Soft Focus Lenses

My Most Used Large Format Soft Focus Lenses (8×10, Whole Plate, 5×7)

FL mmFL inchLensApertureSinar Mount
150mm6”Spencer Port-LandF/4.5Rear
220mm8 ¾”VeritoF/4Rear
228mm9”Spencer Port-LandF/4.5Rear
228mm9”TT Signature PictorialF/4Rear
250mm9 7/8” Wollaston MeniscusF/3.4Rear
266mm10 ½” TT Signature PictorialF/4.5Rear
275mm10 ¾”  Hermagis EidoscopeF/4.5Rear
292mm11 ½” VeritoF/4Front
305mm12”Kodak PortraitF/4.8Front
05mm12″TT Signature PictorialF5Front
330mm13”Cooke Series IIF/4.5Rear
335mm13 ¼” Wollaston MeniscusF/4.5Rear
375mm14 ¾” Hermagis EidoscopeF/4.5Front
380mm15″TT Signature PictorialF6Front
450mm17 ¾” TT Signature PictorialF/7.5Rear
457mm18″VeritoF4Front
500mm19 ¾” Wollaston MeniscusF/6.8Rear
600mm23 ½” TT Signature PictorialF/10Rear

Lens Characteristics

LensContrastGlowEdge DefinitionCenter SharpnessNotes
Port-Land9389Resilience themes, isolated trees, stark contrast with well-formed images
Verito5756Strength, solitude, atmospheric images with lower contrast
Ediscope 275mm5845Balanced glow, expressive forms with unique bokeh
Ediscope 375mm5823Max diffusion, ethereal transformations, unique bokeh
TT Signature7567Subtle glow, good contrast
Wollaston Meniscus31023Dreamlike, Painterly, soft and low contrast

I have an obsession with large and ultra large format soft focus lenses. Hopefully this chart will help you research and find the soft focus lens of your dreams.

Soft Focus
Maker Model Focal Length (in) Focal Length (mm) F/Stop Angle of View Image Circle (mm) Coverage
Wide Open
 Coverage
Stopped Down
 Coverage (1:1) Comments Source Barrel Shutter Variable Diffusion Coated
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 12
4.5

8 x 10

Symmetrical 17 Yes No Yes No
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 14 1/2
4.5

10 x 12

Symmetrical 17 Yes No Yes No
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 16 1/4
4.5

11 x 14

Symmetrical 17 Yes No Yes No
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 20
4.5

14 x 17

Symmetrical 17 Yes No Yes No
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 23 1/4
4.5

16 x 20

Symmetrical 17 Yes No Yes No
Crown Optical Co. Crown Anastigmat Series I 9 3/4
4.5

6 1/2 x 8 1/2

Symmetrical 17 Yes Yes Yes No
Dallmeyer Dallmeyer – Bergheim Lens 12 1/2 – 36
6.5 – 20

< Cabinet Cabinet

20 Yes No No No
Dallmeyer Dallmeyer – Bergheim Lens 25 – 49
8 – 12

8 1/2 x 6 1/2 15 x 12

20 Yes No No No
Dallmeyer Dallmeyer – Bergheim Lens 35 – 55
9 – 15

10 x 8 Life Size

20 Yes No No No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.1A 10
4

4 x 5

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.2A 13 1/2
4

5 x 7

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.3A 16
4

6 1/2 x 8 1/2

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.4A 18
4

8 x 10

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.5A 22
4

12 x 15

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series A No.6A 30
4

16 x 20

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series B No. 1B 6
3.5




Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series B No. 2B 8 1/4
3.5




Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series B No. 3B 11 1/2
3.5




Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Patent Portrait Lens Series B No. 4B 17
3.5

8 x 10

Front element screws in & out for soft focus 17 Yes No Yes No
Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 10
3.5





10 Yes No Yes Yes
Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 12
3.5





10 Yes No Yes Yes
Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 14
3.5





10 Yes No Yes Yes
Dallmeyer Portrait Anastigmat 9
3.5





10 Yes No Yes Yes
Dallmeyer Soft Focus 9 225 4.5

4 x 5 5 x 7

3 Yes No No Yes
Goerz Celor 12 300 5.6

8 x 10


3 Yes No No Yes
Goerz Celor 14 1/2 360 5.5

10 x 12


3 Yes No No Yes
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 10
6

5 x 7


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 13 1/2
6

6 1/2 x 8 1/2


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 15
6

8 x 10


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 16 1/4
6

8 x 10


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 18
6

8 x 10


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 5 1/4
6

3 1/4 x 4 1/4


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Achromatic Meniscus Portrait 7 1/2
6

4 x 5


28 Yes Yes No No
Gundlach Hyperion Diffusion Portrait 12
4

6 x1/2 x 8 x1/2

Front Focus: 30 Rear Focus: 18 28 Yes Yes Yes No
Gundlach Hyperion Diffusion Portrait 14
4

8 x 10

Front Focus: 36 Rear Focus: 20 28 Yes Yes Yes No
Gundlach Hyperion Diffusion Portrait 18
4

11 x 14

Front Focus: 36 Rear Focus: 36 28 Yes Yes Yes No
Gundlach Hyperion Diffusion Portrait 7
4

4 x 5

Front Focus: 18 Rear Focus: 10 28 Yes Yes Yes No
Gundlach Hyperion Diffusion Portrait 9
4

5 x 7

Front Focus: 21 Rear Focus: 15 28 Yes Yes Yes No
Gundlach (USA) Portrait 18 450 4

