The estate sale ad read, "cameras and darkroom equipmen

[ravnostic]

I think I’m going to have fun with the Argus cameras; I’ll try both with a roll of film, but I’m hoping the 1940 one works as good as the other (bragging rights, etc.)

As for the projector and lens, I’m afraid I won’t be able to let them go. Originally I thought I’d make back more than I paid for everything by selling it, but after toying with the lens in the most-crude of fashions, I’m too impressed to give it up. Given the f/2 of the Darlot and f/.5 of the 4.5″ lens, it’s a true-macro (I think–no?). All I have to do is gerry-rig my camera into proper position within the housing, and I could have a very, very nifty toy.

However, I just saw a whole projector go for $135 on ebay the other day, and it was more complete than mine. I think since it wasn’t listed under ‘Darlot’, the seekers of that lens might have overlooked it. Keep an eye out for ‘magic projector’, you might do as well.

It’s a sweet, sweet lens. Ironically the companion lens isn’t much better than green glass (complete with tiny bubbles) but, in tandem, they work beautifully.

Should I see anything (and I’m going to continue hunting the photography oriented estate sales), I’ll either let you know, or buy another and give you options on whichever lens I’m willing to part with.

[soosh]

I’ve got two old projectors, that I’m going to have to take a closer look at their lenses now.

Does it have any sort of adjustable aperture to it, or is it fixed?

[sleeping]

Ironically the companion lens isn’t much better than green glass (complete with tiny bubbles) but, in tandem, they work beautifully.

Are you sure the second lens was in the optical path of the projected slide? It sounds might be a modifier for the light source rather than part of the actual projection.

[Elsinore]

The f/stop numbers don’t indicate macro–that’s just how much light they let in relative to the focal length. Macro just refers to the ability to focus close enough and provide enough magnification that the subject’s size on the focal plane is lifesize.

[sleeping]

Yeah, for a simple lens, to get to 1:1 you need extension of 2x the focal length from the imaging plane (infinity is at 1x)

[ravnostic]

I’ve got two old projectors, that I’m going to have to take a closer look at their lenses now.

Does it have any sort of adjustable aperture to it, or is it fixed?

Completely fixed; the adjustment knob just moves the lens assembly back and forth for focusing an image on the wall.

Are you sure the second lens was in the optical path of the projected slide? It sounds might be a modifier for the light source rather than part of the actual projection.

The slide would fit between the two lenses, so I guess you’d be correct on that. However, for my purposes, the two would be used in tandem. If I didn’t have the whole thing taken apart at the moment, I’d stick my camera in there and get you a shot (I might put it together and do so anyway, though I don’t have a good subject in mind.)

The f/stop numbers don’t indicate macro–that’s just how much light they let in relative to the focal length. Macro just refers to the ability to focus close enough and provide enough magnification that the subject’s size on the focal plane is lifesize.

O-righty-then. Don’t need the larger lens for that (see flower pic, above; taken about 1-2″ from it with just the Darlot and my camera in tandem).

Yeah, for a simple lens, to get to 1:1 you need extension of 2x the focal length from the imaging plane (infinity is at 1x)

Okay, you lost me. Imagine my camera w/it’s 55-80mm set at 80 (sensor 24mm), then through the Darlot (which is also 80mm, apeture 40mm). Close? Therabouts? Either way, it’s better than what I’d been getting.

[sleeping]

Macro magnification isn’t the same thing as magnification for a telescope at all, I don’t believe. Basically, if the lens focal length is 100mm then if the lens-sensor distance is 100mm you’re focused at infinity. If the distance is 200mm you’re focused at 1:1 magnification. Aperture is irrelevant to this, as is sensor size.

[ravnostic]

Then it’s not the same; in telescopes, they don’t so much talk about ratios except in relation to exposure times; and the receiving sensor (whether the human eyeball or lens) is always factored in in regards to ‘powers’ (i.e., 100x, 200x etc.)

[ravnostic]

Another estate sale today; ‘vintage cameras’ listed. 😉 I’ll be there. This hobby is highly addictive. Cameras are the new crack. (Looks like a nice tripod in the mix, but no pictures of cameras; just have to go see. Dead guy was a pharmacist; lot’s of vintage glass that I’ll probably pick up.)

[Author]

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