[LargeFormat] Test of Lens and Old Film

[Richard Knoppow]

   I made a couple of test shots today with the 13" 
Wollensak lens I recemented. A couple of these shots were 
made on very old film that had been left in some holders for 
perhaps ten years. Two sheets of Agfapan APX-100 and two 
sheets of Plus-X Pan. Both films were shot at EI-50. The 
Agfa film was processed in D-76 1:1 for about 12 minutes at 
close to 80F (its really hot here). Both negatives are badly 
fogged.
  The second shots were also processed in D-76 1:1 for about 
7 minutes, again at nearly 80F. I added Potassium bromide to 
the working solution at the rate of 2 grams per liter of 
diluted developer. The negatives are fog free and have good 
shadow detail. I haven't printed them yet but they look like 
good negatives. Perhaps the difference was not the bromide 
but I pass it along anyway.
   The shots on Agfa film showed considerable camera 
vibration. When I shot the ones on Plus-X I used a different 
tripod and made sure things were stable. The result is a 
very sharp image. The combined lens seems to be very good to 
excellent, the rear cell alone is respectible but at f/32 
shows some loss of sharpness at the edges, not surprizing.
  Anyway it was pleasing to see that the lens works well 
since it was useless when I got it and not worth the cost of 
having it recemented by a pro.

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Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk at ix.netcom.com