Yes......I've come full circle, after 7-8 years of experimenting w/combining hollow barrel shells/magnifiers/magnifying glass/junk lenses/taping/jury rigging to produce 'homemade' lenses which I'd hoped in my ignorance would mimic the early classic soft focus lenses, I've finally fashioned the Variable Positive Meniscus which incredibly does produce the look of the Pinkham & Smith Semi-Achromatic Series 1/Karl Struss classics.

My experiements started years ago w/Cyclops which was in fact several prototypes under that moniker, their common characteristics was that they produced softness in abundance, but mostly 'mush', and considering that I used a total ingnorance of any understanding of optics to produce these lenses, I was extremely lucky to get even that.

From then until now, I began to learn the rudiments of optics, the five Von Seidel aberrations, how an achromatic double was constructed, and some of the lens formulas that were used in these classic soft focus lenses.  I began to understand the length and breadth of what I DIDN'T KNOW, but I resolved to copy the construction of the Pinkham Semi-Achromatic Series 1 and Karl Struss classics anyway.

I used acc. adaptor rings to connect the front of a Large Format Goerz Artar barrel shell to an Ilex #5 shutter.   The Artar barrel had both 67mm acc. thread on both the front and rear of the barrel making it perfect for attaching accessories to this barrel. 

I then looked for an optics/glass manufacturer who would sell me the positive meniscus lens elements similar to the ones that were used in both the above mentioned Pinkham and Karl Struss classics and was able to purchase three positive meniscii w/a the diopter strength equal to 235mm, 286mm, and 400mm, with all three elements being the same diameter so I could exchange them at the rear of the Artar barrel.

These three meniscii were all 65mm in diameter and I was able to insert them into a 67mm male to male accessory sleeve which was sandwiched in between two 62mm-67mm step up rings where everthing was such a snug fit that the glass was centered so that when I screwed all of this into the rear of the Artar barrel, the center optical axis of the meniscii was lined up with the exact center axis of the Artar barrel.

The Variable Positive Meniscus is a little sharper at the foreground point of focus than both the Karl Struss and the Pinkham SA Series 1, and is easier to focus, but it has the same elegant transition from foreground clarity to a soft glow toward the background as the lenses it was based on.   I make no claim of having created anything, which I was never trying to do in the first place and I'm in fact very happy that I've been able to copy these classic lenses w/something that I was able to get to work despite my lack of knowledge of optics.  

Regardless of any of this, the lens is here, and I've uploaded the first shot from it, which is a Slink wound around a thing strip of Aluminum to hold its shape which I've modeled after a sine wave, and that's in fact what it's called, 'Sine Wave'.

I wanted to get this first pic uploaded first, I'll add pics of the actual lens later.

Take care

Hi,

here is the first attempt to my new Gundlach Acromatic Meniscus 18". It is only a bad scan and I am looking forward printing it because the halos are very nice. It is amazing what is possible with such an old lens. Thanks again to Jim!

All the best

stefan d

I shot these using a Wolly-Focus 5 and Arista litho film.  Litho film is orthochromatic and fussy.  I developed it in Dektol 1:12 under a red safety light. The results are very retro. 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

George

I lied -- This was with a MeteorSatz (Rodenstock) casket-set

This is a historical place in upper New Jersey.  I used the trusty Verito on 8x10 Foma 200. This is a scanned in negative on which PS work has been performed. I haven't had a chance to do a wet print yet.

George

Here are again some new ones with my Verito. Its from the Island Gomera where the forests are absolute wonderful!

All the best from Berlin

stefan d