[Leica] IMG: A Morning with the Old Ross Lens

[Jim Nichols]

Hi Peter,

I sent that info to Aram earlier today.  I am going to attempt to paste 
it here.

My lens was designed to mount on a wooden lens board of the type used by
the old 5x7 and 8x10 view cameras.  The lens threads into a flanged
attachment mount that, in turn, fastens to a lens board with 3 screws.
So, I guess the answer is "yes", I had to fabricate a mount.

Here is the lens screwed into the flanged mount, with one screw hole
showing.

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Ross+Lens+2.jpg.html

I needed extra extension distance, so I fastened the flange to a thick
wooden "lens board".  On the back of the lens board, I glued a flange
removed from the rear of an old M42 lens that was no longer
serviceable.  I also used one tiny nail, in case the glue failed.  Here
it is seen screwed onto a Pentax M42 bellows, attached with an M42 to
Oly 4/3 adapter to my E-1.

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Final+Assembly.jpg.html

Jim Nichols
Tullahoma, TN USA

On 9/2/2016 3:25 PM, Peter Dzwig wrote:
> They are indeed very good. The quality of the images is astonishing considering
> the age of the glass. How did you mount it on the XE-1?
>
> I guess this is equivalent to about a 260mm lens (8" x 25.4mm) x 1.3 crop factor?
>
> Peter
>
>
> On 01/09/2016 18:14, Jim Nichols wrote:
>> I mounted the Ross London No. 6 Symmetrical Lens, circa 1890, on the Fuji X-E1
>> and a tripod, and went for a walk in the back yard. I came upon a very
>> cooperative (for a while) Gulf Fritillary that allowed me to grab a few shots.
>>
>> Resting on a branch:
>>
>> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Gulf+Fritillary+on+Branch.tif.html
>>
>> On a small bush:
>> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Gulf+Fritillary+on+Bush.tif.html
>>
>> Then I moved on to the Sedum plants and found a lot of small insects.  A
>> Pennsylvania Leatherwing, or Soldier Beetle, was sharing space with the first
>> Gray Hairstreak butterfly that I have ever seen:
>> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Sedum+with+Soldier+Beetle+and+Gray+Hairstreak.tif.html
>>
>>
>> To appreciate what this old lens can do, please view the last two images LARGE.
>>
>> Comments and critiques welcomed and appreciated.
>>