for a small lensboard.
If you want, you can supplement the lens with a small (= cheap) front shutter, like a Zettor, Luc, Silens, etc.
If you are patient, and shop carefully, you would spend 1/3 the cost of the most affordable soft-focus lens.

If you need more details, feel free to send me a PM.

have fun

CJ

Sent from my Android tablet

[chris schwer]

"I am looking for a vintage soft focus lens in a portrait focal length which will fit on a board this small."

Emil Busch Rathenow "Busch Bis-Telar #3 16" f/7".
Great look to it and a nice focal length for whole plate, I use mine on 5x7.
Jim Gali had one for sale recently, ask him if it is still available..

Thanks so much for the suggestions...I will check these out!

[chris schwer]

Thanks CJ,

These are great suggestions... I have an adapter board that came with the camera... It is a vintage thing made to accommodate lenses that are a little larger. The camera came with a 14" Zeiss Anastigmat in a B&L Iris Diaphragm shutter. A betas #5 may fit on that... I will check. A brass landscape lens separated from the diaphragm was what I had been trying to find. I have a a couple of front mounted packard shutters in large and small sizes so shuttering a lens is not a problem. I am so fond of this camera that all the trouble to find the lens seems worth it! Thanks again

Best... Chris