Feasibility of tele-xenar lens on calumet monorail

[tonyowen]

I've seen lots of postings regarding the wrong choice of lens and camera mix.

So, I'm after opinions as to the practicality of a possible purchase for my Calumet CC400 4x5 monorail.

On eBay (UK) a Schneider Kreuznach Tele-Xenar f5.5/360mm Large Format Lens in a compound shutter and fitted in MPP Lens Board is being offered.

I'm assuming (to be confirmed following message to seller) that the MPP lens board is the same as a Calumet lens board [4x4 or 100x100].

Too big, too heavy, won't fit ??????????? --- opinions please

regards

Tony

[Corran]

Shouldn't be any problems, especially with a telephoto lens. It is a big lens but not that big - certainly not larger than your 4x4 boards. I had one a long time ago and used it on a Toyo monorail.

The only problems you would run into is with a long focus lens and running out of bellows or a massive lens that didn't fit on your boards.

[tonyowen]

Thank you, according to the Calumet info I've got 16 inches of bellows draw circa 406mm)
regards

[Harold_4074]

You mentioned the lens board size, but I hope that you are aware of the light-baffle grooving on the Calumet. I'm not familiar with the MPP board, so I don't know if they are actually interchangeable, but in any case moving the lens to a compatible (if not actually "correct") board is not a big deal.

[Graham Patterson]

There are two types of MPP boards. The ones used on the Micro Technicals up to the VII have square corners, the ones for the VIII and monorail had rounded corners. There is also a rebate on the inside with the smaller area 87mm x 87mm. Overall thickness about 6mm. I have an early type MPP board in front of me. On the up side, MPP boards are not that common, and you should find a buyer for it if you swap it out.

[Randy]

I use a Wollensak 15" f/5.6 Raptar Telephoto (380mm) on my Graflex Series D 4X5. I believe infinity focus is about 9.5". I only have about 12" of bellows draw so you should be able to get a lot closer to your subject than I can. I really like the lens, quite sharp (if you need sharpness). It is a bit heavy but manageable. My lens-boards are smaller, about 3.5" square, but I don't have my lens mounted in a shutter.

[Dan Fromm]

The horse's mouth is here: https://www.schneideroptics.com/info.../5,5-360mm.htm Look in it.

[Tobias Key]

I have this lens and I use it with a Toyo monorail. I can't see you would have any problems, the bellows draw is about 220mm at infinity. The only thing I like to do is use a manfrotto superclamp and fix a monopod to the end of the monorail to make sure the camera is rock solid.

[tonyowen]

The horse's mouth is here: https://www.schneideroptics.com/info.../5,5-360mm.htm Look in it.

Dan, I'm aware of that info, my concern is that the horse's mouth might have some unseen and dangerous teeth I'm not aware of!!!!!
Please clarify your posting
regards
Tony

[pjd]

Tony, I'm in the odd situation of having not one, but two 360 Tele-Xenar lenses, one in barrel, one in compound shutter. Surely carelessness rather than misfortune on my part. I bought the one in shutter sort of cheaply as one cell has strange mottling that rendered it an inadvertent soft focus lens. I bought the second in barrel cheaply to transplant the cells into the shutter. As yet I'm not sure it was worthwhile.

Anyhow...unfortunately I don't know anything about Calumet 4x5 monorail cameras. Perhaps Dan was suggesting that with the size / weight data on the Schneider site you could draw your own conclusions about the usability of these lenses with your camera.

I am able to mount that lens on a 13x18 ICA Juwel (which has rather a small wooden lens board), and the elderly wooden camera can bear the weight - so imagine you should be fine with a sturdy looking monorail, judging from a google image search of Calumet 4x5 cameras.

Also, possibly of interest - the Schneider site has a 1938 tele xenar leaflet:
https://www.schneideroptics.com/info...38_Leaflet.pdf

that points out that the front cell can be used alone for close up photography. Think I tried it on ground glass once without exposing film. I mention it in case it's of interest to you.