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Thread: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

  1. #1

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    What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Looking for advice on best "soft focus" portrait lens.
    What do you use and how do you like it?
    Example photos would be great!

    Thanks

  2. #2

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Everyone has an opinion, wondering why no one has weighed in...

    Verito 14.5" f/4-5.6

    RussClick image for larger version. 

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  3. #3
    William Whitaker's Avatar
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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Quote Originally Posted by russyoung View Post
    Everyone has an opinion, wondering why no one has weighed in...

    Verito 14.5" f/4-5.6

    Russ
    The venerable Verito is always in fashion, of course. But while waiting for the others to pounce, I thought to suggest a 12" Kodak Portrait, especially one mounted in a factory Ilex #5. Of course, the best soft-focus lens is the one that works for you and... fits your camera. That's a detail you didn't include. If you're using a studio camera, that's one thing. But if yours is a modern folding field camera, then you'd be hard-pressed to get either one of these lenses mounted to it.

    A "portrait lens" doesn't have to be soft focus. An old Velostigmat would work wonderfully. Or an Ilex Paragon. Or a Tessar 1c (these last often plentiful and affordable in barrels marked "5x7" or "5x8"). If you're lucky, maybe a 210 or 240 Heliar. Not soft-focus, but a helluva lens!

    And just a comment...
    Hang around the recurring monthly portrait thread. There is some very fine work there and you can see what other people use and to what effect.
    My take on soft focus lenses is that lighting is just as important as the lens itself. Or very nearly so. After all, photography is about light. My 2¢.

  4. #4
    jp's Avatar
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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    I hadn't weighed in because I don't have a 5x7 camera.

    But the Kodak Portrait Will mentioned is made for 5x7 and having the shutter is handy. It's a great lens. It's all I shoot on my 8x10 field camera.
    My Gundlach Hyperion 9" is supposed to be for 5x7 as well, but I use it with 4x5 speed graphic. It's a very nice lens but obscure/rare enough I can't suggest it and expect someone to just go get one.
    The Verito Russ mentions is very nice. Most don't have a contemporary shutter, but if you're supplying the light, you can deal with that. Veritar would be a more modern with a newer shutter.
    Amongst any of these, it's not that one is better, but more so my skill with one is better due to practice.

  5. #5

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    9" Verito f:4 someone beautifully remounted in a Copal #3. Stopped down a little it loses that destinctive look.
    For 5x7, I prefer a 10" f:8 Rapid Rectilinear. My problem is the semi-functional Eastman shutter, even though Carol at Flutot's has given it her best magic. (The Verito is an AWESOME package.)
    Wilhelm (Sarasota)

  6. #6

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Soft, 11.5" Verito; sharp, 300mm f6.3 Paragon. If not the Paragon, any good Tessar would do for me. I have a variety of Tessar-types for all of my cameras in preference to other choices.
    Thanks, but I'd rather just watch:
    Large format: http://flickr.com/michaeldarnton
    Mostly 35mm: http://flickr.com/mdarnton
    You want digital, color, etc?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stradofear

  7. #7

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Fuji's 250mm SF?

  8. #8

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    not SF.. but I use a 240 Heliar on my Linhof Tech 5x7... I also have a 300 Heliar that is just a bit too long for my studio space most of the time

    the Heliar never misses... it's magic..it is.. and it has that creamy graduations from light to dark.. and it's not 'too' sharp

    it's the perfect lens for me.... but..it is not a soft focus lens

  9. #9

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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Quote Originally Posted by DrTang View Post
    not SF.. but I use a 240 Heliar on my Linhof Tech 5x7... I also have a 300 Heliar that is just a bit too long for my studio space most of the time

    the Heliar never misses... it's magic..it is.. and it has that creamy graduations from light to dark.. and it's not 'too' sharp

    it's the perfect lens for me.... but..it is not a soft focus lens
    Agreed, but the 300 Universal Heliar is awesome - also for 7x5

  10. #10
    Tim Meisburger's Avatar
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    Re: What is your favorite 5x7 soft focus portrait lens?

    Quote Originally Posted by Emil Schildt View Post
    Agreed, but the 300 Universal Heliar is awesome - also for 7x5
    +1

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