8 x 10


3 Yes No No Yes
Kodak Portrait Lens 12 300 4.5

8 x 10


3 Yes Yes No Yes
Sinclair Port-Land Soft Focus Lens 11 1/2
5.6

10 x 8


20 Yes No Yes No
Sinclair Port-Land Soft Focus Lens 15
5.6

14 x 11


20 Yes No Yes No
Sinclair Port-Land Soft Focus Lens 18
5.6

17 x 14


20 Yes No Yes No
Sinclair Port-Land Soft Focus Lens 6
4.5

5 x 4


20 Yes No Yes No
Sinclair Port-Land Soft Focus Lens 9
4.5

8 1/2 x 6 1/2


20 Yes No Yes No
Taylor Hobson Cooke Portrait Series IIE 10 1/2 270 4.5

8 x 5


8 Yes No Yes Yes
Taylor Hobson Cooke Portrait Series IIE 12 3/4 325 4.5

9 x 7


8 Yes No Yes Yes
Taylor Hobson Cooke Portrait Series IIE 15 380 4.5

10 x 8


8 Yes No Yes Yes
Taylor Hobson Cooke Portrait Series IIE 18 460 4.5

12 x 10


8 Yes No Yes Yes
Taylor Hobson Cooke Portrait Series IIE 20 508 4.5

15 x 12


8 Yes No Yes Yes
Taylor-Hobson Cook Series IIC Portrellic – Home Portrait 10 1/2
4.5

5 x 8


26 Yes No No No
Taylor-Hobson Cook Series IIC Portrellic – Home Portrait 12 3/4
4.5

7 x 9


26 Yes No No No
Taylor-Hobson Cook Series IIC Portrellic – Home Portrait 15
4.5

8 x 10


26 Yes No No No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIa Portric 10 1/2
3.5

5 x 7


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIa Portric 12 1/2
3.5

6 1/2 x 8 x1/2


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIa Portric 15
3.5

8 x 10


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIa Portric 9 1/2
3.5

4 3/4 x 6 1/2


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIb Portrellic 10 1/2
4.5

5 x 8



No No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIb Portrellic 12 3/4
4.5

7 x 9



No No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIb Portrellic 15
4.5

8 x 10



No No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series IIb Portrellic 18
4.5

10 x 12


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series VI Portronic 13
5.6

7 x 9


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series VI Portronic 15 1/2
5.6

8 x 10


26 Yes No Yes No
Taylor-Hobson Cooke Series VI Portronic 18
5.6

10 x 12


26 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series II 10 1/2
4.5

6 1/2 x 8 1/2


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series II 13
4.5

8 x 10


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series II 14 1/2
4.5

8 x 10


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series II 16
4.5

10 x 12


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series II 18
4.5

15 x 12


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IIA 10 1/2
3.5

7 x 5


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IIA 12 1/2
3.5

8 1/2 x 6 1/2


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IIA 15
3.5

10 x 8


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IID 15 380 3.5

8 x 10


3 Yes No No Yes
TTH Cooke Series IIE 18 450 4.5

11 x 14


3 Yes No No Yes
TTH Cooke Series IV 13
5.6

10 x 8


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IV 16
5.6

12 x 10


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series IV 18
5.6

15 x 12


20 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series VI 13
5.6

11 x 14


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series VI 16
5.6

12 x 15


17 Yes No Yes No
TTH Cooke Series VI 18
5.6

16 x 18


17 Yes No Yes No
Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 12
4.5

8 x 10


17 Yes No Yes No
Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 15 1/2
4.5

11 x 14


17 Yes No Yes No
Wollensak Velostigmat Series II 9 1/2
4.5

6 1/2 x / 1/2


17 Yes Yes Yes No
Wollensak Veritar 10 254 6

5 x 7


23 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Veritar 14 356 6

8 x 10


23 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 11 1/2 292 4

5 x 7


3 Yes Yes No Yes
Wollensak Verito 11 1/2
4

6 1/2 x 8 1/2

Rear Element Focus 20 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 14 1/2
4

8 x 10

Rear Element Focus 24 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 14 1/2 360 4

8 x 10


3 Yes Yes No Yes
Wollensak Verito 18
4

11 x 14

Rear Element Focus 30 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 18 450 4

8 x 10


3 Yes No No Yes
Wollensak Verito 5
6

3 1/4 x 4 1/4

Rear Element Focus 10 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 6 1/2
6

4 x 5

Rear Element Focus 14 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 6 1/8
4

3 1/4 x 4 1/4

Rear Element Focus 10 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 7 1/4
4

4 x 5

Rear Element Focus 11 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 8 3/4
4

5 x 7

Rear Element Focus 14 in. 12 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito 9 225 4

5 x 7


3 Yes Yes No No
Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus 11 1/2
4

6 1/2 x 8 1/2


17 No Yes No No
Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus 14 1/2
4

8 x 10


17 No Yes No No
Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus 18
4

11 x 14


17 No Yes No No
Wollensak Verito Diffused Focus 9
4

5 x 7


17 No Yes No No
Wollensak Vitax Portrait Lens No. 1 10
3.8





17 Yes Yes Yes No
Wollensak Vitax Portrait Lens No. 2 13
3.8





17 Yes Yes Yes No
Wollensak Vitax Portrait Lens No. 3 16
3.8





17 Yes Yes Yes No

Resources

Excel Chart of Soft Focus LensesDownload

The AntiqueCameras.net website has excellent information on soft focus lenses on three different pages.

Page 1 has information on Dallmeyer, Pinkham & Smith, Hermagis, Puyo & Pulligny, Bausch & Lomb lenses.

Page 2 has information on Taylor, Taylor & Hobson, Cooke, Hyatt, Wollensak, Gundlach, Bodine, Spencer Port-Land, Goerz, and Struss lenses.

Page 3 has information on Kalosat, Graf-Bishop, Plasticca, Baush & Lomb, Gundlach, and Ilex lenses.