History: The Cone Centralisateur lens design (which is basically a slightly modyfied petzval layout), is absolutely famous and sought after in the late 19th century and even more today. It was the flagship lens for Jamins and Darlots workshop in the early 1850ies and 1860ies in Paris. It offered better optical quality then most of his rivals, but also a possibility to use it as both, a portrait ('portrait') lens, and also as a landscape lens ('paysage'). Even though its a normal petzval design, you will see a difference to other portrait petzvals from that time. The Cone Centralisateur lenses have this cenrtain 'something' to their image, which is hard to grasp, but many people are looking for.

The engraving reads:

'Jamin Bte S.G.D.G. - rue chapon 14  Paris - 1452'

That engraving puts the lens in the time period 1856-60, its ony of the few very early known Jamin made (before Darlot joined him) Cone Centralisaeurs!

Condition: This brass beauty comes in a collectors condition. Overall the brass shows some wear here and there, but also a very fine and authentic patina. It literally 'breathes' the nearly 165 years it has suirvived. The glass is in very good condition, there are some cleaning streaks as you might expect from a lens with this age, but besides that there is no seperation, haze or larger damage to the glass.

With its fast open aperture of F4 and a focal lengh of 300mm (or almost 12"), this lens will work anywhere from 5x7 to 8x10 format (and very likely even 10x12 if you really want to see alot of petzval character in your images and some light vignietting).

In landscape mode it will have an estimated focal lenght of 600mm, covering huge ULF formats like 20" x 20" !

The lens comes with a flange, the center piece to hold the washer stops and the original brass lenscap.



height: 22cm
width: 10cm
weight: 2300gr

Insured and tracked shipping cost:

Germany - 20 eur
EU* - 60 eur
Worldwide - 100 eur**

*(the site offers only 2 shipping variations, DE and worldwide. buyers from EU please either contact me beforehand for a reduced EU cost, or after buying so i can send a refund over the difference)

** the high cost is due the high insurance value

Importent Note: This item comes from my private collection and is around 100 years old (antique). I try my best to describe all the faults and major damage which are relevant for the function of this item. But the actuall item can show signs of wear and also some cosmetic blemishes/damage which is not described in the auction text! When buying this item the buyer agrees to this terms.