Crown Graphic

[Mike1234]

At these prices... all the more push to break these systems apart and sell them off in bits.

[John R.]

With this description, I would guess the going price to be in the $100 to $150 range. I bought a Speed with an equivalent lens, etc for $75. Even at shows a Crown without a Graflock back is generally tough to sell. The 135 Optar is OK, but not a prize. I'd keep looking.

From my experience I think the 135 Optar is better than "OK". Maybe that means mine is just performing better than some others out there or perhaps there are other camera issues playing a roll with the results others may be realizing. I have shot mostly Fuji FP-100c with my Speed and the 135 Optar. The images are nice and crisp, good contrast and natural color, exposure is even across the format with no obvious fall off in density or sharpness. Having said that, the images were not shot in what I would call critical conditions with high flare, back lighting and other situations that can cause issues with some lenses. I also have had very good performance from the Graphex leaf shutter. I am confident one will gain performance using an Ektar over the Optar with a Graflex but once again it depends on what is being photographed. I use a 14" Commercial Ektar on an 8x10 and that particular lens always amazes me how well it performs compared to modern lenses. My opinion is that if an older Graphic Speed or Crown has the Optar I would not walk away from a decent deal in pursuit of trying to obtain an Ektar version, even though a Ektar is a good optic. The Optar will certainly please many shooters, especially when a photographer considers it's age. I have no intentions of getting rid of mine, it does a fine job.

[Whiteymorange]

From my experience I think the 135 Optar is better than "OK"

"OK" is obviously relative, as is, I suspect, the performance of the lens in question. I have a number of Wollensak lenses and their performance varies from spectacular to not really very good at all; mushy and lacking in character. The deciding factor is certainly not original price or reputation. I think the age of most of these lenses brings in the "how they were treated" factor, but I also believe that manufacturing quality control varied over the years. Ok can be pretty darn good, I grant you. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an Optar, and I would expect it to perform pretty well - that's my definition of OK.

[mgb74]

A good point about specimen to specimen varying in a lens. Also keep in mind that, with view camera lenses this old, a given lens may have had a front or rear element group replaced. So we are left with the performance of a specific lens.

Also, while I think the price is high even from a dealer, you should expect to pay more from a store with a physical presence then a consumer-to-consumer deal.

[John R.]

A good point about specimen to specimen varying in a lens. Also keep in mind that, with view camera lenses this old, a given lens may have had a front or rear element group replaced. So we are left with the performance of a specific lens.

Also, while I think the price is high even from a dealer, you should expect to pay more from a store with a physical presence then a consumer-to-consumer deal.

Absolutely I agree, variation during that period of time in manufacturing is a factor contributing to performance. Specimen fluctuations even occur in modern optics as testing is not done item by item but randomly. I think it's important to understand that a specific lens series does have a baseline quality that can be evaluated through use and it seems the Optar has a decent reputation as I hear of very few complaints or issues about the lens. The older lenses like Optars and Ektars offer some unique looks, I think these lenses that Graflex chose to use can offer modern photographers a lot. There is a look that is hard to describe that the Optar produces which is completely unique to my normal modern Rodenstocks. My view is that a Optar can hold it's own very well in a given situation. I have not used an Optar with B&W yet but I believe the results will be quite satisfying based on how the lens has handled color.

It is absolutely correct that a person should expect to pay more through a dealer than through an individual. The store has to deal with day to day overhead expenditures and other associated costs.

[Pupfish]

The price is high for that Crown in today's market, at least twice what any educated buyer would be willing to pay. Graflok back ones are much more desirable.

One of the things that the Wollensak Raptars (Optars) and many normal-length Ektars had going for them resolution-wise was a smallish image circle. Yes, that's actually a plus with a press camera, at least with these older Tessar designs. They need stopped down to f/22, but coated ones can have resolution that's nothing short of astounding. Around center, equal to or actually better than just about anything more recent. If you want more than the most minimal tilts and swings on a 4x5 you'd need a camera with tilting back instead. Corners of my 135mm f/4.7 Raptars do show some CA; but this is not too shabby for a 60 year old, coated, lightweight, very inexpensive lens. Shoot 6x9 roll-film as I do with this lens on a Super Graphic, and you'll never notice it.

[BrianShaw]

"OK" is obviously relative, ... (snip) Ok can be pretty darn good, I grant you. I wouldn't hesitate to buy an Optar, and I would expect it to perform pretty well - that's my definition of OK.

Just as another data point... I have only experienced 135 Optars that are "better than OK" and wouldn't hesitate buying another either. I've found that consistent usage of a lens hood leads to consistently "better than OK" photographs.

The Optar 90s seem to have much more "OK-ness variation" than that 135s.

p.s. The asking price for the camera gear in the OP is high enough that I would walk away without even casually thinking about buying!

[photobum]

I have a very late model Crown in primo condition that came with the Schneider Xenar 135. Like the Optar very little coverage/movement. But the lens itself is the sharpest 135 I've seen or tested. It kills a 135 Rodenstock N that I had.

Anyway, that price is high. Is it a top rangerfinder? The top rangerfinder models have a battery box with a red button that shoots out a split focus beam in the dark. You can focus on a cave wall at midnight. I think the Crown is the best night/low light L/F camera ever made.