Graflex Optar Large Format Lenses
Folmer Graflex filed for a trademark on Monday June 22nd, 1942 for the name "Optar". In their filing they stated that the name "Optar" was first used on May 8th, 1942. They were awarded the trademark for "Optar" on October 27th, 1942. So the oldest Optar lenses date to 1942.
Serial numbers range from at least 289,xxx to 929,xxx. I have not been able to find any source that can date Optar lenses based on the lens serial numbers. If you have an Optar lens that the serial number is outside this range please let me know.
Here's a chart of Graflex Optar large format lenses. As you can see it is missing a lot of information. If you have any information on the Optars please send it to me so that I can update my chart. Thanks!
| Graflex Optar Lenses | ||||||||
| FL mm | FL Inch | Title | F/Stop | Min F stop | Shutter | Filter size | Format | Notes |
| 65mm | 2 1/2 | Optar WA | f/6.8 | f/32 | Graphex (no. 1) | 33mm or 1 5/16" slip-on - My copy uses 34mm slip-on. | 2x3 | 1 3/16" mounting hole (30.16mm) |
| 90mm | 3 1/2 | Optar WA | f/6.8 | f/32 | Graphex (no. 1) | 31.5mm or 1 1/4" slip-on | 4x5 | 1 3/16" mounting hole (30.16mm) |
| 90mm | Optar | f/4.5 | f/32 | Barrel | ||||
| 101mm | Optar | f/4.5 | f/32 | Graphex (no. 1) | 31.5mm or 1 1/4" slip-on | 2x3 | 1 3/16" mounting hole (30.16mm) | |
| 127mm | Optar | f/4.5 | Graphex | |||||
| 135mm | Optar | f/4.7 | f/32 | Graphex | 38mm or 1.5" slip-on | 4x5 | 34.6mm mounting hole # 0 Shutter | |
| 135mm | Rodenstock-Optar | f/4.5 | f/32 | Graphex 1000 | Series VI | |||
| 162mm | 6 3/8" | Optar | f/4.5 | f/32 | Graphex | |||
| 190mm | Optar | Auto Diaphragm for Super D Graflex | ||||||
| 20cm | 8 | Tele-Optar | f/5.6 | f/32 | Graphex | 42.5mm scew in or 1 3/4" slip on | 2x3 | |
| 203mm | 8 | Optar | f/7.5 | f/32 | Graphex (no. 2) | 39.5mm or 1 9/16" slip on | ||
| 25cm | 10 | Tele-Optar | f/5.6 | f/32 | Graphex | 55mm | 4x5 | |
| 270mm | Tele-Optar | |||||||
| 270mm | Rodenstock Tele-Optar | f/6.5 | Graphex 1000 | |||||
| 38cm | 15 | Tele-Optar | f/5.6 | f/32 | Barrel | 4x5 | ||
| Compiled by Anthony Oresteen - with a lot of help from photo.net and graflex.org members! | ||||||||
Kontact me by aoresteen
att oresteen dotttt komm.
Thanks!
07/27/2017