Lens questions

[Rhodes]

Thinking of buying this (or of the same type) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1512539629...#ht_411wt_1161 lens for my Speed Graphic. Now, I can use this lens on my camera, right? And I have to get a lens board for it, but which one?
Main reason, to have a portrait lens and also to give "a vintage look" to the photos.

[Leigh]

I very much doubt that you could use a 15" (380mm) on any Speed Graphic.

According to this page from graflex.org the bellows is only 12-3/4" (324mm):
http://www.graflex.org/speed-graphic...d-graphic.html

You don't have enough bellows draw to focus at infinity, and certainly not enough for closer focus.

Here's an earlier thread on Speed Graphic lenses:
http://www.largeformatphotography.in...phic-press-cam

- Leigh

[EdSawyer]

The 15" / 360-380mm to use would be a telephoto one, eg. tele arton, tele xenar, Nikkor T, Wollensak tele optar, etc.

[goamules]

Not only that, but I wouldn't buy from that seller. Every B&L triplet magic lantern lens they unscrew from an old projector becomes a "Cooke Triplet". After getting complaints, they added the word "configuration" in their ads. But their intent it to deceive knowledgeable buyers into paying more because it happens to be a triplet...and...well.....Cooke made triplets...and they were famous!

[Rhodes]

Thank you! So, for this kind of lens, what would be a good one for the speed graphic? Or should I go for one like this:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_153wt_1399 ?

[jp]

The second one won't be a vintage look; more of a generic look. It's a good lens that would make most people happy, but it's not vintage looking. If you want a good triplet to use with the speed graphic, get a meyer trioplan. They should be $200-300 if you're patient. A bit older a rapid rectilinear is good vintage; aka planatograph. Something of a tessar design will be sort of 1940's/50's looking or older without much distortion.

[djdister]

Thank you! So, for this kind of lens, what would be a good one for the speed graphic? Or should I go for one like this:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_153wt_1399 ?

Unless you have some special purpose in mind, I would suggest looking for the type of lens that normally was included with a Speed Graphic, such as a 135mm Graphex Optar, or perhaps a 150mm lens, rather than the longer focal length lenses you are looking at. Otherwise you will have problems with fitting the lens to the lens board and as pointed out, issues with the maximum bellows extension. Plus, the price for a 135mm Optar is generally less than a Schneider lens.

[Wayne Aho]

I have that same lens on an old glass-slide projector, sitting in the attic. Might try the lens out someday, but it doesn't appear to be worth the asking price (in my opinion).

[Rhodes]

My camera has the normal lens that come with it (the 127mm ektar, I think). I just want a LF lens more portrait oriented.

[Drew Bedo]

I have used a Wollensak 15" f5.6 on my little Wista (its a beast on this little camera). Infinity focus is at ~9 inches. I understood that these were designed for use on the Graphics.