Re: MicroPress 4x5 question

"Thor Lancelot Simon" <tls@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> skrev i en meddelelse 
news:fgfkq1$nqq$1@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> In article <13ikncss2g3ls1a@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>,
> Nicholas O. Lindan <see@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>"Max Perl" <max_perl@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote
>>
>>> The camera came with a Xenar 135/4.7 lens. Is this an OK performer?
>>
>>Variable, some are good, some not so good -- you would have to
>>test and make your own decision.  Best performance will be at f22.
>
> To emphasize what Nicholas said, the major problem with older Schneider
> lenses is that their quality control was terrible until some time in the
> 1960s (a rough estimate of my own; Richard may know more precisely). 
The
> basic design is fine though in general a higher-end example of this same
> design type (such as a Kodak Ektar) would probably perform better and
not
> cost much to acquire.
>
> The high-end Schneider lens for press cameras was the Xenotar, but even
> with those (which have a much more complex design which should offer
> considerably better performance at wide apertures than the Xenar) there
> is the curse of inconsistent Schneider quality control for most of the
> press-camera era.  If you are in love with your press camera and want
> the best lens money can buy, there is a very rare 135mm Zeiss Planar
> (a few were even made with modern "T*" multicoating) that is the ne plus
> ultra of press lenses, but you could literally buy twenty press cameras
> on eBay for what it is likely to cost if you can find one.
>

It was just for fun I purchased this camera.......as I got it for about
$150 
with
lens. It has a FP shutter which makes it suitable to use with lenses with
no
shutter. The lens plate seems also to be quite simple. But I will try the 
135/4.7
Xenar and see how it performs. The LF Nikkors are not to bad I think.....
I am interrested in photo history and I never heard about the english MPP
company before I got this camera. The FP shutter they used looks identical
to some used on Graflex cameras. 4x5" FP shutter........never heard about
this before either.