Goerz Dagor 168mm f6.8 lens

[Anton Lukoszevieze]

I just picked up a Dagor to use on my 9x12 camera and have read that it has a large coverage, even up to 8x10, stopped down. Is this correct? Also it doesn't have a series number, just Goerz, Berlin Anastigmat-Dagor. I think from the serial it is early 20's. So, this is a nice lens yes, as in famous Dagor? These 20's lenses are becoming my favourite, Tessar and Heliar also, wonderful.

[bdial]

I have one of these, yes, it covers 8x10. It's the only Dagor I have used, and I haven't used it very much, so I can't say how it compares.

[Ugo Dap]

I have it too. Very nice lens for alt processes, I made cyanotype still life in my gallery with it. If wide open it has some sort of glow which might have influence on density (pardon my eng.).

Cheers,
Ugo.

[Ian Grant]

A normal Dagor (Goerz AM Opt) 165mm will cover 7"x9" @ f45 and 5"x8" @ f16, the much later AM Opt 6½" WA Dagor only covers 10x8 @f45t, so I think your German 168mm will be quite similar to the US 165mm in it's coverage.

Ian

[David A. Goldfarb]

I have it as well, and it does cover 8x10". There could be some variation among these, since coverage can depend on the cell spacing in the shutter and the diameter of the shutter opening.

[JPD]

I have one also, but in an empty Compur. The cells have special threads, so it seems impossible to find another shutter for them. How good is the lens, really? Is it worth to have a "new" shutter machined to fit the cells?

[Ian Grant]

My 12" Dagor (Goerz AM Opt) is wonderful, but how much I'd spend on re-shuttering another I'm not sure

I'd test it first using a Packard or Thornton Pickard shutter, but does yours have the aperture control still. You are caught by the lack of a standard in older Compurs.

Ian

[Anton Lukoszevieze]

I just use f64.........and 25asa film, long exposures I know, but can be good.

[JPD]

My 12" Dagor (Goerz AM Opt) is wonderful, but how much I'd spend on re-shuttering another I'm not sure

I'd test it first using a Packard or Thornton Pickard shutter, but does yours have the aperture control still. You are caught by the lack of a standard in older Compurs.

Darn, I always forget that my father can make adapters for me if I can persuade him to visit his old workplace. I would get them free.

Yes, the Compur still has the aperture mechanism, so maybe I should try it with slow film, as Anton suggests. I could use a loose fitting lens cap, remove it for exposure, and then cover the lens with my hand and slide the darkslide back.

I have two Dagors in working shutters, one 10 and one 13cm, plus a Steinheil Orthostigmat 13,5cm, Zeiss Doppel-Amatar 13,5cm and a RÜO Iricentor 18cm, so I'm in no hurry - but it doesn't feel good to have a lens I can't use.

[JPD]

Darn, I always forget that my father can make adapters for me if I can persuade him to visit his old workplace. I would get them free.

I talked to him yesterday about it. He's very reluctant, but agreed to take a look at the lens cells and shutters.