I may have the opportunity to buy a Rodentstock Apo Ronar 520mm lens and was wondering if the more experienced members of the forum could comment on its characteristics. Is it suitable as a telephoto for 4x5? Or is it intended for 8x10?

I haven't seen the lens yet but it is said to be in very good condition but is not in a shutter as far as I can gather. What shutter would be suitable?

I am still at the stage where I don't really understand shutters in any detail (the two lenses I have were already in shutter and mounted on a lens board) so if you make the assumption that my understanding is limited that will be about the right level to pitch any comments.

Thanks in advance.

-- Andrew Watt (SVGDeveloper@aol.com), September 07, 2001

Answers

The 520 does not fit any shutter without custom mounting.

You bought a lens from a graphic arts process camera.

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), September 07, 2001.

Bob,

As I indicated it was and is a *possible* purchase. I haven't bought anything at this stage.

I assume that custom mounting in a shutter will be a pretty expensive process, so it on the face of it purchase doesn't seem too good an idea unless the lens were very cheap.

If custom mounted (and how expensive might that be?) do the qualities of the lens justify even thinking of that possibility?

-- Andrew Watt (SVGDeveloper@aol.com), September 07, 2001.

Why a 520 over a 480?

Call and we can discuss this 800 735 4373

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), September 07, 2001.

On the custom mounting question check out Steve Grimes web page . Chances are you'd be getting custom mounting on a Copal 3 shutter. The shutter and mounting will likely run you in excess of $500.

-- Donald Brewster (dpbrewster@prodigy.net), September 07, 2001.

"On the custom mounting question check out Steve Grimes web page . Chances are you'd be getting custom mounting on a Copal 3 shutter. The shutter and mounting will likely run you in excess of $500. "

The opening of a Copal 3 shutter is too small for a 520 or longer Apo Ronar to be an f9.0 lens. It would have a open aperture in a Copal 3 of f11 or smaller.

You can see this with the 480 Apo Ronar which is the longest one that fits a 3 shutter.

In a Copal 3 it is an f9 lens in a Compur 3 it is an f11 lens. The same happened to the 480 Apo Sironar N. In Copal 3 it's an 8.4 but in a Compur it's an f9.

However the question remains if a 520 is really needed?

A 480mm lens on 45 has a horizontal angle of view of 14.5° which is the same as a 140mm on 35mm.

A 500mm lens on 45 hsa a horizontal angle of view of 14° and a 600mm lens is about 11°

The 480 will do almost as much as the 520 at lower weight, smaller filter, etc and fit a standard shutter.

Of course there are a lot of long process lenses being cleared out from print shops so the price in NF mount is very attractive.

-- Bob Salomon (bob@hpmarketingcorp.com), September 07, 2001.