Who are we?  Featured Cameras  Articles  Instruction Manuals  Repair Manuals  The Classic Camera Repair Forum  Books  View/Sign Guestbook

Information sought on SOM Berthiot lens? Log in | Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Classic Camera Repair » Archives-2004 » Information sought on SOM Berthiot lens? « Previous Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Matthew Padden

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 03:29 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi,

A friend has sent me a lens assembly from an old SEM camera, which I'm planning to use in a custom panoramic I'm building. However, I'm not sure how complete the assembly I have is. I'm wondering if anyone knows much about these lenses? I _think_ it's from a TLR camera, but I couldn't be sure; if it is then I have only the taking lens.

The information around the lens barrel is as follows:

FLOR 1:3.5 f=75 SOM BERTHIOT P43400

The aperture control seems to work, as does the shutter.

If it helps I can provide an image of the various pieces I have.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Matthew Padden
Glasgow, UK
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Winfried

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, April 25, 2004 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

This obviously is the taking lens from the french Semflex TLR. I have one of these with the same lens designator. The shutter is made by SEM as well and usually has the OREC designator, it comes in two flavours, one with 1/10 to 1/400 and one with 1 sec to 1/400. The viewing lenses of the Semflex had the same design but f/2.8.

Berthiot lenses have a good reputation. The Flor lens is a 4-element Tessar type design. Some french 6x9 folders have a Berthiot Special lens (usually f/4.5 or f/3.5 and 105mm) which perform quite well, too.

The lens you have will cover the 6x6 format, I am not sure how you are going to use it on a panoramic camera?

If you do not have any idea how to use it, maybe I would buy it - the lens and the shutter on my Semflex do not work too well since they were stored in a humid place for years - I could save it just before it was totally corroded.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Matthew Padden

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 02:17 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

Hi Winfried,

Thanks for the lens information. The one I have has a shutter which does 1/10 to 1/400 I believe.

The panoramic camera is an idea based on a Dirk Fletcher design, using the body of a Nimslo 3D camera and an appropriate lens. The Nimslo exposes a 35mm double-width negative area, so by using a medium format lens you can get a good panoramic result.

Having looked at a few sites, it seems that my lens is missing at least some parts; the aperture and speed indicator rings and the 'figure-8' lens mount, among others. However I'm glad to hear the lenses are well-regarded. I should be able to figture out a way to mount the lens and work out the aperture and speed settings (hopefully!).

Best regards,
Matthew Padden
Glasgow, UK
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Winfried

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, April 26, 2004 - 03:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Moderator/Admin only)

I see... even if you would have decided NOT to use this lens I hardly will be able to use it on my Semflex due to missing parts.

However, Dirk Fletcher is not the first one having the idea to convert a Nimslo body to a panoramic camera.

See

http://www.panoramakameras.de/24x73.htm

for one of the panoramic designs of Mr Graumann. He also uses Mamiya rollfilm backs (for 120 format panoramic cameras), FED-Stereo bodies and a 35mm repro cartridge with integrated transport mechanism made by the czech company Meopta.

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Bold text Italics Underline Create a hyperlink Insert a clipart image

Username: Posting Information:
This is a private posting area. Only registered users and moderators may post messages here.
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action:

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | User List | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration