Wollensak 50mm f1.5 Anastigmat

[Toby]

This seems to be an early oscillo lens in a shutter. I know of several other versions of the lens, including a Raptar and Oscillo-Raptar, but this appears to be the first version. I heard somewhere that after seeing this lens Wollie was asked to produce lenses specifically for recording off CRT screens. The Anastigmats predated the Raptars and Amatons, AFAIK, and definitely had less field curavature than the Raptars particuarly (engineered to keep the image sharp across a curved CRT screen). It has pretty wild bokeh, just to my taste, of course. Interestingly, as one moves from f1.5 to f2.0 the spherical aberration glow not only decreases markedly, but the bokeh itself becomes swirly. Have a look at some first tries on a Sony A7RII. Check out #s 3&4 and 5&6 to see how the bokeh changes between f1.5 and f2.0

[Airy]

Quite tasty indeed. And what happens if you stop it further down (if at all possible ?)

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Looking good Toby!

Was that the lens they used for the early atomic weapon testing? If I remember correctly there was this one, a Nikon 1.5/50mm and another one...

[Frank Fremerey]

very special and dreamy

[bobfriedman]

nice..

[Toby]

Looking good Toby!

Was that the lens they used for the early atomic weapon testing? If I remember correctly there was this one, a Nikon 1.5/50mm and another one...

Hi Klaus,
It well could have been used in those days, it is from that era, mounted in a Rapax shutter. Interestingly the serial number does not start with a letter, indicating that it is certainly an earlier model. My understanding is that one of the scientific companies used this lens on early oscilloscopes and asked Wollensak to manufacture a lens specifically for oscilloscopes, which is where the Wollensak Oscillo-Anastigmats, Amatons and Raptars came from. There were a couple of later models, including a 51mm f1.5 Raptar and 51mm Anastigmat as well.

[Dr Klaus Schmitt]

Hi Klaus,
It well could have been used in those days, it is from that era, mounted in a Rapax shutter. Interestingly the serial number does not start with a letter, indicating that it is certainly an earlier model. My understanding is that one of the scientific companies used this lens on early oscilloscopes and asked Wollensak to manufacture a lens specifically for oscilloscopes, which is where the Wollensak Oscillo-Anastigmats, Amatons and Raptars came from. There were a couple of later models, including a 51mm f1.5 Raptar and 51mm Anastigmat as well.

Yep, that f1.5/51mm RAPTAR was that lens which co-existed for those tests with the special thread mounted 1.4/50mm Nikkor-S. Nikon stopped making those, so they had to switch makers... This is that Nikkor-S: http://www.macrolenses.de/ml_detail.php?ObjektiveNr=37

[Jakov Minić]

Spectacular results, Toby!
I see how you are enjoying this lens!

[gryphon1911]

That is quite an interesting rendition that lens produces.  You are using it well.  Thanks for sharing.

[radarguy101@gmail.com]

How are you using this lens with your modern camera?  Are you using the Rapax shutter or the camera's shutter? And how are you mounting it?  I really do like the photos you present.

[Termite]

The bokeh/rendering in picture 8 really works well together with the water drops on the rose. Nice!

[Thomas Stellwag]

extraordinary pictures - thx for sharing