I snagged a magic lantern projector off Ebay for $119 for it’s Darlot Lens. I slapped the lens on the Speed Graphic and loaded some precious FP-3000B and snapped a photo.
The results seem promising.
The projector came with a few interesting items; a chrome slide, a couple of 4″ convex lens, and rather large, old light bulb. I’ve yet to test it on wet plate.
I feel a bit guilty for taking this item apart.
5×7 Black Aluminum
10″ A.T. Thompson Petzval
12 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN
First BGA and I really like the deeper black on these. The weight of the plate gives a substantial feel to it compared to tins. Unfortunately, these guys cost 4 times more than clear glass.
I’m starting to get “iodide holes” – I guess it’s time for silver maintenance.
4×6 BGA
E.H. Hardy Petzval (~9″, f/3.5)
4 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN
5×7 CGA
A.T. Thomson Petzval (~9″, ~f/5)
2.5 seconds, wide open
OWH
“Market Pantry” Vinegar Developer
KCN
Scored a Darlot Portrait Lens last month at the Camera Show. It was a bargain considering these brassies have gone up considerably with the resurgence of wet plate collodion and the petzval mongers. It’s an 8×10 lens size 4-4 with a back focus of 10.5″; it looks it could be used on an 11×14 format in portrait distance. I found some details on this lens from an 1890 catalog, of course nothing beats an actual image from it which I plan on making this weekend. I made a leather lens cap for it.
A Real Darlot
Darlot Portrait Lens 1890 Catalog
The lens cost $32 in 1890, in today’s dollar it would be about $800 – about the price I would ask for.
