Ilex Optical 7.5" f/4.5 Portronic Paragon Large Format Portrait Lens Coleman

Ilex Optical 7.5" f/4.5 Portronic Paragon Large Format Portrait Lens Coleman

The Ilex Optical Portronic Paragon is a 7.5-inch (approximately 190mm) f/4.5 large format portrait lens manufactured by Ilex Optical Co. of Rochester, New York. This example was custom-made especially for Coleman Engineering Co., as engraved on the lens barrel. It is mounted on a square lensboard and covers large format film formats appropriate for portrait and commercial photography.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: Ilex Optical Co., Rochester, NY, Made in USA
• Lens name: Portronic Paragon
• Focal length: 7.5 inches (~190mm)
• Maximum aperture: f/4.5
• Aperture range: f/4.5 – f/32 (marked stops: 4.5, 5.6, 6.3, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32)
• Custom-made for: Coleman Engineering Co.
• Mounted on a square lensboard (included)
• Rear felt light seal ring present and intact
• Serial number partially visible on barrel

Applications

Ilex Optical was a major American lens manufacturer based in Rochester, New York, producing lenses for large format cameras from the mid-20th century through the 1970s. The Portronic series was designed specifically for portrait and commercial studio photography on large format view cameras and portrait cameras, where the longer focal lengths (in the 7–10 inch range) produce the flattering perspective compression and shallow depth of field associated with traditional studio portraiture. The f/4.5 maximum aperture is fast for a large format portrait lens of this focal length, useful for subject isolation and working in lower light. Lenses of this type were commonly used in professional portrait studios on 4×5 and larger format cameras, as well as in commercial and industrial photography settings. Today, Ilex portrait lenses are sought by large format photographers and collectors for their rendering characteristics and American-made optical heritage. The lensboard mounting makes it ready for use on a compatible large format camera with the appropriate lensboard standard.