Aero Ektar, l'ull de la USAAF // Aero-Ektar: The eye of the USAAF

IN ENGLISH BELOW THE LINE

Sense dubte, un dels objectius més famosos dins del món de la fotografía de gran format, el Kodak Aero Ektar f2.5 de 7 polzades (178mm aprox.) és una bestia inmensa en molts aspectes.

El Aero Ektar fou fabricat durant la Segona Guerra Mundial, en diverses distancies focals fins a 12 polzades, essent la de 7 polzades (aquesta) la més usual. Fou encarregada i emprada gairebé en exclusiva per la USAAF durant la guerra mundial, tant en reconeixement aeri en avions com el Mustang o Spitfire com per a documentar els bombardejos amb el B-17, B-24 o B-29. Es tracta d'un objectiu de gran complexitat i molt car. Sembla que costava tant en dolars del 1944 com un cotxe! Posteriorment es varen vendre a preu de saldo, com acostumen a fer els exèrcits un cop acabada la guerra (però ara han tornat a pujar de preu, eh!!).

La gracia per al gran format és montar aquesta bestia (pesa molt!!) en una càmera Graflex Speed Graphic de 4x5 polzades, Què aporta? Be, el Aero Ektar proporciona uns desenfocs, un bokeh, sensacional ben obert a f2.5 o similar (tancat a f16 proporciona imatges correctes però avorrides. Fou el periodista David Burnett qui descobrí la fantàstica combinació entre el Aero Ektar i la Graflex Speed Graphic (que gracies al seu obturador de pla focal pot emprar lents sense obturador propi).

Aquest Aero Ektar el vaig comprar complet amb la seva càmera Kodak K24, del qual el vaig desmontar. Fou fabricat el 1944, com demostra el nº de serie començant en EE (44).

Un darrer detall rellevant i una mica més inquietant sobre aquest objectiu. Sí, és cert, sembla que és radioactiu. Res important a no ser que t'hi enganxis les 24h del dia durant dos mesos, o que t'en mengis una part. Algunes de les lents posteriors contenen isotops radioactius de tori, cosa que a vegades amés fa que s'hagin tornat marrons, fruit de 70 anys de radiació...

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Without a doubt, this is one of the most famous lenses in the world of large format photography: the Kodak Aero Ektar f2.5 / 7" (178mm). It is a beast, immense in many respects.

The Aero Ektar was manufactured during World War II, in several focal distances up to 12", being the 7" (this one) the most usual one. It was commissioned and used almost exclusively by the USAAF during World War II, both in airline reconnaissance roles on board the Mustang or Spitfire and to document bombings with the B-17, B-24 or B-29. It is a very complex and very expensive lens. It seems that it was as expenseive as a car in 1944 US dollars! Subsequently, they were sold at a bargain price, as the armies usually do after the war (but now prices have risen again!).

The notable point for large format photography is to mount this beast (it weighs a lot!) into a 4x5 Graflex Speed Graphic camera. What does it bring? Well, the Aero Ektar provides , a gorgeous bokeh, well open at f2.5 or similar (at f16 it just provides correct but boring images). David Burnett was the one who discovered the fantastic combination between an Aero Ektar and a Graflex Speed Graphic (Thanks to its focal plane shutter it can use lenses without its own shutter).

This particular Aero Ektar was bought assembled in its Kodak K24 camera. It was manufactured in 1944, as shown by the serial number code EE (44).

A last relevant and something more disturbing issue about this lens. Yes, it's true, it seems to be radioactive. Nothing important unless you stick to it 24 hours a day for two months, or you eat a portion of it. Some of the rear elements contain thorium radioactive isotopes, which also sometimes causes these parts to become brownish in colour, due to 70 years of continuous radiation...

lommen9.home.xs4all.nl/aero/

www.johndesq.nl/graflex/aeromemorandum.htm

emulsive.org/reviews/lens-love-shooting-the-kodak-aero-ek...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-J4lvQOHCo

Taken on: August 20, 2019

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Sets appears in: • L'historia fotogràfica / Historic cameras

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Camera: Nikon D750, f/14.0, 5 sec, 70mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D750
Lens:	24.0-70.0 mm f/2.8
Aperture:	f/14.0
Exposure Time:	5
Focal Length:	70mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Center-weighted average
White Balance:	Auto
Scene Capture Type:	Landscape
Contrast:	High
Sharpness:	Hard
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS5 Windows
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