For sale is a visually beautiful antique brass Magister Rapid Rectilinear 6½ × 8½ large format lens. This is a fantastic piece for a collector, display, or an alternative-process photographer looking for excellent glass.
- Optics: Outstanding condition for its age. The glass elements are clean. There is NO optical separation, NO fungus, and NO heavy clouding or deep haze.
- Mechanics (Please Read): The internal diaphragm selector ring is currently frozen/stuck at f/8. The front and rear lens cells are tightly threaded into the barrel and have not been forced to prevent damage. It is being sold strictly As-Is / For Restoration or Display.
- WET-PLATE READY: Fortuitously, the lens is frozen wide open at f/8. Because Rapid Rectilinear lenses are almost exclusively shot wide open for wet-plate collodion and alternative processes to maximize light entry, this lens is fully usable as a fixed-aperture portrait lens right out of the box!
- Cosmetics & Accessories: The brass retains a gorgeous, authentic vintage patina with deep, highly legible engraved lettering. Comes complete with its original brass lens hood and the matching brass mounting flange ring.
- Because
it is frozen wide open at f/8, it can still be used immediately
for wet-plate collodion or large-format photography, or it makes a
straightforward restoration project for someone experienced with
brass thread solvents.
- A beautiful lens ready to mount on a camera for display
- Please ask questions..I have not used this lens..Has been displayed in a show case. Selling as is
- shipping to lower 48 states priority mail