Bought Me A Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm F2.5 Lens

I know I said no more buying stuff but I could not resist this last gear buy. This purchase is something I have wanted for years. I bought a good condition Kodak Aero Ektar 178mm (7inch) F2.5 lens. This lens is world  famous because of its amazing bokeh at f2.5. My hope is to use this buy on my "Lost Innocence" brothel worker portrait series. I could also use it in wet plate and regular film photography, the cost was $1250 USD plus shipping. Another possible use could be to do 4x5 dump portraits in Mae Sot.

These lens were originally designed for aerial reconnaissance photography during World War II. At one point my lens helped find things to kill and or destroy. Lets now use this same lens to create something visually important and beautiful. Time to redeem your self Mr. Lens and redefine your purpose.

I will have many options on how to use this lens. I can use it in a Speed Graphic (with wind up focal plane shutter). I can use it with the Linhof 2000 4x5 camera (longer bellows = closer focusing) or with my 8x10 Masterview and 4x5  reducing back (possibly the 5x7 reducing back if there is enough coverage). I can use this film or wet plate photography. I might attach this lens to a separate shutter. SK Grimes will probably be able to do that for me.

This is the lens I bought and some incredible online bokeh Aero Ektar pics I found.

My new-used Aero Ektar 127mm F2.5 lens

Portrait made with Kodak Aero Ektar F2.5,  photographer F Peilesiak

Portrait made with Kodak Aero Ektar F2.5, photographer Kiran Bhat

Portrait made with a Kodak Aero Ektar F2.5, photographer Zach Boumeester

Portrait made with Kodak Aero Ektar F2.5, photographer Florien Weiler

Oh yes I should mention, this buy turned into quite a good deal. I bid quite a bit higher than the number I paid (Bid $2201 USD, probably a crazy high bid), so was very happy to pay $1250.

Here is the sellers advert and everything that is included in this one auction. (The seller turned out to be a very nice polite fellow).

AERO EKTAR SPEED GRAPHIC FINE ART 4 LENS KIT WITH LINHOF GRIP. AMAZING CAMERA!!!!

SPEED GRAPHIC IN EXCELLENT CONDITION [crack in the ground glass ,still perfectly usable]  FOCAL PLANE SHUTTER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION ,FABRIC AND SPEEDS ALL GOOD.

AERO EKTAR 178MM F2.5  MOUNTED ON A SPEED GRAPHIC LENS BOARD.     VERY GOOD USABLE CONDITION ,TAKES MARVELOUS SHOTS . BEAUTIFUL PORTRAIT AND LANDSCAPE LENS .MMM BOKEH . VERY CLEAR LENS , NOT BROWN LIKE SOME OF THEM .

TELE -XENAR 360 MM , F5.5  MOUNTED ON A SPEED GRAPHIC LENSBOARD     GOOD USABLE CONDITION ..LOVELY LANDSCAPE AND PORTRAIT LENS .WORKS REALL WELL ON THE SPEED GRAPHIC .

ANGULON 90MM, F6.8 .MOUNTED ON A SPEED GRAPHIC LENSBOARD  GREAT LANDSCAPE LENS IN A LINHOF GRADE PRONTOR -S SHUTTER .GOOD CONDITION 

SKINK PINHOLE ON SPEED GRAPHIC LENSBOARD .2 INTERCHANGEABLE PINHOLES .

LINHOF ANATOMICAL GRIP IN GOOD CONDITION FITTED TO THE SPEED GRAPHIC .

5 DOUBLE FILM HOLDERS IN GOOD CONDITION . LOADED WITH VELVIA 100.

50 SHEETS EFKE ASA 25 .DATED 2010 ,COOL STORED . 

ALL PACKED IN AN ALUMINUM CARRY CASE 

THIS IS AN AMAZING KIT THAT I HAVE USED FOR 20 YEARS AND MADE MY BEST PHOTOGRAPHS WITH .IT IS MORE FUN AND MORE INSTRUCTIVE THAT ANY CAMERA I HAVE EVER USED . A CRACK IN THE GROUND GLASS WHICH DOES NOT AFFECT USABILITY IS THE ONLY FAULT .

A MARVELOUS PHOTOGRAPHIC FINE ART TOOL .MAKES PHOTOGRAPHS UNLIKE ANY OTHER CAMERA I HAVE EVER USED .A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHER ..GOOD LUCK .

All the gear in the won auction